Specific power output from a Low Pressure (LP) steam turbine can be enhanced by increasing the stage efficiency or raising its pressure ratio; both methods are interlinked and must be dealt with together. The latter is achieved by connecting to the exhaust diffuser; space and cost constraints often insist the use of an axial-radial diffuser with high levels of diffusion. The present study aims to investigate the interaction between the last-stage blade and the axial-radial diffuser, which can influence the diffuser performance and thus the total work output from the stage. This work is carried out using CFD simulations of a generic last stage low pressure (LP) turbine and axial-radial exhaust diffuser attached to it. In order to determine the validity of the computational method, the CFD predictions are first compared with data obtained from an experimental test facility. A computational study is then performed for different design configurations of the diffuser and rotor casing shapes. The study focuses on typical flow features such as effects of rotor tip leakage flows and subsequent changes in the rotor-diffuser interactions. The results suggest that the rotor casing shape and diffuser configurations influences the rotor work extraction capability and yields significant improvements in the static pressure recovery.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Micro gas turbines used in the aerospace industry require high performance with a compact frontal area. These micro gas turbines are often considered unattractive and at times impractical due to their poor fuel consumption and low cycle efficiency. This led to a joint effort to investigate and analyze the components of a particular micro gas turbine to determine potential geometry and performance improvements. The focus of this investigation is the radial vaned diffuser which forms part of a centrifugal compressor. The size of the diffuser is highly constrained by the compact gas turbine diameter. The micro gas turbine under consideration is the BMT 120 KS. The radial vaned diffuser is analyzed by means of 1-D and 3-D (CFD) analyses using CompAero and FINETM/Turbo respectively. The aim is to design a diffuser that maximizes the total-to-static pressure recovery and mass flow rate through the compressor with minimal flow losses. An experimental test facility was constructed and the numerical computations were validated against the experimental data. Three new diffusers were designed, each with a different vane geometry. The static-to-static pressure ratio over the radial diffuser was improved from 1.39 to 1.44 at a rotational speed of 120 krpm. The static pressure recovery coefficient was improved from 0.48 to 0.73 with a reduction in absolute Mach number from 0.47 to 0.22 at the radial diffuser discharge. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Mikro-gasturbines wat in die lugvaart industrie gebruik word, vereis ‘n hoë werkverrigting met ‘n kompakte frontale area. Hierdie gasturbines word menigmaal onaantreklik geag weens swak brandstofverbruik en n lae siklus effektiewiteit. Dit het gelei tot ‘n gesamentlike projek om elke komponent van ‘n spesifieke mikro-gasturbine te analiseer en te verbeter. Die fokus van dié ondersoek is die radiale lem diffusor wat deel vorm van ‘n sentrifugaalkompressor. Die deursnee van die diffusor word deur die kompakte gasturbine diameter beperk. Die mikro gasturbine wat ondersoek word is die BMT 120 KS. Die radiale lem diffusor word geanaliseer deur middel van 1-D en 3-D (BVD) berekeninge met behulp van CompAero en FINETM/Turbo onderskeidelik. Die doelwit is om ‘n diffusor te ontwerp met ‘n verhoogde massavloei en drukverhouding oor die kompressor. ‘n Eksperimentele toetsfasiliteit is ingerig om toetse uit te voer en word gebruik om numeriese berekeninge te bevestig. Die staties-tot-stasiese drukstyging oor die radiale diffusor is verbeter van 1.39 tot 1.44 by ‘n omwentelingspoed van 120 kopm. Die statiese drukherwinningskoeffisiënt is verbeter van 0.48 tot 0.73 met ‘n vermindering in die absolute Machgetal vanaf 0.47 tot 0.22 by die radiale diffusor uitlaat.

