This work aims at investigating the impact of axial gap variation on aerodynamic performance of a high-pressure steam turbine stage. Numerical and experimental campaigns were conducted on a 1.5-stage of a reaction steam turbine. This low speed test rig was designed and operated in different operating conditions. Two different configurations were studied in which blades axial gap was varied in a range from 40% to 95% of the blade axial chord. Numerical analyses were carried out by means of three-dimensional, viscous, unsteady simulations, adopting measured inlet/outlet boundary conditions. Two sets of measurements were performed: steady measurements, from one hand, for global performance estimation of the whole turbine, such as efficiency, mass flow, and stage work; steady and unsteady measurements, on the other hand, were performed downstream of rotor row, in order to characterize the flow structures in this region. The fidelity of computational setup was proven by comparing numerical results to measurements. Main performance curves and spanwise distributions have shown a good agreement in terms of both shape of curves/distributions and absolute values. Moreover, the comparison of two-dimensional maps downstream of rotor row has shown similar structures of the flow field. Finally, a comprehensive study of the axial gap effect on stage aerodynamic performance was carried out for four blade spacings (10%, 25%, 40%, and 95% of S1 axial chord) and five aspect ratios (1.0, 1.6, 3, 4, and 5). The results pointed out how unsteady interaction between blade rows affects stage operation, in terms of pressure and flow angle distributions, as well as of secondary flows development. The combined effect of these aspects in determining the stage efficiency is investigated and discussed in detail.
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Numerical and Experimental Investigation of Axial Gap Variation in High-Pressure Steam Turbine Stages
Juri Bellucci,
Juri Bellucci
Department of Industrial Engineering,
University of Florence,
via di Santa Marta, 3,
Florence 50139, Italy
e-mail: juri.bellucci@arnone.de.unifi.it
University of Florence,
via di Santa Marta, 3,
Florence 50139, Italy
e-mail: juri.bellucci@arnone.de.unifi.it
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Filippo Rubechini,
Filippo Rubechini
Department of Industrial Engineering,
University of Florence,
via di Santa Marta, 3,
Florence 50139, Italy
University of Florence,
via di Santa Marta, 3,
Florence 50139, Italy
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Andrea Arnone,
Andrea Arnone
Department of Industrial Engineering,
University of Florence,
via di Santa Marta, 3,
Florence 50139, Italy
University of Florence,
via di Santa Marta, 3,
Florence 50139, Italy
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Lorenzo Arcangeli,
Lorenzo Arcangeli
GE Oil & Gas,
via Felice Matteucci, 2,
Florence 50127, Italy
via Felice Matteucci, 2,
Florence 50127, Italy
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Nicola Maceli,
Nicola Maceli
GE Oil & Gas,
via Felice Matteucci, 2,
Florence 50127, Italy
via Felice Matteucci, 2,
Florence 50127, Italy
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Berardo Paradiso,
Berardo Paradiso
Dipartimento di Energia,
Politecnico di Milano,
via Lambruschini, 4,
Milan 20158, Italy
Politecnico di Milano,
via Lambruschini, 4,
Milan 20158, Italy
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Giacomo Gatti
Giacomo Gatti
Dipartimento di Energia,
Politecnico di Milano,
via Lambruschini, 4,
Milan 20158, Italy
Politecnico di Milano,
via Lambruschini, 4,
Milan 20158, Italy
Search for other works by this author on:
Juri Bellucci
Department of Industrial Engineering,
University of Florence,
via di Santa Marta, 3,
Florence 50139, Italy
e-mail: juri.bellucci@arnone.de.unifi.it
University of Florence,
via di Santa Marta, 3,
Florence 50139, Italy
e-mail: juri.bellucci@arnone.de.unifi.it
Filippo Rubechini
Department of Industrial Engineering,
University of Florence,
via di Santa Marta, 3,
Florence 50139, Italy
University of Florence,
via di Santa Marta, 3,
Florence 50139, Italy
Andrea Arnone
Department of Industrial Engineering,
University of Florence,
via di Santa Marta, 3,
Florence 50139, Italy
University of Florence,
via di Santa Marta, 3,
Florence 50139, Italy
Lorenzo Arcangeli
GE Oil & Gas,
via Felice Matteucci, 2,
Florence 50127, Italy
via Felice Matteucci, 2,
Florence 50127, Italy
Nicola Maceli
GE Oil & Gas,
via Felice Matteucci, 2,
Florence 50127, Italy
via Felice Matteucci, 2,
Florence 50127, Italy
Berardo Paradiso
Dipartimento di Energia,
Politecnico di Milano,
via Lambruschini, 4,
Milan 20158, Italy
Politecnico di Milano,
via Lambruschini, 4,
Milan 20158, Italy
Giacomo Gatti
Dipartimento di Energia,
Politecnico di Milano,
via Lambruschini, 4,
Milan 20158, Italy
Politecnico di Milano,
via Lambruschini, 4,
Milan 20158, Italy
Contributed by the Turbomachinery Committee of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING FOR GAS TURBINES AND POWER. Manuscript received August 4, 2016; final manuscript received August 31, 2016; published online January 4, 2017. Editor: David Wisler.
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. May 2017, 139(5): 052603 (9 pages)
Published Online: January 4, 2017
Article history
Received:
August 4, 2016
Revised:
August 31, 2016
Citation
Bellucci, J., Rubechini, F., Arnone, A., Arcangeli, L., Maceli, N., Paradiso, B., and Gatti, G. (January 4, 2017). "Numerical and Experimental Investigation of Axial Gap Variation in High-Pressure Steam Turbine Stages." ASME. J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. May 2017; 139(5): 052603. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4035158
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