CFD-Based Throughflow Solver in a Turbomachinery Design System

Abstract

Throughflow analysis is a critical component for the multi-stage axial turbomachine design. The Euler throughflow approach has been developed over the last couple of decades, but has been less successful than its early peer, the streamline curvature approach. In this paper an Euler throughflow approach is described for engineering applications. It includes the steps needed to construct the stream surface, such as modifications for the incidence and deviation, and the throat area correction. The flow angle difference at the trailing edge and in the downstream non-bladed gap stations is resolved, and the numerical loss from solving the Euler equation is removed as well. This solver has been integrated into a comprehensive turbomachinery design system. It creates and modifies the machine geometries and predicts the machine performance at different levels of approximation, including one-dimensional design and analysis, quasi-three-dimensional methods (blade-to-blade and throughflow) and full-three-dimensional steady-state CFD analysis. The flow injection and extraction functions are described, as is the implementation of the radial mass distribution. Some discussion is dedicated to the shock calculation. Finally, examples are provided to demonstrate the pros and cons of the Euler throughflow approach and also to demonstrate the potential to solve for a wider range of flow conditions, particularly choked and transonic flows that limit stream function based solvers.