Experimental Investigations on Mixed Flow Impeller and Vane Diffuser Under Various Operating Conditions

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Ramesh Rajakumar ◽  
S. Ramamurthy ◽  
M. Govardhan
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Compressor Stage ◽  
Mixed Flow ◽  
Tip Clearance Flow ◽  
Clearance Flow ◽  
Flow Compressor ◽  
Vane Diffuser

Experimental Investigations are carried out to study the effect of tip clearance flow in a mixed flow compressor stage. Two configurations, namely; constant and variable clearance gaps between impeller and stationary shroud are considered. For the purpose of the present investigations, a mixed flow compressor stage is designed and fabricated. The flow investigations were carried out in a closed circuit compressor rig. Detailed steady and unsteady measurements were carried out for three clearance gaps, namely; 0.5 mm, 0.75 mm, 0.9 mm. From the experimental investigations it is shown that constant tip clearance configurations show better performance in terms of pressure ratio and efficiency compared to variable clearance configurations. For a given configuration the pressure ratio and efficiency of the stage decrease with increase in the tip gap without indicating any optimum value. Tip clearance flow has considerable effect on the flow through the diffuser and the unsteady flow gets amplified and carried away into the vane diffuser.

scholarly journals Flow Field Investigation in the Exit Region of a Radial Inflow Turbine Using LDV

1994 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Muthuvel Murugan ◽  
Widen Tabakoff ◽  
Awatef Hamed
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Field Investigation ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Complex Flow ◽  
Tip Clearance Flow ◽  
Exit Region ◽  
Flow Investigation ◽  
Clearance Flow ◽  
Radial Inflow Turbine

Detailed flow investigation in the downstream region of a radial inflow turbine has been performed using a three component Laser Doppler Velocimetry. The flow velocities are measured in the exit region of the turbine at off-design operating conditions. The results are presented as contour and vector plots of mean velocities, flow angles and turbulent stresses. The measured parameters are correlated to the rotor blade rotation to observe any periodic nature of the flow. The measurements reveal a complex flow pattern near the tip region at the rotor exit due to the interaction of the tip clearance flow. The degree of swirl of the flow near the tip region at the rotor exit is observed to be high due to the gross under turning of the flow near the tip region. The effect of the rotor on the exit flow field is observed in the proximity of the rotor exit.

Effects of water ingestion on the tip clearance flow in compressor rotors

2018 ◽  
Vol 233 (11) ◽  
pp. 4235-4246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Yang ◽  
Hai Zhang ◽  
Aqiang Lin
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
External Disturbance ◽  
Droplet Breakup ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Tip Clearance Flow ◽  
Water Ingestion ◽  
Clearance Flow ◽  
Compressor Performance

The tip region of compressor rotors may be filled with water when aircraft is flying in heavy rain environment. In order to explore the effects of water ingestion on the compressor performance and the characteristics of tip clearance flow, the Euler–Lagrange method has been utilized to simulate the two-phase flow inside a transonic rotor (NASA rotor 35). The typical trajectory of water droplet in compressor has been introduced firstly to simply understand the situation of water ingestion and to verify the reliability of some special droplet breakup models. The simulation results show that water droplets will change the distribution of airflow parameters along the span direction, which leads to the decrease of mass flow rate and the increase of attack angle at the tip region, as well as the separation of boundary layer on the suction surface. Furthermore, the momentum losses caused by droplet impingement and breakup directly causes a sharp increase in the static entropy at the blade tip region. On the other hand, the ingestion of droplet brings an external disturbance to airflow, and although it has some dissipated effects on the turbulence kinetic energy, it aggravates the unsteady characteristics of turbulent flow seriously at the tip region. Finally, by comparing the compressor performance under wet and dry states, it can be concluded that the pressure ratio and adiabatic efficiency of compressor decrease after water ingestion, and the compression efficiency drops by 1–2% on the whole while the operating point moves forward and the stable working boundary becomes narrow.

scholarly journals Flow and Fast Fourier Transform Analyses for Tip Clearance Effect in an Operating Kaplan Turbine

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyoung-Ho Kim ◽  
Md Rakibuzzaman ◽  
Kyungwuk Kim ◽  
Sang-Ho Suh
Keyword(s):  
Fourier Transform ◽  
Fast Fourier Transform ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Tip Clearance Flow ◽  
Kaplan Turbine ◽  
Turbine Performance ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Clearance Flow ◽  
Fft Analysis

