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At least 505 records · Page 28

Experimental and computational results from a large low-speed centrifugal impeller

An experimental and computational investigation of the NASA Low-Speed Centrifugal Compressor (LSCC) flow field has been conducted using laser anemometry and Dawes' 3D viscous code. The experimental configuration consists of a backswept impeller followed by a vaneless diffuser. Measurements of the three-dimensional velocity field were acquired at several measurement planes through the compressor. The measurements describe both the throughflow and secondary velocity field along each measurement plane and in several cases provide details of the flow within the blade boundary layers. The experimental and computational results provide a clear understanding of the development of the throughflow momentum wake which is characteristic of centrifugal compressors.

Hathaway, M. D.↗

Method and apparatus for rapid thrust increases in a turbofan engine

Upon a landing approach, the normal compressor stator schedule of a fan speed controlled turbofan engine is temporarily varied to substantially close the stators to thereby increase the fuel flow and compressor speed in order to maintain fan speed and thrust. This running of the compressor at an off-design speed substantially reduces the time required to subsequently advance the engine speed to the takeoff thrust level by advancing the throttle and opening the compressor stators.

Cornett, J. E.↗

Experimental and computational results from a large low-speed centrifugal impeller

An experimental and computational investigation of the NASA Low-Speed Centrifugal Compressor (LSCC) flow field was conducted using laser anemometry and Dawes' 3D viscous code. The experimental configuration consists of a back-swept impeller followed by a vaneless diffuser. Measurements of the three-dimensional velocity field were acquired at several measurement planes through the compressor. The measurements describe both the throughflow and secondary velocity field along each measurement plane and, in several cases, provide details of the flow within the blade boundary layers. The experimental and computational results provide a clear understanding of the development of the throughflow momentum wake which is characteristic of centrifugal compressors.

Hathaway, M. D.↗

Preliminary Results of an Altitude-Wind-Tunnel Investigation of an Axial-Flow Gas Turbine-Propeller Engine: Compressor and Turbine Performance Characteristics - 4

As part of an investigation of the performance and operational characteristics of the axial-flow gas turbine-propeller engine, conducted in the Cleveland altitude wind tunnel, the performance characteristics of the compressor and the turbine were obtained. The data presented were obtained at a compressor-inlet ram-pressure ratio of 1.00 for altitudes from 5000 to 35,000 feet, engine speeds from 8000 to 13,000 rpm, and turbine-inlet temperatures from 1400 to 2100 R. The highest compressor pressure ratio obtained was 6.15 at a corrected air flow of 23.7 pounds per second and a corrected turbine-inlet temperature of 2475 R. Peak adiabatic compressor efficiencies of about 77 percent were obtained near the value of corrected air flow corresponding to a corrected engine speed of 13,000 rpm. This maximum efficiency may be somewhat low, however, because of dirt accumulations on the compressor blades. A maximum adiabatic turbine efficiency of 81.5 percent was obtained at rated engine speed for all altitudes and turbine-inlet temperatures investigated.

Wallner, Lewis E.↗

Internal flow characteristics of a multistage compressor with inlet pressure distortion

The measured distribution of compressor interstage pressures and temperatures resulting from a 180 deg inlet-total-pressure distortion for a J85-13 turbojet engine is reported. Extensive inner stage instrumentation combined with stepwise rotation of the inlet distortion gave data of high circumferential resolution. The steady-state pressures and temperatures along with the amplitude, extent, and location of the distorted areas are given. Data for 80, 90, and 100 percent of rotor design speed are compared with clean (undistorted) inlet flow conditions to show pressure and temperature behavior within the compressor. Both overall and stagewise compressor performances vary only slightly when clean and distorted inlet conditions are compared. Total and static pressure distortions increase in amplitude in the first few stages of the compressor and then attenuate fairly uniformly to zero at the discharge. Total-temperature distortion induced by the pressure distortion reached a maximum amplitude by the first two stages and decayed only a little through the rest of the compressor. Distortion amplitude tended to peak in line with the screen edges, and, except for total and static pressure in the tip zone, there was little swirl in the axial direction.

