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At least 307 records · Page 17

Unsteady three-dimensional Navier-Stokes simulations of turbine rotor-stator interaction

Fluid flows within turbomachinery tend to be extremely complex. Understanding such flows is crucial to efforts to improve current turbomachinery designs, and the computational approach can be used to great advantage in this regard. This study presents a finite-difference, unsteady, thin-layer Navier-Stokes approach to calculating the flow within an axial turbine stage. The relative motion between the stator and rotor airfoils is made possible with the use of patched grids that move relative to each other. The calculation includes end-wall and tip-leakage effects. Results in the form of time-averaged surface pressures, pressure amplitudes (corresponding to the pressure fluctuation in time), near-surface velocity vectors, and pressure contours in the passage areas are presented. The numerical results are compared with experimental data wherever possible, and the agreement between the two is found to be good.

Rai, Man Mohan↗

Three-dimensional Navier-Stokes simulations of turbine rotor-stator interaction

Fluid flows within turbomachinery tend to be extremely complex in nature. Understanding such flows is crucial to improving current designs of turbomachinery. The computational approach can be used to great advantage in understanding flows in turbomachinery. A finite difference, unsteady, thin layer, Navier-Stokes approach to calculating the flow within an axial turbine stage is presented. The relative motion between the stator and rotor airfoils is made possible with the use of patched grids that move relative to each other. The calculation includes endwall and tip leakage effects. An introduction to the rotor-stator problem and sample results in the form of time averaged surface pressures are presented. The numerical data are compared with experimental data and the agreement between the two is found to be good.

Rai, Man Mohan↗

Heat transfer in the tip region of a rotor blade simulator

In gas turbines, the blades of axial turbine stages rotate in close proximity to a stationary peripheral wall. Differential expansion of the turbine wheel, blades, and the shroud causes variations in the size of the clearance gap between blade tip and stationary shroud. The necessity to tolerate this differential thermal expansion dictates that the clearance gap cannot be eliminated altogether, despite accurate engine machining. Pressure differences between the pressure and suction sides of a blade drives a flow through the clearance gap. This flow, the tip leakage flow, is detrimental to engine performance. The primary detrimental effect of tip leakage flow is the reduction of turbine stage efficiency, and a second is the convective heat transfer associated with the flow. The surface area at the blade tip in contact with the hot working gas represents an additional thermal loading on the blade which, together with heat transfer to the suction and pressure side surface area, must be removed by the blade internal cooling flows. Experimental results concerned with the local heat transfer characteristics on all surfaces of shrouded, rectangular cavities are reported. A brief discussion of the mass transfer system used is given.

Chyu, M. K.↗

Turbine rotor/stator flowfield analysis

A numerical study of the unsteady aerodynamic and thermal environment associated with axial turbine stages is presented. Computations are performed using a modification of the ROTOR1 rotor/stator interaction code. Two different turbine states are analyzed: the first state of the United Technologies Research Center large scale rotating rig and the first state of the Space Shuttle main engine (SSME) high pressure fuel turbopump. Time-averaged blade midspan pressure and heat transfer profiles are calculated using the following different surface boundary conditions: adiabatic wall, prescribed wall temperature, and prescribed heat flux. Numerical solutions for the large scale rotating rig are compared with experimental data. Unsteady pressure envelopes are also presented for each geometry. In addition, instantaneous contours are plotted for the SSME configuration.

Griffin, Lisa↗

Grid refinement studies of turbine rotor-stator interaction

Results from a three-dimensional, time-accurate Navier-Stokes simulation of rotor-stator interaction in an axial turbine stage are presented. The present study uses a fine grid in the spanwise direction to better resolve endwall and tip cllearance effects and complements coarse-grid calculations that were reported earlier. A realistic turbine stage with 22 stator vanes and 28 rotor blades is simulated as a single-stator, single-rotor airfoil combination with the stator geometry modified to properly account for blockage effects. This is in contrast to the earlier coarse-grid calculations where the rotor geometry was modified. The improved grid resolution and the unmodified rotor geometry result in a more accurate simulation of the flow field, particularly in the rotor channel where the interaction effects are more severe. The numerical results are compared to experimental data wherever possible and to earlier calculations.

