Flow Field in the Tip Gap of a Planar Cascade of Turbine Blades

Abstract

Measurements are presented for the flow in the tip gap of a planar cascade of turbine blades. Three clearances of from 2.0 to 3.2 percent of the blade chord were considered. Detailed surveys of the velocity magnitude, flow direction, and total pressure within the gap were supplemented by blade surface and endwall static pressure measurements. The results help to clarify the relationship between the leakage mass flow rate distribution and the driving pressure differences. It was found that even for the present relatively large clearances, fluid near the endwall experiences a pressure difference that is comparable with the blade pressure difference. It is also shown that a simple model can predict with good accuracy the mass flow rate distribution and the magnitude and direction of the velocity vectors within the gap.