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At least 451 records · Page 25

Influence of stationary components on unsteady flow in industrial centrifugal compressors

An experimental investigation was performed to determine the characteristics of the onset and the growth of rotating nonuniform flow in a standard low specific speed stage, normally utilized in high pressure applications, in relation to change of stationary component geometry. Four configurations, differing only in the return channel and crossover geometry were tested on an atmospheric pressure open loop test rig. Experimental results make conspicious the effect of return channel geometry and give the possibility of shifting the unstable zone onset varying such geometry. An attempt was made to interpret the experimental results in the Emmons - Stenning's rotating stall theory.

Bonciani, L.↗

Three-dimensional flow calculation for a transonic compressor rotor

A numerical calculation of the steady, inviscid, three dimensional flow in a isolated transonic compressor rotor has been completed using MacCormack's second order accurate time-marching scheme. This rotor has a tip Mach number of 1.2, an overall diameter of 2 feet, and inlet hub/tip ratio of 0.5. The computed rotor total pressure ratio is 1.82. Comparisons between the numerical solution, measurements of the intra-blade static density field obtained by gas fluorescence, and time resolved exit flow measurements showed that the inviscid computation accurately models transonic rotor aerodynamics and rotor blade pressure distributions in the upstream portions of the blade passages, the viscous effects influencing mainly the downstream flow.

Thompkins, W. T., Jr.↗

Effect of particle presence on the incompressible inviscid flow through a two dimensional compressor cascade

A computational model is developed for calculating the flow field, in the presence of solid particles, through a two-dimensional compressor cascade. Results show that the effect of solid particles on the flow field contributes to the bending of the streamlines toward the blade suction surface. It is determined that the difference in the pressure coefficient for particulate flow, with 165 micron diameter for the particles, is of the order of 3 percent over the air only flow. The change in the pressure coefficients is shown to be much larger for very small particles. It was found that the total pressure loss associated with the particulate flow is very high for very small particles as compared with large particles. The total pressure loss is also shown to be higher for accelerating flow than for decelerating flow. The total pressure loss is shown to be directly proportional to the particle concentration. It is concluded that significant reductions in performance can occur in a real multistage machine due to the changes in the pressure ratios, particularly if the suspended matter is small particles.

Balan, C.↗

Critical review of the trailing edge condition in steady and unsteady flow. Blade flutter in compressors and fans: Numerical simulation of the aerodynamic loading

Existing interpretations of the trailing edge condition, addressing both theoretical and experimental works in steady, as well as unsteady flows are critically reviewed. The work of Kutta and Joukowski on the trailing edge condition in steady flow is reviewed. It is shown that for most practical airfoils and blades (as in the case of most turbomachine blades), this condition is violated due to rounded trailing edges and high frequency effects, the flow dynamics in the trailing edge region being dominated by viscous forces; therefore, any meaningful modelling must include viscous effects. The question of to what extent the trailing edge condition affects acoustic radiation from the edge is raised; it is found that violation of the trailing edge condition leads to significant sound diffraction at the tailing edge, which is related to the problem of noise generation. Finally, various trailing edge conditions in unsteady flow are discussed, with emphasis on high reduced frequencies.

Radwan, S. F.↗

Numerical simulation of compressor endwall and casing treatment flow phenomena

A numerical study is presented of the flow in the endwall region of a compressor blade row, in conditions of operation with both smooth and grooved endwalls. The computations are first compared to velocity field measurements in a cantilevered stator/rotating hub configuration to confirm that the salient features are captured. Computations are then interrogated to examine the tip leakage flow structure since this is a dominant feature of the endwall region. In particular, the high blockage that can exist near the endwalls at the rear of a compressor blade passage appears to be directly linked to low total pressure fluid associated with the leakage flow. The fluid dynamic action of the grooved endwall, representative of the casing treatments that have been most successful in suppressing stall, is then simulated computationally and two principal effects are identified. One is suction of the low total pressure, high blockage fluid at the rear of the passage. The second is energizing of the tip leakage flow, most notably in the core of the leakage vortex, thereby suppressing the blockage at its source.

