The Effect of Turning Angle on the Loss Generation of LP Turbines

Abstract

The effect of turning angle on the loss generation of Low Pressure (LP) Turbines has been investigated experimentally in a couple of turbine high-speed rigs. Both rigs consisted of a rotor-stator configuration. All the airfoils are high lift and high aspect ratio blades that are characteristic of state of the art LP Turbines. Both rigs are identical with exception of the stator. Therefore, two sets of stators have been manufactured and tested. The aerodynamic shape of both stators has been designed in order to achieve the same spanwise distribution of Cp (Pressure coefficient) over the airfoil surface, each one to its corresponding turning angles. Exit angle in both stators is the same. Therefore the change in turning is obtained by a different inlet angle. The aim of this experiment is to obtain the sensitivity of profile and endwall losses to turning angle by means of a back-to-back comparison between both sets of airfoils. Because the two sets of stators maintain the same pressure coefficient distribution, Reynolds number and Mach number, each one to its corresponding velocity triangles, one can state that the results are only affected by the turning angle. Experimental results are presented and compared in terms of area average, radial pitchwise average distributions and exit plane contours of total pressure losses. CFD simulations for the two sets of stators are also presented and compared with the experimental results.