Debogdan, C. E.↗

An Investigation of Surge in a High-Speed Centrifugal Compressor Using Digital PIV

Compressor stall is a catastrophic breakdown of the flow in a compressor, which can lead to a loss of engine power, large pressure transients in the inlet/nacelle and engine flameout. The implementation of active or passive strategies for controlling rotating stall and surge can significantly extend the stable operating range of a compressor without substantially sacrificing performance. It is crucial to identify the dynamic changes occurring in the flow field prior to rotating stall and surge in order to successfully control these events. Generally, pressure transducer measurements are made to capture the transient response of a compressor prior to rotating stall. In this investigation, Digital Particle Imaging Velocimetry (DPIV) is used in conjunction with dynamic pressure transducers to simultaneously capture transient velocity and pressure measurements in the non-stationary flow field during compressor surge. DPIV is an instantaneous, planar measurement technique which is ideally suited for studying transient flow phenomena in high speed turbomachinery and has been used previously to successfully map the stable operating point flow field in the diffuser of a high speed centrifugal compressor. Through the acquisition of both DPIV images and transient pressure data, the time evolution of the unsteady flow during surge is revealed.

Wernet, Mark P.↗

Performance of Compressor of XJ-41-V Turbojet Engine: Compressor Static-Pressure Rise at Equivalent Compressor Speeds of 5000, 7000, 8000, and 9000 rpm - 3

At the request of the Air Materiel Command, Army Air Forces, an investigation is being conducted at the NACA Cleveland laboratory to determine the performance characteristics of the XJ-41-V turbojet-engine compressor. The static-pressure variation in the direction of flow through the compressor was presented in reference 1 for an equivalent speed of 8000 rpm. An analysis of these pressure indicated that the maximum-flow limitation of the compressor was caused by separation, which reduced the effective flow area at the vaned-collector entrance. As a result of this analysis, the flow area at the vaned-collector entrance was increased to obtain larger mass flows. The area increase was obtained by cutting back the entrance edges of the collector vanes, which resulted in an increased vaneless-diffuser radius. Comparative performance of the original and revised compressors at an equivalent speed of 8000 rpm is presented. The static-pressure rise through the compressor, determined from static pressures at the impeller entrance and the vaned-collector exit, is also presented together with the compressor adiabatic efficiency and the mass flow over an equivalent speed range from 5000 to 9000 rpm. These static-pressure data are presented for the purpose of correlating the compressor performance with the turbojet-engine performance.

Creagh, John W. R.↗

An Investigation of Surge in a High-Speed Centrifugal Compressor Using Digital PIV

Compressor stall is a catastrophic breakdown of the flow in a compressor, which con lead to a loss of engine power, large pressure transients in the inlet/nacelle, and engine flameout. The implementation of active or passive strategies for controlling rotating stall and surge can significantly extend the stable operating range of a compressor without substantially sacrificing performance. It is crucial to identify the dynamic changes occurring in the flow field prior to rotating stall and surge in order to control these events successfully. Generally, pressure transducer measurements are made to capture the transient response of a compressor prior to rotating stall. In this investigation, Digital Particle Imaging Velocimetry (DPIV) is used in conjunction with dynamic pressure transducers to capture transient velocity and pressure measurements simultaneously in the nonstationary flow field during compressor surge. DPIV is an instantaneous, planar measurement technique that is ideally suited for studying transient flow phenomena in highspeed turbomachinery and has been used previously to map the stable operating point flow field in the diffuser of a high-speed centrifugal compressor. Through the acquisition of both DPIV images and transient pressure data, the time evolution of the unsteady flow during surge is revealed.

Wernet, Mark P.↗

Verification of 3D viscous/turbulent codes for internal flows

A computational fluid dynamics code is validated using data obtained through a nonintrusive laser Doppler velocimeter. A space marching technique and a parabolic marching technique are use to calculate the flow in a compressor using compressible and incompressible flow assumptions. In a viewgraph format, both computational fluid dynamics techniques and experimental data are compared to each other.

