F. E. Ames

The influence of large-scale high-intensity turbulence on vane heat transfer

An experimental research program was undertaken to examine the influence of large-scale high-intensity turbulence on vane heat transfer. The experiment was conducted in a four-vane linear cascade at exit Reynolds numbers of 500,000 and 800,000 based on chord length. Heat transfer measurements were made for four inlet turbulence conditions including a low turbulence case (Tu {approx_equal} 1%), a grid turbulence case (Tu {approx_equal} 7.5%), and two levels of large-scale turbulence generated with a mock combustor at two upstream locations (Tu {approx_equal} 12% and 8%). The heat transfer data demonstrated that the length scale, Lu, has a significant effect on stagnation region and pressure surface heat transfer.

Turbulent Transport in Pin Fin Arrays: Experimental Data and Predictions

The objective of this research has been to experimentally investigate the fluid dynamics of pin fin arrays in order to clarify the physics of heat transfer enhancement and uncover problems in conventional turbulence models. The fluid dynamics of a staggered pin fin array has been studied using hot wire anemometry with both single- and x-wire probes at array Reynolds numbers of 3000, 10,000, and 30,000. Velocity distributions off the endwall and pin surface have been acquired and analyzed to investigate turbulent transport in pin fin arrays. Well resolved 3D calculations have been performed using a commercial code with conventional two-equation turbulence models. Predictive comparisons have been made with fluid dynamic data. In early rows where turbulence is low, the strength of shedding increases dramatically with increasing Reynolds numbers. The laminar velocity profiles off the surface of pins show evidence of unsteady separation in early rows. In row three and beyond, laminar boundary layers off pins are quite similar. Velocity profiles off endwalls are strongly affected by the proximity of pins and turbulent transport. At the low Reynolds numbers, the turbulent transport and acceleration keep boundary layers thin. Endwall boundary layers at higher Reynolds numbers exhibit very high levels of skin friction enhancement. Well-resolved 3D steady calculations were made with several two-equation turbulence models and compared with experimental fluid mechanic and heat transfer data. The quality of the predictive comparison was substantially affected by the turbulence model and near-wall methodology.

Measurement and Prediction of the Influence of Catalytic and Dry Low NOx Combustor Turbulence on Vane Surface Heat Transfer

New combustion systems developed for low emissions have produced substantial changes to the characteristics of inlet turbulence entering nozzle guide vanes. This paper documents the characteristics of turbulence generated by mock combustion system configurations representative of recently developed catalytic and dry low NO x combustors. Additionally, heat transfer rates are determined on the surface of a vane subjected to inlet turbulence generated by these mock combustor configurations. Six different inlet turbulence conditions with levels ranging up to 14% are documented in this study and vane heat transfer rates are acquired at exit chord Reynolds numbers ranging from 500,000 to 2,000,000. Heat transfer distributions show the influence of turbulence level and scale on heat transfer augmentation and transition. Cascade aerodynamics are well documented and match pressure distributions predicted by a commercial CFD code for this large-scale low-speed facility. The vane pressure distribution could be characterized as a conventional or fully loaded distribution. This comprehensive data set is expected to represent an excellent test case for vane heat transfer predictive methods. Predictive comparisons are shown based on a two-dimensional boundary layer code using an algebraic turbulence model for augmentation as well as a transition model.

Effects of Aeroderivative Combustor Turbulence on Endwall Heat Transfer Distributions Acquired in a Linear Vane Cascade

Vane endwall heat transfer distributions are documented for a mock aeroderivative combustion system and for a low turbulence condition in a large-scale low speed linear cascade facility. Inlet turbulence levels range from below 0.7% for the low turbulence condition to 14% for the mock combustor system. Stanton number contours are presented at both turbulence conditions for Reynolds numbers based on true chord length and exit conditions ranging from 500,000 to 2,000,000. Low turbulence endwall heat transfer shows the influence of the complex three-dimensional flow field, while the effects of individual vortex systems are less evident for the high turbulence cases. Turbulent scale has been documented for the high turbulence case. Inlet boundary layers are relatively thin for the low turbulence case, while inlet flow approximates a nonequilibrium or high turbulence channel flow for the mock combustor case. Inlet boundary layer parameters are presented across the inlet passage for the three Reynolds numbers and both the low turbulence and mock combustor inlet cases. Both midspan and 95% span pressure contours are included. This research provides a well-documented database taken across a range of Reynolds numbers and turbulence conditions for assessment of endwall heat transfer predictive capabilities.

Predicting neuropathic ulceration: analysis of static temperature distributions in thermal images

Foot ulcers affect millions of Americans annually. Conventional methods used to assess skin integrity, including inspection and palpation, may be valuable approaches, but they usually do not detect changes in skin integrity until an ulcer has already developed. We analyze the feasibility of thermal imaging as a technique to assess the integrity of the skin and its many layers. Thermal images are analyzed using an asymmetry analysis, combined with a genetic algorithm, to examine the infrared images for early detection of foot ulcers. Preliminary results show that the proposed technique can reliably and efficiently detect inflammation and hence effectively predict potential ulceration.

Endwall Heat Transfer Measurements in a Staggered Pin Fin Array With an Adiabatic Pin

Full surface endwall heat transfer distributions have been acquired in a staggered pin fin array with the use of an infrared camera. Values are presented at Reynolds numbers of 3000, 10,000 and 30,000 based on pin diameter and average velocity through adjacent pins. Average endwall Nusselt numbers agree closely with archival values at each Reynolds number. Locally averaged heat transfer levels show a substantial increase from the inlet through the first few rows and finally a nearly streamwise periodic condition in the second half of the eight row geometry. Increasing levels of heat transfer in the inlet region can be attributed to the leading edge vortex system, flow acceleration around pins, and the generation of turbulence. Distributions of turbulence intensity and turbulent scale are shown to help document the turbulent transport conditions through the array. Detailed endwall Nusselt number distributions are presented and compared at the three Reynolds numbers for the first four and last four rows. These detailed heat transfer distributions highlight the influence of the horseshoe vortex system in the entrance region and the wake generated turbulence throughout the pin fin array. Local velocity and turbulence distributions are presented together with local Stanton number and skin friction coefficient data to examine the aggressive nature of the turbulent mixing.© 2007 ASME

Enhancement of the asymmetry-based overlapping analysis through features extraction

In this paper, an enhanced algorithm is proposed to detect foot inflammation and, hence, predict ulcers before they can develop. This algorithm is based on an asymmetry analysis combined with a segmentation technique with a genetic algorithm to achieve higher efficiency in the detection of inflammation. The analysis involves several steps: segmentation, geometry transformation, overlapping, and abnormality identification. To enhance the results of this analysis, an additional step, features extraction, is performed. In this step, low and high order statistics are computed for each foot. Preliminary results show that the proposed algorithm combined with features extraction can be reliable and efficient to predict potential ulceration.

Letterbox Trailing Edge Heat Transfer: Effects of Blowing Rate, Reynolds Number, and External Turbulence on Heat Transfer and Film Cooling Effectiveness

Heat transfer and film cooling distributions have been acquired for a vane trailing edge with letterbox partitions. Additionally pressure drop data have been experimentally determined across a pin fin array and a trailing edge slot with letterbox partitions. The pressure drop across the array and letterbox trailing edge arrangement was measurably higher than for the gill slot geometry. Experimental data for the partitions and the inner suction surface region downstream from the slot have been acquired over a four-to-one range in vane exit condition Reynolds number (500,000, 1,000,000, and 2,000,000), with low (0.7%), grid (8.5%), and aerocombustor (13.5%) turbulence conditions. At these conditions, both heat transfer and adiabatic film cooling distributions have been documented over a range of blowing ratios (0.47≤M≤1.9). Heat transfer distributions on the inner suction surface downstream from the slot ejection were found to be dependent on both ejection flow rate and external conditions. Heat transfer on the partition side surfaces correlated with both exit Reynolds number and blowing ratio. Heat transfer on partition top surfaces largely correlated with exit Reynolds number but blowing ratio had a small effect at higher values. Generally, adiabatic film cooling levels on the inner suction surface are high but decrease near the trailing edge and provide some protection for the trailing edge. Adiabatic effectiveness levels on the partitions correlate with blowing ratio. On the partition sides adiabatic effectiveness is highest at low blowing ratios and decreases with increasing flow rate. On the partition tops adiabatic effectiveness increases with increasing blowing ratio but never exceeds the level on the sides. The present paper, together with a companion paper that documents letterbox trailing edge aerodynamics, is intended to provide engineers with the heat transfer and aerodynamic loss information needed to develop and compare competing trailing edge designs.

Measurement and Prediction of Heat Transfer Distributions on an Aft-Loaded Vane Subjected to the Influence of Catalytic and Dry Low NOx Combustor Turbulence

Aft-loaded vane designs can have an impact on surface heat transfer distributions by accelerating boundary layers for a greater portion of the suction surface. New combustion systems developed for low emissions have produced substantial changes to the characteristics of inlet turbulence entering nozzle guide vanes. This paper documents heat transfer rates on an aft-loaded vane subject to turbulence generated by mock combustion configurations representative of recently developed catalytic and dry low NO x (DLN) combustors. Four different inlet turbulence conditions with levels ranging up to 21% are documented in this study and vane heat transfer rates are acquired at vane exit chord Reynolds numbers ranging from 500,000 to 2,000,000. Heat transfer distributions show the influence of the turbulence conditions on heat transfer augmentation and transition. Cascade aerodynamics are well documented and match pressure distributions predicted by a commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code for this large-scale low-speed facility. The aft-loaded vane pressure distribution exhibits a minimum value at about 50% arc on the suction surface. This comprehensive vane heat transfer data set is expected to represent an excellent test case for vane heat transfer predictive methods. Predictive comparisons are shown based on a two-dimensional boundary layer code using an algebraic turbulence model for augmentation as well as a transition model.

Asymmetry analysis based on genetic algorithms for the prediction of foot ulcers

Foot ulcers affect millions of Americans annually. Conventional methods to assess skin, including inspection and palpation, may be valuable approaches, but usually they do not detect changes in skin integrity until an ulcer has already developed. Conversely, thermal imaging is a technology able to assess the integrity of the skin and its many layers, thus having the potential to index the cascade of physiological events in the prevention, assessment, and management of foot ulcers. In this paper, we propose a methodology based on an asymmetry analysis and a genetic algorithm to analyze the infrared images for early detection of foot ulcers. Preliminary results show that the proposed technique can be reliable and efficient to detect and, hence, predict inflammation and potential ulceration.