Large eddy simulation investigation of S-shaped intake distortion and swirl characteristics

Abstract

Curvature change of an S-duct wall naturally causes total pressure and swirl distortions in a compressor inlet. In this study, the large eddy simulation (LES) method is used to investigate the internal flow of a continuous variable curvature S-duct without a downstream compressor. A comparison between the numerical results and the experimental data verifies the effectiveness of the LES method in analyzing the internal flow mechanism of an S-duct. Based on the SAE standard, the transient distortion descriptors of the research cross-section are quantitatively analyzed, and the distortion characteristics of the total pressure and swirl in the aerodynamic interface plane (AIP), downstream outlet plane, and their spatial–temporal variation processes are revealed. Furthermore, the proper orthogonal decomposition and sparsity-promoting dynamic mode decomposition methods are used to decompose the flow structures of the AIP velocity fields, and the main coherent structures affecting the flow and their corresponding frequency/attenuation characteristics are obtained. The results indicate that the twin two swirl pattern near the wall annulus of the S-duct is dominant at high Reynolds numbers, and turbulent mixing downstream inhibits the development of distortion and swirl. In addition, some stable low-frequency mode structures exist near the Starboard, exhibiting multi-spiking frequency properties. Thus, this study reveals the generation, development, and evolution mechanisms of distortion and swirl at the upstream of a compressor inlet, and the analysis results of distortion and swirl characteristics can provide important input conditions for subsequent compressor distortion research and influence analysis of mass injection pre-compressor cooling technology.