Effects of Rotation and Blade Incidence on Properties of Turbomachinery Rotor Wake

Abstract

An experimental investigation of the effects of the speed of rotation on a turbomachinery rotor blade wake was conducted using a fan rotor in incompressible flow. Measurements were made at two different rotational speeds (1753 and 1010 rpm) with the same blade incidence angle. The blade incidence angle was also varied to discern the effect of blade loading. A three-sensor hot-wire probe mounted in a stationary frame of reference was used for the measurements made at several radial and axial stations in the near- and far-wake regions. The three-dimensional mean velocity and turbulence profiles, the wake defect, wake decay rate, turbulence intensities, and turbulence stresses are appreciably altered when the speed of rotation and the blade loading are changed. The wake defect is reduced and the radial velocity increased when the rotation speed is increased.