Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-8bljj Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-01T08:18:23.805Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Comprehensive validation of an intermittency transport model for transitional low-pressure turbine flows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 February 2016

Y. B. Suzen  and
P. G. Huang
Y. B. Suzen
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Kentucky, USA
P. G. Huang
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Kentucky, USA
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

A transport equation for the intermittency factor is employed to predict transitional flows under the effects of pressure gradients, freestream turbulence intensities, Reynolds number variations, flow separation and reattachment, and unsteady wake-blade interactions representing diverse operating conditions encountered in low-pressure turbines. The intermittent behaviour of the transitional flows is taken into account and incorporated into computations by modifying the eddy viscosity, μτ with the intermittency factor, γ. Turbulent quantities are predicted by using Menter’s two-equation turbulence model (SST). The onset location of transition is obtained from correlations based on boundary-layer momentum thickness, accelaration parameter, and turbulence intensity. The intermittency factor is obtained from a transport model which can produce both the experimentally observed streamwise variation of intermittency and a realistic profile in the cross stream direction.

The intermittency transport model is tested and validated against several well documented low pressure turbine experiments ranging from flat plate cases to unsteady wake-blade interaction experiments. Overall, good agreement between the experimental data and computational results is obtained illustrating the predicting capabilities of the model and the current intermittency transport modelling approach for transitional flow simulations.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 109 , Issue 1093 , March 2005 , pp. 101 - 118
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 2005 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Mayle, R.E.. The role of laminar-turbulent transition in gas turbine engines, ASME J Turbomachinery, 1991, 113, pp 509–537.Google Scholar
2. Rivir, R.B.. Transition on turbine blades and cascades at low Reynolds numbers, 1996, AIAA Paper 96-2079.Google Scholar
3. Lake, J.P., King, P.I. and Rivir, R.B.. Low Reynolds number loss reduction on turbine blades with dimples and V-grooves, 2000, AIAA Paper 2000-0738.Google Scholar
4. Sharma, O.. Impact of Reynolds number on LP turbine performance, 1998, NASA/CP-1998-206958, pp 65–70.Google Scholar
5. Simon, F.F. and Stephens, C.A.. Modeling of the heat transfer in bypass transitional boundary-layer flows, 1991, NASA Technical Paper 3170.Google Scholar
6. Dhawan, S. and Narasimha, R.. Some properties of boundary layer during the transition from laminar to turbulent flow motion, J Fluid Mechanics, 1958, 3, pp 418–436.Google Scholar
7. Gostelow, J.P., Blunden, A.R. and Walker, G.J.. Effects of free-stream turbulence and adverse pressure gradients on boundary layer transition, ASME J Turbomachinery, 1994, 116, pp 392–404.Google Scholar
8. Solomon, W.J., Walker, G.J. and Gostelow, J.P.. Transition length prediction for flows with rapidly changing pressure gradients, 1995, ASME Paper ASME-95-GT-241.Google Scholar
9. Steelant, J. and Dick, E.. Modelling of bypass transition with conditioned Navier-Stokes equations coupled to an intermittency transport equation, Int J for Numerical Methods in Fluids, 1996, 23, pp 193–220.Google Scholar
10. Cho, J.R. and Chung, M.K.. A k-ε-γ equation turbulence model, J Fluid Mechanics, 1992, 237, pp 301–322.Google Scholar
11. Drikakis, D. and Goldberg, U.. Wall-distance-free turbulence models applied to incompressible flows, Int J Computational Fluid Dynamics, 1998, 10, pp 241–253.Google Scholar
12. Suzen, Y.B. and Huang, P.G.. Modelling of flow transition using an intermittency transport equation, 1999, NASA-CR-1999-209313.Google Scholar
13. Savill, A.M.. Some recent progress in the turbulence modeling of bypass transition, 1993, Near-Wall Turbulent Flows, So, R.M.C., Speziale, C.G. and Launder, B.E. (Eds), pp 829–848, Elsevier Science.Google Scholar
14. Savill, A.M.. Further progress in the turbulence modeling of by-pass transition, 1993, Engineering Turbulence Modeling and Experiments 2, Rodi, W. and Martelli, F. (Eds), pp 583–592, Elsevier Science.Google Scholar
15. Simon, T.W., Qiu, S. and Yuan, K.. Measurements in a transitional boundary layer under low-pressure turbine airfoil conditions, 2000, NASA-CR-2000-209957.Google Scholar
16. Volino, R.J. and Hultgren, L.S.. Measurements in separated and transitional boundary layers under low-pressure turbine airfoil conditions, 2000, ASME/IGTI Paper 2000-GT-0260.Google Scholar
