Mach Number/Surface Roughness Effects on Symmetric Transonic Turbine Airfoil Aerodynamic Losses

2004 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1117-1125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiang Zhang ◽  
Phillip M. Ligrani
Author(s):  
Qiang Zhang ◽  
Phillip M. Ligrani

The effects of surface roughness and freestream turbulence level on the aerodynamic performance of a turbine vane are experimentally investigated. Wake profiles are measured with three different freestream turbulence intensity levels (1.1%, 5.4% and 7.7%) at two different locations downstream of the test vane trailing edge (one and 0.25 axial chord lengths). Chord Reynolds number based on exit flow conditions is 0.9 × 106. The Mach number distribution and the test vane configuration both match arrangements employed in an industrial application. Four cambered vanes with different surface roughness levels are employed in this study. Effects of surface roughness on the vane pressure side on the profile losses are relatively small compared with suction side roughness. Overall effects of turbulence on local wake deficits of total pressure, Mach number, and kinetic energy are almost negligible in most parts of the wake produced by the smooth test vane, except that higher freestream losses are present at higher turbulence intensity levels. Profiles produced by test vanes with rough surfaces show apparent lower peak values in the center of the wake. Integrated Aerodynamic Losses (IAL) and area-averaged loss coefficient YA are also presented and compared with results from other research groups.


Author(s):  
Phil Ligrani ◽  
Jae Sik Jin

Results of second law analysis of experimentally-measured aerodynamic losses are presented for a cambered vane with and without film cooling, including comparisons with similar results from a symmetric airfoil. Included are distributions of local entropy creation, as well as mass-averaged magnitudes of global exergy destruction. The axial chord length of the cambered vane is 4.85 cm, the true chord length is 7.27 cm, and the effective pitch is 6.35 cm. Data are presented for three airfoil Mex distributions (including one wherein the flow is transonic), magnitudes of inlet turbulence intensity from 1.1 percent to 8.2 percent, and ks/cx surface roughness values of 0, 0.00108, and 0.00258. The associated second law aerodynamics losses are presented for two different measurement locations downstream of the vane trailing edge (one axial chord length and 0.25 axial chord length). The surface roughness, when present, simulates characteristics of the actual roughness which develops on operating turbine airfoils from a utility power engine, over long operating times, due to particulate deposition and to spallation of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). Quantitative surface roughness characteristics which are matched include equivalent sandgrain roughness size, as well as the irregularity, non-uniformity, and the three-dimensional irregular arrangement of the roughness. Relative to a smooth, symmetric airfoil with no film cooling at low Mach number and low freestream turbulence intensity, overall, the largest increases in exergy destruction occur with increasing Mach number, and increasing surface roughness. Important variations are also observed as airfoil camber changes. Progressively smaller mass-averaged exergy destruction increases are then observed with changes of freestream turbulence intensity, and different film cooling conditions. In addition, the dependences of overall exergy destruction magnitudes on mainstream turbulence intensity and freestream Mach number are vastly different as level of vane surface roughness changes. When film cooling is present, overall mass-averaged exergy destruction magnitudes are significantly less than values associated with increased airfoil surface roughness for both the cambered vane and the symmetric airfoil. Exergy destruction values (associated with wake aerodynamic losses) for the symmetric airfoil with film cooling are then significantly higher than data from the cambered vane with film cooling, when compared at a particular blowing ratio.


2006 ◽  
Vol 128 (3) ◽  
pp. 536-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiang Zhang ◽  
Phillip M. Ligrani

The effects of surface roughness and freestream turbulence level on the aerodynamic performance of a turbine vane are experimentally investigated. Wake profiles are measured with three different freestream turbulence intensity levels (1.1%, 5.4%, and 7.7%) at two different locations downstream of the test vane trailing edge (1 and 0.25 axial chord lengths). Chord Reynolds number based on exit flow conditions is 0.9×106. The Mach number distribution and the test vane configuration both match arrangements employed in an industrial application. Four combered vanes with different surface roughness levels are employed in this study. Effects of surface roughness on the vane pressure side on the profile losses are relatively small compared to suction side roughness. Overall effects of turbulence on local wake deficits of total pressure, Mach number, and kinetic energy are almost negligible in most parts of the wake produced by the smooth test vane, except that higher freestream losses are present at higher turbulence intensity levels. Profiles produced by test vanes with rough surfaces show apparent lower peak values in the center of the wake. Integrated aerodynamic losses and area-averaged loss coefficient YA are also presented and compared to results from other research groups.