Madavan, N. K.↗

Prediction of the aerodynamic environment and heat transfer for rotor-stator configurations

A numerical study of the aerodynamic and thermal environment associated with axial turbine stages is presented. Computations were performed using a modification of the unsteady viscous code, ROTORI, and an improved version of the steady inviscid cascade system, MERIDL-TSONIC, coupled with boundary layer codes, BLAYER and STAN5. Two different turbine stages were analyzed: the first stage of the United Technologies Research Center Large Scale Rotating Rig (LSRR) and the first stage of the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) high pressure fuel turbopump turbine. The time-averaged airfoil midspan pressure and heat transfer profiles were predicted for numerous thermal boundary conditions including adiabatic wall, prescribed surface temperature, and prescribed heat flux. Computed solutions are compared with each other and with experimental data in the case of the LSRR calculations. Modified ROTORI predictions of unsteady pressure envelopes and instantaneous contour plots are also presented. Relative merits of the two computational approaches are discussed.

Griffin, L. W.↗

A multi-passage three-dimensional Navier-Stokes simulation of turbine rotor-stator interaction

This paper deals with the development and validation of a 3D multipassage Navier-Stokes code for predicting the unsteady effects due to rotor-stator interaction in turbomachines. Prior work in two dimensions has demonstrated the necessity of including multiple rotor and stator passages in order to closely approximate the stator-to-rotor airfoil count ratio and thus accurately predict the unsteady flowfield resulting from rotor-stator interaction. In the present paper, this multipassage capability is extended to three dimensions. Numerical results obtained from a multipassage (three stator and four rotor passage) calculation of an axial turbine stage are presented. The stator-to-rotor airfoil count ratio (3:4) used in the present calculations is a close approximation to that in the actual turbine configuration (22:28). The present multipassage calculation results in a more accurate prediction of the unsteady flowfield than that possible from a single-passage calculation.

Madavan, N. K.↗

Altitude-Wind-Tunnel investigation of Westinghouse 19B-2, 19B-8, and 19XB-1 Jet-Propulsion Engines IV : analysis of compressor performance

Investigations were conducted in the NACA Cleveland altitude wind tunnel to determine the performance and operational characteristics of the 19B-2, 19B-6, and 19XB-1 Turbojet Engines. One objective of the investigations was to determine the effect of altitude, flight Mach number, and tail-pipe-nozzle area on the performance characteristics of the six-stage and ten-stage axial-flow compressors of the 19B-8 and 19XB-1 engines, respectively. The data were obtained over a range of simulated altitudes and flight Mach numbers. At each simulated flight condition the engine was run over its full operable range of speeds. Performance characteristics of the 19B-8 and 19XB-1 compressors for the range of operation obtainable in the turbojet-engine installation are presented. Compressor characteristics are presented as functions of air flow corrected to sea-level conditions, compressor Mach number, and compressor load coefficient.

Dietz, Robert O↗

Experimental Investigation of an Air-Cooled Turbine Operating in a Turbojet Engine at Turbine Inlet Temperatures up to 2500 F