17. Lake, J.P., King, P.I. and Rivir, R.B.. Reduction of separation losses on a turbine blade with low Reynolds number, 1999, AIAA Paper AIAA-99-0242.Google Scholar
18. Huang, J., Corke, T.C. and Thomas, F.O.. Plasma actuators for separation control of low pressure turbine blades, 2003, AIAA Paper No AIAA-2003-1027.Google Scholar
19. Volino, R.J.. Separated flow transition under simulated low-pressure turbine airfoil conditions: Part 1- Mean flow and turbulence statistics, 2002, ASME Paper ASME-GT-30236.Google Scholar
20. Kaszeta, R.W., Simon, T.W. and Ashpis, D.E.. Experimental investigation of transition to turbulence as affected by passing wakes, 2001, ASME Paper 2001-GT-0195.Google Scholar
21. Kaszeta, R.W., Simon, T.W., Ottaviani, F. and Jiang, N.. The influence of wake passing frequency and elevated free stream turbulence intensity on transition in low-pressure turbines, 2003, AIAA Paper AIAA-2003-3633.Google Scholar
22. Stieger, R.D.. The Effects of Wakes on Separating Boundary Layers in Low-pressure Turbines, 2002, PhD dissertation, Cambridge University, Engineering Department.Google Scholar
23. Suzen, Y.B. and Huang, P.G.. Modeling of flow transition using an intermittency transport equation, 2000, AIAA Paper AIAA-2000-0287.Google Scholar
24. Suzen, Y.B. and Huang, P.G.. Modeling of flow transition using an intermittency transport equation, J Fluids Eng, 2000, 122, pp 273–284.Google Scholar
25. Suzen, Y.B. and Huang, P.G.. Numerical simulation of transitional flows as affected by passing wakes, 2004, AIAA Paper AIAA-2004-0103.Google Scholar
26. Suzen, Y.B., Xiong, G. and Huang, P.G.. Predictions of transitional flows in low-pressure turbines using an intermittency transport equation, 2000, AIAA Paper AIAA-2000-2654.Google Scholar
27. Suzen, Y.B. and Huang, P.G., Hultgren, L.S., Ashpis, D.E.. Predictions of separated and transitional boundary layers under low-pressure turbine airfoil conditions using an intermittency transport equation, 2001, AIAA Paper AIAA-2001-0446.Google Scholar
28. Suzen, Y.B., Xiong, G. and Huang, P.G.. Predictions of transitional flows in low-pressure turbines using an intermittency transport equation, AIAA J, 2002, 40, (2), pp 254–266.Google Scholar
29. Suzen, Y.B., Huang, P.G., Hultgren, L.S. and Ashpis, D.E.. Predictions of separated and transitional boundary layers under low-pressure turbine airfoil conditions using an intermittency transport equation, ASME J Turbomachinery, 2003, 125, pp 455–464.Google Scholar
30. Suzen, Y.B., Huang, P.G., Volino, R.J., Corke, T.C., Thomas, F.O., Huang, J., Lake, J.P. and King, P.I.. A comprehensive CFD study of transitional flows in low-pressure turbines under a wide range of operating conditions, 2003, AIAA Paper AIAA-2003-3591.Google Scholar
31. Menter, F.R.. Two-equation eddy-viscosity turbulence models for engineering applications, AIAA J, 1994, 32, (8), pp 1598–1605.Google Scholar
32. Abu-Ghannam, B.J. and Shaw, R.. Natural transition of boundary layers-The effects of turbulence, pressure gradient, and flow history, J Mech Eng Sci, 1980, 22, (5), pp 213–228.Google Scholar
33. Davis, R.L., Carter, J.E. and Reshotko, E.. Analysis of transitional separation bubbles on infinite swept wings, AIAA J, 1987, 25, (3), pp 421–428.Google Scholar
34. Huang, P.G. and Coakley, T.J.. An implicit Navier-Stokes code for turbulent flow modeling, 1992, AIAA Paper AIAA-92-0547.Google Scholar
35. Rhie, C.M. and Chow, W.L.. Numerical study of the turbulent flow past an airfoil with trailing edge separation, AIAA J, 1983, 21, pp 1525–1532.Google Scholar
36. Launder, B.E. and Sharma, B.I.. Application of the energy dissipation model of turbulence to the calculation of flow near a spinning disc, Letters in Heat and Mass Transfer, 1974, 1, pp 131–138.Google Scholar
37. Hsu, M.C., Vogiatzis, K. and Huang, P.G.. Validation and implementation of advanced turbulence models in swirling and separated flows, 2003, AIAA Paper AIAA 2003-0766.Google Scholar
38. Qui, S. and Simon, T.W.. An experimental investigation of transition as applied to low pressure turbine suction surface flows, 1997, ASME Paper 97-GT-455.Google Scholar
39. Jiang, N. and Simon, T.W.. The influence of unsteady acceleration and turbulence intensity on transition in low-pressure turbines, 2003, AIAA Paper AIAA-2003-3630.Google Scholar
40. Jiang, N. and Simon, T.W.. Modeling laminar-to-turbulent transition in a low-pressure turbine flow which is unsteady due to passing wakes: Part I, Transition onset, 2003, ASME Paper ASME-GT2003-38787.Google Scholar
41. Jiang, N. and Simon, T.W.. Modeling laminar-to-turbulent transition in a low-pressure turbine flow which is unsteady due to passing wakes: Part II, Transition path, 2003, ASME Paper ASME-GT2003-38963.Google Scholar
42. Menter, F.R., Langtry, R.B., Likki, S.R., Suzen, Y.B., Huang, P.G. and Voelker, S.. A correlation based transition model using local variables Part I — Model formulation, 2004, ASME Paper ASME-GT2004-53452.Google Scholar