Crook, A. J.↗

Aerodynamic and mechanical design of an 8:1 pressure ratio centrifugal compressor

A high-pressure-ratio, low-mass-flow centrifugal compressor stage was designed, fabricated, and tested. The design followed specifications that the stage be representative of state-of-the-art performance and that the stage is to be used as a workhorse compressor for planned experiments using laser Doppler velocimeter equipment. The final design is a 75,000-RPM, 19-blade impeller with an axial inducer and 30 degrees of backward leaning at the impeller tip. The compressor design was tested for two- and/or quasi-three-dimensional aerodynamic and stress characteristics. Critical speed analyses were performed for the high speed rotating impeller assembly. An optimally matched, 17-channel vane island diffuser was also designed and built.

Osborne, C.↗

Surge Flow in a Centrifugal Compressor Measured by Digital Particle Image Velocimetry

A planar optical velocity measurement technique known as Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) is being used to study transient events in compressors. In PIV, a pulsed laser light sheet is used to record the positions of particles entrained in a fluid at two instances in time across a planar region of the flow. Determining the recorded particle displacement between exposures yields an instantaneous velocity vector map across the illuminated plane. Detailed flow mappings obtained using PIV in high-speed rotating turbomachinery components are used to improve the accuracy of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, which in turn, are used to guide advances in state-of-the-art aircraft engine hardware designs.

Wernet, Mark P.↗

Analyzing Flow Fields in Axial-Compressor Rotors and Stators

Computer program, BLADE3D, developed for analysis of inviscid threedimensional flow fields in single blade passage of axial-compressor rotor or stator. Applicable to arbitrary axial-compressor hub, tip, and blade geometries, including blades with part-span dampers. Also used for axial turbines but with lowered resolution of flows about blunt leading and trailing edges. Analysis method valid for subsonic, transonic and supersonic flows, including choked flows.

Thompkins, W. J., Jr.↗

Computing Cooling Flows in Turbines

Algorithm developed for calculating both quantity of compressor bleed flow required to cool turbine and resulting decrease in efficiency due to cooling air injected into gas stream. Program intended for use with axial-flow, air-breathing, jet-propulsion engines with variety of airfoil-cooling configurations. Algorithm results compared extremely well with figures given by major engine manufacturers for given bulk-metal temperatures and cooling configurations. Program written in FORTRAN IV for batch execution.

Gauntner, J.↗

Numerical calculation of the internal flow field in a centrifugal compressor impeller

An iterative numerical method has been developed for the calculation of steady, three-dimensional, viscous, compressible flow fields in centrifugal compressor impellers. The computer code, which embodies the method, solves the steady three dimensional, compressible Navier-Stokes equations in rotating, curvilinear coordinates. The solution takes place on blade-to-blade surfaces of revolution which move from the hub to the shroud during each iteration.

Walitt, L.↗

A Navier-Stokes study of shock-boundary layer interaction and flow separation inside a transonic compressor

A numerical study to evaluate a three-dimensional Navier-Stokes method as a tool to predict the detailed flowfield inside a low-aspect-ratio compressor at off-design rotor speed has been conducted. The flow field inside a state-of-the-art transonic compressor is used for the purpose of the evaluation. The experimental study shows that the rotor has higher peak efficiency at 90 percent rotor speed than at 100 percent rotor speed. The details of the flow structure inside the low-aspect-ratio compressor (three-dimensional shock structure, shock-boundary layer interaction, tip leakage vortex, etc.) and the overall aerodynamic performance at various operating conditions are numerically analyzed, and the results are compared with the available experimental data. The numerical results also indicate that the rotor has higher peak efficiency at 90 percent rotor speed than at 100 percent rotor speed. This is due to the reduced shock strength and the reduced interactions among passage shock, tip-clearance vortex and blade boundary layer.

Hah, Chunill↗