T. P. Hynes

Stall inception in axial compressors

Copyright

Performance of a Boundary Layer Ingesting (BLI) propulsion system

This paper presents an assessment of the performance of an embedded propulsion system in the presence of distortion associated with boundary layer ingestion. For fan pressure ratios of interest for civil transports, the benefits of boundary layer ingestion are shown to be very sensitive to the magnitude of fan and duct losses. The distortion transfer across the fan, basically the comparison of the stagnation pressure non-uniformity downstream of the fan to that upstream of the fan, has a major role in determining the impact of boundary layer ingestion on overall fuel burn. This, in turn, puts requirements on the fidelity with which one needs to assess the distortion transfer, and thus the type of models that need to be used in such assessment. For the three-dimensional distortions associated with fuselage boundary layers ingested into a subsonic diffusing inlet, it is found that boundary layer ingestion can provide decreases in fuel burn of several per cent. It is also shown that a promising avenue for mitigating the risks (aerodynamic as well as aeromechanical) in boundary layer ingestion is to mix out the flow before it reaches the engine face.

Three-Dimensional Separations in Axial Compressors

Flow separations in the corner regions of blade passages are common. The separations are three dimensional and have quite different properties from the two-dimensional separations that are considered in elementary courses of fluid mechanics. In particular, the consequences for the flow may be less severe than the two-dimensional separation. This paper describes the nature of three-dimensional (3D) separation and addresses the way in which topological rules, based on a linear treatment of the Navier-Stokes equations, can predict properties of the limiting streamlines, including the singularities which form. The paper shows measurements of the flow field in a linear cascade of compressor blades and compares these to the results of 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD). For corners without tip clearance, the presence of three-dimensional separation appears to be universal, and the challenge for the designer is to limit the loss and blockage produced. The CFD appears capable of predicting this.

Jet Noise: Acoustic Analogy informed by Large Eddy Simulation

A novel approach to the development of a hybrid prediction methodology for jet noise is described. Modeling details and numerical techniques are optimized for each of the three components of the model. Far-field propagation is modeled by solution of a system of adjoint linear Euler equations, capturing convective and refraction effects using a spatially developing jet mean flow provided by a Reynolds-averaged Navier―Stokes computational fluid dynamics solution. Sound generation is modeled following Goldsteins acoustic analogy, including a Gaussian function model for the two-point cross correlation of the fourth-order velocity fluctuations in the acoustic source. Parameters in this model describing turbulent length and time scales are assumed to be proportional to turbulence information also taken from the Reynolds-averaged Navier―Stokes computational fluid dynamics prediction. The constants of proportionality are, however, not determined empirically, but extracted by comparison with turbulence length and time scales obtained from a large eddy simulation prediction. The large eddy simulation results are shown to be in good agreement with experimental data for the fourth-order two-point cross-correlation functions. The large eddy simulation solution is then used to determine the amplitude parameter and also to examine which components of the cross correlation are largest, enabling inclusion of all identified dominant terms in the Gaussian source model. The acoustic source description in the present approach is therefore determined with no direct input from experimental data. This model is applied to the prediction of sound to the experimental configuration of the European Union JEAN project, and gives encouraging agreement with experimental data across a wide spectral range and for both sideline and peak noise angles. This paper also examines the accuracy of various commonly made simplifications, for example: a locally parallel mean flow approximation rather than consideration of the spatially evolving mean jet flow and scattering from the nozzle; the assumption of small radial variation in Green function over the turbulence correlation length; the application of the far-field approximation in the Green function; and the impact of isotropic assumptions made in previous acoustic source models.

Reflection of circumferential modes in a choked nozzle

Small perturbations of a choked flow through a thin annular nozzle are investigated. Two cases are considered, corresponding to a ‘choked outlet’ and a ‘choked inlet’ respectively. For the first case, either an acoustic or entropy or vorticity wave is assumed to be travelling downstream towards the nozzle contraction. An asymptotic analysis for low frequency is used to find the reflected acoustic wave that is created. The boundary condition found by Marble & Candel (1977) for a compact choked nozzle is shown to apply to first order, even for circumferentially varying waves. The next-order correction can be expressed as an ‘effective length’ dependent on the mean flow (and hence the particular geometry of the nozzle) in a quantifiable way. For the second case, an acoustic wave propagates upstream and is reflected from a convergent–divergent nozzle. A normal shock is assumed to be present. By considering the interaction of the shocks position and flow perturbations, the reflected propagating waves are found for a compact nozzle. It is shown that a significant entropy disturbance is produced even when the shock is weak, and that for circumferential modes a vorticity wave is also present. Numerical calculations are conducted using a sample geometry and good agreement with the analysis is found at low frequency in both cases, and the range of validity of the asymptotic theory is determined.

