Journal Description
International Journal of Turbomachinery, Propulsion and Power
International Journal of Turbomachinery, Propulsion and Power
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on turbomachinery, propulsion and power. The journal is owned by the EUROTURBO European turbomachinery society and is published quarterly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, ESCI (Web of Science), Inspec, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Engineering, Aerospace)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 63.9 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 27.6 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the first half of 2024).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
Impact Factor:
1.3 (2023);
5-Year Impact Factor:
1.3 (2023)
Latest Articles
Analysis and Prediction of the Stability Limit for Centrifugal Compressors with Vaneless Diffusers
Int. J. Turbomach. Propuls. Power 2024, 9(3), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijtpp9030029 - 5 Aug 2024
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A numerical study was conducted to identify the mechanisms involved in the destabilisation of centrifugal compressors with vaneless diffusers. A stability analysis—carried out on the rotating and fixed parts of the studied machines—showed that the vaneless diffuser is a limiting component at a
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A numerical study was conducted to identify the mechanisms involved in the destabilisation of centrifugal compressors with vaneless diffusers. A stability analysis—carried out on the rotating and fixed parts of the studied machines—showed that the vaneless diffuser is a limiting component at a low mass flow rate. It was demonstrated that the reorganisation of stall patterns into recirculation in the inducer stabilises the impellers’ flow fields. As the destabilisation of vaneless diffusers has been a recurrent topic in the literature, many models have shown that it is the inlet-flow angle that drives the loss of stability. Models from the literature have estimated critical angle values using the geometry of the diffuser. Thus, for a given stage, expressing the diffuser inlet-flow angle as a function of the mass flow rate allows one to estimate its stability limit. However, this law needs to be calibrated to consider each compressor’s geometrical and aerodynamic specificities. This calibration can be achieved through single-passage steady simulations performed at stable operating points with high mass flow rates. With this methodology, a designer can estimate the stability limit of a centrifugal compressor with a vaneless diffuser from single-passage RANS calculations.
Full article
Open AccessFeature PaperArticle
Towards Improved Turbomachinery Measurements: A Comprehensive Analysis of Gaussian Process Modeling for a Data-Driven Bayesian Hybrid Measurement Technique
by
Gonçalo G. Cruz, Xavier Ottavy and Fabrizio Fontaneto
Int. J. Turbomach. Propuls. Power 2024, 9(3), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijtpp9030028 - 1 Aug 2024
Abstract
A cost-effective solution to address the challenges posed by sensitive instrumentation in next-gen turbomachinery components is to reduce the number of measurement samples required to assess complex flows. This study investigates Gaussian Process (GP) modeling approaches within the framework of a data-driven hybrid
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A cost-effective solution to address the challenges posed by sensitive instrumentation in next-gen turbomachinery components is to reduce the number of measurement samples required to assess complex flows. This study investigates Gaussian Process (GP) modeling approaches within the framework of a data-driven hybrid measurement technique for turbomachinery applications. Three different modeling approaches—Baseline GP, CFD to Experiments GP, and Multi-Fidelity GP—are evaluated, and their performance in predicting mean flow characteristics and associated uncertainties on a low aspect ratio axial compressor stage, representative of the last stage of a high-pressure compressor, are focused on. The Baseline GP demonstrates robust accuracy, while the integration of CFD data in CFD into Experiments GP introduces complexities and more errors. The Multi-Fidelity GP, leveraging both CFD and experimental data, emerges as a promising solution, exhibiting enhanced accuracy in critical flow features. A sensitivity analysis underscores its stability and accuracy, even with reduced measurements. The Multi-Fidelity GP, therefore, stands as a reliable data fusion method for the proposed hybrid measurement technique, offering a potential reduction in instrumentation effort and testing times.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the XXVI Biennial Symposium on Measuring Techniques in Turbomachinery)
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Open AccessArticle
Turbofan Performance Estimation Using Neural Network Component Maps and Genetic Algorithm-Least Squares Solvers
by
Giuseppe Lombardo, Pierantonio Lo Greco and Ivano Benedetti
Int. J. Turbomach. Propuls. Power 2024, 9(3), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijtpp9030027 - 23 Jul 2024
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Computational models of turbofans that are oriented to assist the design and testing of innovative components are of fundamental importance in order to reduce their environmental impact. In this paper, we present an effective method for developing numerical turbofan models that allows reliable
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Computational models of turbofans that are oriented to assist the design and testing of innovative components are of fundamental importance in order to reduce their environmental impact. In this paper, we present an effective method for developing numerical turbofan models that allows reliable steady-state turbofan performance calculations. The main difference between the proposed method and those used in various commercial algorithms, such as GasTurb, GSP 12 and NPSS, is the use of neural networks as a multidimensional interpolation method for rotational component maps instead of classical parameter. An additional aspect of fundamental importance lies in the simplicity of implementing this method in Matlab and the high degree of customization of the turbofan components without performing any manipulation of variables for the purpose of reducing the dimensionality of the problem, which would normally lead to a high condition number of the Jacobian matrix associated with the nonlinear turbofan system (and, thus, to significant error). In the proposed methodology, the component behavior can be modeled by analytical relationships and through the use of neural networks trained from component bench test data or data obtained from CFD simulations. Generalization of rotational component maps by feedforward neural networks leads to an average interpolation error up to around , for all variables. The resulting nonlinear system is solved by a combined genetic algorithm and least squares algorithm approach, instead of the standard Newton’s method. The turbofan numerical model turns out to be convergent, and results suggest that the trend in overall turbofan performance, as flight conditions change, is in agreement with the outputs of the GSP 12 software.
