Performance analysis of a transonic high-pressure turbine

Abstract Efficiency is a crucial design parameter in any turbine development. This research presents a detailed investigation on the efficiency of a modern transonic high-pressure turbine. The work focuses on the study of the efficiency loss at different stage loading factors (ranging from ΔH/U2 = 1.3 to 2.7) and various flow factors (Vax/U = 0.41 to 0.90). In particular, the present research is of utmost importance to understand the effect of the vane trailing edge shocks in the turbine stage efficiency. The experimental work was carried out in a compression tube facility that allows testing of the turbine at temperature ratios, Re and Mach numbers, encountered in real engines. The efficiency is measured by the mechanical method. Experiments were performed with two different vanes (cooled and uncooled) at two stagger angles, four rotational speeds (4570–6500 r/min) and three pressure ratios (p01/Ps3 ranging from 2.42 to 5.12). The effect of the change of reaction and rotor incidence is correlated with the performance. Three-dimensional Navier-Stokes calculations aid the interpretation of the results.

[1]  J. H. Horlock,et al.  Calculations of Cooled Turbine Efficiency , 2006 .

[2]  G. R. Guenette,et al.  Aerodynamic Performance Measurements of a Fully-Scaled Turbine in a Short Duration Facility , 2000 .

[3]  M. R. Vanco,et al.  Results From Tests on a High Work Transonic Turbine for an Energy Efficient Engine , 1980 .

[4]  U. Okapuu,et al.  Influence of Rotor Blade Aerodynamic Loading on the Performance of a Highly Loaded Turbine Stage , 1987 .

[5]  H. Lomax,et al.  Thin-layer approximation and algebraic model for separated turbulent flows , 1978 .

[6]  G. Guenette,et al.  Turbine aerodynamic performance measurements in short duration facilities , 1989 .

[7]  J. Dunham,et al.  Improvements to the Ainley-Mathieson Method of Turbine Performance Prediction , 1970 .

[8]  S. H. Moustapha,et al.  The Design and Performance of a High Work Research Turbine , 1995 .

[9]  M. R. Litchfield,et al.  The design, performance and analysis of a high work capacity transonic turbine , 1985 .

[10]  S. H. Moustapha,et al.  Off-Design Performance of a Single-Stage Transonic Turbine , 1999 .

[11]  U. Okapuu,et al.  A Mean Line Prediction Method for Axial Flow Turbine Efficiency , 1982 .

[12]  S. H. Moustapha,et al.  The Effect of Secondary Air Injection on the Performance of a Transonic Turbine Stage , 2002 .

[13]  John D. Denton,et al.  The 1993 IGTI Scholar Lecture: Loss Mechanisms in Turbomachines , 1993 .

[14]  U. Okapuu.  Some Results From Tests on a High Work Axial Gas Generator Turbine , 1974 .

[15]  Andrea Arnone,et al.  Viscous Analysis of Three-Dimensional Rotor Flow Using a Multigrid Method , 1993 .