An experimental investigation was made of an air-cooled turbine at average turbine inlet temperatures up to 2500 F. A modified production-model 12-stage axial-flow-compressor turbojet engine operating in a static sea-level stand was used as the test vehicle. The modifications to the engine consisted of the substitution of special combustor and turbine assemblies and double-walled exhaust ducting for the standard parts of the engine. All of these special parts were air-cooled to withstand the high operating temperatures of the investigation. The air-cooled turbine stator and rotor blades were of the corrugated-insert type. Leading-edge tip caps were installed on the rotor blades to improve leading-edge cooling by diverting the discharge of coolant to regions of lower gas pressure toward the trailing edge of the blade tip. Caps varying in length from 0.15- to 0.55-chord length were used in an attempt to determine the optimum cap length for this blade. The engine was operated over a range of average turbine inlet temperatures from about 1600 to about 2500 F, and a range of average coolant-flow ratios of 0.012 to 0.065. Temperatures of the air-cooled turbine rotor blades were measured at all test conditions by the use of thermocouples and temperature-indicating paints. The results of the investigation indicated that this type of blade is feasible for operation in turbojet engines at the average turbine inlet temperatures and stress levels tested(maximums of 2500 F and 24,000 psi, respectively). An average one-third-span blade temperature of 1300 F could be maintained on 0.35-chord tip cap blades with an average coolant-flow ratio of about 0.022 when the average turbine inlet temperature was 2500 F and cooling-air temperature was about 260 F. All of the leading-edge tip cap lengths improved the cooling of the leading-edge region of the blades, particularly at low average coolant-flow ratios. At high gas temperatures, such parts as the turbine stator and the combustor liners are likely to be as critical as the turbine rotor blades.

Cochran, Reeves P.↗

Preliminary Results of Altitude-Wind-Tunnel Investigation of X24C-4B Turbojet Engine. IV - Performance of Modified Compressor: Performance of Modified Compressor - Part 4

The performance of the 11-stage axial-flow compressor, modified to improve the compressor-outlet velocity, in a revised X24C-4B turbojet engine is presented and compared with the performance of the compressor in the original engine. Performance data were obtained from an investigation of the revised engine in the MACA Cleveland altitude wind tunnel. Compressor performance data were obtained for engine operation with four exhaust nozzles of different outlet area at simulated altitudes from 15,OOO to 45,000 feet, simulated flight Mach numbers from 0.24 to 1.07, and engine speeds from 4000 to 12,500 rpm. The data cover a range of corrected engine speeds from 4100 to 13,500 rpm, which correspond to compressor Mach numbers from 0.30 to 1.00.

Thorman, H. Carl↗

Preliminary Results of Altitude-Wind-Tunnel Investigation of X34C-4B Turbojet Engine. III - Compressor Performance: Compressor Performance - 3

The performance of the 11-stage axial-flow compressor in the X24C-4B turbojet engine was analyzed on the basis of results obtained from an investigation of the complete engine in the NACA Cleveland altitude wind tunnel. The engine was operated with four, exhaust nozzles of different outlet area over a range of engine speeds from 6000 to 12,500 rpm, corrected engine speeds from approximately 6100 to 13,600 rpm, and compressor Mach numbers from 0.45 to 1.00. Data are presented for engine operation over a range of simulated altitudes from 15,000 to 45,000 feet and simulated flight Mach numbers from 0.24 to 1.08.

Dupree, David T.↗

Large-Scale Simulations and Detailed Flow Field Measurements for Turbomachinery Aeroacoustics

The presentation is a review of recent work in highly loaded compressors, turbine aeroacoustics and cooling fan noise. The specific topics are: the importance of correct numerical modeling to capture blade row interactions in the Ultra Efficient Engine Technology Proof-of-Concept Compressor, the attenuation of a detonation pressure wave by an aircraft axial turbine stage, current work on noise sources and acoustic attenuation in turbines, and technology development work on cooling fans for spaceflight applications. The topic areas were related to each other by certain themes such as the advantage of an experimentalist s viewpoint when analyzing numerical simulations and the need to improve analysis methods for very large numerical datasets.

VanZante, Dale↗

Thermally-Conductive Metallic Coatings and Applications for Heat Removal on In-Space Cryogenic Vehicles

