scholarly journals Characterization of Periodic Incoming Wakes in a Low-Pressure Turbine Cascade Test Section by Means of a Fast-Response Single Sensor Virtual Three-Hole Probe

Author(s):  
Julien Clinckemaillie ◽  
Tony Arts

This paper aims at evaluating the characteristics of the wakes periodically shed by the rotating bars of a spoked-wheel type wake generator installed upstream of a high-speed low Reynolds linear low-pressure turbine blade cascade. Due to the very high bar passing frequency obtained with the rotating wake generator (fbar = 2.4−5.6 kHz), a fast-response pressure probe equipped with a single 350 mbar absolute Kulite sensor has been used. In order to measure the inlet flow angle fluctuations, an angular aerodynamic calibration of the probe allowed the use of the virtual three-hole mode; additionally, yielding yaw corrected periodic total pressure, static pressure and Mach number fluctuations. The results are presented for four bar passing frequencies (fbar = 2.4/3.2/4.6/5.6 kHz), each tested at three isentropic inlet Mach numbers M1,is = 0.26/0.34/0.41 and for Reynolds numbers varying between Re1,is = 40,000 and 58,000, thus covering a wide range of engine representative flow coefficients (ϕ = 0.44−1.60). The measured wake characteristics show fairly good agreement with the theory of fixed cylinders in a cross-flow and the evaluated total pressure losses and flow angle variations generated by the rotating bars show fairly good agreement with theoretical results obtained from a control volume analysis.

Author(s):  
Florian Herbst ◽  
Dragan Kozˇulovic´ ◽  
Joerg R. Seume

Steady blowing vortex generating jets (VGJ) on highly-loaded low-pressure turbine profiles have shown to be a promising way to decrease total pressure losses at low Reynolds-numbers by reducing laminar separation. In the present paper, the state of the art turbomachinery design code TRACE with RANS turbulence closure and coupled γ-ReΘ transition model is applied to the prediction of typical aerodynamic design parameters of various VGJ configurations in steady simulations. High-speed cascade wind tunnel experiments for a wide range of Reynolds-numbers, two VGJ positions, and three jet blowing ratios are used for validation. Since the original transition model overpredicts separation and losses at Re2is ≤ 100·103 an extra mode for VGJ induced transition is introduced. Whereas the criterion for transition is modelled by a filtered Q vortex criterion the transition development itself is modelled by a reduction of the local transition-onset momentum-thickness Reynolds number. The new model significantly improves the quality of the computational results by capturing the corresponding local transition process in a physically reasonable way. This is shown to yield an improved quantitative prediction of surface pressure distributions and total pressure losses.


Author(s):  
Rau´l Va´zquez ◽  
Diego Torre ◽  
Fernando Partida ◽  
Leyre Arman˜anzas ◽  
Antonio Antoranz

The influence of surface roughness on the profile and end-wall total pressure losses in Low Pressure Turbines was investigated experimentally in a turbine high-speed rig. The rig consisted of a rotor-stator configuration. Both rows of airfoils are high lift, high aspect ratio and high turning blades that are characteristic of state of the art Low Pressure Turbines. The stator airfoils (both vanes and platforms) were casted and afterwards they were barreled to improve their surface finish up to 1.73 μm Ra. Then they were assembled in the rig and tested. The stator was traversed upstream and downstream with miniature pneumatic probes to obtain total pressure, flow angle and static pressure flow fields. Once this test was completed the rig was disassembled and the stator airfoils were polished to achieve a roughness size of 0.72 μm Ra, characteristic of Low Pressure Turbine polished airfoils. Once again, the stators were assembled in the rig and tested to carry out a back-to-back comparison between the two different surface roughnesses. The total pressure profile and end-wall losses were measured for a wide range of Reynolds numbers, extending from 8×104 to 2.4×105, based on suction surface length (Res∼1.5 ReCx) and exit Mach number of 0.61. Experimental results are presented and compared in terms of area average, radial pitchwise average distributions and exit plane contours of total pressure losses, flow angles and helicity. The results agree with previous studies of roughness in Turbines, a beneficial effect of surface roughness was found at very low Reynolds numbers, in stagnation pressure losses.


2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Lengani ◽  
Berardo Paradiso ◽  
Andreas Marn ◽  
Emil Göttlich

This paper presents an experimental investigation of the vane-blade unsteady interaction in an unshrouded low pressure (LP) turbine research rig with uneven blade/vane count (72 blades and 96 vanes). The rig was designed in cooperation with MTU Aero Engines and considerable efforts were put on the adjustment of all relevant model parameters. In particular blade count ratio, airfoil aspect ratio, reduced mass flow, reduced speed, and Mach and Reynolds numbers were chosen to reproduce the full scale LP turbine at take off condition. Measurements by means of a fast-response pressure probe were performed adopting a phase-locked acquisition technique in order to provide the time resolved flow field downstream of the turbine rotor. The probe has been fully traversed both in circumferential and radial traverses. The rotor exit is characterized by strong perturbations due to the tip leakage vortex and the rotor blade wake. Circumferential nonuniformities due to the upstream vane wake and to the downstream exit guide vane potential effects are also identified. Furthermore, in the present configuration with an uneven blade/vane count the nonuniformities due to the stator and rotor row are misaligned along the whole turbine circumference and create a spinning mode that rotates in direction opposite to the rotor at a high frequency. The aeroacoustic theory is employed to explain such further unsteady pattern. The variations of the exit flow angle within a cycle of such pattern are not negligible and almost comparable to the ones within the blade passing period.


