Analysis of Hot Streak Effects on Turbine Rotor Heat Load

Abstract

The influence of inlet hot streak temperature distortion on turbine blade heat load was explored on a transonic axial flow turbine stage test article using a three-dimensional, multi-blade row unsteady Euler code. The turbine geometry was the same as that used for a recently reported testing of hot streak influence. Emphasis was placed elucidating the physical mechanisms by which hot streaks affect turbine durability. It was found that temperature distortion significantly increases both blade surface heat load nonuniformity and total blade heat load by as much as 10–30% (mainly on the pressure surface), and that the severity of this influence is a strong function of turbine geometry and flow conditions. Three physical mechanisms were identified which drive the heat load nonuniformity — buoyancy, wake convection (the Kerrebrock-Mikolajczak effect), and rotor-stator interactions. The latter can generate significant nonuniformity of the time-averaged relative frame rotor inlet temperature distribution. Dependence of these effects on turbine design variables was investigated to shed light on the design space which minimizes the adverse effects of hot streaks.