Three-Dimensional Flow in an Axial Turbine: Part 1—Aerodynamic Mechanisms

Abstract

This paper presents an exhaustive experimental documentation of the three-dimensional nature of the flow in a one-and-one-half stage axial turbine. The intent was to examine the flow within, and downstream of, both the stator and rotor airflow rows so as to delineate the dominant physical mechanisms. Part 1 of this paper presents the aerodynamic results including: (1) airflow and endwall surface flow visualization, (2) full-span airfoil pressure distributions, and (3) radial-circumferential distributions of the total and static pressures, and of the yaw and pitch angles in the flow. Part 2 of the paper presents results describing the mixing, or attenuation, of a simulated spanwise inlet temperature profile as it passed through the turbine. Although the flow in each airfoil row possessed a degree of three-dimensionality, that in the rotor was the strongest.