Experimental Investigation of Turbine Disk Cavity Aerodynamics and Heat Transfer

By: Nasa, National Aeronautics and Space Adm

An experimental investigation of turbine disk cavity aerodynamics and heat transfer was conducted to provide an experimental data base that can guide the aerodynamic and thermal design of turbine disks and blade attachments for flow conditions and geometries simulating those of the space shuttle main engine (SSME) turbopump drive turbines. Experiments were conducted to define the nature of the aerodynamics and heat transfer of the flow within the disk cavities and blade attachments of a large scale model simulating the SSME turbopump drive turbines. These experiments include flow between the main gas path and the disk cavities, flow within the disk cavities, and leakage flows through the blade attachments and labyrinth seals. Air was used to simulate the combustion products in the gas path. Air and carbon dioxide were used to simulate the coolants injected at three locations in the disk cavities. Trace amounts of carbon dioxide were used to determine the source of the gas at selected locations on the rotors, the cavity walls, and the interstage seal. The measurements on the rotor and stationary walls in the forward and aft cavities showed that the coolant effectiveness was 90 percent or greater when the coolant flow rate was greater than the local free disk entrainment flow rate and when room temperature air was used as both coolant and gas path fluid. When a coolant-to-gas-path density ratio of 1.51 was used in the aft cavity, the coolant effectiveness on the rotor was also 90 percent or greater at the aforementioned condition. However, the coolant concentration on the stationary wall was 60 to 80 percent at the aforementioned condition indicating a more rapid mixing of the coolant and flow through the rotor shank passages. This increased mixing rate was attributed to the destabilizing effects of the adverse density gradients. Daniels, W. A. and Johnson, B. V. Unspecified Center AERODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS; AERODYNAMIC HEAT TRANSFER; CAVITY FLOW; TURBINE ENGINES; T...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1731000715
• ISBN13: 9781731000712
• Release Date: January 1
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 108 Pages
• Weight: 0.59 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 8.5" x 11.0"