Resumo: A compreensão do escoamento em válvulas de compressores herméticos alternativos é de fundamental importância para introduzir modificações no projeto delas de maneira a aumentar a performance dos compressores, e por fim, dos ciclos de refrigeração. A válvula do compressor é um dispositivo ímpar, umas vez que seu funcionamento se dá pela ação da pressão exercida pelo escoamento, caracterizando um problema de forte interação fluido- estrutura. O uso da modelagem numérica através das ferramentas da mecânica dos fluidos computacional (CFD) tem se destacado como a alternativa mais dinâmica para o estudo do fenômeno. O trabalho desenvolvido foi voltado para o estudo numérico do escoamento através do difusor radial, o qual é um modelo simplificado da válvula, com o emprego do Método da Fronteira Imersa com Modelo Físico Virtual para a modelagem do disco superior do difusor (palheta). O ponto forte desta metodologia é que a representação de regiões sólidas é feita pelo cálculo de um campo de força, o qual é introduzido nas equações das células na vizinhança do sólido. Este procedimento dispensa o uso de malhas que se adaptam ao corpo, possibilitando o uso de malhas cartesianas convencionas para modelar geometrias complexas e móveis. A metodologia foi acoplada com a solução das equações governantes do escoamento em coordenadas cilíndricas através do Método dos Volumes Finitos. Inicialmente, a metodologia foi validada, utilizando como dados de referência resultados provenientes de estudos numéricos e experimentais, e foi avaliada a influência dos parâmetros do procedimento na qualidade final dos resultados. Na segunda etapa foram desenvolvidos estudos preliminares referentes ao movimento do disco superior, com a imposição artificial dos processos de abertura e fechamento da válvula. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que a metodologia adotada ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The fully understanding of the flow through automatic valves of alternative hermetic compressors is essentiall to introduce modifications in its project aiming the improvement of the compressor performance and, also, the refrigeration cycle. The compressor valve is a singular device, once its operation is ruled by the flow pressure, characterizing a case with a strong fluid-structure interaction. The using of numerical tools trough the methods of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has gained especial attention due to its flexibility to study the phenomenon. The present work was developed to study numerically the flow through the radial diffuser, which is a simplified model of the valve, with the employment of the Immersed Boundary Method with Virtual Physical Model to modeling the superior disk (valve reed). The main advantage of this methodology is that the modeling of solid boundaries is performed with the calculus of a force field, which is introduced in the cells equations nearby the solid. This procedure dispenses the using of body-fitted meshes, enabling the adoption of conventional Cartesian meshes to model complex and moving geometries. The methodology was coupled with the solution of the governing equations in cylindrical coordinates though the Finite Volume Method. Firstly, the methodology was validated, confronting the results obtained with data from numerical and experimental studies, where the influence of the main parameters in the quality of the final results was evaluated. In the second step were developed preliminary studies concerning the movement of the superior disk, whose opening and closing movements were artificially imposed. The results obtained showed that the adopted methodology is quit promising and flexible, and can be employed in more refined studies to the comprehension of the flow through the valve regarding the fluid-structure interaction that rules the problem / Orientador: José Luiz Gasche / Coorientador: Júlio Militzer / Banca: Cassio Roberto Macedo Maia / Banca: Elie Luis Martinez Padilla / Mestre

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-08-30Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:30:31Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 rodrigues_tt_me_ilha.pdf: 2332044 bytes, checksum: 6e277868f01ea21a46dfbf5c827109a7 (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Fundação de Ensino Pesquisa e Extensão de Ilha Solteira (FEPISA) / A compreensão do escoamento em válvulas de compressores herméticos alternativos é de fundamental importância para introduzir modificações no projeto delas de maneira a aumentar a performance dos compressores, e por fim, dos ciclos de refrigeração. A válvula do compressor é um dispositivo ímpar, umas vez que seu funcionamento se dá pela ação da pressão exercida pelo escoamento, caracterizando um problema de forte interação fluido- estrutura. O uso da modelagem numérica através das ferramentas da mecânica dos fluidos computacional (CFD) tem se destacado como a alternativa mais dinâmica para o estudo do fenômeno. O trabalho desenvolvido foi voltado para o estudo numérico do escoamento através do difusor radial, o qual é um modelo simplificado da válvula, com o emprego do Método da Fronteira Imersa com Modelo Físico Virtual para a modelagem do disco superior do difusor (palheta). O ponto forte desta metodologia é que a representação de regiões sólidas é feita pelo cálculo de um campo de força, o qual é introduzido nas equações das células na vizinhança do sólido. Este procedimento dispensa o uso de malhas que se adaptam ao corpo, possibilitando o uso de malhas cartesianas convencionas para modelar geometrias complexas e móveis. A metodologia foi acoplada com a solução das equações governantes do escoamento em coordenadas cilíndricas através do Método dos Volumes Finitos. Inicialmente, a metodologia foi validada, utilizando como dados de referência resultados provenientes de estudos numéricos e experimentais, e foi avaliada a influência dos parâmetros do procedimento na qualidade final dos resultados. Na segunda etapa foram desenvolvidos estudos preliminares referentes ao movimento do disco superior, com a imposição artificial dos processos de abertura e fechamento da válvula. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que a metodologia adotada... / The fully understanding of the flow through automatic valves of alternative hermetic compressors is essentiall to introduce modifications in its project aiming the improvement of the compressor performance and, also, the refrigeration cycle. The compressor valve is a singular device, once its operation is ruled by the flow pressure, characterizing a case with a strong fluid-structure interaction. The using of numerical tools trough the methods of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has gained especial attention due to its flexibility to study the phenomenon. The present work was developed to study numerically the flow through the radial diffuser, which is a simplified model of the valve, with the employment of the Immersed Boundary Method with Virtual Physical Model to modeling the superior disk (valve reed). The main advantage of this methodology is that the modeling of solid boundaries is performed with the calculus of a force field, which is introduced in the cells equations nearby the solid. This procedure dispenses the using of body-fitted meshes, enabling the adoption of conventional Cartesian meshes to model complex and moving geometries. The methodology was coupled with the solution of the governing equations in cylindrical coordinates though the Finite Volume Method. Firstly, the methodology was validated, confronting the results obtained with data from numerical and experimental studies, where the influence of the main parameters in the quality of the final results was evaluated. In the second step were developed preliminary studies concerning the movement of the superior disk, whose opening and closing movements were artificially imposed. The results obtained showed that the adopted methodology is quit promising and flexible, and can be employed in more refined studies to the comprehension of the flow through the valve regarding the fluid-structure interaction that rules the problem

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-06-28Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:30:31Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 anhejunior_sa_me_ilha.pdf: 2550289 bytes, checksum: 4299d702522bdb3a4b51de625099c77e (MD5) / Fundação de Ensino Pesquisa e Extensão de Ilha Solteira (FEPISA) / O presente trabalho refere-se à investigação experimental e numérica do escoamento em difusores radiais, que são usados como modelos de representação de sistemas de válvulas de compressores de refrigeração. Uma bancada experimental é projetada, construída e validada para medir a distribuição de pressão, sobre o disco frontal de um difusor radial de razão de diâmetro 3, para números de Reynolds de 1500 a 9000 e afastamento entre os discos frontal e anterior variando de 0,415mm a 0,705mm aproximadamente. Paralelamente, desenvolve-se um código computacional, baseado na metodologia de Volumes Finitos para malhas desencontradas, para simular o escoamento na geometria do difusor radial. O código computacional é primeiramente validado por meio dos resultados experimentais obtidos da bancada construída. Após sua validação, o código é usado para analisar o escoamento em um difusor de razão de diâmetro igual a 1,4, para números de Reynolds variando de 500 a 2500 e afastamento entre discos na fixa de 0,125 a 1,0mm. Os resultados numéricos mostram o surgimento de recirculação extendendo-se em toda região do difusor. Além disso, os resultados de perfil de pressão sobre o disco frontal fornecem forças e quedas totais de pressão no difusor que aumentam com o número de Reynolds e afastamento entre disco. Esse comportamento produz um ponto de mínima área efetiva de força localizado na faixa de , para números de Reynolds variando de 500 a 1500. Para número de Reynolds mais elevados, , a área efetiva de força sempre aumenta com o aumento do afastamento entre discos. A área efetiva de escoamento, outro parâmetro de interesse para a simulação do compressor, apresenta um crescimento linear com o afastamento entre discos, independentemente do número de Reynolds avaliado. / In this work, an experimental and numerical investigation of the flow in radial diffusers representing the valve system of refrigeration compressor is accomplished. An experimental bench is designed, build, and validated allowing the measurement of the pressure distribution on the frontal disk surface of a radial diffuser with diameter ratio equal to 3, for Reynolds number varying from 1500 to 9000 and distances between disks in the ranges of 0.415 to 0.705mm. In addition, a computational code based on the Finite Volume Methodology for staggered mesh is developed in order to simulate the flow though the radial diffuser. The computational code is firstly validated by using the experimental data obtained from the experimental bench. After its validation, the code is used for analyzing the flow through a radial diffuser with diameter ratio equal to 1.4, for Reynolds numbers varying from 500 to 2500 and distance between disks in the range of 0.125 a 1.0 mm. The numerical results showed recirculation regions extending through the whole diffuser for the majority of the analyzed cases. The pressure profiles on the frontal disk surface produce forces and total pressure drops through the diffuser that increase with both Reynolds number and distance between disks. There is a minimum effective force area in the range of , for Reynolds numbers varying from 500 a 1500. For higher Reynolds numbers, , the effective force area always increases for increasing distance between disks. The effective flow area, another parameter used for simulating the compressor, increases linearly with the distance between disks, independently of the Reynolds number.

