Improving the Efficiency of the Trent 500 HP Turbine Using Non-Axisymmetric End Walls: Part II — Experimental Validation

Abstract

Part I of this paper described how the HP turbine model rig of the Rolls-Royce Trent 500 was redesigned by applying non-axisymmetric end walls to both the vane and blade passages, whilst leaving the turbine operating point and overall flow conditions unaltered. This paper describes the results obtained from testing of the model rig and compares them with those obtained for the datum design (with conventional axisymmetric end walls). Measured improvements in the turbine efficiency are shown to be in line with those expected from the previous linear cascade research at Durham University, see Harvey et al. [1] and Hartland et al. [2]. These improvements are observed at both design and off-design conditions. Hot wire traverses taken at the exit of the rotor show, unexpectedly, that the end wall profiling has caused changes across the whole of the turbine flow field. This result is discussed making reference to a preliminary 3-D CFD analysis. It is concluded that the design methodology described in part I of this paper has been validated, and that non-axisymmetric end wall profiling is now a major new tool for the reduction of secondary loss in turbines (and potentially all axial flow turbomachinery). Further work, though, is needed to fully understand the stage (and multistage) effects of end wall profiling.