Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Computational investigation on secondary flows in a linear turbine cascade with tapered dual fence

  • Published:
Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The focus of the present work is to minimize the secondary flow losses inside a linear turbine cascade by means of a novel design of streamwise dual fence. The leading edge and trailing edge of the fences have been modified so as to reduce the total pressure loss coefficient in the passage. The study has been carried out computationally based on RANS simulations with SST turbulence model. Numerous simulations have been undertaken with single fence and dual fence models and compared with the base case model. The dual fence model with tapered trailing edge exhibits significant loss reduction compared to the base case. A suitable fence height ratio (FHR) has been identified for the dual fence model. The FHR = 2 configuration reduces the secondary flow kinetic energy by 78 % within the blade passage and it reduces the exit angle deviation significantly throughout the span. Detailed flow field analysis has been carried out to understand the physical mechanism behind the loss reduction with dual fence models. It is observed that fence-1 breaks the pressure side leg of the horse shoe vortex at the beginning of their formation itself. The radial penetration of the suction side leg of the horse shoe vortex is restrained by fence-2. These combined effects prevent the formation and mixing of two prominent loss core regions thereby avoiding the accumulation of low energy fluid near the suction side of blade.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. J. Hartland, D. Gregory–Smith, N. Harvey and M. Rose, Nonaxisymmetric turbine end wall design: Part II— Experimental validation, Jl. of Turbo., 122 (2) (2000) 286.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. K. Kumar and M. Govardhan, Secondary flow loss reduction in a turbine cascade with a linearly varied height streamwise endwall fence, International Journal of Rotating Machinery, 2011 (2011) 1–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. J. Denton, The 1993 IGTI scholar lecture: Loss mechanisms in turbomachines, Jl. of Turbo., 115 (4) (1993) 621.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. C. Sieverding, Recent progress in the understanding of basic aspects of secondary flows in turbine blade passages, J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power, 107 (2) (1985) 248.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. J. Denton and G. Pullan, A numerical investigation into the sources of endwall loss in axial flow turbines, ASME Turbo Expo 2012: Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition, Copenhagen, Denmark, June 11–15 (2012) Paper No. GT2012–69173, 1417–1430.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  6. J. Horlock, Secondary flow in repeating stages of axial turbomachines, Proc IMechE Part A: J Power and Energy, 209 (2) (1995) 101–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. L. Langston, Secondary flows in axial turbines–A review, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 934 (1) (2006) 11–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. R. Meyer, S. Schulz, K. Liesner, H. Passrucker and R. Wunderer, A parameter study on the influence of fillets on the compressor cascade performance, Journal of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, 50 (2001) 131–145.

    Google Scholar 

  9. H. Sauer, R. Müller and K. Vogeler, Reduction of secondary flow losses in turbine cascades by leading edge modifications at the endwall, Jl. of Turbo., 123 (2) (2001) 207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. S. Mank, L. Duerrwaechter, M. Hilfer, R. Williams, S. Hogg and G. Ingram, Secondary flows and fillet radii in a linear turbine cascade, ASME Turbo Expo 2014: Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition, Düsseldorf, Germany, June 16–20 (2014) Paper No. GT2014–25458, V02CT38A011.

    Google Scholar 

  11. G. Zess and K. Thole, Computational design and experimental evaluation of using a leading edge fillet on a gas turbine vane, Journal of Turbomachinery, 124 (2) (2002) 167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Y. Shi, J. Li and Z. Feng, Influence of rotor blade fillets on aerodynamic performance of turbine stage, ASME Turbo Expo 2010: Power for Land, Sea, and Air, Glasgow, UK, June 14–18 (2010) Paper No. GT2010–23721, 1657–166813.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  13. M. Hoeger, U. Schmidt–Eisenlohr, S. Gomez, H. Sauer and R. Müller, Numerical simulation of the influence of a fillet and a bulb on the secondary flow in a compressor cascade, Task Quarterly, 69 (2001) 25–37.

