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Abstract
The clearance of compressor blade tips during aero-engine accelerations is an important design issue for next-generation engine architectures. The transient clearance depends on the radial expansion of the compressor discs, which is directly coupled to conjugate heat transfer in co-rotating discs governed by unsteady and unstable buoyancy-induced flow. This paper discusses an experimental and modelling study using the Bath Compressor Cavity Rig, which simulates a generic axial compressor at fluid-dynamically scaled conditions. The rig was specifically designed to generate heat transfer of practical interest to the engine designer and validate computational codes. This work presents the first study of the fundamental fluid dynamic and heat transfer phenomena under transient conditions. The rotating flow structure was seen to be characterised by coherent pairs of cyclonic/anti-cyclonic vortex pairs; the strength, rotational frequency, stability and number of these unsteady structures changed with changing rotational Reynolds and Grashof numbers during the transients. These structures, measured by unsteady pressure transducers in the rotating frame of reference, were only present when the flow in the rotating cavity was dominated by buoyancy. Experimental correlations of both Nusselt number and radial mass flow rate in the rotating core were correlated against Grashof number. Remarkably, the experiments revealed a consistent correlation for both steady-state and transient conditions over a wide range of Gr. The results have a practical application to thermo-mechanical models for engine design.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Heat Transfer - General Interest/Additive Manufacturing Impacts on Heat Transfer; Internal Air Systems; Internal Cooling |
Subtitle of host publication | Internal Air Systems |
Number of pages | 17 |
Volume | 7B |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9780791887011 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 28 Sept 2023 |
Event | ASME Turbo Expo 2023: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition - Boston, Massachusetts, USA Duration: 26 Jun 2023 → 30 Jun 2023 |
Publication series
Name | Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo |
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Volume | 7-B |
Conference
Conference | ASME Turbo Expo 2023: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition |
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Period | 26/06/23 → 30/06/23 |
Funding
This work was supported by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council under the grant number EP/P003702/1 in collaboration with Rolls-Royce plc. The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of Carl Sangan, Oliver Pountney and, especially, the late Professor J Michael Owen.
Funders | Funder number |
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Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council | EP/P003702/1 |
Rolls Royce |
Keywords
- compressor cavities
- heat transfer
- transient phenomena
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Engineering
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Dive into the research topics of 'Experimental Investigation of Transient Flow Phenomena in Rotating Compressor Cavities'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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Modelling of Buyancy-Induced Flow in Compressor Rotors - Surrey/RR
Lock, G. (PI), Sangan, C. (CoI), Scobie, J. (CoI) & Wilson, M. (CoI)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
11/01/17 → 31/12/20
Project: Research council