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This paper investigates the flow past two variants of root section profile cascades for a last stage rotor considering three-dimensional flow structures in the near-wall region. Analyses were drawn based on RANS numerical simulations of both variants and on the experimental data obtained by the 3D traversing in the exit flow field of one of the variants. Extent of 3D structures at two different regimes and its influence on aerodynamic characteristics of the blade cascades was assessed. The distributions of Mach number along the profiles were compared with 2D optical measurements and its distortion due to the presence of the sidewall was explored. The interaction between main vortical structures was described and its influence on the loading of the blades, mechanical energy losses and exit flow angle was discussed. The results showed that for a front loaded blade the vortical structures appeared earlier and at a larger extent than for an aft loaded variant. However, due to different Mach number distribution, contribution of end wall flow to the energy losses was lower in the case of the aft loaded variant. The influence of the near wall flow on the loading was found to be rather weak while the deviation of the exit flow angle appeared to be comparable for both of the variants.

This study presents the comparison of aerodynamic performances of two successive designs of the root profiles for the ultra-long rotor blade equipped with a straight fir-tree dovetail. Since aerodynamic and strength requirements laid upon the root section design are contradictory, it is necessary to aerodynamically optimize the design within the limits given by the foremost strength requirements. The most limiting criterion of the static strength is the size of the blade cross-section, which is determined by the number of blades in a rotor and also by the shape and size of a blade dovetail. The aerodynamic design requires mainly the zero incidence angle at the inlet of a profile and in the ideal case ensures that the load does not exceed a limit load condition. Moreover, the typical root profile cascades are transonic with supersonic exit Mach number, therefore, the shape of a suction side and a trailing edge has to respect transonic expansion of a working gas. In this paper, the two variants of root section profile cascades are compared and the aerodynamic qualities of both variants are verified using CFD simulation and two mutually independent experimental methods of measurements (optical and pneumatic).

For modern steam turbines with large operating range and enhanced efficiency an ultra-long last stage rotor blade in a low pressure turbine part for high backpressure and 50 Hz fixed speed operation have been developed. An advanced design approach was used to create the blade shape with a high thermodynamic efficiency, high natural frequencies and a very high safety factor of average radial static stress in the blade span. Furthermore, the tip section of the bucket was improved to decrease a static tension and the hub section was refined to simplify the assembly. Tip and hub airfoils were experimentally validated in a supersonic wind tunnel. An advanced in-house procedure using numerical analysis to predict a potential danger of unstalled flutter was carried out for wide range of operating conditions.

Natural development of energy in the field of steam turbines is to achieve the greatest efficiency in converting energy without any significant environmental impact. As a result, demands on the last stage rotor blades in low-pressure steam turbine parts have led to use increasingly long blades. Designers come into high-speed flow areas at the tip sections of these blades. Due to this, problems of flow phenomena in transonic and supersonic regions start to appear. A lot of leading steam turbine manufacturers investigate this issue both experimentally and numerically using computational fluid dynamics software. The aim is to design the most effective shape of individual profiles. Each manufacturer has its own know-how that he wants to protect. Recently, however, more and more scientific articles have emerged from which we can learn and find solutions for designing a suitable shape for tip profile turbine blade rows. In this paper, individual approaches for transonic and supersonic tip profile design are analyzed.Natural development of energy in the field of steam turbines is to achieve the greatest efficiency in converting energy without any significant environmental impact. As a result, demands on the last stage rotor blades in low-pressure steam turbine parts have led to use increasingly long blades. Designers come into high-speed flow areas at the tip sections of these blades. Due to this, problems of flow phenomena in transonic and supersonic regions start to appear. A lot of leading steam turbine manufacturers investigate this issue both experimentally and numerically using computational fluid dynamics software. The aim is to design the most effective shape of individual profiles. Each manufacturer has its own know-how that he wants to protect. Recently, however, more and more scientific articles have emerged from which we can learn and find solutions for designing a suitable shape for tip profile turbine blade rows. In this paper, individual approaches for transonic and supersonic tip profile design are ana...

Design of a new generation of the large power steam turbines leads to very long last rotor blades with tip sections operating often in supersonic region. The flow field in such tip sections is not fully explored and it is believed to be fairly complex and very sensitive even on minute changes of flow parameters. This stimulated the study of the performance of profiles suitable for rotor tip sections. Numerical simulations have been carried out using TU Prague’s code based on the solution of the RANS equations and SST turbulence model by implicit finite volume method with AUSMPW+ scheme in high resolution formulation. Experimental data have been gathered in the intermittent high-speed wind tunnel of IT CAS CR for 2D cascade measurements equipped by an adjustable supersonic inlet nozzle, perforated inserts at side walls and adjustable perforated tailboard.

Recent trends in the electric energy market such as biomass, waste incineration or combined cycle power plants require innovative solutions in steam turbine design. Variable operating conditions cause significant changes in flow field surrounding the steam turbine last stage blades. Therefore, the enlargement of operating range for last stage blades presents new challenges in design of turbine cascades. Several turbine cascades were designed and analyzed by commercial and in-house software of CTU Prague. Selected profiles were experimentally validated in the high-speed wind tunnel for 2D cascade measurements of the Institute of Thermomechanics of the Czech Academy of Sciences which is equipped by an adjustable supersonic inlet nozzle, perforated inserts at side walls and adjustable perforated tailboard. Comparisons are presented of numerical results with optical and pneumatic measurements for a wide range of inlet and outlet Mach numbers for optimized hub and tip profile cascades.