Full article
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Open AccessArticle
Experimental Investigation of an Efficient and Lightweight Designed Counter-Rotating Shrouded Fan Stage
by
Timea Lengyel-Kampmann, Jirair Karboujian, Guillaume Charroin and Peter Winkelmann
Int. J. Turbomach. Propuls. Power 2024, 9(3), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijtpp9030026 - 3 Jul 2024
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The German Aerospace Center designed, aero-mechanically optimized and experimentally investigated its own counter-rotating shrouded fan stage in the frame of the project CRISPmulti. Their target and the motivation of this work was, on the one hand, the generation of a highly accurate experimental
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The German Aerospace Center designed, aero-mechanically optimized and experimentally investigated its own counter-rotating shrouded fan stage in the frame of the project CRISPmulti. Their target and the motivation of this work was, on the one hand, the generation of a highly accurate experimental database for the validation of the modern numerical design and optimization processes, and on the other hand, the development of a new innovative technology for the manufacturing of 3D fan blades made of a lightweight CFRP material. The original CRISP-1m test rig designed by the MTU Aero Engines in the 1980s was reused with the new blading for experimental investigation in the Multistage Two-Shaft Compressor Test Facility (M2VP) of the DLR in Cologne. The evaluation of the steady measurement results and the validation of the numerical simulation based on the pressure and temperature measurement are presented in this paper.
Full article
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Open AccessArticle
Heat Load Development and Heat Map Sensitivity Analysis for Civil Aero-Engines
by
Alireza Ebrahimi, Soheil Jafari and Theoklis Nikolaidis
Int. J. Turbomach. Propuls. Power 2024, 9(3), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijtpp9030025 - 2 Jul 2024
Abstract
The design complexity of the new generation of civil aero-engines results in higher demands on engines’ components, higher component temperatures, higher heat generation, and, finally, critical thermal management issues. This paper will propose a methodological approach to creating physics-based models for heat loads
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The design complexity of the new generation of civil aero-engines results in higher demands on engines’ components, higher component temperatures, higher heat generation, and, finally, critical thermal management issues. This paper will propose a methodological approach to creating physics-based models for heat loads developed by sources, as well as a systematic sensitivity analysis to identify the effects of design parameters on the thermal behavior of civil aero-engines. The ranges and levels of heat loads generated by heat sources (e.g., accessory gearbox, bearing, pumps, etc.) and the heat absorption capacity of heat sinks (e.g., engine fuel, oil, and air) are discussed systematically. The practical research challenges for thermal management system design and development for the new and next generation of turbofan engines will then be addressed through a sensitivity analysis of the heat load values as well as the heat sink flow rates. The potential solutions for thermal performance enhancements of propulsion systems will be proposed and discussed accordingly.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 10th EVI-GTI International Conference on Gas Turbine Instrumentation)
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Open AccessArticle
Experimental Investigation of the Sensitivity of Forced Response to Cold Streaks in an Axial Turbine
by
Lennart Stania, Felix Ludeneit and Joerg R. Seume
Int. J. Turbomach. Propuls. Power 2024, 9(3), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijtpp9030024 - 2 Jul 2024
Abstract
In turbomachinery, geometric variances of the blades, due to manufacturing tolerances, deterioration over a lifetime, or blade repair, can influence overall aerodynamic performance as well as aeroelastic behaviour. In cooled turbine blades, such deviations may lead to streaks of high or low temperature.
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In turbomachinery, geometric variances of the blades, due to manufacturing tolerances, deterioration over a lifetime, or blade repair, can influence overall aerodynamic performance as well as aeroelastic behaviour. In cooled turbine blades, such deviations may lead to streaks of high or low temperature. It has already been shown that hot streaks from the combustors lead to inhomogeneity in the flow path, resulting in increased blade dynamic stress. However, not only hot streaks but also cold streaks occur in modern aircraft engines due to deterioration-induced widening of cooling holes. This work investigates this effect in an experimental setup of a five-stage axial turbine. Cooling air is injected through the vane row of the fourth stage at midspan, and the vibration amplitudes of the blades in rotor stage five are measured with a tip-timing system. The highest injected mass flow rate is 2% of the total mass flow rate for a low-load operating point. The global turbine parameters change between the reference case without cooling air and the cold streak case. This change in operating conditions is compensated such that the corrected operating point is held constant throughout the measurements. It is shown that the cold streak is deflected in the direction of the hub and detected at 40% channel height behind the stator vane of the fifth stage. The averaged vibration amplitude over all blades increases by 20% for the cold streak case compared to the reference during low-load operating of the axial turbine. For operating points with higher loads, however, no increase in averaged vibration amplitude exceeding the measurement uncertainties is observed because the relative cooling mass flow rate is too low. It is shown that the cold streak only influences the pressure side and leads to a widening of the wake deficit. This is identified as the reason for the increased forcing on the blade. The conclusion is that an accurate prediction of the blade’s lifetime requires consideration of the cooling air within the design process and estimation of changes in cooling air mass flow rate throughout the blade’s lifetime.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 16th International Symposium on Unsteady Aerodynamics, Aeroacoustics and Aeroelasticity of Turbomachines (ISUAAAT16))
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Open AccessArticle
Predicting Erosion Damage in a Centrifugal Fan
by
Adel Ghenaiet
Int. J. Turbomach. Propuls. Power 2024, 9(2), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijtpp9020023 - 17 Jun 2024
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Erosion damage can occur in fans and blowers during industrial processes, cooling, and mine ventilation. This study focuses on investigating erosion caused by particulate air flows in a centrifugal fan with forward-inclined blades. This type of fan is particularly vulnerable to erosion due
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Erosion damage can occur in fans and blowers during industrial processes, cooling, and mine ventilation. This study focuses on investigating erosion caused by particulate air flows in a centrifugal fan with forward-inclined blades. This type of fan is particularly vulnerable to erosion due to its radial flow component and flow recirculation. The flow field was solved separately, and the data transferred to the particle trajectory and erosion code. This in-house code implements the Lagrangian approach and the random walk algorithm, including statistical descriptions of particle sizes, release positions, and restitution factors. The study involved two types of dust particles, with a concentration between 100 and 500 μg/m3: The first type is the Saharan (North Africa) dust, which has a finer size between 0.1 and 100 microns. The second type is the Coarse Arizona Road Dust, also known as AC-coarse dust, which has a larger size ranging from 1 to 200 microns. The complex flow conditions within the impeller and scroll, as well as the concentration and size distribution of particles, are shown to affect the paths, impact conditions, and erosion patterns. The outer wall of the scroll is most heavily eroded due to high-impact velocities by particles exiting the impeller. Erosion is more pronounced on the pressure side of the full blades compared to the splitters and casing plate. The large non-uniformities of erosion patterns indicate a strong dependence with the blade position around the scroll. Therefore, the computed eroded mass is cumulated and averaged for all the surfaces of components. These results provide useful insights for monitoring erosion wear in centrifugal fans and selecting appropriate coatings to extend the lifespan.
Full article
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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle
Numerical Investigation of Forced Response in a Transonic Compressor Stage—Highlighting Challenges Using Experimental Validation
by
Nicklas Kilian, Fabian Klausmann, Daniel Spieker, Heinz-Peter Schiffer and Mauricio Gutiérrez Salas
Int. J. Turbomach. Propuls. Power 2024, 9(2), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijtpp9020022 - 6 Jun 2024
Abstract
An experiment-supported simulation process chain is set up to perform numerical forced response analyses on a transonic high-pressure compressor front stage at varying operating conditions. A wake generator is used upstream of the rotor to excite a specific resonance within the operating range
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An experiment-supported simulation process chain is set up to perform numerical forced response analyses on a transonic high-pressure compressor front stage at varying operating conditions. A wake generator is used upstream of the rotor to excite a specific resonance within the operating range of the compressor. Thereby, extensive aerodynamic and structural dynamic experimental data, obtained from state-of-the-art rig testing at the Transonic Compressor Darmstadt test facility at the Technical University of Darmstadt, are used to validate numerical results and ensure realistic boundary conditions. In the course of this, five-hole-probe measurements at steady operating conditions close to the investigated resonance enable a validation of the steady aerodynamics. Subsequently, numerically obtained aeroelastic quantities, such as resonance frequency, and damping, as well as maximum alternating blade stresses and tip deflections, are compared to experimental blade tip timing data. Experimental trends in damping can be confirmed and better explained by considering numerical results regarding the aerodynamic wall work density and secondary flow phenomena. The influence of varying loading conditions on the resonance frequency is not observed as distinctly in numerical, as in experimental results. Generally, alternating blade stresses and deflections appear to be significantly lower than in the experiments. However, similar to the aerodynamic damping, numerical results contribute to a better understanding of experimental trends. The successive experimental validation shows the capabilities of the numerical forced response analysis setup and enables the highlighting of challenges and identification of potential further adaptations.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 16th International Symposium on Unsteady Aerodynamics, Aeroacoustics and Aeroelasticity of Turbomachines (ISUAAAT16))
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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle
Numerical Investigation of the Excitation Characteristics of Contaminated Nozzle Rings
by
Michaela R. Beierl, Damian M. Vogt, Magnus Fischer, Tobias R. Müller and Kwok Kai So
Int. J. Turbomach. Propuls. Power 2024, 9(2), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijtpp9020021 - 4 Jun 2024
Abstract
The deposition of combustion residues in the nozzle ring (NR) of a turbocharger turbine stage changes the NR geometry significantly in a random manner. The resultant complex and highly asymmetric geometry induces low engine order (LEO) excitation, which may lead to resonance excitation
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The deposition of combustion residues in the nozzle ring (NR) of a turbocharger turbine stage changes the NR geometry significantly in a random manner. The resultant complex and highly asymmetric geometry induces low engine order (LEO) excitation, which may lead to resonance excitation of rotor blades and high cycle fatigue (HCF) failure. Therefore, a suitable prediction workflow is of great importance for the design and validation phases. The prediction of LEO excitation is, however, computationally expensive as high-fidelity, full annulus CFD models are required. Previous investigations showed that a steady-state computational model consisting of the volute, the NR, and a radial extension is suitable to reduce the computational costs massively and to qualitatively predict the level of LEO forced response. In the current paper, the aerodynamic excitation of 69 real contaminated NRs is analyzed using this simplified approach. The results obtained by the simplified simulation model are used to select 13 contaminated NR geometries, which are then simulated with a model of the entire turbine stage, including the rotor, in a transient time-marching manner to provide high-fidelity simulation results for the verification of the simplified approach. Furthermore, two contamination patterns are analyzed in a more detailed manner regarding their aerodynamic excitation. It is found that the simplified model can be used to identify and classify contamination patterns that lead to high blade vibration amplitudes. In cases where transient effects occurring in the rotor alter the harmonic pressure field significantly, the ability of the simplified approach to predict the LEO excitation is not sufficient.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 16th International Symposium on Unsteady Aerodynamics, Aeroacoustics and Aeroelasticity of Turbomachines (ISUAAAT16))
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Open AccessArticle
Rotating Stall Inception Prediction Using an Eigenvalue-Based Global Instability Analysis Method
by
Shenren Xu, Caijia Yuan, Chen He, Dongming Cao, Dakun Sun, Carlos Martel, Huihao Chen and Dingxi Wang
Int. J. Turbomach. Propuls. Power 2024, 9(2), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijtpp9020020 - 4 Jun 2024
Abstract
The accurate prediction of rotating stall inception is critical for determining the stable operating regime of a compressor. Among the two widely accepted pathways to stall, namely, modal and spike, the former is plausibly believed to originate from a global linear instability, and
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The accurate prediction of rotating stall inception is critical for determining the stable operating regime of a compressor. Among the two widely accepted pathways to stall, namely, modal and spike, the former is plausibly believed to originate from a global linear instability, and experiments have partially confirmed it. As for the latter, recent computational and experimental findings have shown it to exhibit itself as a rapidly amplified flow perturbation. However, rigorous analysis has yet to be performed to prove that this is due to global linear instability. In this work, an eigenanalysis approach is used to investigate the rotating stall inception of a transonic annular cascade. Steady analyses were performed to compute the performance characteristics at a given rotational speed. A numerical stall boundary was first estimated based on the residual convergence behavior of the steady solver. Eigenanalyses were then performed for flow solutions at a few near-stall points to determine their global linear stability. Once the relevant unstable modes were identified according to the signs of real parts of eigenvalues, they were examined in detail to understand the flow destabilizing mechanism. Furthermore, time-accurate unsteady simulations were performed to verify the obtained eigenvalues and eigenvectors. The eigenanalysis results reveal that at the rotating stall inception condition, multiple unstable modes appear almost simultaneously with a leading mode that grows most rapidly. In addition, it was found that the unstable modes are continuous in their nodal diameters, and are members of a particular family of modes typical of a dynamic system with cyclic symmetries. This is the first time such an interesting structure of the unstable modes is found numerically, which to some extent explains the rich and complex results constantly observed from experiments but have never been consistently explained. The verified eigenanalysis method can be used to predict the onset of a rotating stall with a CPU time cost orders of magnitude lower than time-accurate simulations, thus making compressor stall onset prediction based on the global linear instability approach feasible in engineering practice.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 16th International Symposium on Unsteady Aerodynamics, Aeroacoustics and Aeroelasticity of Turbomachines (ISUAAAT16))
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Open AccessArticle
Physics of the Unsteady Response of Turbine Cascade to Pulsed Flow Conditions
by
Pierre Bertojo, Nicolas Binder and Jeremie Gressier
Int. J. Turbomach. Propuls. Power 2024, 9(2), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijtpp9020019 - 27 May 2024
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The present contribution is in direct continuation of previous work which aimed at demonstrating the possible benefit of the unsteady feeding of turbines. Some numerical analyses of the flow inside a skeletal cascade revealed that instantaneous overloading occurs on the blades. However, such
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The present contribution is in direct continuation of previous work which aimed at demonstrating the possible benefit of the unsteady feeding of turbines. Some numerical analyses of the flow inside a skeletal cascade revealed that instantaneous overloading occurs on the blades. However, such an academic case is far from a realistic configuration. The present paper investigates the influence of a simplified thickness distribution to check whether the instantaneous benefit is still observed. Based on numerical simulations, an analysis of the physical origin of the overloading is proposed on a single blade. It results in the choice of a triangular thickness distribution, which should promote the physical phenomena responsible for the overloading. A parametric study of such a distribution demonstrates that it is possible to obtain instantaneous performance very close to the optimum of the flat plate. Conclusions drawn from the single-blade analysis are extended to cascades and stator–rotor configurations and show an increase in the complexity of physical phenomena. Ultimately, the aim is to optimize the geometric shape to obtain maximum overloading. Consequently, the same type of study was carried out for the expansion phase, and similar results were obtained.
Full article
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Open AccessArticle
Design and Characterization of Highly Diffusive Turbine Vanes Suitable for Transonic Rotating Detonation Combustors
by
Sergio Grasa and Guillermo Paniagua
Int. J. Turbomach. Propuls. Power 2024, 9(2), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijtpp9020018 - 9 May 2024
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In rotating detonation engines the turbine inlet conditions may be transonic with unprecedented unsteady fluctuations. To ensure an acceptable engine performance, the turbine passages must be suited to these conditions. This article focuses on designing and characterizing highly diffusive turbine vanes to operate
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In rotating detonation engines the turbine inlet conditions may be transonic with unprecedented unsteady fluctuations. To ensure an acceptable engine performance, the turbine passages must be suited to these conditions. This article focuses on designing and characterizing highly diffusive turbine vanes to operate at any inlet Mach number up to Mach 1. First, the effect of pressure loss on the starting limit is presented. Afterward, a multi-objective optimization with steady RANS simulations, including the endwall and 3D vane design is performed. Compared to previous research, significant reductions in pressure loss and stator-induced rotor forcing are obtained, with an extended operating range and preserving high flow turning. Finally, the influence of the inlet boundary layer thickness on the vane performance is evaluated, inducing remarkable increases in pressure loss and downstream pressure distortion. Employing an optimization with a thicker inlet boundary layer, specific endwall design recommendations are found, providing a notable improvement in both objective functions.
Full article
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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle
Simulation of Indexing and Clocking with a New Multidimensional Time Harmonic Balance Approach
by
Laura Junge, Christian Frey, Graham Ashcroft and Edmund Kügeler
Int. J. Turbomach. Propuls. Power 2024, 9(2), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijtpp9020017 - 8 May 2024
Abstract
Alongside the capability to simulate rotor–stator interactions, a central aspect within the development of frequency-domain methods for turbomachinery flows is the ability of the method to accurately predict rotor–rotor and stator–stator interactions on a single-passage domain. To simulate such interactions, state-of-the-art frequency-domain approaches
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Alongside the capability to simulate rotor–stator interactions, a central aspect within the development of frequency-domain methods for turbomachinery flows is the ability of the method to accurately predict rotor–rotor and stator–stator interactions on a single-passage domain. To simulate such interactions, state-of-the-art frequency-domain approaches require one fundamental interblade phase angle, and therefore it can be necessary to resort to multi-passage configurations. Other approaches neglect the cross-coupling of different harmonics. As a consequence, the influence of indexing on the propagation of the unsteady disturbances is not captured. To overcome these issues, the harmonic balance approach based on multidimensional Fourier transforms in time, recently introduced by the authors, is extended in this work to account for arbitrary interblade phase angle ratios on a single-passage domain. To assess the ability of the approach to simulate the influence of indexing on the steady, as well as on the unsteady, part of the flow, the proposed extension is applied to a modern low-pressure fan stage of a civil aero engine under the influence of an inhomogeneous inflow condition. The results are compared to unsteady simulations in the time-domain and to state-of-the-art frequency-domain methods based on one-dimensional discrete Fourier transforms.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 16th International Symposium on Unsteady Aerodynamics, Aeroacoustics and Aeroelasticity of Turbomachines (ISUAAAT16))
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Open AccessArticle
Wall-Proximity Effects on Five-Hole Probe Measurements
by
Adrien Vasseur, Nicolas Binder, Fabrizio Fontaneto and Jean-Louis Champion
Int. J. Turbomach. Propuls. Power 2024, 9(2), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijtpp9020016 - 8 May 2024
Abstract
Wall proximity affects the accuracy of pressure probe measurements with a particularly strong impact on multi-hole probes. The wall-related evolution of the calibration of two hemispheric L-shaped 3D-printed five-hole probes was investigated in a low-speed wind tunnel. Pressure measurements and 2D particle image
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Wall proximity affects the accuracy of pressure probe measurements with a particularly strong impact on multi-hole probes. The wall-related evolution of the calibration of two hemispheric L-shaped 3D-printed five-hole probes was investigated in a low-speed wind tunnel. Pressure measurements and 2D particle image velocimetry were performed. The wall proximity causes the probe to measure a flow diverging from the wall, whereas the boundary layer causes the probe to measure a velocity directed towards the wall. Both angular calibration coefficients are affected in different manners. The error in angle measurement can reach 7°. These errors can be treated as calibration information. Acceleration caused by blockage is not the main reason for the errors. Methods to perform measurements closer to the wall are suggested.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the XXVI Biennial Symposium on Measuring Techniques in Turbomachinery)
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Open AccessReview
Unsteady Flows and Component Interaction in Turbomachinery
by
Simone Salvadori, Massimiliano Insinna and Francesco Martelli
Int. J. Turbomach. Propuls. Power 2024, 9(2), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijtpp9020015 - 5 Apr 2024
Cited by 1
Abstract
Unsteady component interaction represents a crucial topic in turbomachinery design and analysis. Combustor/turbine interaction is one of the most widely studied topics both using experimental and numerical methods due to the risk of failure of high-pressure turbine blades by unexpected deviation of hot
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Unsteady component interaction represents a crucial topic in turbomachinery design and analysis. Combustor/turbine interaction is one of the most widely studied topics both using experimental and numerical methods due to the risk of failure of high-pressure turbine blades by unexpected deviation of hot flow trajectory and local heat transfer characteristics. Compressor/combustor interaction is also of interest since it has been demonstrated that, under certain conditions, a non-uniform flow field feeds the primary zone of the combustor where the high-pressure compressor blade passing frequency can be clearly individuated. At the integral scale, the relative motion between vanes and blades in compressor and turbine stages governs the aerothermal performance of the gas turbine, especially in the presence of shocks. At the inertial scale, high turbulence levels generated in the combustion chamber govern wall heat transfer in the high-pressure turbine stage, and wakes generated by low-pressure turbine vanes interact with separation bubbles at low-Reynolds conditions by suppressing them. The necessity to correctly analyze these phenomena obliges the scientific community, the industry, and public funding bodies to cooperate and continuously build new test rigs equipped with highly accurate instrumentation to account for real machine effects. In computational fluid dynamics, researchers developed fast and reliable methods to analyze unsteady blade-row interaction in the case of uneven blade count conditions as well as component interaction by using different closures for turbulence in each domain using high-performance computing. This research effort results in countless publications that contribute to unveiling the actual behavior of turbomachinery flow. However, the great number of publications also results in fragmented information that risks being useless in a practical situation. Therefore, it is useful to collect the most relevant outcomes and derive general conclusions that may help the design of next-gen turbomachines. In fact, the necessity to meet the emission limits defined by the Paris agreement in 2015 obliges the turbomachinery community to consider revolutionary cycles in which component interaction plays a crucial role. In the present paper, the authors try to summarize almost 40 years of experimental and numerical research in the component interaction field, aiming at both providing a comprehensive overview and defining the most relevant conclusions obtained in this demanding research field.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Critical Aspects of Turbomachinery Components and Systems)
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Open AccessArticle
Relationship between Casing Pressure and Non-Synchronous Vibration in an Axial Compressor
by
Valerie Hernley, Aleksandar Jemcov, Jeongseek Kang, Matthew Montgomery and Scott C. Morris
Int. J. Turbomach. Propuls. Power 2024, 9(2), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijtpp9020014 - 2 Apr 2024
Abstract
The relationship between aerodynamic forcing and non-synchronous vibration (NSV) in axial compressors remains difficult to ascertain from experimental measurements. In this work, the relationship between casing pressure and blade vibration was investigated using experimental observations from a 1.5-stage axial compressor under off-design conditions.
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The relationship between aerodynamic forcing and non-synchronous vibration (NSV) in axial compressors remains difficult to ascertain from experimental measurements. In this work, the relationship between casing pressure and blade vibration was investigated using experimental observations from a 1.5-stage axial compressor under off-design conditions. The wavenumber-dependent auto-spectral density (ASD) of casing pressure was introduced to aid in understanding the characteristics of pressure fluctuations that lead to the aeromechanical response. Specifically, the rotor blade’s natural frequencies and nodal diameters could be directly compared with the pressure spectra. This analysis indicated that the rotating disturbances coincided with the first bending (1B) and second bending (2B) vibration modes at certain frequencies and wavenumbers. The non-intrusive stress measurement system (NSMS) data showed elevated vibration amplitudes for the coincident nodal diameters. The amplitude of the wavenumber-dependent pressure spectra was projected onto the single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) transfer function and was compared with the measured vibration amplitude. The results showed a near-linear relationship between the pressure and vibration data.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 16th International Symposium on Unsteady Aerodynamics, Aeroacoustics and Aeroelasticity of Turbomachines (ISUAAAT16))
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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle
Numerical and Experimental Study of Flutter in a Realistic Labyrinth Seal
by
Oscar Bermejo, Juan Manuel Gallardo, Adrian Sotillo, Arnau Altuna, Roberto Alonso and Andoni Puente
Int. J. Turbomach. Propuls. Power 2024, 9(2), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijtpp9020013 - 1 Apr 2024
Cited by 1
Abstract
Labyrinth seals are commonly used in turbomachinery in order to control leakage flows. Flutter is one of the most dangerous potential issues for them, leading to High Cycle Fatigue (HCF) life considerations or even mechanical failure. This phenomenon depends on the interaction between
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Labyrinth seals are commonly used in turbomachinery in order to control leakage flows. Flutter is one of the most dangerous potential issues for them, leading to High Cycle Fatigue (HCF) life considerations or even mechanical failure. This phenomenon depends on the interaction between aerodynamics and structural dynamics; mainly due to the very high uncertainties regarding the details of the fluid flow through the component, it is very hard to predict accurately. In 2014, as part of the E-Break research project funded by the European Union (EU), an experimental campaign regarding the flutter behaviour of labyrinth seals was conducted at “Centro de Tecnologias Aeronauticas” (CTA). During this campaign, three realistic seals were tested at different rotational speeds, and the pressure ratio where the flutter onset appeared was determined. The test was reproduced using a linearised uncoupled structural-fluid methodology of analysis based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations, with results only in moderate agreement with experimental data. A procedure to adjust the CFD simulations to the steady flow measurements was developed. Once this method was applied, the matching between flutter predictions and the measured data improved, but some discrepancies could still be found. Finally, a set of simulations to retain the influence of the external cavities was run, which further improved the agreement with the testing data.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 16th International Symposium on Unsteady Aerodynamics, Aeroacoustics and Aeroelasticity of Turbomachines (ISUAAAT16))
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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle
Modelling Method for Aeroelastic Low Engine Order Excitation Originating from Upstream Vanes’ Geometrical Variability
by
Marco Gambitta, Bernd Beirow and Sven Schrape
Int. J. Turbomach. Propuls. Power 2024, 9(2), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijtpp9020012 - 1 Apr 2024
Abstract
The manufacturing geometrical variability in axial compressors is a stochastic source of uncertainty, implying that the real geometry differs from the nominal design. This causes the real geometry to lose the ideal axial symmetry. Considering the aerofoils of a stator vane, the geometrical
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The manufacturing geometrical variability in axial compressors is a stochastic source of uncertainty, implying that the real geometry differs from the nominal design. This causes the real geometry to lose the ideal axial symmetry. Considering the aerofoils of a stator vane, the geometrical variability affects the flow traversing it. This impacts the downstream rotor, especially when considering the aeroelastic excitation forces. Optical surface scans coupled with a parametrisation method allow for acquiring the information relative to the real aerofoils geometries. The measured data are included in a multi-passage and multi-stage CFD setup to represent the mistuned flow. In particular, low excitation harmonics on the rotor vane are introduced due to the geometrical deviations of the upstream stator. The introduced low engine orders, as well as their amplitude, depend on the stator geometries and their order. A method is proposed to represent the phenomena in a reduced CFD domain, limiting the size and number of solutions required to probabilistically describe the rotor excitation forces. The resulting rotor excitation forces are reconstructed as a superposition of disturbances due to individual stator aerofoils geometries. This indicates that the problem is linear in the combination of disturbances from single passages.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 16th International Symposium on Unsteady Aerodynamics, Aeroacoustics and Aeroelasticity of Turbomachines (ISUAAAT16))
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Open AccessFeature PaperReview
Turbomachinery Noise Review
by
Stéphane Moreau and Michel Roger
Int. J. Turbomach. Propuls. Power 2024, 9(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijtpp9010011 - 13 Mar 2024
Cited by 2
Abstract
The present paper is aimed at providing an updated review of prediction methods for the aerodynamic noise of ducted rotor–stator stages. Indeed, ducted rotating-blade technologies are in continuous evolution and are increasingly used for aeronautical propulsion units, power generation and air conditioning systems.
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The present paper is aimed at providing an updated review of prediction methods for the aerodynamic noise of ducted rotor–stator stages. Indeed, ducted rotating-blade technologies are in continuous evolution and are increasingly used for aeronautical propulsion units, power generation and air conditioning systems. Different needs are faced from the early design stage to the final definition of a machine. Fast-running, approximate analytical approaches and high-fidelity numerical simulations are considered the best-suited tools for each, respectively. Recent advances are discussed, with emphasis on their pros and cons.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Critical Aspects of Turbomachinery Components and Systems)
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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle
Quantification of Blade Vibration Amplitude in Turbomachinery
by
Alexandra P. Schneider, Benoit Paoletti, Xavier Ottavy and Christoph Brandstetter
Int. J. Turbomach. Propuls. Power 2024, 9(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijtpp9010010 - 4 Mar 2024
Abstract
Experimental monitoring of blade vibration in turbomachinery is typically based on blade-mounted strain gauges. Their signals are used to derive vibration amplitudes which are compared to modal scope limits, including a safety factor. According to industrial guidelines, this factor is chosen conservatively to
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Experimental monitoring of blade vibration in turbomachinery is typically based on blade-mounted strain gauges. Their signals are used to derive vibration amplitudes which are compared to modal scope limits, including a safety factor. According to industrial guidelines, this factor is chosen conservatively to ensure safe operation of the machine. Within the experimental campaign with the open-test-case composite fan ECL5/CATANA, which is representative for modern lightweight Ultra High Bypass Ratio (UHBR) architectures, measurements close to the stability limit have been conducted. Investigation of phenomena like non-synchronous vibrations (NSV) and rotating stall require a close approach to the stability limit and hence demand for accurate (real-time) quantification of vibration amplitudes to ensure secure operation without exhaustive safety margins. Historically, short-time Fourier transforms of vibration sensors are used, but the complex nature of the mentioned coupled phenomena has an influence on amplitude accuracy, depending on evaluation parameters, as presented in a previous study using fast-response wall-pressure transducers. The present study investigates the sensitivity of blade vibration data to evaluation parameters for different spectral analysis methods and provides guidelines for fast and robust surveillance of critical vibration modes.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the XXVI Biennial Symposium on Measuring Techniques in Turbomachinery)
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