The Kaplan turbine is an axial propeller-type turbine that can simultaneously control guide vanes and runner blades, thus allowing its application in a wide range of operations. Here, turbine tip clearance plays a crucial role in turbine design and operation as high tip clearance flow can lead to a change in the flow pattern, resulting in a loss of efficiency and finally the breakdown of hydro turbines. This research investigates tip clearance flow characteristics and undertakes a transient fast Fourier transform (FFT) analysis of a Kaplan turbine. In this study, the computational fluid dynamics method was used to investigate the Kaplan turbine performance with tip clearance gaps at different operating conditions. Numerical performance was verified with experimental results. In particular, a parametric study was carried out including the different geometrical parameters such as tip clearance between stationary and rotating chambers. In addition, an FFT analysis was performed by monitoring dynamic pressure fluctuation on the rotor. Here, increases in tip clearance were shown to occur with decreases in efficiency owing to unsteady flow. With this study’s focus on analyzing the flow of the tip clearance and its effect on turbine performance as well as hydraulic efficiency, it aims to improve the understanding on the flow field in a Kaplan turbine.

Numerical Investigations of the Coupled Flow Through a Subsonic Compressor Rotor and Axial Skewed Slot

2008 ◽  
Vol 131 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xingen Lu ◽  
Wuli Chu ◽  
Junqiang Zhu ◽  
Yangfeng Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Axial Flow ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Stall Margin ◽  
Tip Clearance Flow ◽  
Casing Treatment ◽  
Axial Flow Compressor ◽  
Compressor Rotor ◽  
Clearance Flow ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Flow Compressor

In order to advance the understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of axial skewed slot casing treatment and their effects on the subsonic axial-flow compressor flow field, the coupled unsteady flow through a subsonic compressor rotor and the axial skewed slot was simulated with a state-of-the-art multiblock flow solver. The computational results were first compared with available measured data, that showed the numerical procedure calculates the overall effect of the axial skewed slot correctly. Then, the numerically obtained flow fields were interrogated to identify the physical mechanism responsible for improvement in stall margin of a modern subsonic axial-flow compressor rotor due to the discrete skewed slots. It was found that the axial skewed slot casing treatment can increase the stall margin of subsonic compressor by repositioning of the tip clearance flow trajectory further toward the trailing of the blade passage and retarding the movement of the incoming∕tip clearance flow interface toward the rotor leading edge plane.

Experimental Investigation of the Flow in the Pipe Diffuser of a Centrifugal Compressor Stage Under Selected Parameter Variations

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uwe Zachau ◽  
Reinhard Niehuis ◽  
Herwart Hoenen ◽  
David C. Wisler
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Pressure Side ◽  
Compressor Stage ◽  
Diffuser Flow ◽  
Parameter Variations

On a centrifugal compressor test facility various experimental investigations have been carried out contributing a valuable gain in knowledge on the fundamental flow physics within passage type diffusers. An extensive measurement series using various steady, unsteady and laser optical measurement techniques has been performed to detect the unsteady, highly three dimensional diffuser flow under various realistic operating conditions. Zachau et al. [1] presented the test facility and the results gathered under nominal conditions. As a follow-up the results of investigated parameter variations are now presented, covering bleed variations, impeller tip clearance and impeller-diffuser misalignment studies. The data is compared to the benchmark created from the nominal baseline data sets and evaluated with respect to the compressor stage performance. Zachau et al. [1] found that under nominal conditions the flow in the pipe diffuser separates on the pressure side in the first half of the pipe. In the last 30% of the pipe hardly any deceleration of the flow takes place. From this, special attention is given to the investigated parameter variations regarding a first proposal for a diffuser design change, which consists in shortening the diffuser. The results for each parameter variation are evaluated in detail in direct comparison to the nominal baseline configuration underlining the conclusion made earlier that the diffuser flow always separates on the pressure side with negligible deceleration in the last third of the diffusing pipe.

