Flow Measurements and Flow Analysis in the Exit Region of a Radial Turbine

Abstract

Three-dimensional flow measurements using LDV system were obtained in the exit region of a radial inflow turbine at an off-design operating condition. The measurements reveal a complex flow pattern near the tip region at the rotor exit due to the interaction of the tip clearance flow. The effect of the rotor on the exit flow field is observed in the proximity of the rotor exit. Steady axisymmetric, compressible, turbulent flow computations with a two equation turbulence model were performed using the PARC code for the meridional flow in the radial turbine exit region. The computational results obtained in the meridional plane are compared with the experimental results, which are correlated to the rotor blade rotation in the exit region of the radial turbine.A version of this paper was presented at the 30th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana, Paper no. AIAA-94-3075.