Secondary Flow Measurements in a Compressor Cascade Using 3D LDA/PDA: Part B: Dispersed Phase Effects on Flow Topology

Abstract

The rapid regulation of gas turbine power plants is becoming increasingly important. In the field of stationary gas turbine power augmentation droplet-laden flows receive special attention as they cool the compressor’s inlet temperature. High fogging is an effective and economic method that secures power supply by reacting rapidly to fluctuating power generation. However, water droplets effect the aerodynamic performance of the compressor negatively. Therefore, the Laboratory of Turbomachinery investigated the interaction between droplets and blades at midspan by using diverse experimental methods to comprehend aerodynamic performance and water film induced losses. Additionally, the knowledge of the separation’s extent for three-dimensional flows with corner separation is of great importance as it leads to a blockage of the flow cross-section and therefore contributes to the losses. This paper enlarges this knowledge base by studying the interactions of the dispersed phase with the gas flow in three-dimensional flow structures as they are found in the near wall regions of every turbo compressor. By utilizing a three-dimensional Phase-Doppler Anemometer spatially resolved information on velocity mean vector, its higher moments as well as droplet diameters were extracted from the separated region for a compressor blade, in middle cross section design, with spray-injection. Streamlines that derive from the mean velocities visualize key features such as saddle and focal points. Then an integral approach is presented to evaluate the effect of the dispersed phase on the flow structure compared to dry flow and the impact back on different diameter classes. Finally, the velocity in streamwise direction shows the influence of the disperse phase on the aerodynamic blockage.