Aerothermal Interaction Mechansims in the Outer End Wall Area of Modern High Pressure Turbines

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Heinz-Peter Schiffer
• Subject Area: Hydraulic and Turbo Engines and Piston Engines
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 448223338

Significant changes in the energy market and continuously increasing requirements in terms of efficiency, performance and emissions in the aerospace sector lead to new challenges for turbomachine development. To meet these requirements, unsteady interaction mechanisms must be considered during the design process and new developments must incorporate cross-component interdependencies. In particular, the high pressure turbine design process is affected, since detailed investigations at realistic configurations are very difficult or even impossible due to high pressures and temperatures.This project aims at conducting measurements at a research turbine. The efforts are directed at the unsteady interaction of inlet conditions in the turbine, cooling flows, and their interdependency with rotating blades at the outer casing . Aerothermal mechanisms in that region have been investigated separately in the past. The interaction of incoming flow in the turbine with casing cooling in front of and behind the first vane and the tip cooling of rotor blades was not analyzed yet. Measurements are planned at an up-scaled turbine rig running at low temperature and pressure. This enables the application of high-resolution measurement techniques. Results can then be compared to numerical predictions. In addition, besides a detailed investigation of mechanisms, a validation of design and simulation tools is intended.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants