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[kg/m3]
[-]
cf
[-]
TF
[-]
Geometric parameter:
1
[]
incoming flow angle
2
[]
out going flow angle
S
[]
stagger angle
t
[m]
pitch
c
[m]
vane chord
h
[m]
vane height
x
[m]
axial coordinate
u
[m]
circumferential coordinate
z
[m]
vane height coordinate
Mach number
Reynolds number
total pressure
static pressure
dynamic pressure
density
total pressure loss coefficient
skin friction coefficient
transition coefficient
Introduction
A better knowledge about the flow phenomena in turbomachine cascades is necessary to improve the efficiency.
The basic for experimental investigations of the phenomena is the two dimensional cascades. This cascade is a
simplification as a result of a coaxial cylinder barrel cut of a three dimensional cascade. Since the 1950s,
systematic studies of the flow in two dimensional cascades were performed with the mainly objects of the
influence of compressibility, Mach number, Reynolds number and turbulence on cascade flow [7], [9].
Furthermore secondary flow phenomena and cascade losses were investigated. Especially in the 1960s the
attention were turned to profile loss investigation to decrease the total losses of a compressor stage. Additional
investigations of secondary flow phenomena were performed in the early 1990s. [3], [6], [11].
Another major source of losses in a compressor cascade is the separation between the side wall and the vane
(i.e. corner separation) caused by the interference between the wall and vane boundary layer and the high
positive pressure gradient in flow direction. The current experiments were performed with the objective of
understanding the fluid mechanic mechanism of corner separation and of detecting reference results to permit
more investigations in order to improve the efficiency. In addition to the experiments, numeric computations
were carried out with the aim of better visualization and understanding of the flow. Due to the small dimension
of the test section and the influence of probes in the flow the accessibility for measurements are limited. By
means of CFD we obtained more information about flow parameters e.g. the pressure distribution at the vane
and the comparison between computed and measured results allowed us to validate the used flow solver also.
Figure 1: High speed wind tunnel connected to compressor cascade test section
2
The test section of the channel with the connected cascade as shown in figure 2 has some special features, which
permit the variation of several parameters.
The incoming flow angle 1 can be adjusted separately from the stagger angle S. This allows the usage of
different blade geometries, with the same cascade.
Boundary layer suction at all four channel walls is possible and can be adjusted separately (figure 2). The
suction at the upper and bottom walls allows the adjustment of the static pressure over the channel height.
Thereby a homogeneous inflow according to an infinite blade cascade is achieved.
Another special feature of this particular test-section is the adjustable boundary layer thickness of the side
walls. The boundary layer thickness can be reduced by suction at the side walls. To increase the boundary layer
thickness the optional spoiler section can be used.
= 0.66
= 132
= 105.2
c
t/c
h/c
= 40 mm
= 0.55
=1
(u , z ) =
p t 1 p t 2 (u , z )
q1
(1)
Cascade Losses
The total pressure loss coefficient ges of a cascade
passage is computed by integration of total
pressure loss coefficient distribution (z) in vane
height direction, which is composed of three parts
of losses, as shown in figure 5 and equation 2: The
side wall boundary layer losses BL, the profile
losses P caused by the friction of flow around the
vane profile with infinite aspect ratio and the
losses due to corner separation SP [1], [4], [8].
ges = P + BL + SP
(2)
Experimental Errors
Systematic errors of the experimental setup can be
assessed. During the experiments only pressure
and temperature were measured. The pressure
measurement chain consists of probes, transducer
and voltmeter. The total pressure probe error
caused by probe inflow angle divergence of 10 amounts to max 0.5% [13], the transducer error to 0.05%
and the voltmeter error is negligible. Thereby a max measurement chain error of the total pressure downstream
of the cascade of 0.55% is possible. Upstream of the cascade the total and static pressure probes error is
negligible, since the inflow angle divergence is less than 5. Hence, the total pressure loss coefficient error
amount to 0.65%. The temperature measurement chain consists of Pt100 Sensor with an error of 0.3K and
Voltmeter with negligible error. Differences caused by wire length will be eliminated by four wire
measurement.
Experiment Results
The experimental investigation was performed to detect the location of corner separation at the selected vane
profile and to measure the value of total pressure losses of a cascade passage. The obtained results serve as
reference for developing appropriate flow control devices and for understanding the secondary flow phenomena.
