Experimental Investigation of the Flow Field in an Automotive Torque Converter Stator

Abstract

The flow field at the exit of a torque converter stator exit was measured using a miniature conventional five-hole probe. The data at speed ratio 0.8, 0.6, and 0.065 are presented. At the speed ratio 0.6, the stator exit flow is dominated by a large free-stream, accompanied by the blade wake and corner flow separation. A strong secondary flow is observed at the stator exit, the flow is overturned near the core and underturned near the shell. The secondary flow at inlet produces large radial transport of mass flow inside the stator passage. The shell-suction corner flow separation has a large blockage effect, resulting in losses. To determine the nature of the transitional flow in the stator passage, the surface hot-film sensors were mounted on the stator blade surface. The data confirm that the stator flow field is turbulent.