A Method for Assessing Effects of Circumferential Flow Distortion on Compressor Stability

This paper describes the development of a new analysis to predict the onset of flow instability for an axial compressor operating in a circumferentially distorted inlet flow. A relatively simple model is used to examine the influence of various distortions in setting this instability point. It is found that the model reproduces known experimental trends for the loss of stability margin with increasing distortion amplitude and with changes in reduced frequency. In particular, there is a recognizable “critical sector angle” which characterizes loss of stability margin. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time the effects described herein have been theoretically demonstrated as the direct result of a fluid dynamic stability calculation.

Control of three-dimensional separations in axial compressors by tailored boundary layer suction

One of the important ways of improving turbomachinery compressor performance is to control three-dimensional (3D) separations, which form over the suction surface and end wall corner of the blade passage. Based on the insights gained into the formation of these separations, this paper illustrates how an appropriately applied boundary layer suction of up to 0.7% of inlet mass flow can control and eliminate typical compressor stator hub corner 3D separation over a range of operating incidence. The paper describes, using computational fluid dynamics, the application of suction on the blade suction surface and end wall boundary layers and exemplifies the influence of end wall dividing streamline in initiating 3D separation in the blade passage. The removal of the separated region from the blade suction surface is confirmed by an experimental investigation in a compressor cascade involving surface flow visualization, surface static pressure, and exit loss measurements. The ensuing passage flow field is characterized by increased blade loading (static pressure difference between pressure and suction surface), enhanced average static pressure rise, significant loss removal, and a uniform exit flow. This result also enables the contribution of the 3D separation to the overall loss and passage blockage to be assessed.

Influence of Surface Roughness on Three-Dimensional Separation in Axial Compressors

Surface roughness on a stator blade was found to have a major effect on the three-dimensional (3D) separation at the hub of a single-stage low-speed axial compressor. The change in the separation with roughness worsened performance of the stage. A preliminary study was carried out to ascertain which part of the stator suction surface and at what operating condition the flow is most sensitive to roughness. The results show that stage performance is extremely sensitive to surface roughness around the leading edge and peak-suction regions, particularly for flow rates corresponding to design and lower values. Surface flow visualization and exit loss measurements show that the size of the separation, in terms of spanwise and chordwise extent, is increased with roughness present. Roughness produced the large 3D separation at design flow coefficient that is found for smooth blades nearer to stall. A simple model to simulate the effect of roughness was developed and, when included in a 3D Navier-Stokes calculation method, was shown to give good qualitative agreement with measurements.

Transonic Helicopter Noise

Helicopter noise is an increasingly important issue, and at large forward-flight speeds transonic rotor noise is a major contributor. A method for predicting transonic rotor noise, which is more computationally efficient than previous methods and which furthermore offers physical insight into the noise generation, is developed. These benefits combine to make it of potential use to helicopter rotor designers. The permeable surface form of the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings (FW-H) equation is used to express the sound field in terms of a distribution of monopole and dipole sources over a permeable control surface and a distribution of quadrupole sources over the volume outside of this surface. By choosing the control surface to enclose the transonic flow regions, the noise from the quadrupole distribution becomes negligible. Only the more straightforward surface sources then need be considered, making the acoustic approach computationally efficient. By locating the control surface close to the blade subject to enclosing the transonic flow regions, efficiency in the computational-fluid-dynamics (CFD) approach is also attained. To perform noise predictions, an Euler CFD method to calculate the flowfield was combined with an acoustic method incorporating the retarded time formulation of the FW-H equation. Several rotor blades in hover and steady forward flight were considered, all of which involved transonic flows but for which shock delocalization did not occur. The predictions showed very good agreement with experimental data and with predictions obtained using more computationally intensive methods.

Measurements of intake separation hysteresis in a model fan and nacelle RIG

A 1/20-scale, low speed model rig representing the fan and nacelle of a high bypass ratio jet engine has been tested under crosswind conditions. The flow conditions under which the intake flow separates and reattaches have been found to exhibit considerable hysteresis. This phenomenon has been examined by a careful test procedure in which the crosswind angle has been slowly increased and then decreased. Measurements of the hysteresis associated with separation and reattachment are presented for independent variations in stream-tube contraction ratio, ground clearance, fan operating point and Reynolds number. The results reveal that particular care must be taken to allow for any hysteresis when testing intakes under crosswind conditions. They also indicate that separation hysteresis is particularly sensitive to fan operating point and the position of the ground plane. These findings suggest that it is important for high Reynolds number intake tests and calculations to include a ground plane and a model of the downstream turbomachinery.