In a first series measurements were carried out at the design Mach number of 0.66 and inflow angle at peak
efficiency and off design with an incidence of -6.In the presentation an example for positive incidence angle
will be also given. The results are shown in figure 6 and 7. No absolute numbers can be given, since the data
were obtained in cooperation with MTU Aero Engines. Nevertheless the main information can be obtained from
the figures. In figure 6 and 7 the local total pressure loss coefficient distribution (u,z) (mass flow averaged) in
the wake, the measured outflow angles and the total pressure loss distribution (z) in vane height direction are
shown. The red and magenta areas present high losses and the blue areas less losses.
trailing
edge
pressure side
-0.5
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
0.8
outflow angle
[]
outflow angle
total pressure loss coefficient
[]
pressure side
-0.5
(upstream view)
(mass flow averared)
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
(upstream view)
(mass flow averared)
0.2
0.4
0.6
The high loss areas in the corner between wall and vane (relative cascade pitch u/t = 0 is equivalent to trailing
edge position of the vane) in both figures present the losses caused by corner separation. An increase of profile
losses and the displacement of corner loss areas due to incidence from design point are identifiable too. The
profile loss increase is caused by the visible increase of the wake expansion at the pressure side (figure 7, upper
diagram). In the flow visualisation (figure 9, lower picture) a flow separation on the pressure side near the
leading edge can be seen, which also explain the loss increase.
ges
[-]
peak efficiency
- incidence +
inflow angle 1 []
Numerical Investigation
The numerical investigations were performed at MTU Aero Engines in Munich. For the numerical simulation a
structured OCH grid [12] consisting of five blocks with 784000 nodes was generated. The computations were
carried out with TRACE, a parallel Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes flow solver, which has been developed
for the simulation of turbomachinery flow[14].
leading edge
trailing edge
incoming
flow
area of
corner
separation
laminar separation
turbulent reattachment
Figure 11: Computed static pressure distribution and strike lines on suction side of the
vane at design point (Ma1= 0.66)
Numerical Results
The incoming flow parameters for the simulation
are based on cascade measurements at the DLR in
Berlin. For the stationary computation, which was
carried out at design point of the cascade the k-
turbulence model and the Drela modified Abu
Ghannam & Shaw transition model was used [14]
and the transition was allowed on the whole blade
surface. In figure 11 the computed pressure
distribution and strike lines on suction side of the
vane is shown whereas the blue area is equivalent
to peak suction. The laminar separation bubble on
the suction side as indicated in figure 8 is also
visible in figure 11. This interpretation is
confirmed by the skin friction coefficient cf and the
transition coefficient shown in figure 12. At the
point of laminar separation the skin friction
coefficient cf becomes negative and the transition
la m ina r se pa ra tion
0 .0 1
0 .0 2
CF
TF
tu rbu le n t re a tta ch m e n t
0 .0 3
P
CF
TF
le a ding e dg e
tra iling e d ge
mean outflow
positions was
and measured
figure 13 and
outflow angle 2 []
TRACE Computation
Measurement
Conclusions
Experimental investigations of secondary flow on compressor cascade blades were performed. Thereby the
In addition a numerical investigation was carried out. The comparison between computed and measured
results is showing a very good agreement. The numerical simulation yields more information about the
separating flow region and improves the understanding of the investigated flow phenomena substantially.
Finally a better understanding of structure and development mechanism of corner losses was achieved.
Acknowledgments
The investigations reported in this paper were performed within a cooperation project with MTU Aero Engines
in Munich. In this manner we would like to thank for the good cooperation.
References
[1]
[2]
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Spalt- und Sekundrstrmung in Verdichtergittern, PhD Thesis, Universitt der Bundeswehr Mnchen,
1996; Germany
[4] MEYER R., BECHERT D.W., HAGE W.: Secondary Flow Control on Compressor Blades to improve the
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Thermodynamics, Prague, March 2003
[5] MEYER R.: Versuchsaufbau und Auswerteverfahren fr ebene Verdichtergitter mit
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[6]
[7]
[8]
SCHOLZ N.: ber den Einflu der Schaufelhhe auf die Randverluste in Schaufelgittern, DK
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[9]
SCHOLZ N.: ber die Durchfhrung systematischer Messungen an ebenen Schaufelgittern, Zeitschrift fr
Flugwissenschaften, October 1956
[13] WUEST W.: Strmungsmetechnik, Vieweg & Sohn Verlag, Braunschweig, 1969
[14] DLR IB-325-05-05: TRACE USERs MANUAL, Numerical Simulation Group, Institute of Propulsion
Technology, DLR, Cologne, March 2005
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