Investigation of Flow in a Radial Turbine Using Laser Anemometry

Abstract

A lightweight, high pressure radial inflow turbine was tested and laser anemometry used to measure the flow at various positions within the nozzle guide vanes, immediately upstream of the rotor and at two axial stations downstream of the rotor. The laser anemometry results indicated flow conditions within the nozzle vanes which were largely two dimensional (blade-to-blade with little hub to shroud variation) except at the vane outlet. Unsteadiness due to rotor blade passing effects were detected at the nozzle guide vane trailing edge but had almost entirely decayed at the vane throat. The results also indicate significant variations in flow conditions across the pitch of the nozzles suggesting incidence variations on the rotor of approaching 30 degrees. The laser anemometry results downstream of the turbine show a swirling flow characterised by a turbulent inner core region, a ‘centre annulus’ region of uniform velocity and flow direction and an outer flow region with a similar flow direction but velocity which increases rapidly towards the outer wall. The blade passing unsteadiness (blade-to-blade) is hardly noticeable some 50mm downstream of the rotor trailing edge.