Experimental And Numerical Studies Of Unsteady Heat Transfer In A Transonic Turbine

Author : Stephen M. Molter
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 322 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (144 download)

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Download or read book Heat Transfer in the Blade Row and Tip Region of a Modern Transonic High Pressure Turbine with and Without Forward Cavity Purge Flow written by Stephen M. Molter and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Abstract: A full scale rotating turbine rig operated at design corrected conditions has been used to study the heat transfer mechanisms affecting the flowpath surfaces within a modem single stage high-pressure (HP) turbine. The experimental rig was first run completely un-cooled and is currently being re-constructed to accommodate HP vane airfoil and endwall cooling and inner-stage cavity purge flow injection. Heat flux and pressure data were measured for both a flat and recessed, or squealer, HP blade tip and the stationary shroud above. The measurements indicate that the recessed tip, used in the majority of modem turbines to minimize blade damage from rubs, increases the blade heat load overall, and creates several hot spots on the floor of the recess for an un-cooled airfoil. The tip data also showed there were significant unsteady variations in the heat load at the vane passing frequency. Steady state CFD calculations were completed for both flat and squealer tip configurations to examine if the analysis could capture the details that were measured. The CFD, while not capable of estimating the unsteady heat load component and generally over predicting the overall heat flux by 10-25%, did capture the measured heat flux trends in the recessed tip. The steady state CFD prediction did show good agreement with the time-accurate data along the stationary shroud. These results show that steady-state CFD analysis can be useful in predicting the complex flow field and heat load distribution in turbine blade tips to help guide future blade designs. Pre-test CFD predictions were also performed for the upcoming series of experiments that include replacing the un-cooled vane row with a fully cooled HP vane row and the introduction of HP blade forward cavity purge flow, while leaving the HP blade un-cooled. The focus of the steady state predictions for the HP blade row was two fold; to assist in guiding the placement of new heat flux and pressure instrumentation and to study the cold flow migration through the HP blade row. Adiabatic wall temperature and Nusselt number predictions along the blade surface showed large radial, or spanwise, gradients, mostly along the suction side of the blade. Surface visualization on the suction side of the blade revealed two bands of cooler regions located at the upper and lower spans, with the middle spans being hotter, comparable to the pressure side. The lower band of cool flow is a result of the forward cavity purge flow, which mostly migrates to the suction side of the blade passage. By the trailing edge of the blade the purge flow has migrated upwards to an extent of approximately 20% of the blade span surface. The upper band of cool flow is a result of the cooling flow from the HP vane outer endwall. Blade tip secondary flows and the tip leakage vortex act to entrain this cool flow into the tip gap, resulting in its migration to the suction side of the blade. Due to a downward migration of the tip vortex along the suction side through the blade row, this cool band along the airfoil surface affects the upper 20% of the blade span. Results from the pre-test CFD predictions were also analyzed along the blade platform and rim seal surfaces. Migration of the forward cavity purge flow towards the suction side increases the Nusselt number along the rim seal and platform in these areas. Adiabatic wall temperatures on the platform surface were reasonably constant and lower than those on the blade surface, an effect of a portion of the purge flow being entrained into the platform boundary layer. Pressure asymmetries along the rim seal created circumferential variations in the local purge mass flow rates, with the leading edge of blade being the location of highest pressure and thus lower purge injection. Results also indicate the possibility of hot gas ingestion into the upper region of the rim seal at the leading edge. When data is available from the updated turbine rig, the comparisons will help to further validate this code as a useful design tool.