2012 ◽  
Vol 135 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Herbst ◽  
Dragan Kožulović ◽  
Joerg R. Seume

Steady blowing vortex generating jets (VGJ) on highly-loaded low-pressure turbine profiles have shown to be a promising way to decrease total pressure losses at low Reynolds-numbers by reducing laminar separation. In the present paper, the state of the art turbomachinery design code TRACE with RANS turbulence closure and coupled γ-ReΘ transition model is applied to the prediction of typical aerodynamic design parameters of various VGJ configurations in steady simulations. High-speed cascade wind tunnel experiments for a wide range of Reynolds-numbers, two VGJ positions, and three jet blowing ratios are used for validation. Since the original transition model overpredicts separation and losses at Re2is≤100·103, an extra mode for VGJ induced transition is introduced. Whereas the criterion for transition is modeled by a filtered Q vortex criterion the transition development itself is modeled by a reduction of the local transition-onset momentum-thickness Reynolds number. The new model significantly improves the quality of the computational results by capturing the corresponding local transition process in a physically reasonable way. This is shown to yield an improved quantitative prediction of surface pressure distributions and total pressure losses.


Author(s):  
L. Simonassi ◽  
M. Zenz ◽  
P. Bruckner ◽  
F. Heitmeir ◽  
A. Marn

Abstract Modern low pressure turbine (LPT) architectures of aero engines are designed in order to optimize weight, decrease the fuel consumption and noise emissions. This can be achieved with the use of lighter materials or by reducing the size of the engine. In particular, decreasing the axial distances between the blade rows and shortening the turbine centre frame. As a consequence, it becomes more and more important to investigate the influence of inflow circumferential distortions of total pressure and temperature that can be originated by struts, flow injections and measurement instrumentation. This work presents the results of an experimental investigation on the influence of total pressure inflow inhomogeneity on the aerodynamics and on the vibrations of a low pressure turbine stage. The measurements were carried out in a one and a half stage subsonic test turbine facility at nominal engine relevant operating conditions and during speed transient operation, including a resonance crossing. Steady and unsteady aerodynamic measurements were performed with a five-hole-probe (5HP) and a fast response aerodynamic pressure probe (FRAPP) respectively, while the LPT rotor vibration data were acquired using strain gauges applied on different blades, in combination with a telemetry system. Analysis in the frequency domain as well as a curve fitting method were applied to estimate the blades forced response and the critical damping. It will be shown that the distortion creates steady and unsteady aerodynamic alterations, causing direct effects on the rotor vibration characteristics.


Author(s):  
M. Dellacasagrande ◽  
P. Z. Sterzinger ◽  
S. Zerobin ◽  
F. Merli ◽  
L. Wiesinger ◽  
...  

Abstract This paper, the second of two parts, presents an experimental investigation of the unsteady flow field evolving in a two-stage two-spool test turbine facility. The experimental setup, which was designed to reproduce the operating condition of modern commercial aero-engines, consists of a high-pressure turbine (HPT) stage followed by a turbine center frame (TCF) with non-turning struts, and a co-rotating low-pressure turbine (LPT) stage. Measurements carried out with a fast-response aerodynamic pressure probe (FRAPP) were post-processed to describe the unsteady evolution of the flow downstream of the HPT rotor, through the TCF duct, and at the exit of the LPT stage. The time-resolved results presented in the first part of this paper show that deterministic fluctuations due to both rotors characterize the flow field downstream of the LPT. In order to characterize the deterministic unsteadiness induced by all the components constituting the turbine facility (HPT, TCF and LPT) and their interactions, measurements were carried out in three different planes located downstream of the HPT, at the exit of the TCF and downstream of the LPT stage. The unsteady results obtained in the plane located at the exit of the LPT are discussed in more details in this second part of this paper, providing information about the interactions between the two rotors. A proper phase-average procedure, known as rotor synchronic averaging (RSA), which takes into account the rotorrotor interaction, was adopted to capture the unsteadiness due to both rotors. Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) was also applied to provide a characterization of the major contributors in terms of energy to the deterministic unsteadiness occurring in the test turbine facility. At the exit of the LPT rotor, the perturbations induced by the HPT stage and the interactions between the two rotors were found to dominate over the unsteadiness due to the LPT only.