Orientador: José Luiz Gasche / Banca: André Luiz Seixlack / Banca: Odenir de Almeida / Resumo: O presente trabalho refere-se à investigação experimental e numérica do escoamento em difusores radiais, que são usados como modelos de representação de sistemas de válvulas de compressores de refrigeração. Uma bancada experimental é projetada, construída e validada para medir a distribuição de pressão, sobre o disco frontal de um difusor radial de razão de diâmetro 3, para números de Reynolds de 1500 a 9000 e afastamento entre os discos frontal e anterior variando de 0,415mm a 0,705mm aproximadamente. Paralelamente, desenvolve-se um código computacional, baseado na metodologia de Volumes Finitos para malhas desencontradas, para simular o escoamento na geometria do difusor radial. O código computacional é primeiramente validado por meio dos resultados experimentais obtidos da bancada construída. Após sua validação, o código é usado para analisar o escoamento em um difusor de razão de diâmetro igual a 1,4, para números de Reynolds variando de 500 a 2500 e afastamento entre discos na fixa de 0,125 a 1,0mm. Os resultados numéricos mostram o surgimento de recirculação extendendo-se em toda região do difusor. Além disso, os resultados de perfil de pressão sobre o disco frontal fornecem forças e quedas totais de pressão no difusor que aumentam com o número de Reynolds e afastamento entre disco. Esse comportamento produz um ponto de mínima área efetiva de força localizado na faixa de , para números de Reynolds variando de 500 a 1500. Para número de Reynolds mais elevados, , a área efetiva de força sempre aumenta com o aumento do afastamento entre discos. A área efetiva de escoamento, outro parâmetro de interesse para a simulação do compressor, apresenta um crescimento linear com o afastamento entre discos, independentemente do número de Reynolds avaliado. / Abstract: In this work, an experimental and numerical investigation of the flow in radial diffusers representing the valve system of refrigeration compressor is accomplished. An experimental bench is designed, build, and validated allowing the measurement of the pressure distribution on the frontal disk surface of a radial diffuser with diameter ratio equal to 3, for Reynolds number varying from 1500 to 9000 and distances between disks in the ranges of 0.415 to 0.705mm. In addition, a computational code based on the Finite Volume Methodology for staggered mesh is developed in order to simulate the flow though the radial diffuser. The computational code is firstly validated by using the experimental data obtained from the experimental bench. After its validation, the code is used for analyzing the flow through a radial diffuser with diameter ratio equal to 1.4, for Reynolds numbers varying from 500 to 2500 and distance between disks in the range of 0.125 a 1.0 mm. The numerical results showed recirculation regions extending through the whole diffuser for the majority of the analyzed cases. The pressure profiles on the frontal disk surface produce forces and total pressure drops through the diffuser that increase with both Reynolds number and distance between disks. There is a minimum effective force area in the range of , for Reynolds numbers varying from 500 a 1500. For higher Reynolds numbers, , the effective force area always increases for increasing distance between disks. The effective flow area, another parameter used for simulating the compressor, increases linearly with the distance between disks, independently of the Reynolds number. / Mestre

