Analysis of the Loss Production Mechanism Due to Cavity–Main Flow Interaction in a Low-Pressure Turbine Stage

Abstract

In the present work, URANS simulations are presented to describe the unsteady interaction process between the flow ingested/ejected from a cavity system and the main flow evolving into a low-pressure turbine stage. Particular care is posed on the analysis of the loss generation mechanisms acting outside the stator row and in the rear part of the axial gap separating the cavity flow ejection section and the leading edge plane of the downstream rotor row. The simulated geometry reproduces a typical engine cavity configuration, with upstream and downstream rotor rows reproduced by means of moving bars. Experimental results have been used to validate the simulations. These experimental data cannot explain and quantify alone the overall interaction process between the cavity flows and the main flow. The results of a simulation made by removing the domain of the cavity have been employed in order to better highlight and quantify the effects due to main flow and cavity flows interaction on total pressure loss. A deep inspection of the loss amount along the axial direction makes evident that losses generated in the vane row are basically increased prior to entering into the downstream rotor bars, due to cavity main flow interaction.