The design of a steady aero thermal research turbine (START) for studying secondary flow leakages and airfoil heat transfer

Michael Barringer, Andrew Coward, Ken Clark, Karen A. Thole, John Schmitz, Joel Wagner, Mary Anne Alvin, Patcharin Burke, Rich Dennis

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper describes a new gas turbine research facility that was designed and is currently being constructed with a number of unique features that allow experiments which aim at developing and improving sealing and cooling technologies at a reasonable cost. Experiments will include enginerepresentative rotating turbine hardware in a continuous, steady-state, high-pressure flow environment. The facility includes a 1.5 stage turbine that will simulate the aerodynamic flow and thermal field interactions in the engine between the hot mainstream gas path and the secondary air flows at relevant corrected operating conditions and scaling parameters. Testing in the new facility is planned to begin in 2014 and will take place in two phases. The first phase is focused on understanding the behavior of inner-stage gap flow leakages in the presence of the main gas path and the rotating blade platform. The second phase is focused on developing and testing novel cooling methods for turbine airfoils, platforms, and disks, ultimately leading to an integrated approach for more effective use of the secondary cooling flow. The uniqueness of this facility includes a continuous duration facility with engine-relevant rotational and axial Reynolds and Mach numbers at the blade inlet.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationHeat Transfer
PublisherAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
ISBN (Electronic)9780791845738
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014
EventASME Turbo Expo 2014: Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition, GT 2014 - Dusseldorf, Germany
Duration: Jun 16 2014Jun 20 2014

Publication series

NameProceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo
Volume5C

Other

OtherASME Turbo Expo 2014: Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition, GT 2014
Country/TerritoryGermany
CityDusseldorf
Period6/16/146/20/14

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Engineering

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