Inertial waves in turbine rim seal flows

Abstract

Unsteady flow modes with intrinsic frequencies unrelated to that of the turbine blades are found to be dominated by inertial waves. In the presence of these waves, rim sealing is less efficient, and conventional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes methods fail to predict the sealing effectiveness. The radial seal, which limits the radial flow motion and, in turn, the circumferential Coriolis force, can suppress inertial waves (unsteady flow modes).