2005 ◽  
Vol 128 (3) ◽  
pp. 568-578 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiang Zhang ◽  
Matt Goodro ◽  
Phillip M. Ligrani ◽  
Ricardo Trindade ◽  
Sri Sreekanth

The effects of surface roughness on the aerodynamic performance of a turbine vane are investigated for three Mach number distributions, one of which results in transonic flow. Four turbine vanes, each with the same shape and exterior dimensions, are employed with different rough surfaces. The nonuniform, irregular, three-dimensional roughness on the tested vanes is employed to match the roughness which exists on operating turbine vanes subject to extended operating times with significant particulate deposition on the surfaces. Wake profiles are measured for two different positions downstream the vane trailing edge. The contributions of varying surface roughness to aerodynamic losses, Mach number profiles, normalized kinetic energy profiles, Integrated Aerodynamics Losses (IAL), area-averaged loss coefficients, and mass-averaged loss coefficients are quantified. Total pressure losses, Mach number deficits, and deficits of kinetic energy all increase at each profile location within the wake as the size of equivalent sandgrain roughness increases, provided the roughness on the surfaces is uniform. Corresponding Integrated Aerodynamic Loss IAL magnitudes increase either as Mach numbers along the airfoil are higher, or as the size of surface roughness increases. Data are also provided which illustrate the larger loss magnitudes which are present with flow turning and cambered airfoils, than with symmetric airfoils. Also described are wake broadening, profile asymmetry, and effects of increased turbulent diffusion, variable surface roughness, and streamwise development.


2011 ◽  
Vol 134 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Lorenz ◽  
A. Schulz ◽  
H.-J. Bauer

The present experimental study is part of a comprehensive analysis accounting for heat transfer and aerodynamic losses on a highly loaded low pressure turbine blade with varying surface roughness. Whereas Part I focuses on heat transfer measurements at airfoil midspan with different deterministic surface roughnesses, Part II investigates surface roughness effects on aerodynamic losses of the same airfoil. A set of different arrays of deterministic roughness (the same as used in Part I) is investigated in these experiments. The height and eccentricity of the roughness elements are varied, showing the combined influence of roughness height and anisotropy on the losses produced in the boundary layers. It is shown that the boundary layer loss is dominated by the suction side. Therefore, the investigations focus on measurements of the suction side boundary layer thickness at midspan directly upstream of the trailing edge. The experiments are conducted at several freestream turbulence levels (Tu1=1.4–10.1%) and different Reynolds numbers. The measurements reveal that suction side boundary layer thickness is increased by up to 190% if surface roughness shifts the transition onset upstream. However, in some cases, at low Reynolds numbers and freestream turbulence, surface roughness suppresses boundary layer separation and decreases the trailing edge boundary layer thickness by up to 30%.


Author(s):  
M. Lorenz ◽  
A. Schulz ◽  
H.-J. Bauer

The present experimental study is part of a comprehensive analysis accounting for heat transfer and aerodynamic losses on a highly loaded low pressure turbine blade with varying surface roughness. Whereas part I focuses on heat transfer measurements at airfoil midspan with different deterministic surface roughnesses, part II investigates surface roughness effects on aerodynamic losses of the same airfoil. A set of different arrays of deterministic roughness (the same as used in part I) is investigated in these experiments. The height and eccentricity of the roughness elements is varied, showing the combined influence of roughness height and anisotropy on the losses produced in the boundary layers. It is shown that the boundary layer loss is dominated by the suction side. Therefore, the investigations focus on measurements of the suction side boundary layer thickness at midspan directly upstream of the trailing edge. The experiments are conducted at several free-stream turbulence levels (Tu1 = 1.4% to 10.1%) and different Reynolds numbers. The measurements reveal that suction side boundary layer thickness is increased by up to 190% if surface roughness shifts the transition onset upstream. However, in some cases, at low Reynolds numbers and free-stream turbulence, surface roughness suppresses boundary layer separation and decreases the trailing edge boundary layer thickness by up to 30%.


