Development of a New Loss Model for Turbomachinery Labyrinth Seals

The preliminary design of labyrinth seals requires a fast and accurate estimate of the leakage flow. While the conventional bulk flow models can quickly predict labyrinth seal discharge characteristics, they lack the accuracy and pragmatism of modern CFD technique and vice-a-versa. This paper presents a new 1D loss model for straight-through gas labyrinth seals that can provide quick seal leakage flow predictions with CFD-equivalent accuracy. The present seal loss model is developed using numerical experimentation technique. Multiple CFD computations are conducted on straight-through labyrinth seal geometries for a range of pressure ratios. A distinct post-processing methodology is developed to extract the through-flow stream tube in seal. Total pressure losses and flow area variations experienced by the flow in seal stream-tube are systematically accounted for based on the well-known knife-to-knife (K2K) methodology. Regression analyses are conducted on the trends of variations of loss and area coefficients to derive the independent pressure loss and flow area correlations. These novel correlations can predict the bulk leakage flow rate, windage flow rate and inter-knife static pressures over a wide range of variation of flow and geometry parameters. Validation study shows that the leakage mass flow rate predicted by this model is accurate within ±8% of measured test data. This fast and accurate model can be employed for various applications such as, in seal design-analysis workflows, for secondary air system (SAS) performance analysis and for the rotor-dynamic and aeroelastic assessments of seals.

Investigation of Bursting Stress and Spalling Stress in Post-tensioned Anchorage Zones

Over the past decades, considerable efforts have been made to quantify the bursting forces in the post-tensioned anchorage zones based on the simplified model or fitting formulas, however reproducing the transverse stress distribution is still a challenging topic, which is also important to detail the reinforcing details in the anchorage zones, especially for cracking control. To address this issue, this paper is devoted to seeking an elasticity solution for transverse stresses in the anchorage zones, and providing a more rational equation for transverse distribution in anchorage zones. The sum function of normal stresses is employed to solve the stresses filed in the anchorage zones with concentric load and two eccentric loads. The bursting stresses in the concentric anchorage zones and spalling stresses in the eccentric anchorage zones are verified by the photoelastic tests. The transverse stresses along the symmetry axis of the eccentric anchorage zones can be handled as a concentric single anchorage zone with equivalent bearing plate width. Moreover, according to the concept of force stream tube, the profiles of isostatic line of compression (ILCs) are determined and validated, which confirms the existence of ILCs.

Vortex Ring Theory—An Alternative to the Existing Actuator Disk and Rotating Annular Stream Tube Theories

Currently, the actuator disk theory (ADT) and the rotating annular stream-tube theory (RAST), both of which predicate on the axial momentum and generalized momentum theories, among others, are commonly used in investigating the aerodynamic characteristics of horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs). These theories, which are based on a rotor with an infinite number of blades, typically do not properly capture the flow physics of wind blowing past the rotors of HAWTs. A vortex ring theory (VRT) that analyzes HAWTs based solely on the characteristics of fluids flowing past obstructions is proposed. The VRT is not predicated on the assertion that the induced velocity in the wake is twice the induced velocity at the rotor. On the contrary, it splits the axial induction factor in the wake into two components, namely, the induction or interference factor due to the solidity of the rotor and the induction factor due to the wake of the rotor aw; aw and its azimuthal counterpart are determined using the Biot–Savart law. The pressure differences across the rotor segments of a HAWT are derived from the Bernoulli equation for all the three theories. Blade segment/local areas based on the blade sectional geometry of the rotor are used in the case of the VRT to estimate the local forces. All the calculations in this study are based on the design parameters of the 5MW National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s reference offshore wind turbine. Pressure differences are plotted as functions of local radii using the calculated axial and azimuthal induction factors for each theory. The local power coefficient is plotted as a function of the local tip-speed ratio, while the local thrust coefficient is plotted as a function of the local radii for all the three theories. There is piece-wise agreement between the VRT, the ADT, the RAST and numerical and experimental data available in the literature.

Simplified nonlinear rotational inertia model for the simulation and analysis of the characteristics of an unconventional VAWT type wind turbine with variable pitch

This paper shows a double multiple stream tube model coupling to a rotational inertia model. It allows the simulation and analysis of the characteristics of an unconventional vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) with Variable Pitch. This implementation permits to employ a stationary response of the wind turbine calculated across the main characteristics of output torque based on experimental aerodynamic coefficients and the Reynolds at each station, can be transformed into a transient response by a simplified non-linear rotational inertia dynamic model to predict the start-up, idle, stabilization and sudden stop of our device.

Applications of Two-Dimensional Spatial Routing Procedure for Estimating Dispersion Coefficients in Open Channel Flows

In this study, the performance of two routing procedures were evaluated to estimate the two-dimensional dispersion coefficients. The two-dimensional Stream-Tube Routing Procedure (2D ST-RP) has been widely used to obtain the dispersion coefficients from measured concentration-time curves under the frozen cloud assumption. Meanwhile, the Spatial Routing Procedure (2D S-RP) employs the spatial distributions of concentration to estimate the dispersion coefficients. The performance of the two routing methods were evaluated in aspect of the validity of the frozen cloud assumption and the applicability in the non-Fickian mixing. From the estimation results of dispersion coefficients, the results by the 2D ST-RP included errors due to skewed concentration-time curves which were created by violating the frozen cloud assumption. On the other hand, the 2D S-RP provides accurate dispersion coefficients in the same condition. The estimated results of dispersion coefficients in the meandering channel show that both the 2D ST-RP and the 2D S-RP contained errors due to the non-Fickian mixing properties of the test case. Even with the discrepancies, the 2D S-RP presented more appropriate spatial variabilities along the meander cycle than the results by the 2D ST-RP.