Aerodynamic development and investigation of turbine transonic rotor blade cascades

Abstract

An intricate nature of the pattern in which working fluid flows over transonic blade cascades generates the need for experimentally studying their characteristics in designing them. Three cascades having identical main geometrical parameters and differing from one another only in the suction side curvature in the outlet area between the throat and trailing edge were tested in optimizing the rotor blade cascade for the reduced flow outlet velocity λ₂ ≈ 1. In initial cascade 1, its curvature decreased monotonically toward the trailing edge. In cascade 2, the suction side curvature near the trailing edge was decreased, but the section near the throat had a larger curvature. In cascade 3, a profile with inverse concavity near the trailing edge was used. The cascades were blown at λ₂ = 0.7–1.2 and at different incidence angles. The distribution of pressure over the profiles, profile losses, and the outlet angle were measured. Cascade 1 showed efficient performance in the design mode and under the conditions of noticeable deviations from it with respect to the values of λ₂ and incidence angle. In cascade 2, flow separation zones were observed at the trailing edge, as well as an increased level of losses. Cascade 3 was found to be the best one: it had reduced positive pressure gradients as compared with cascade 1, and the relative reduction of losses in the design mode was equal to 24%. The profiles with inverse concavity on the suction side near the trailing edge were recommended for being used in heavily loaded turbine stages.