Experimental Investigations of Tip Clearance Flow and its Influence on Secondary Flows in a 1-1/2 Stage Axial Turbine

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Stephan ◽  
H. E. Gallus ◽  
R. Niehuis
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Flow Behavior ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Radial Clearance ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Axial Turbine ◽  
Tip Clearance Flow ◽  
Clearance Flow ◽  
Flow Phenomena

A multistage turbomachine has inherently unsteady flow fields due to the relative motion between rotor and stator airfoils, which lead to viscous and inviscid interactions between the blade rows. Additionally, the radial clearance between casing and rotor strongly influences the 3D flow field and the loss generation in turbomachines. The objective of the presented study is to investigate the effects of tip clearance on secondary flow phenomena and, in consequence, on the performance of a 1-1/2 stage axial turbine. The low aspect ratio of the blades and their prismatic design leads to a high degree of secondary flows and three-dimensionality. Extended measurements of the flow field behind each blade row with pneumatic and hotwire probes have been conducted for three different tip clearances. Experimental results reveal significant change of flow behavior and turbine performance with increasing tip clearance.

Effect of Tip Clearance Flow on the Evaluation of Slip Factor for Micro Impellers

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qianwei Sun ◽  
Yifang Gong ◽  
Qiushi Li
Keyword(s):  
Flow Behavior ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Extensive Study ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Centrifugal Impeller ◽  
Tip Clearance Flow ◽  
Slip Factor ◽  
Clearance Flow ◽  
Actual Flow ◽  
The Comparative Study

It is quite evident that the slip factor is extremely important as it enables the energy transfer between the impeller and fluid to be calculated. Therefore, it has been the subject of extensive study so that the stagnation pressure ratio developed and the power absorbed by the compressor could be accurately predicted during design process. This paper describes a CFD investigation on tip clearance flow in micro centrifugal impeller. A study is performed to analyze the influence of comparatively low operating Reynolds numbers on tip clearance flow behavior. The flow structure within micro impeller affected by tip clearance flow is then discussed. The comparative study on shrouded and unshrouded impellers is carried out to evaluate the effect of tip clearance flow on slip factor prediction for micro impeller. The result stressed significant influence of tip clearance flow on micro impeller performance revealing the failure of conventional slip factor prediction model which proposed the demand for proper evaluation of slip factor based on actual flow field.

Mesh-Generation Parameters Influence on Centrifugal Compressor Simulation for Design Optimization

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillaume Dufour ◽  
Xavier Carbonneau ◽  
Pierre Arbez ◽  
Jean-Bernard Cazalbou ◽  
Patrick Chassaing
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Numerical Accuracy ◽  
Specific Flow ◽  
Design Decisions ◽  
Tip Clearance Flow ◽  
Experiment Method ◽  
Clearance Flow ◽  
Flow Quantity

As advocated by Denton [1], three-dimensional CFD calculations are more and more used in the process of designing centrifugal compressors. Therefore, numerical accuracy is an issue if valuable design decisions are to be based on CFD results. This paper aims at correlating mesh-parameters and calculated flow quantities. The design-of-experiment method (DOE) is used to identify which mesh-parameters influence any given flow quantity. The emphasis is put on global performances (mass-flow rate, pressure-ratio and efficiency), and on local features (friction co-efficients and local velocity-profiles). The outcome of the study is the connection between mesh-parameters and specific flow-properties. This can be further used to derive numerical bench-marks, such as reported by Dufour et al. [2] for the tip-clearance flow.

Experimental Investigation of Stepped Tip Gap Effects on the Performance of a Transonic Axial-Flow Compressor Rotor

1998 ◽  
Vol 120 (3) ◽  
pp. 477-486 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. W. Thompson ◽  
P. I. King ◽  
D. C. Rabe
Keyword(s):  
Mass Flow ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Axial Flow Compressor ◽  
Transonic Compressor ◽  
Compressor Rotor ◽  
Percent Improvement ◽  
Flow Compressor

The effects of stepped-tip gaps and clearance levels on the performance of a transonic axial-flow compressor rotor were experimentally determined. A two-stage compressor with no inlet guide vanes was tested in a modern transonic compressor research facility. The first-stage rotor was unswept and was tested for an optimum tip clearance with variations in stepped gaps machined into the casing near the aft tip region of the rotor. Nine causing geometries were investigated consisting of three step profiles at each of three clearance levels. For small and intermediate clearances, stepped tip gaps were found to improve pressure ratio, efficiency, and flow range for most operating conditions. At 100 percent design rotor speed, stepped tip gaps produced a doubling of mass flow range with as much as a 2.0 percent increase in mass flow and a 1.5 percent improvement in efficiency. This study provides guidelines for engineers to improve compressor performance for an existing design by applying an optimum casing profile.

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