Author(s):  
Marion Mack ◽  
Roland Brachmanski ◽  
Reinhard Niehuis

The performance of the low pressure turbine (LPT) can vary appreciably, because this component operates under a wide range of Reynolds numbers. At higher Reynolds numbers, mid and aft loaded profiles have the advantage that transition of suction side boundary layer happens further downstream than at front loaded profiles, resulting in lower profile loss. At lower Reynolds numbers, aft loading of the blade can mean that if a suction side separation exists, it may remain open up to the trailing edge. This is especially the case when blade lift is increased via increased pitch to chord ratio. There is a trend in research towards exploring the effect of coupling boundary layer control with highly loaded turbine blades, in order to maximize performance over the full relevant Reynolds number range. In an earlier work, pulsed blowing with fluidic oscillators was shown to be effective in reducing the extent of the separated flow region and to significantly decrease the profile losses caused by separation over a wide range of Reynolds numbers. These experiments were carried out in the High-Speed Cascade Wind Tunnel of the German Federal Armed Forces University Munich, Germany, which allows to capture the effects of pulsed blowing at engine relevant conditions. The assumed control mechanism was the triggering of boundary layer transition by excitation of the Tollmien-Schlichting waves. The current work aims to gain further insight into the effects of pulsed blowing. It investigates the effect of a highly efficient configuration of pulsed blowing at a frequency of 9.5 kHz on the boundary layer at a Reynolds number of 70000 and exit Mach number of 0.6. The boundary layer profiles were measured at five positions between peak Mach number and the trailing edge with hot wire anemometry and pneumatic probes. Experiments were conducted with and without actuation under steady as well as periodically unsteady inflow conditions. The results show the development of the boundary layer and its interaction with incoming wakes. It is shown that pulsed blowing accelerates transition over the separation bubble and drastically reduces the boundary layer thickness.


2000 ◽  
Vol 123 (3) ◽  
pp. 526-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maik Tiedemann ◽  
Friedrich Kost

This investigation is aimed at an experimental determination of the unsteady flowfield downstream of a transonic high pressure turbine stage. The single stage measurements, which were part of a joined European project, were conducted in the windtunnel for rotating cascades of the DLR Go¨ttingen. Laser-2-focus (L2F) measurements were carried out in order to determine the Mach number, flow angle, and turbulence distributions. Furthermore, a fast response pitot probe was utilized to determine the total pressure distribution. The measurement position for both systems was 0.5 axial rotor chord downstream of the rotor trailing edge at midspan. While the measurement position remained fixed, the nozzle guide vane (NGV) was “clocked” to 12 positions covering one NGV pitch. The periodic fluctuations of the total pressure downstream of the turbine stage indicate that the NGV wake damps the total pressure fluctuations caused by the rotor wakes. Furthermore, the random fluctuations are significantly lower in the NGV wake affected region. Similar conclusions were drawn from the L2F turbulence data. Since the location of the interaction between NGV wake and rotor wake is determined by the NGV position, the described effects are potential causes for the benefits of “stator clocking” which have been observed by many researchers.


Author(s):  
J. T. Schmitz ◽  
S. C. Morris ◽  
R. Ma ◽  
T. C. Corke ◽  
J. P. Clark ◽  
...  

The performance and detailed flow physics of a highly loaded, transonic, low-pressure turbine stage has been investigated numerically and experimentally. The mean rotor Zweifel coefficient was 1.35, with dh/U2 = 2.8, and a total pressure ratio of 1.75. The aerodynamic design was based on recent developments in boundary layer transition modeling. Steady and unsteady numerical solutions were used to design the blade geometry as well as to predict the design and off-design performance. Measurements were acquired in a recently developed, high-speed, rotating turbine facility. The nozzle-vane only and full stage characteristics were measured with varied mass flow, Reynolds number, and free-stream turbulence. The efficiency calculated from torque at the design speed and pressure ratio of the turbine was found to be 90.6%. This compared favorably to the mean line target value of 90.5%. This paper will describe the measurements and numerical solutions in detail for both design and off-design conditions.


Author(s):  
Johan Dahlqvist ◽  
Jens Fridh

The aspect of hub cavity purge has been investigated in a high-pressure axial low-reaction turbine stage. The cavity purge is an important part of the secondary air system, used to isolate the hot main annulus flow from cavities below the hub level. A full-scale cold-flow experimental rig featuring a rotating stage was used in the investigation, quantifying main annulus flow field impact with respect to purge flow rate as it was injected upstream of the rotor. Five operating speeds were investigated of which three with respect to purge flow, namely a high loading case, the peak efficiency, and a high speed case. At each of these operating speeds, the amount of purge flow was varied across a very wide range of ejection rates. Observing the effect of the purge rate on measurement plane averaged parameters, a minor outlet swirl decrease is seen with increasing purge flow for each of the operating speeds while the Mach number is constant. The prominent effect due to purge is seen in the efficiency, showing a similar linear sensitivity to purge for the investigated speeds. An attempt is made to predict the efficiency loss with control volume analysis and entropy production. While spatial average values of swirl and Mach number are essentially unaffected by purge injection, important spanwise variations are observed and highlighted. The secondary flow structure is strengthened in the hub region, leading to a generally increased over-turning and lowered flow velocity. Meanwhile, the added volume flow through the rotor leads to higher outlet flow velocities visible in the tip region, and an associated decreased turning. A radial efficiency distribution is utilized, showing increased impact with increasing rotor speed.


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