Thermische Energiespeicher tragen u. a. zur Erhöhung der Versorgungsicherheit in der Fernwärmeversorgung und zur Effizienzsteigerung des Fernwärmesystems (z. B. Flexibilisierung der Erzeuger, Speicherung überschüssiger Wärme, besserer hydraulischer Betrieb) bei. Dafür eignen sich Druckbehälter, sog. schlanke Heißwasserspeicher (Speichertyp b1). Die oben genannten Vorteile setzen einen effizienten Speicherbetrieb (niedrige interne und externe Speicherverluste) voraus. Dieser Beitrag beschäftigt sich mit der Minimierung der internen Verluste durch die Verbesserung des thermischen Schichtungsverhaltens. Eine thermische Schichtung mit einem möglichst schmalen Übergangsbereich zwischen heißer und kalter Zone ist ein Indikator für geringe Mischvorgänge während der Beladung. Die Minimierung dieser Mischungsvorgänge bei der Beladung nimmt eine Schlüsselrolle bei der Minimierung der internen Speicherverluste ein. Lohse und Brähmer untersuchten die Beladung mit herkömmlichen radialen Diffusor in schlanken Heißwasserspeicher mit numerischer Strömungssimulation. Die Arbeiten identifizieren aufgrund der schlanken Speicherform nachteilige Strömungseffekte wie z. B. einen ausgeprägten Wandstrahl. Dieser Wandstrahl regt Mischvorgänge an und damit steigen die internen Speicherverluste. Zur Überwindung dieser Strömungsproblematik schlägt die Beladung mit Drall vor. Die Untersuchungen von Oestreich zeigten das Strömungsverhalten im Diffusor und im Speicher, die Auswirkungen auf die thermische Schichtung sowie die Vorteilhaftigkeit. Dieser Beitrag soll eine detailliertere Beschreibung der Strömungsvorgänge liefern. Dieses Wissen ist unbedingt notwendig, um die Ursachen und Wirkungen bei der Beladung mit Drall und beim Aufbau der thermischen Schichtung besser zu verstehen. Die Modellierung und Simulation des Diffusors bzw. des Speichers erfolgen mit ANSYS CFX. Zur Auflösung turbulenter Strukturen findet die Large Eddy Simulation Anwendung. Dieser Artikel präsentiert erstmalig die Wirbelstrukturen im Diffusor mit Leitelementen zur Drallerzeugung. Die Speicherströmung weist ein ähnliches Verhalten zu bekannten Dichteströmungen (z. B. Lappen-Kluft-Struktur, Instabilitäten in den freien Scherschichten) auf, was bisher nicht bekannt war. Hohe Peclet-Zahlen (hohe Advektionsströme) im Speichermodell führen zu numerischer Instabilität der Simulation und erfordern deshalb erhöhten Diskretisierungsaufwand. / Thermal energy storage systems contribute, among other things, to increasing the security of supply in the district heating system and to improving the efficiency of the district heating system (e.g., making the generators more flexible, storing waste heat, better hydraulic operation). Pressure vessels, so-called slim hot water storage tanks (storage type b1) are suitable for this purpose. The above mentioned advantages require efficient storage operation (low internal and external storage losses). This paper deals with the minimization of internal losses by improving the thermal stratification behavior. Thermal stratification with a thermocline between hot and cold zone as narrow as possible is an indicator of low mixing processes during loading. Minimizing these mixing processes during loading takes a key role in minimizing internal storage losses. Lohse and Brähmer investigated loading with conventional radial diffuser in slim hot water storage tanks with numerical flow simulation. The work identifies adverse flow effects due to the slim tank shape, such as a wall jet. This wall jet stimulates mixing processes and thus increases the internal storage losses. To overcome this flow problem, Findeisen et al. proposes swirl loading. The investigations of Oestreich et al. showed the flow behavior in the diffuser and in the storage, the effects on the thermal stratification as well as the advantageousness. This paper aims to provide a more detailed description of the flow processes. This knowledge is essential to better understanding the causes and effects of swirl loading and the structure of thermal stratification. Modeling and simulation of the diffuser and storage, respectively, are performed using Ansys CFX. Large eddy simulation (LES) is applied to resolve turbulent structures. This paper presents for the first time the vortex structures in the diffuser with internal elements for swirl generation. The storage flow exhibits similar behavior to known density flows (e.g., head and nose formation, instabilities in the free shear layers), which was previously unknown. High Peclet numbers (high advection currents) in the storage model lead to numerical instability of the simulation and therefore require increased discretization efforts.