Abstract

Assessing the impact of inlet flow distortion in turbomachinery is desired early in the design cycle. This thesis introduces and validates the use of methods based on the Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) to analyze clean and 1/rev static pressure distortion simulation results at design and near stall operating condition. The value of POD comes in its ability to efficiently extract both quantitative and qualitative information about dominant spatial flow structures as well as information about temporal fluctuations in flow properties. Observation of the modes allowed qualitative identification of shock waves as well as quantification of their location and range of motion. Modal coefficients revealed the location of the passage shock at a given angular location. Distortion amplification and attenuation between rotors was also identified. A relationship was identified between how distortion manifests itself based on downstream conditions. POD provides an efficient means for extracting the most meaningful information from large CFD simulation data. Static pressure and axial velocity were analyzed to explore the flow physics of 3 rotors of a compressor with a distorted inlet. Based on the results of the analysis of static pressure using the POD modes, it was concluded that there was a decreased range of motion in passage shock oscillation. Analysis of axial velocity POD modes revealed the presence of a separated region on the low pressure surface of the blade which was most dynamic in rotor 1. The thickness of this structure decreased in the near stall operating condition. The general conclusion is made that as the fan approaches stall the apparent effects of distortion are lessened which leads to less variation in the operating condition. This is due to the change in operating condition placing the fan at a different position on the speedline such that distortion effects are less pronounced. POD modes of entropy flux were used to identify three distinct levels of entropy flux in the blade row passage. The separated region was the region with the highest entropy due to the irreversibilities associated with separation.

Degree

College and Department

Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology; Mechanical Engineering

Rights

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