A Numerical Investigation of Aeroacoustic Fan Blade Flutter

This paper reports the results of an ongoing research effort to explain the underlying mechanisms for aeroacoustic fan blade flutter. Using a 3D integrated aeroelasticity method and a single passage blade model that included a representation of the intake duct, the pressure rise vs. mass flow characteristic of a fan assembly was obtained for the 60%–80% speed range. A novel feature was the use of a downstream variable-area nozzle, an approach that allowed the determination of the stall boundary with good accuracy. The flutter stability was predicted for the 2 nodal diameter assembly mode arising from the first blade flap mode. The flutter margin at 64% speed was predicted to drop sharply and the instability was found to be independent of stall effects. On the other hand, the flutter instability at 74% speed was found to be driven by flow separation. Further post-processing of the results at 64% speed indicated significant unsteady pressure amplitude build-up inside the intake at the flutter condition, thus highlighting the link between the acoustic properties of the intake duct and fan blade flutter.

Thermodynamic and Economic Assessment of Two Semi-Closed CO2 Cycles for Emission Abatement and Power Augmentation at Compressor Stations

Concerns about the effects of greenhouse gas emissions on the Earth’s climate have lead to a considerable focus by the public and governments on the levels of emissions that are generated by industrial activities. In Canada, it has been recognized that gas transmission systems are rated second in overall CO2 production in the Natural Gas Industry (next to gas processing). Most of the gas transmission systems are powered by gas turbines at compressor stations resulting in significant CO2 emissions (at the rate of ∼ 6 kilo tonnes/ per MW-year). This can be reduced if the CO2 can be separated from the gas turbine exhaust stream and directed for reuse or sequestration. This paper presents results of techno-thermodynamic assessment of two power cycle adjustments to increase CO2 concentrations in the exhaust gas from turbines. The working fluid in the two semi-closed cycles are made rich in CO2, thus making it easy to capture the CO2 from the flue gas by means of physical absorption techniques rather than by the conventional expensive amine adsorption methods. Additionally, the CO2 rich working fluid is shown to give rise to a higher exhaust gas temperature from the gas turbine semi-closed cycles, allowing a steam bottom cycle to be effective in augmenting the power delivered by the entire system by 50%, hence contributing to reducing emission by increasing the overall thermal efficiency of the system.

Closed Loop Performance of a Slotless Lorentz Self-Bearing Motor

In previous work the authors presented a Lorentz self-bearing motor design targeted for precision pointing and smooth angular slewing applications. The motor also offers potential advantages when operated as a synchronous machine at high speed including larger power densities and shorter shafts. In this paper, the closed loop performance of the motor at low transient speeds (0–588 rpm) is presented. Using these results, several challenges to achieving high-speed rotation are identified and discussed. The most significant is the heavy cross coupling within the actuator which limits bearing stiffness and stability, and is amplified at rotor natural frequencies resulting in potential loss of levitation when passing through critical speeds. Of particular interest is the discovery of a significant cross coupling effect between the radial and tangential directions. A theory is put forth explaining this effect.

Application of CFD Analysis for Rotating Machinery: Part 1 — Hydrodynamic, Hydrostatic Bearings and Squeeze Film Damper

The traditional method for bearing and damper analysis usually involves a development of rather complicated numerical calculation programs that may just focus on a simplified and specific physical model. The application of the general CFD codes may make this analysis available and effective where complex flow geometries are involved or when more detailed solutions are needed. In this study, CFX-TASCflow is employed to simulate various fixed geometry fluid-film bearing and damper designs. Some of the capabilities in CFX-TASCflow are applied to simulate the pressure field and calculate the static and dynamic characteristics of hydrodynamic, hydrostatic and hybrid bearings as well as squeeze film dampers. The comparison between the CFD analysis and current computer programs used in industry has been made. The results show reasonable agreement in general. Some of possible reasons for the differences are discussed. It leaves room for further investigation and improvement on the methods of computation.

On Compressor Station Layout

This paper discusses issues that influence the decision on the arrangement of compressors and the type of equipment in gas pipeline compressor stations. Different concepts such as multiple small units versus single large units are considered, both regarding their impact on the individual station and the overall pipeline. The necessity of standby units is discussed. Various concepts for drivers (gas turbine, gas motor and electric motor) and compressors (centrifugal and reciprocating) are analyzed. The importance of considering all possible operating conditions is stressed. With the wide range of possible operating conditions for the pipeline in mind, the discussion will be brought into the general context of operational flexibility, availability, reliability, installation issues, remote control, and operability of gas turbine driven centrifugal compressors compared to other solutions such as electric motor driven compressors or gas engine driven reciprocating compressors. The impact of different concepts on emissions and fuel cost is discussed. Among the assumptions in this paper are the performance characteristics of the compressor. It will be outlined how these performance characteristics influence the conclusions.

Comparison of Rotordynamic Analysis Predictions With the Test Response of Simple Gas Hybrid Bearings for Oil Free Turbomachinery

Current applications of gas film bearings in high-speed oil-free micro-turbomachinery (<0.4 MW) require calibrated predictive tools to successfully deploy their application to mass-produced systems, for example oil-free turbochargers. The present investigation details the linear rotordynamic analysis of a test rotor supported on externally pressurized gas bearings. Model predictions are compared with the test rotordynamic response determined through comprehensive experiments conducted on a small rotor supported on three lobed hybrid (hydrostatic/hydrodynamic) rigid gas bearings. Predictions for the rotor-bearing system synchronous response to imbalance show good agreement with measurements during rotor coast downs, and manifest a decrease in damping ratio as the level of external pressurization increases. The rotor-bearing eigenvalue analysis forwards natural frequencies in accordance with the measurements, and null damping ratios evidence the threshold speeds of rotordynamic instability. Estimated whirl frequency ratios are typically 50% of rotor speed, thus predicting sub synchronous instabilities at lower rotor speeds than found experimentally when increasing the magnitude of feed pressurization. Rationale asserting the nature of the discrepancies calls for further analysis.

Computation of the Statistics of Forced Response of a Mistuned Bladed Disk Assembly via Polynomial Chaos

The method of polynomial chaos has been used to analytically compute the statistics of forced response of a mistuned bladed disk assembly. The model of the bladed disk assembly considers only one mode of vibration of each blade. Mistuning phenomenon has been simulated by treating the modal stiffness of each blade as a random variable. The validity of the polynomial chaos method has been corroborated by comparison with the results from numerical simulations.

A Method for Use of Cyclic Symmetry Properties in Analysis of Nonlinear Multiharmonic Vibrations of Bladed Discs

An effective method for analysis of periodic forced response of nonlinear cyclically symmetric structures has been developed. The method allows multiharmonic forced response to be calculated for a whole bladed disc using a periodic sector model without any loss of accuracy in calculations and modelling. A rigorous proof of the validity of the reduction of the whole nonlinear structure to a sector is provided. Types of bladed disc forcing for which the method may be applied are formulated. A multiharmonic formulation and a solution technique for equations of motion have been derived for two cases of description for a linear part of the bladed disc model: (i) using sector finite element matrices; (ii) using sector mode shapes and frequencies. Calculations validating the developed method and a numerical investigation of a realistic high-pressure turbine bladed disc with shrouds have demonstrated the high efficiency of the method.

Analysis of Transient Performance of a Compressed Air Energy Storage Plant

Electrical energy storage might become a strategic topic if distributed generation will be matched with stochastic sources as wind or sun. Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) is one of the most promising options today: energy is stored as pressurized air in a cavern. Transient phenomena, occurring during the charging process, are analyzed in this paper. Two kinds of systems are considered with or without pressure compensation; in fact a water column can be used to link the cavern to a pond in order to compensate the pressure oscillations. A lumped parameter model has been adjusted by the authors to simulate the initial charging and the subsequent surge. The obtained results supply some insight about the safe working conditions and also the surge operation.

Experimental and Numerical Study of Stall Flutter in a Transonic Low-Aspect Ratio Fan Blisk

Experiments are performed on a modern design transonic shroudless low-aspect ratio fan blisk that experienced both subsonic/transonic and supersonic stall-side flutter. High-response flush mounted miniature pressure transducers are utilized to measure the unsteady aerodynamic loading distribution in the tip region of the fan for both flutter regimes, with strain gages utilized to measure the vibratory response at incipient and deep flutter operating conditions. Numerical simulations are performed and compared with the benchmark data using an unsteady three-dimensional nonlinear viscous computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis, with the effects of tip clearance, vibration amplitude, and the number of time steps-per-cycle investigated. The benchmark data are used to guide the validation of the code and establish best practices that ensure accurate flutter predictions.