Nekkanti Sitaram

Computational investigation of impeller—diffuser interaction in a centrifugal compressor with different types of diffusers

Abstract A computational study has been conducted to analyse the performance of a centrifugal compressor with different types of diffusers under various levels of impeller—diffuser interactions. Vaneless (VLD), vaned (VD), low solidity vaned (LSVD), and partial vaned diffusers (PVD) are used for this purpose. The study is carried out using commercial software ANSYS CFX. The interaction level is varied by varying the radial gap between the impeller and diffuser by keeping the diffuser vane at three different radial locations. Numerical simulations have been conducted for four different flow coefficients. At design flow coefficient maximum efficiency occurs when the leading edge is at R3 (ratio of radius of the diffuser leading edge to the impeller tip radius) = 1.10 for all vane-type diffuser configurations. At below design flow coefficient higher stage efficiency occurs when the diffuser vanes are kept far away (R3 = 1.15) and at above design flow coefficient R3 = 1.05 gives better efficiency. The highest diffuser pressure recovery coefficient (Cp) is observed for VD at design flow coefficient. For VLD, the Cp value increases with flow coefficient. In the case of VD and LSVD configurations the exit flow from the impeller is disturbed when the diffuser vanes are closer, and these disturbances are more evident in the last 10 per cent of the impeller flow. In the case of the impeller with PVD the interaction effects are minimum.

Application of Gurney Flaps on a Centrifugal Fan Impeller

Abstract The objective of the present investigation is to explore the possibility of improving the performance of a centrifugal fan at low Reynolds numbers using a simple passive means, namely Gurney flap (GF). GFs of 1/8 th inch brass angle (3.175 mm) corresponding to 15.9% of blade exit height or 5.1% of blade spacing at the impeller tip are attached to the impeller blade tip on the pressure surface. Performance tests are carried out on the centrifugal fan with vaneless diffuser at five Reynolds numbers (viz., 0.30, 0.41, 0.55, 0.69, 0.82x10 5 , i.e., at five speeds respectively at 1,100, 1,500, 2,000, 2,500 and 3,000 rpm) without and with GF. Static pressures on the vaneless diffuser hub and shroud are also measured for each speed at four flow coefficients [ φ =0.23 (below design flow coefficient), φ =0.34 (design flow coefficient), φ =0.45 (above design flow coefficient) and φ =0.60 (above design flow coefficient)] with and without GF. From the performance curves it is found that the performance of the fan improves considerably with GFs at lower Reynolds numbers and improves marginally at higher Reynolds number. Similar improvements are observed for the static pressures on the diffuser hub and shroud. The effect of Reynolds number on the performance and static pressures is considerable. However the effect is reduced with GFs.

Conjugate Heat Transfer Analysis on the Interior Surface of Nozzle Guide Vane with Combined Impingement and Film Cooling

Abstract The effect of conjugate heat transfer is investigated on a first stage nozzle guide vane (NGV) of a high pressure gas turbine which has both impingement and film cooling holes. The study is carried out computationally by considering a linear cascade domain, having two passages formed between the vanes, with a chord length of 228u2006mm and spacing of 200u2006mm. The effect of (i) coolant and mainstream Reynolds numbers, (ii) thermal conductivity (iii) temperature difference between the mainstream and coolant at the internal surface of the nozzle guide vane are investigated under conjugate thermal condition. The results show that, with increasing coolant Reynolds number the lower conducting material shows larger percentage decrease in surface temperature as compared to the higher conducting material. However, the internal surface temperature is nearly independent of mainstream Reynolds number variation but shows significant variation for higher conducting material. Further, the temperature gradient within the solid thickness of NGV is higher for the lower conductivity material.

Heat Transfer Studies on the Interior Surfaces of Cooled Nozzle Guide Vane in a Linear Cascade

Experimental and computational heat transfer investigations are reported in the interior side of a nozzle guide vane (NGV) subjected to combined impingement and film cooling. The domain of study is a two dimensional five-vane cascade having four passages. Each vane has a chord length of 228 mm and the pitch distance between the vanes is 200 mm. The vane internal surface is cooled by dry air supplied through the two impingement inserts: the front and the aft. The mass flow through the impingement chamber is varied, for a fixed spacing (H) to jet diameter (d) ratio of 1.2. The surface temperature distributions, at certain locations of the vane interior, are measured by pasting strips of liquid crystal sheets. The vane interior surface temperature distribution is also obtained by computations carried out by using Shear stress transport (SST) k-ω turbulence model in the ANSY FLUENT-14 flow solver. The computational data are in good agreement with the measured values of temperature. The internal heat transfer coefficients are thence determined along the leading edge and the mid span region from the computational data.Copyright

Conjugate Heat Transfer Study at Interior Surface of NGV Leading Edge with Combined Shower Head and Impingement Cooling

A computational study on conjugate heat transfer is carried out to present the behavior of nondimensional temperature and heat transfer coefficient of a Nozzle Guide Vane (NGV) leading edge. Reynolds number of both mainstream flow and coolant impinging jets are varied. The NGV has five rows of film cooling holes arranged in shower head manner and four rows of impingement holes arranged in staggered manner. The results are presented by considering materials of different thermal conductivity. The results show that the mainstream flow affects the temperature distribution on the interior side of the vane leading edge for high conductivity material whereas it has negligible effects for low conductivity material. The effect of changing blowing ratio on internal heat transfer coefficient and internal surface temperature is also presented.