Periodic flow structures in a turbofan fan stage in windmilling

Abstract

In a fan stage under windmilling conditions, the stator operates under negative incidence, leading to flow separation, which may present an unsteady behaviour due to rotor/stator interactions. An experimental study of the unsteady flow through the fan stage of a bypass turbofan in windmilling is proposed, using hot-wire anemometry. Windmilling conditions are reproduced in a ground engine test bed by blowing a variable mass flow through a bypass turbofan in ambient conditions. Time-averaged profiles of flow coefficient are independent of the mass flow, demonstrating the similarity of velocity triangle. Turbulence intensity profiles reveal that the high levels of turbulence production due to local shear are also independent of the inlet flow. A spectral analysis confirms that the flow is dominated by the blade passing frequency, and that the separated regions downstream of the stator amplify the fluctuations locked to the BPF without adding any new frequency. Phase-locked averaging is used to capture the periodic wakes of the rotor blades at the rotor/stator interface. A spanwise behaviour typical of flows through windmilling fans is evidenced. Through the inner sections of the fan, rotor wakes are thin and weakly turbulent, and the turbulence level remains constant through the stage. The rotor wakes thicken and become more turbulent towards the fan tip, where flow separation occurs. Downstream of the stator, maximum levels of turbulence intensity are measured in the separated flow. Large periodical zones of low velocity and high turbulence intensity are observed in the outer parts of the separated stator wake, confirming the pulsating motion of the stator flow separation, locked at the blade passing frequency. Space-time diagrams show that the flow is chorochronic, and a 2 D non-linear harmonic simulation is able to capture the main interaction modes, however, the stator incidence distribution could be affected by 3 D effects.