For large in-space cryogenic upper stages, substantial axial heat removal from a forward skirt by vapor-based heat interception may not be achieved by simple attachment methods unless sufficient thermal conductance from the skirt to the cooling fluid can be achieved. Preferable methods would allow for the addition of the cooling system to existing structure with minimal impact on the structure. Otherwise, significant modification to the basic structural design andor novel and complex attachment mechanisms with high effective thermal conductance are likely to be required. The approach being pursued by evolvable Cryogenics (eCryo) is to increase the thermal performance of a relatively simple attachment system by applying metallic or other thermally conductive material coatings to the mating surface area of the fluid channel where it is attached the skirt wall. The expectation of candidate materials is that the dramatic increase in conductivity of pure metals at temperatures close to liquid hydrogen vapor temperature will compensate for the reduced actual contact area typical of mechanical joints. Basic contact conductance data at low temperatures for candidate interface materials is required to enable the test approach. A test rig was designed at NASA Glenn Research Center to provide thermal contact resistance testing between small sample coupons coated with conductive material via electron beam evaporation, a low-temperature option that will not affect physical properties of base materials. Average coating thicknesses were 10 k. The test fixture was designed to mount directly to a cryocooler cold head within a vacuum test chamber. The purpose of this test was to determine qualitative contact conductance between various test samples. Results from this effort will be implemented in a sub-scale vapor-based heat interception test, where the applicability for increased heat removal on large structural skirts will be considered.

small scale testing↗

Circumferentially-segmented collector usable with a TWT

A TWT collector has axially-positioned collector stages in which at least one of the stages includes a plurality of annularly-arranged stage segments. The collector enhances electron beam velocity sorting by facilitating a combination of (a) selecting axial electric field distributions with application of selected voltages to the axially-positioned collector stages and (b) selecting radial electric field distributions with application of selected voltages to the annularly-arranged stage segments.

Brown, II, Richard A.↗

Compressor blade setting angle accuracy study, volume 1

The aerodynamic test of a small, single stage, highly loaded, axial flow transonic compressor is covered. The stage was modified by fabricating a 24 blade rotor with mis-set blades in a repeating pattern - two degrees closed from nominal, two degrees open from nominal and nominal. The unit was instrumented to determine overall performance and average blade element data. High-response, dynamic pressure probes were installed to record pressure patterns at selected points in the flowpath. Testing was conducted at speeds from 70 to 94% of design equivalent speed with a conventional casing and also with circumferential grooves over the rotor tip. Testing indicated severe performance penalties were incurred as a result of the mis-set blading. Lower flow, pressure ratio, and efficiency were observed for the stage with or without casing treatment. Periodic pressure variations were detected at every location where high response pressure sensors were located and were directly related to blading geometry.

Holman, F. F.↗

Effect of stage loading on endwall flows in an axial flow compressor rotor

This paper reports results from investigations conducted to determine the effect of stage loading on endwall flows in a low speed axial flow compressor. These investigations consisted of two sets of measurements. The first set consisted of radial transverse of flow properties at the rotor inlet and exit, at five flow coefficients. These measurements are used to determine the boundary layer integral parameters. The displacement thicknesses at the rotor hub and tip agree reasonably well with Smith's (1970) correlation for multistage axial compressors. The second set consisted of measurements of static pressures on the rotor blade at four flow coefficients. From these measurements, lift coefficient is determined. Also, loss of lift coefficient near the tip is calculated, and is attributed mainly to the tip leakage flows.

Sitaram, N.↗

Aerodynamic performance of a supersonic throughflow fan stage

The NASA LeRC has begun a program to design, analyze, build, and test a fan stage that can operate with supersonic axial velocities throughout the stage. This report presents the results from the initial experimental evaluation of the supersonic throughflow fan stage. The stage was tested with flows at subsonic and supersonic inlet axial Mach numbers and with rotor speeds at 40 to 100 percent of design speed. Overall performance as well as detailed performance obtained from radially and circumferentially traversing probes downstream of the stator vanes is presented. At the design rotor tip speed of 1500 ft/s and the design Mach number of 2.0, the measured overall pressure ratio was 2.22, and the corresponding adiabatic efficiency was 0.694. Transition from subsonic to supersonic flow was successfully demonstrated at 75, 90, and 100 percent of design speed. In that speed range, the stage 'unstart' (transition from supersonic to subsonic inlet axial conditions) occurred at an inlet axial Mach number of about 1.36, which corresponds to the Mach number at which the stage started.

Royce D Moore↗