R. A. Van den Braembussche

Turbomachinery Blade Design Using a Navier-Stokes Solver and Artificial Neural Network

This paper describes a knowledge-based method for the automatic design of more efficient turbine blades. An Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is used to construct an approximate model (response surface) using a database containing Navier-Stokes solutions for all previous designs. This approximate model is used for the optimization, by means of Simulated Annealing (SA), of the blade geometry, which is then analyzed by a Navier-Stokes solver. This procedure results in a considerable speed-up of the design process by reducing both the interventions of the operator and the computational effort. It is also shown how such a method allows the design of more efficient blades while satisfying both the aerodynamic and mechanical constraints. The method has been applied to different types of two-dimensional turbine blades, of which three examples are presented in this paper.

Three-Dimensional Inverse Method for Turbomachinery Blading Design

An iterative procedure for three-dimensional blade design is presented, in which the three-dimensional blade shape is modified using a physical algorithm, based on the transpiration model. The transpiration flux is computed by means ofa modified Euler solver, in which the target pressure distribution is imposed along the blade surfaces. Only a small number of modifications is needed to obtain the final geometry. The method is based on a high-resolution three-dimensional Euler solver. An upwind biased evaluation of the advective fluxes allows for a very low numerical entropy generation, and sharp shock capturing. Non-reflecting boundary conditions are applied along the inlet/outlet boundaries. The capabilities of the method are illustrated by redesigning a transonic compressor rotor blade, to achieve, for the same mass flow and outlet flow angle, a shock-free deceleration along the suction side. The second example concerns the design of a low aspect ratio turbine blade, with a positive compound lean to reduce the intensity of the passage vortices. The final blade is designed for an optimized pressure distribution, taking into account the forces resulting from the blade lean angle.

Numerical Simulation of Impeller–Volute Interaction in Centrifugal Compressors

A numerical procedure to predict the impeller-volute interaction in a single-stage centrifugal compressor is presented. The method couples a three-dimensional unsteady flow calculation in the impeller with a three-dimensional time-averaged flow calculation in the volute through an iterative updating of the boundary conditions on the interface of both calculation domains. The method has been used to calculate the flow in a compressor with an external volute at off-design operation. Computed circumferential variations of flow angles, total temperature, and pressure are shown and compared with measurements. The good agreement between the predictions and measurements confirms the validity of the approach.

Multidisciplinary Optimization of a Radial Compressor for Microgas Turbine Applications

A multidisciplinary optimization system and its application to the design of a small radial compressor impeller are presented. The method uses a genetic algorithm and artificial neural network to find a compromise between the conflicting demands of high efficiency and low centrifugal stresses in the blades. Concurrent analyses of the aero performance and stress predictions replace the traditional time consuming sequential design approach. The aerodynamic performance, predicted by a 3D Navier-Stokes solver, is maximized while limiting the mechanical stresses to a maximum value. The stresses are calculated by means of a finite element analysis, and controlled by modifying the blade camber, lean, and thickness at the hub. The results show that it is possible to obtain a significant reduction of the centrifugal stresses in the blades without penalizing the performance.

Experimental and Theoretical Analysis of the Flow in a Centrifugal Compressor Volute

Detailed measurements of the swirling flow in a centrifugal compressor volute with elliptical cross section are presented. They show important variations of the swirl and throughflow velocity, total and static pressure distribution at the different volute cross sections and at the diffuser exit. The basic mechanisms defining the complex three dimensional flow structure are clarified. The different sources of pressure loss have been investigated and used to improve the prediction capability of one-dimensional mean streamline analysis correlations. The tangential flow loss model under decelerating flow conditions and the friction loss model are confirmed. New empirical loss coefficients are proposed for the exit cone loss model and the tangential flow loss model for the case of accelerating flow in the volute

Experimental and numerical investigation of the flow in a centrifugal compressor volute

This paper presents the experimental and numerical investigation of an outward volute of rectangular cross section. The investigation is carried out at the level of stage performance, volute performance, and detailed flow field study at selected peripheral positions for various operating points. The objective of the investigation was to gain further knowledge about the flow structure and loss mechanism in the volute. Simultaneously with the experimental investigation, a numerical simulation of the flow in the volute was carried out. A three-dimensional Euler code was used in which a wall friction term and a tuned artificial dissipation term account for viscous effects. A reasonable agreement between the experimental and numerical results is observed. As a result a good and detailed knowledge about the pressure recovery and loss mechanism in the volute is obtained.

Three-Dimensional Unsteady Flow and Forces in Centrifugal Impellers With Circumferential Distortion of the Outlet Static Pressure

This paper describes the numerical investigation of the centrifugal impeller response to downstream static pressure distortions imposed by volutes at off-design operations. An unsteady three-dimensional Euler solver with nonreflecting upstream and downstream boundary conditions and phase-lagged periodicity conditions is used for this purpose. The mechanisms governing the unsteady flow field are analyzed. A parametric study shows the influence of the acoustic Strouhal number on the amplitude of the flow perturbations. Radial forces calculated on backward leaned and radial ending centrifugal impellers show nonnegligible influence of the impeller geometry.

Design Method for Subsonic and Transonic Cascade with Prescribed Mach Number Distribution

A iterative procedure for blade design, using a time marching procedure to solve the unsteady Euler equations in the blade-to-blade plane, is presented. A flow solver, which performs the analysis of the flow field for a given geometry, is transformed into a design method. This is done by replacing the classical slip condition (no normal velocity component) by other boundary conditions, in such a way that the required pressure or Mach number distribution may be imposed directly on the blade. The unknowns are calculated on the blade wall using the so-called compatibility relations

Numerical Study of the Heat Transfer in Micro Gas Turbines

This paper presents a numerical investigation of the heat transfer inside a micro gas turbine and its impact on the performance. The large temperature difference between turbine and compressor in combination with the small dimensions results in a high heat transfer causing a drop in efficiency of both components. Present study aims to quantify this heat transfer and to reveal the different mechanisms that contribute to it. A conjugate heat transfer solver has been developed for this purpose. It combines a three-dimensional (3D) conduction calculation inside the rotor and the stator with a 3D flow calculation in the radial compressor, turbine and gap between stator and rotor. The results for micro gas turbines of different size and shape and different material characteristics are presented and the impact on performance is evaluated.

Numerical analysis of the three-dimensional swirling flow in centrifugal compressor volutes

The improvement of centrifugal compressor performance and the control of the radial forces acting on the impeller due to the circumferential variation of the static pressure caused by the volute require a good understanding of the flow mechanisms and an accurate prediction of the flow pattern inside the volute. A three-dimensional volute calculation method has been developed for this purpose. The volute is discretized by means of hexahedral elements. A cell vertex finite volume approach is used in combination with a time-marching procedure. The numerical procedure makes use of a central space discretization and a four-step Runge-Kutta time-stepping scheme. The artificial dissipation used in the solver is based on the fourth-order differences of the conservative variables. Implicit residual smoothing improves the convergence rate. The loss model implemented in the code accounts for the losses due to internal shear and friction losses on the walls. A comparison of the calculated and measured results inside a volute with elliptical cross section reveals that the modified Euler solver accurately predicts the velocity and pressure distribution inside and upstream of the volute.