Numerical study of aerodynamics of turbine rotor with leading edge modification near hub

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the aerodynamics when the geometry of the turbine rotor is modified. The turbine used in this study is a small engine used in the APU of a helicopter. It is difficult to improve the performance of small engines owing to the structural weakness of the blade tip. Therefore, the improvement of the hub geometry is investigated in many ways. The working fluid of a turbine is a high-temperature and high-pressure gas. The heat transfer rate of the turbine surface should be considered to avoid the destruction of blade owing to the heat load. The SST turbulence model gives an excellent prediction of the aerodynamic behavior and heat transfer characteristics when the numerical simulations are compared with the experimental results. In conclusion, the aerodynamic efficiency is improved when a bulbous design is applied to the leading edge near the hub. The endwall loss is reduced by 15%. © 2013 The Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers.