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Aerodynamic performance of high-lift blades in low-pressure turbines with periodic upstream wakes

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Abstract

The aerodynamic performance of high-lift blades was experimentally investigated at different Reynolds numbers ranging from 0.8×105 to 1.8×105. Upstream wakes, inherent in real aero-engines, were generated by moving bars operating at reduced frequencies (Fr) of 0.3 and 0.6. Measurements were carried out by pneumatic probes and static pressure taps on the blade surfaces. The results show that high-lift blades experience a significant rise in profile loss under steady conditions, which is mitigated by upstream wakes due to the suppressed separation bubble. The loading distributions relate the non-dimensional flow deceleration rate (DR) to the profile loss. It is found that the variation pattern depends on the flow state, which is classified into parabolic increase, linear increase, and concave parabolic variation. A single hot-wire probe was employed to measure the boundary layer at the trailing edge. The results are used to examine the modified loss model based on Denton’s method.

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Abbreviations

C, C x :

Chord length, axial chord length

C p :

Static pressure coefficient

Cpb :

Base pressure loss coefficient

Z w :

Zweifel coefficient

t :

Cascade pitch

x :

Cascade axial coordinate

y :

Normal to the wall direction

t* :

Non-dimensional pitch-wise distance

h :

Span length

t te :

Trailing edge thickness

S c-a :

Non-dimensional cross-sectional area of the blades

p o, p :

Total pressure, static pressure

Δ p* :

Non-dimensinal total pressure loss

p j :

Static pressure along the surface

U c :

Movingbar speed

U j :

Local freestream velocity along the surface

U p :

Local freestream velocity at the loading peak

U te :

Velocity near the trailing edge on the suction side

u :

Velocity profile of boundary layer

w :

Throat length

S:

Surface length from the Leading edge

So :

Surface length

DR :

Non-dimensional flow deceleration rate

DF :

Diffusion factor

Re :

Reynolds number

Fr :

Reduced frequency

α 1 :

Inlet angle

α 2 :

Outlet angle

ω 1 :

Profile loss coefficient with no wakes

ω b :

Total pressure loss coefficient of the moving bars

ω 1b :

Profile loss coefficient with upstream wakes

ζ :

Denton-type profile loss coefficient

ζ 1 :

Modified denton-type profile loss coefficient

λ :

Quotient for the missing data on the pressure side

δ* :

Displacement thickness

δ :

Nominal thickness

θ, θ te :

Momentum thickness, momentum thickness at the trailing edge

ν :

Kinematic viscosity

ρ :

Density

1:

Cascade inlet conditions

2:

Cascade outlet conditions

b :

Bar plane conditions

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank AECC COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT ENGINE CO., LTD. for the project. Thanks are also due to the technical staff at the laboratory for their help with the experiments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Energy and Power Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China

    Siyu Yang, Baopeng Xu & Fu Tian

  2. AECC Commercial Aircraft Engine Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China

    Bin Wang

Authors
  1. Siyu Yang
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  2. Baopeng Xu
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  3. Fu Tian
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  4. Bin Wang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Baopeng Xu.

Additional information

Siyu Yang is a Ph.D. student in Energy and Power Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China. His research interests include linear cascade experiments, boundary layer separation, and wake-induced transition.

Baopeng Xu is a Professor of Energy and Power Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China. His interests include aerodynamics of turbomachinery, LES of a gas turbine combustion chamber and LES of fires.

Fu Tian is a Senior Engineer of the School of Energy and Power Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China. He is also the Director of the Wind Tunnel Laboratory. His interests include experiments of turbomachinery and experimental technology.

Bin Wang received his M.D. at the School of Energy and Power Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China. He is now working at AECC Commercial Aircraft Engine Co. Ltd. His interests include experiments of turbomachinery.

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Yang, S., Xu, B., Tian, F. et al. Aerodynamic performance of high-lift blades in low-pressure turbines with periodic upstream wakes. J Mech Sci Technol 37, 2425–2437 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-023-0419-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-023-0419-4

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