Endwall Boundary Layer Flows and Losses in an Axial Turbine Stage

Abstract

In order to gain an insight into boundary layer phenomena in axial flow turbines, experimental studies were carried out on a large-scale, low speed, single stage machine. Low and high frequency instrumentation supplemented by flow visualizations were used to determine the details of the flows and losses in the stator and rotor blade rows. Measurements of the turbine stator flows, which were obtained at two different inlet wall boundary layer thicknesses, were generally consistent with typical linear cascade observations. A major difference concerned the presence of appreciable radially directed flow. Hot-wire anemometry measurements at the turbine rotor exit, revealed strong secondary flows at the high turning hub section. The flow pattern was seen to be influenced by the spacing between the two rows of blades and by the rotor’s instantaneous position with respect to the periodic flow field arising from the upstream stator row.