Effect of Inlet Flow Angle on the Erosion of Radial Turbine Guide Vanes

Abstract

The results of an investigation of the particle dynamics and the blade erosion at the impact locations in radial turbine guide vanes are presented. Attention is focused in particular on the effect of inlet flow angle on the erosion of the blades, since the flow entering the guide vanes usually has an incidence angle due to the upstream scroll geometry. The total erosion per blade is calculated as a function of inlet flow angle for three different particle diameters, which are 5, 15, and 60 μm, respectively. According to the results of this investigation, for each particle size there is an inlet flow angle for minimum erosion of the guide vanes. This fact has to be accounted for in the design of radial turbines operating in particulate flow environments.