Numerical investigations on leakage performance and flow mechanism of spiral groove seal for shrouded blade in axial turbine

Flow field of shroud leakage flow for a single-stage axial turbine has been investigated in this article. The spiral groove seal (SGS) is adopted for shrouded rotor blade to reduce tip leakage and improve turbine aerodynamic performance. A series of three-dimensional (3D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are performed to investigate leakage characteristics and flow mechanism of various configurations with different angle, depth, width, and grooves number of the SGS. The original staggered labyrinth seal (LS) is also calculated for comparison. The results illustrate that small spiral groove angle can create more axial flow resistance; meanwhile, it will increase grooves number existing in the axial direction. Groove depth and tooth width will influence the number, shape, and strength of vortex in the groove. The leakage mass flow can be reduced by 36% and isentropic efficiency of the turbine can be increased by 0.26% when spiral groove angle, depth, and width of the SGS are 1.5°, 1.8 mm, and 0.8 mm, respectively. Overall, the optimal SGS can influence vortex generation and enhance energy dissipation in shroud cavity to reduce the leakage and suppress mixing loss of leakage flow with the main flow to some extent. It can be attributed to the combination of throttling effect and pumping effect of the SGS that realize leakage reduction and efficiency improvement. As a result, the SGS can effectively improve tip leakage flow of shrouded blade in axial turbine.

Dynamic Modeling Workflow for an Unconventional Biogenic Gas Reservoir with Multistage Hydraulic Fracture. A Case Study of Miocene Gachsaran Formation, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The Miocene Gachsaran Formation across Onshore Abu Dhabi and Dubai possesses high potential of generating shallow biogenic gas. A dynamic model and field development plan generated based on a detail G&G analysis to understand and evaluate its capability as promising gas resources. Specific approaches and workflow generated for volumetric and dynamic reservoir model capable of defining the most viable development strategy of the field from both an economic and technical standpoint. The proposed workflow adapts also the development plan from single pad-scale to full field development plan. A fine-grid field-scale with more than hundreds of Pads covering the sweet spot area of three thousands of square kilometers including structure, reservoir properties built based on existing vertical wells, newly drilled horizontal wells and seismic interpretation. In this paper, a robust workflow for big and complex unconventional biogenic gas reservoir modeling and simulation technique have been developed with hydraulic fracture and stimulated area created through LGR. Independent workflows generated for the adsorbed gas in place calculation, desorption flow mechanism, and Pads field development plan. An accuracy on in place calculation, desorption flow mechanism and Pseudo steady state flow through direct and indirect total gas concentration measured using (1) Pressurize core and sorption isotherm capacity experiment, (2) Langmuir /BET function and Vmax scaling curves for each grid cells, and (3) Gas concentration versus TOC relationship. Field development plan for unconventional shallow biogenic gas reservoirs is possible only if a communication network created through hydraulic fractures connects a huge reservoir area to the wellbore effectively. A complete workflow presented for modeling and simulation of unconventional reservoirs, which in-corporates the characterization of hydraulic fracture and their interaction with reservoir matrix. Dual porosity model has been constructed with accurate in place calculation through scaling the Langmuir function and calculation Vmax for each grid cell of the full field model, The single Pad design approach in the development plan has exhibited great advantages in terms of improvement in the quality and flexibility of the model, reduction of working time with the same Pad model design which is adapted for the full field development plan. The proposed unconventional modeling and field development plan workflow provides an efficient and useful unconventional dynamic model construction and full field development planning under uncertainty analysis. Minimizing the uncertainty in place calculation and production forecasting for unconventional reservoirs necessitates an accurate direct and indirect data measurement of gas concentration and flow mechanism through the laboratory measurement. Field development plan for unconventional reservoirs is possible only if fracture network can be created through hydraulic fractures that connects a huge reservoir area to the wellbore effectively through pad completion.

Aeroacoustic Optimization of the Bionic Leading Edge of a Typical Blade for Performance Improvement

New, innovative optimization approaches to improve turbomachine performance and reduce turbomachine noise are significant in engineering. In this paper, based on the bionic concept, a wave structure is used to shape the leading edge of the blade. Using an NACA0018 blade as the basic blade, a united parametric approach controlled by three parameters is proposed to configure the wavy leading edge. Then, a new optimization strategy boosting design efficiency is established to output the optimal design results. Finally, the corresponding performance and flow mechanism are analyzed. Taking into account the existence of the hub wall and the shroud wall from the closed impeller, a near-wall adjustment factor is added, the significance of which is herein demonstrated. An optimal bionic blade is successfully obtained by the optimization strategy, which can reduce the mean drag coefficient by about 6% and the overall sound pressure level by about 3 dB, in relative to the original blade. Mechanism analysis revealed that the wave structure can induce spanwise velocity at the leading edge and cause a further delay in flow separation in the downstream region, synchronously reducing drag and noise.