The acoustic treatment and calibration of a new anechoic system for the Virginia Tech Stability Wind Tunnel has been performed. This novel design utilizes Kevlar cloth to provide a stable flow boundary, which eliminates the need for a free jet and jet catcher. To test this concept a series of measurements were performed both to validate the reduction in overall test section noise levels and to ascertain the effect of these modifications on the test section aerodynamics. An extensive program of experiments has been conducted to examine the performance of this new hardware under a range of conditions. These include baseline experiments that reveal the aerodynamic and aeroacoustic performance of the tunnel in its original configuration, treatment of the tunnel circuit with validation of in-flow noise reduction, wind tunnel tests to examine the effect of the test section acoustic treatment, and measurements of the aerodynamic and aeroacoustic characteristics of a NACA 0012 airfoil model over a range of angles of attack and Reynolds numbers. These measurements show that acoustically treating the walls of the circuit both upstream and downstream of the test section, as well as the fan, result in an overall reduction of 5 dB depending on frequency, of the in-flow noise level. These measurements also show that the complete system provides a reduction of between 15 to 20dB depending on frequency, in the in-flow background noise level. Measurements taken both within the test section and in the adjacent chambers also show that large Kevlar windows can be used to quietly and stably contain the flow, eliminating the need for an open-jet and jet catcher system, as well as overall noise levels competitive with many other facilities. Measurements on several airfoils at various angles of attack and Reynolds number show that the interference correction for the fully anechoic configuration is approximately -22% for model with a chord length equal to half the test section height. Aerodynamic measurements with the NACA 0012 airfoil show its lift, drag and boundary layer characteristics at high Reynolds numbers are consistent with theoretical expectations. Measurements of the window deflection as well as examination of flow transpiration through the Kevlar windows were accomplished, both with and without the NACA 0012 model. These measurements, along with the interference correction data, confirm that the Kevlar windows are a stable flow boundary. / Master of Science

The effect of blade profile variations on the erosion of turbine blades subjected to flow containing particulates was analytically determined. To accomplish this end, the two-dimensional inviscid main flow field was determined for each blade passage. A semi-empirical model of erosion was combined with available experimental data to predict erosion on the blade surfaces. Maximum erosion was found to be at the trailing edge of the stator and rotor and at the leading edge of the rotor. The trailing edge erosion of the stator and rotor was decreased as the blade exit angle was decreased. The trailing edge erosion of the stator and rotor was also decreased when the blade leading edge radius was reduced. Reducing the degree of reaction of the turbine stage caused a change in distribution of erosion levels along the blade surface. / Master of Science

Current improvements in gas turbine engine performance have arisen primarily due to increases in turbine inlet temperature and compressor pressure ratios. However, a maximum possible turbine inlet temperature exits in the form of the adiabatic combustion temperature of the fuel. In addition, thermal limits of turbine blade materials also places an upper bound on turbine inlet temperatures. Thus, the current strategy for improving gas turbine efficiency is inherently limited. Introduction of a new gas turbine, based on an alternative work cycle utilizing isothermal combustion (i.e. combustion within the turbine) affords significant opportunities for improving engine output and/or efficiency. However, implementation of such a scheme presents a number of technological challenges such as holding a flame in high-speed flow. The current research is aimed at determining whether such a combustion scheme is feasible using computational methods. The geometry, a simple 2-D cascade utilizes surface injection within the stator or rotor boundary layers (including the rotor pressure side recirculation zone (a natural flame holder). Computational methods utilized both steady and time accurate calculations with transitional flow as well as laminar and turbulent combustion and species transport. It has been determined that burning within a turbine is possible given a variety of injection schemes using "typical" foil geometries under "typical" operating conditions. Specifically, results indicate that combustion is self-igniting and, hence, self-sustaining given the high temperatures and pressures within a high pressure turbine passage. Deterioration of aerodynamic performance is not pronounced regardless of injection scheme. However, increased thermal loading in the form of higher adiabatic surface temperatures or heat transfer is significant given the injection and burning of the fuel within the boundary layer. This increase in thermal loading is, however, minimized when injection takes place in or near a recirculation zone. The effect of injection location on pattern factors indicates that suction side injection minimizes temperature variation downstream of the injection surface (for rotor injection only). In addition, the most uniform temperature profile (in the flow direction) is achieved by injection fuel and combustion nearest to the source of work extraction. Namely, injection at the rotor produces the most "isothermal" temperature distribution. Finally, a pseudo direct simulation of an isothermal machine is conducted by combining simulation data and assumed processes. The results indicate that isothermal combustion results in an increase in turbine specific work and efficiency over the equivalent Brayton cycle. / Master of Science

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

This thesis summarizes the results of an experimental study on transonic turbine blades in the presence of ejection of coolant in the direction of the flow from slots near the trailing edge. I t presents the effect of the trailing edge coolant ejection on the turbine blade aerodynamic efficiency.¹ The objective of this work is to contribute to the design of new turbine blades by giving loss data for cooled blades. Data were taken in the Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University wind tunnel, which includes a two-dimensional transonic turbine cascade. The tunnel simulates supersonic discharge flows of turbine rotor blading in a linear cascade with trailing edges designed for ejection of cooling flow. Two blade designs, named Baseline and ULTRE, were tested. Experiments were performed on a transonic turbine cascade designed for a deflection of approximately 68 degrees and outlet Mach number of 1.14 for the Baseline blade and 1.2 for the ULTRE blade. Tests were carried out with CO₂ as coolant in order to ensure the proper simulation of the density ratio between coolant flow and main flow. Data were obtained for both the Baseline and ULTRE cascades with a good periodicity. The content of this thesis is limited to the aerodynamic aspects of coolant ejection. Heat transfer aspects are mentioned but not developed. The first part of this thesis reports on the theoretical considerations necessary for the understanding of the work done and describes the arrangement, instrumentation, and data acquisition system of the wind tunneL The second part of the thesis presents experimental results from tests carried out on both Baseline and ULTRE blades. The cascade tests cover an exit isentropic Mach number range of M2,it = 0.72 to 1.34 and four different ejection rates. 1 The efficiency being characterized by the total pressure loss in this work / Master of Science

Through this thesis evidence will be collected to determine the need of a proposed turbo-generator and boiler unit adequate for future requirements of the campus and community of Blacksburg. / Master of Science

Thesis: M.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 1978 / Includes bibliographical references. / by Song Y. Chung. / M.S. / M.S. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Les turbines hydrauliques sont devenues un atout important pour la régulation de la puissance sur les réseaux électriques. Cependant, les scénarios de régulation de puissance exigent que les turbines fonctionnent loin de leurs points d'opération optimale, dans des régions où de grandes uctuations de pression peuvent affecter l'intégrité structurale de la turbine. Cette thèse présente des contributions a l'etude de l'hydrodynamique de l'écoulement dans une turbine helice modele fonctionnant dans des conditions de charge partielle et de vitesse-sans-charge. À charge partielle, les fluctuations de pression principales sont associées à un vortex cavitant. Des mesures provenant de Vélocimétrie par Imagerie de Particules (PIV) couplées à des techniques de fluorescence induite par laser et d'ombroscopie ont été utilisées pour reconstruire l'interface eau-vapeur et identier l'origine de fluctuations aectant la précision des mesures de PIV moyennées en phase. De plus, des capteurs de pression miniatures incorporés dans deux aubes de la roue ainsi que des jauges de deformation montées sur les aubes ont fourni des données pour quantier l'impact du vortex de charge partielle sur la turbine. Cette thèse présente également l'une des premieres etudes detaillees sur les conditions transitoires et sans charge dans une turbine modèle. Les capteurs de pression et de déformation sur les aubes ont ete utilisés pour identier les instabilités dominantes dans des conditions de vitesse sans charge et d'emballement. Des simulations basées sur la technologie Scale Adaptive Simulations (SAS) de la condition de vitesse-sans-charge ont été utilisés pour étudier un décrochage tournant dans la roue. Des simulations sans les aubes indiquent que le décrochage tournant est associé à une couche cisaillée provenant d'une recirculation autour du moyeu de la roue et d'une séparation de la couche limite sur le fond supérieur. / Hydraulic turbines have become an important asset to provide power regulation on electrical grids. However, power-regulation scenarios require turbines to operate far from their best eciency conditions, in regions where large pressure uctuations aect the turbine structural integrity. This is particularly acute for xed blade reaction turbines such as propeller units. This thesis presents contributions to the study of the hydrodynamics of the ow in a model propeller turbine operating in part-load and speed-no-load conditions. In part load, the main pressure uctuations are associated with the part-load vortex. Data from Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), coupled to Laser Induced Fluorescence and shadowgraphy techniques, were used to reconstruct the water-vapour interface and to identify the origin of uctuations aecting the precision of the phase-averaged PIV measurements. Furthermore, miniature pressure transducers imbedded in two runner blades and strain gages at the blade roots provided data to quantify the impact of the part load vortex on the runner. This thesis also presents one of the rst detailed studies on transient and no-load conditions in a model hydro-turbine. Pressure and strain sensors were used to identify the dominant ow instabilities in speed-no-load and runaway conditions. Scale Adaptive Simulations (SAS) of the speed-no-load condition were used to study a rotating stall dominating the runner ow. Simulations without runner blades indicate that the rotating stall is associated with an unstable shear-layer originating from a recirculation around the runner hub and a boundary layer separation on the turbine head cover. Those results open the possibility of eventually developing mitigation techniques.