Numerical and experimental investigation of a low-pressure steam turbine during windage

Abstract

Modern steam power plants must operate safely at extremely low loads, known as windage, in which the low pressure (LP) turbine runs with decreased or even zero flow. Windage is characterized by a strongly unsteady three-dimensional (3D) flow field leading to possible aerodynamic excitations. Extensive flow field measurements were performed in an LP steam turbine test rig during windage, using pneumatic probes in the last stage and a diffuser. The flow field of the whole turbine was also calculated with steady 3D computational fluid dynamics (ANSYS CFX). Good agreement is found between the simulations and the measurements of the flow field, and the characteristic vortex structures behind the last rotor row are captured. The numerically predicted trends of power output, pressure ratio, and temperature of the last turbine blade row closely match the experimental data. The complex vortex flow in the stage is interpreted using both numerical and experimental results.