Experimental performance evaluation of a 99.0 mm radial inflow nozzled turbine at larger stator-rotor throat area ratios

Abstract Following on from experimental data already presented by Spence and Artt in 1997, further comprehensive performance tests were carried out on a 99.0 mm radial turbine with three larger vaned stators. The results have helped to confirm some of the trends noted in the earlier tests. Measurements of the efficiency, mass flowrate and rotor pressure ratio are presented together with the results of a simple loss analysis. For smaller stator sizes the turbine mass flowrate is shown to be proportional to the stator throat area. The significance of the stator-rotor throat area ratio is examined and its dependence on the stage pressure ratio is noted.