Lakshminarayana, B.↗

Active control of Boundary Layer Separation & Flow Distortion in Adverse Pressure Gradient Flows via Supersonic Microjets

Inlets to aircraft propulsion systems must supply flow to the compressor with minimal pressure loss, flow distortion or unsteadiness. Flow separation in internal flows such as inlets and ducts in aircraft propulsion systems and external flows such as over aircraft wings, is undesirable as it reduces the overall system performance. The aim of this research has been to understand the nature of separation and more importantly, to explore techniques to actively control this flow separation. In particular, the use of supersonic microjets as a means of controlling boundary layer separation was explored. The geometry used for the early part of this study was a simple diverging Stratford ramp, equipped with arrays of supersonic microjets. Initial results, based on the mean surface pressure distribution, surface flow visualization and Planar Laser Scattering (PLS) indicated a reverse flow region. We implemented supersonic microjets to control this separation and flow visualization results appeared to suggest that microjets have a favorable effect, at least to a certain extent. However, the details of the separated flow field were difficult to determine based on surface pressure distribution, surface flow patterns and PLS alone. It was also difficult to clearly determine the exact influence of the supersonic microjets on this flow. In the latter part of this study, the properties of this flow-field and the effect of supersonic microjets on its behavior were investigated in further detail using 2-component (planar) Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). The results clearly show that the activation of microjets eliminated flow separation and resulted in a significant increase in the momentum of the fluid near the ramp surface. Also notable is the fact that the gain in momentum due to the elimination of flow separation is at least an order of magnitude larger (two orders of magnitude larger in most cases) than the momentum injected by the microjets and is accomplished with very little mass flow through the microjets.

Alvi, Farrukh S.↗

Inlet flow test calibration for a small axial compressor rig. Part 2: CFD compared with experimental results

An axial compressor test rig has been designed for the operation of small turbomachines. A flow test was run to calibrate and determine the source and magnitudes of the loss mechanisms in the compressor inlet for a highly loaded two-stage axial compressor test. Several flow conditions and inlet guide vane (IGV) angle settings were established, for which detailed surveys were completed. Boundary layer bleed was also provided along the casing of the inlet behind the support struts and ahead of the IGV. Several computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculations were made for selected flow conditions established during the test. Good agreement between the CFD and test data were obtained for these test conditions.

Miller, D. P.↗

Investigation of turbines for driving supersonic compressors II : performance of first configuration with 2.2 percent reduction in nozzle flow area / Warner L. Stewart, Harold J. Schum, Robert Y. Wong

The experimental performance of a modified turbine for driving a supersonic compressor is presented and compared with the performance of the original configuration to illustrate the effect of small changes in the ratio of nozzle-throat area to rotor-throat area. Performance is based on the performance of turbines designed to operate with both blade rows close to choking. On the basis of the results of this investigation, the ratio of areas is concluded to become especially critical in the design of turbines such as those designed to drive high-speed, high-specific weight-flow compressors where the turbine nozzles and rotor are both very close to choking.

TURBINES--MIXED FLOW↗

A FORTRAN program for calculating three dimensional, inviscid and rotational flows with shock waves in axial compressor blade rows: User's manual

A FORTRAN-IV computer program was developed for the calculation of the inviscid transonic/supersonic flow field in a fully three dimensional blade passage of an axial compressor rotor or stator. Rotors may have dampers (part span shrouds). MacCormack's explicit time marching method is used to solve the unsteady Euler equations on a finite difference mesh. This technique captures shocks and smears them over several grid points. Input quantities are blade row geometry, operating conditions and thermodynamic quanities. Output quantities are three velocity components, density and internal energy at each mesh point. Other flow quanities are calculated from these variables. A short graphics package is included with the code, and may be used to display the finite difference grid, blade geometry and static pressure contour plots on blade to blade calculation surfaces or blade suction and pressure surfaces. The flow in a low aspect ratio transonic compressor was analyzed and compared with high response total pressure probe measurements and gas fluorescence static density measurements made in the MIT blowdown wind tunnel. These comparisons show that the computed flow fields accurately model the measured shock wave locations and overall aerodynamic performance.

Thompkins, W. T., Jr.↗

Mathematical Relationships Between Two Sets of Laser Anemometer Measurements for Resolving the Total Velocity Vector

The mathematical relations between the measured velocity fields for the same compressor rotor flow field resolved by two fringe type laser anemometers at different observational locations are developed in this report. The relations allow the two sets of velocity measurements to be combined to produce a total velocity vector field for the compressor rotor. This report presents the derivation of the mathematical relations, beginning with the specification of the coordinate systems and the velocity projections in those coordinate systems. The vector projections are then transformed into a common coordinate system. The transformed vector coordinates are then combined to determine the total velocity vector. A numerical example showing the solution procedure is included.

Owen, Albert K.↗