    Google Scholar 

  14. M. Govardhan, A. Rajender and J. P. Umang, Effect of streamwise fences on secondary flows and losses in a twodimensional turbine rotor cascade, Journal of Thermal Science, 15 (4) (2006) 296–305.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. T. Kawai, Effect of combined boundary layer fences on turbine secondary flow and losses, JSME International Journal Series B, 37 (2) (1994) 377–384.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Y. Moon and S. Koh, Counter–rotating streamwise vortex formation in the turbine cascade with endwall fence, Computers & Fluids, 30 (4) (2001) 473–490.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  17. T. Kawai, S. Shinoki and T. Adachi, Secondary flow control and loss reduction in a turbine cascade using endwall fences, JSME International Journal Ser 2, Fluids Engineering, Heat Transfer, Power, Combustion, Thermophysical Properties, 32 (3) (1989) 375–387.

    Google Scholar 

  18. M. Govardhan and P. K. Maharia, Improvement of turbine performance by streamwise boundary layer fences, Journal of Applied Fluid Mechanics, 5 (3) (2012) 113–118.

    Google Scholar 

  19. T. Poehler, J. Niewoehner, P. Jeschke and Y. Guendogdu, Investigation of nonaxisymmetric endwall contouring and three–dimensional airfoil design in a 1.5–stage axial turbine— Part I: Design and novel numerical analysis method, Jl. of Turbo., 137 (8) (2015) 081009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. G. Brennan, N. Harvey and M. Rose, N. Fomison and M. Taylor, Improving the efficiency of the trent 500–HP turbine using nonaxisymmetric end walls—Part I: Turbine design, Jl. of Turbo., 125 (3) (2003) 497.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. G. Ingram, D. Gregory–Smith and N. Harvey, Investigation of a novel secondary flow feature in a turbine cascade with end wall profiling, Jl. of Turbo., 127 (1) (2005) 209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. G. Ingram, D. Gregory–Smith and N. Harvey, The benefits of turbine endwall profiling in a cascade, Proc IMechE Part A: J Power and Energy, 219 (1) (2005) 49–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. R. J. Gustafson, Flow and temperature measurements in a linear turbine blade passage with leading edge and endwall contouring with and without film cooling, Ph.D. Thesis, Louisiana State University (2012).

    Google Scholar 

  24. T. E. Biesinger, Secondary flow reduction techniques in linear turbine cascades, Ph.D. Thesis, Durham University (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  25. N. Chen, Y. Xu and W. Huang, Straight–leaned blade aerodynamics of a turbine nozzle blade row with low spandiameter ratio, Journal of Thermal Science, 9 (1) (2000) 51–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. D. Dunn, G. C. Snedden and T. W. Von Backström, Turbulence model comparisons for a low pressure 1.5 stage test turbine, ISABE, Montreal, 7–11 September (2009).

    Google Scholar 

  27. R. Mittal, S. Venkatasubramanian and F. M. Najjar, Largeeddy simulation of flow through a low–pressure turbine cascade, 15th AIAA Computational Fluid Dynamics Conference, Anaheim, CA, U.S.A. 11–14 June (2001).

    Google Scholar 

  28. J. Cui and P. Tucker, Numerical study of purge and secondary flows in a low–pressure turbine, Jl. of Turbo., 139 (2) (2016) 021007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. J. Cui, R. V. Nagabhushana and P. Tucker, Numerical investigation of secondary flows in a high–lift low pressure turbine, International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow, 63 (2017) 149–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Turbomachinery Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Mangalore, 575025, India

    K. N. Kiran, Babu Sushanlal & S. Anish

Authors
  1. K. N. Kiran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Babu Sushanlal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. Anish
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Anish.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Joon Ahn

Kiran K. N. completed M-Tech. (Research) in Thermal Engineering from NITK. Currently he is working as Design Engineer at Marmon Foods and Beverages Technologies India Pvt., Ltd., Bangalore.

S. Anish received Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras). He is currently an Assistant Professor at the National Institute of Technology Karnataka, India. His research interests are fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and turbomachinery aerodynamics.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kiran, K.N., Sushanlal, B. & Anish, S. Computational investigation on secondary flows in a linear turbine cascade with tapered dual fence. J Mech Sci Technol 33, 903–912 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-019-0147-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-019-0147-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation