An experimental investigation of secondary flow characteristics in a linear turbine cascade with upstream converging slot-holes using TR-PIV

Abstract

To study the time-mean and temporal characteristics of secondary flow within a linear GE-E3 high pressure turbine cascade, a planar Time-Resolved Particle Image Velocimetry (TR-PIV) system is used. In the double-passage cascade, a row of six converging slot-holes is placed upstream of center blade to generate film cooling effect, and different turbulence grids are replaced to create various free-stream turbulence (Tuin) levels. In this experiment, the time-mean characteristics of secondary flow, the fast switch process of unsteady leading edge horseshoe vortex (LEHV), and the temporal characteristics of corner vortices (CVs) are completely exhibited by the TR-PIV technique. The influences of the upstream coolant injection and Tuin level on the flow characteristics of LEHV and passage vortex (PV) are discussed. The discussion reveals that: (1) in the case of no coolant injection, a high Tuin level slightly moves the LEHV toward the blade, changes the shape of the PV, increases the fluctuations of the LEHV and PV, and reduces the frequency of the LEHV switch process; (2) at various Tuin levels, the coolant injections suppress the formation of the LEHV, and the LEHV disappears at a high coolant-to-mainstream blowing ratio (BR) of 1.5; (3) a high BR of 1.5 can greatly weaken the PV at various Tuin levels, and relative to the case of low Tuin, the high Tuin level induces a larger reduction; (4) for a low BR, at various Tuin levels, a slight change in the LEHV results in a distinct difference of the PV characteristics; (5) for a high BR, since the LEHV disappears, the Tuin effect on the secondary flow characteristics is slight.