Author(s):  
Qiang Zhang ◽  
Matt Goodro ◽  
Phillip M. Ligrani ◽  
Ricardo Trindade ◽  
Sri Sreekanth

The effects of surface roughness on the aerodynamic performance of a turbine vane are investigated for three Mach number distributions, one of which results in transonic flow and matches an arrangement employed in an industrial application. Four turbine vanes, each with the same shape and exterior dimensions, are employed with different rough surfaces. The non-uniform, irregular, three-dimensional roughness on the tested vanes is employed to match the roughness which exists on operating turbine vanes subject to extended operating times with significant particulate deposition on the surfaces. Wake profiles are measured for two different positions downstream the vane trailing edge. The contributions of varying surface roughness to aerodynamic losses, Mach number profiles, normalized kinetic energy profiles, Integrated Aerodynamics Losses (IAL), area-averaged loss coefficients, and mass-averaged loss coefficients are quantified. Total pressure losses, Mach number deficits, and deficits of kinetic energy all increase at each profile location within the wake as the size of equivalent sandgrain roughness increases, provided the roughness on the surfaces is uniform. Corresponding Integrated Aerodynamic Loss IAL magnitudes increase either as Mach numbers along the airfoil are higher, or as the size of surface roughness increases. Data are also provided which illustrate the larger loss magnitudes which are present with flow turning and cambered airfoils, than with symmetric airfoils. Also described are wake broadening, profile asymmetry, and effects of increased turbulent diffusion, variable surface roughness, and streamwise development.


2013 ◽  
Vol 135 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Phil Ligrani ◽  
Jae Sik Jin

Results of second law analysis of experimentally-measured aerodynamic losses are presented for a cambered vane with and without film cooling, including comparisons with similar results from a symmetric airfoil. Included are distributions of local entropy creation, as well as mass-averaged magnitudes of global exergy destruction. The axial chord length of the cambered vane is 4.85 cm, the true chord length is 7.27 cm, and the effective pitch is 6.35 cm. Data are presented for three airfoil Mex distributions (including one wherein the flow is transonic), magnitudes of inlet turbulence intensity from 1.1% to 8.2%, and ks/cx surface roughness values of 0, 0.00108, and 0.00258. The associated second law aerodynamics losses are presented for two different measurement locations downstream of the vane trailing edge (one axial chord length and 0.25 axial chord length). The surface roughness, when present, simulates characteristics of the actual roughness which develops on operating turbine airfoils from a utility power engine, over long operating times, due to particulate deposition and to spallation of thermal barrier coatings. Quantitative surface roughness characteristics which are matched include equivalent sandgrain roughness size, as well as the irregularity, nonuniformity, and the three-dimensional irregular arrangement of the roughness. Relative to a smooth, symmetric airfoil with no film cooling at low Mach number and low freestream turbulence intensity, overall, the largest increases in exergy destruction occur with increasing Mach number, and increasing surface roughness. Important variations are also observed as airfoil camber changes. Progressively smaller mass-averaged exergy destruction increases are then observed with changes of freestream turbulence intensity, and different film cooling conditions. In addition, the dependences of overall exergy destruction magnitudes on mainstream turbulence intensity and freestream Mach number are vastly different as level of vane surface roughness changes. When film cooling is present, overall mass-averaged exergy destruction magnitudes are significantly less than values associated with increased airfoil surface roughness for both the cambered vane and the symmetric airfoil. Dimensional exergy destruction values (associated with wake aerodynamic losses) for the symmetric airfoil with film cooling are then significantly higher than data from the cambered vane with film cooling, when compared at a particular blowing ratio.


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