Hamed Ghandi, Reza Aghaei Togh and Abolghasem Mesgarpoor Tousi
The blade profile and its geometrical features play an important role in the separation of the boundary layer on the blade. Modifying the blade geometry, which might lead to the…
Abstract
Purpose
The blade profile and its geometrical features play an important role in the separation of the boundary layer on the blade. Modifying the blade geometry, which might lead to the delay or elimination of the flow separation, can be considered as a passive flow control methodology. This study aims to find a novel and inexpensive way to reduce loss with appropriate modifications on the leading edge of the turbine blade.
Design/methodology/approach
Three types of wave leading edges were designed with different wavelengths and amplitudes. The selected numbers for the wave characteristics were based on the best results of previous studies. Models with appropriate and independent meshing have been simulated and studied by a commercial software. The distribution of the loss at different planes and mid-plane velocity vectors were shown. The mass flow average of loss at different incidence angles was calculated for the reference blade and modified ones for the sake of comparison.
Findings
The results show that in all three types of modified blades compared to the reference blade, the elimination of flow separation is observed and therefore the reduction of loss at the critical incidence angle of I = –15°. As the amplitude of the wave increased, the amount of loss growing up, while the increase in wavelength caused the loss to decrease.
Originality/value
The results of the present numerical analysis were validated by the laboratory results of the reference blade. The experimental study of modified blades can be used to quantify numerical solutions.
Details
Keywords
Reza Aghaei tog and Abolghasem Mesgarpoor Tousi
This study aims to presenting an empirical model for partially admitted turbine efficiency. When the design mass-flow rate is too small that a normal full-admission design would…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to presenting an empirical model for partially admitted turbine efficiency. When the design mass-flow rate is too small that a normal full-admission design would give very-small blade height, it may be advantageous to use partial admission. The losses due to partial admission with long blades may be less than the losses due to leakage and low Reynolds-number of the full-admission turbines with short blades. The turbine efficiency is highly dependent on the degree of partial admission. The empirical model of turbine efficiency is necessary for simulation and analysis of dynamic performances of the turbine system. In this work, appropriate empirical loss correlations are introduced and a proper model is proposed for turbine efficiency.
Design/methodology/approach
Experimental and numerical tests are conducted to evaluate the proposed model and the results are compared with the results of existing models. In this work, the effect of nozzles overlapping on the flow pattern is emphasized. Therefore, various models with different degrees of overlapping are simulated and their effects on the turbine efficiency are subsequently evaluated.
Findings
A suitable cubic polynomial expression for small axial supersonic turbine efficiency in experiments is suggested. The overlapping nozzles cause change in the flow pattern and the entropy distribution. Therefore, any change in the degree of overlapping of nozzles changes the efficiency of the turbine.
Research limitations/implications
In this work, time-consuming numerous experimental and numerical tests of the turbine are required.
Practical implications
Implication of a proper formula for a partially admitted turbine may result in enhanced prediction and dynamic performance evaluation of the test turbine.
Originality/value
A proper empirical model for a partially admitted supersonic turbine is introduced. This model is suitable for one blocked partially admitted turbine with Mach number between 1.2 and 1.8.
Details
Keywords
Reza Aghaei tog and Abolghasem Mesgarpoor Tousi
This paper is concerned with improving the flow pattern in the nozzle-rotor axial gap in impulse turbines using a genetic algorithm (GA) and 3D numerical analysis. The paper aims…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper is concerned with improving the flow pattern in the nozzle-rotor axial gap in impulse turbines using a genetic algorithm (GA) and 3D numerical analysis. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
The appropriate model was used to estimate the turbine performance introduced in the beginning of the work. Then, the nozzle design parameters that are effective in the axial gap flow pattern are optimized using a non-linear optimization code. This code works based on the GA theory. Since the GA results are not conclusive, the selected cases were evaluated using 3D numerical analysis. For a detailed comparison of the flow pattern in initial and improved cases, a transient analysis was done. Experimental tests were performed in order to validate the work. For this purpose, the characteristic curves of the turbines were studied and compared with each other.
Findings
Improving the nozzle-rotor axial gap flow pattern leading to increase in the total-to-total efficiency of the turbine by more than two points.
Research limitations/implications
Partially injected flow forced to use the full model computational analysis.
Practical implications
Weight reduction in a feeding system.
Originality/value
New loss modeling method presented for partial admission condition.