Simulation and Flow Analysis of the Hole Diaphragm Labyrinth Seal at Several Whirl Frequencies

The seal is designed to reduce leakage and improve the efficiency of gas turbine machines, and is an important technology that needs to be studied in gas turbine design. A series of seals were proposed to try to achieve this goal. However, due to the complex fluid dynamic performance of the seal-rotor system, the seal structure can obtain both the best leakage performance and best rotordynamic performance. This paper presents a detailed flow analysis of the hole diaphragm labyrinth seal (HDLS) at several whirl frequencies and several rotation speeds. The pressure drop, velocity, turbulence kinetic energy and leakage performance of the HDLS were discussed by simulations. An interesting exponential–type relationship between rotation speeds and leakage flow at different whirl frequencies was observed by curve fitting technology. A reverse flow rate was proposed to describe such an unusual phenomenon. Such a relationship can be used to further establish the leakage model of the HDLS and other similar seals.

Automatic Blade Shape Optimization of a Three-Bladed Modified Savonius Turbine

In this study, the performance of a new wind turbine design derived from a conventional Savonius turbine is optimized by numerical simulation. The new design consists of three blades without passage between them (closed center). The coupling between the CFD codes (ANSYS Fluent) and the optimizer (OPAL) is used through an automatic procedure in-house codes, as documented, for example, in Thévenin et al.’s Optimization and Computational Fluid Dynamics (2008). A single-objective function (output power coefficient, Cp) is considered as the target of the optimization technique and the shape of the blade as an optimization parameter and relies on evolutionary algorithms. An optimal solution can emerge from this optimization study. By comparison between regular design (semi-cylindrical shape blades) and the optimal configuration, a considerable improvement (up to 7.13% at λ = 0.7) of the optimal configuration performance can be obtained in this manner.

Evaluating the Technology Readiness of a Ribbon-Blade Wind Turbine Using NASA’s TRL Method

The aim of this article was to complete a methodologically original study and evaluation of the technological readiness of an innovative ribbon-blade wind turbine in accordance with NASA’s TRL method. The structural form of the wind turbine unit analyzed herein, featuring a new ribbon turbine design, is distinguished by its safe durability. The circumferential speeds of the points on the turbine circumference were technologically verified positively and have a significant impact on the evaluation indicators of the conversion process, these being efficiency, unit energy consumption, and the quality of the power and energy of the wind power plant. The use of a new turbine design in the wind turbine analyzed herein, a working ribbon unit, resulted in a technological increase in efficiency from 13% to 32% and a reduction in unit internal energy consumption from 18% to 36% compared to the traditional wind turbine design. The TRL NASA-based evaluation herein, which consists of modern computer-aided engineering procedures (CAE standard) as well as IT instrumentation, and which includes nine degrees of technological readiness of an innovative ribbon windmill, falls in line with the standards for smart development based on knowledge and innovation (EU 2020 Strategy).

Preliminary Aerodynamic Design of a S-CO2 Axial Turbine

Axial turbines are gaining prominence in supercritical carbon-di-oxide (S-CO2) Brayton cycle power blocks. S-CO2 Brayton cycle power systems designed for 10 MW and upwards will need axial turbines for efficient energy conversion and compact construction. The real gas behavior of S-CO2 and its rapid property variations with temperature presents a strong challenge for turbomachinery design. Applying gas and steam turbine philosophies directly to S-CO2 turbine could lead to erroneous designs. Very little information is available in the open literature on the design of S-CO2 axial turbines. In this paper, design of a 10 MW axial turbine for a simple recuperated Brayton cycle waste heat recovery system is presented. Three repeating stages with nominal stage loading coefficient of 2.3 and flow coefficient of 0.37 were designed. An axial turbine mean-line design method tuned to S-CO2 real gas fluid medium is discussed. 3D blade design was made suing commercial turbomachinery design software AxSTREAM. The turbine was designed for inlet temperature of 818.15 K, pressure ratio of 2.2, rotational speed of 12000 rpm and mass flow rate of 104.5 kg/s. 3D CFD simulations were carried out using the commercial RANS solver ANSYS CFX 2020 R2 with SST turbulence model for closure. S-CO2 was modelled as real gas with Refrigerant Gas Property tables generated over the appropriate pressure and temperature ranges using NIST Refprop database. CFD studies were carried out over a range of mass flow rates and speeds, covering the design and several off-design conditions. The performance maps generated using 3D CFD simulations of the turbine are presented. The geometrical parameters obtained with the mean-line design matched well with that of the 3D turbine design arrived using AxSTREAM. It was observed that the turbine produced 10 MW power at the design condition while passing the required mass flow. CFD studies also showed that the preliminary turbine design achieved a moderate total-to-total efficiency of 80 % at the design condition. The design has potential for further optimization to obtain improved efficiency and for reducing the number of stages from three to two.

On turbulence models and lidar measurements for wind turbine control

To provide comprehensive information that will assist in making decisions regarding the adoption of lidar-assisted control (LAC) in wind turbine design, this paper investigates the impact of different turbulence models on the coherence between the rotor-effective wind speed and lidar measurement. First, the differences between the Kaimal and Mann models are discussed, including the power spectrum and spatial coherence. Next, two types of lidar systems are examined to analyze the lidar measurement coherence based on commercially available lidar scan patterns. Finally, numerical simulations have been performed to compare the lidar measurement coherence for different rotor sizes. This work confirms the association between the measurement coherence and the turbulence model. The results indicate that the lidar measurement coherence with the Mann turbulence model is lower than that with the Kaimal turbulence model. In other words, the potential value creation of LAC based on simulations during the wind turbine design phase, evaluated using the Kaimal turbulence model, will be diminished if the Mann turbulence model is used instead. In particular, the difference in coherence is more significant for larger rotors. As a result, this paper suggests that the impacts of different turbulence models should be considered uncertainties while evaluating the benefits of LAC.