AxSTREAM VALIDATION ASPECTS: OEM AVIATION GAS TURBINE

SoftInWay has carried out AxSTREAM validation against the results extracted from OEM axial gas aviation turbine testing.

An aviation full-scale gas turbine purposed for numerical simulation with AxSTREAM is a high-loaded low pressure turbine of the turboshaft engine. One of the study objectives was to perform 1D, 2D, and 3D modeling and validate some results versus the test data obtained by experiment.

The turbine under study featured low flow rate coefficients at high load factors, (Figure 1, left). It belongs to so called low-head turbines and this entails its design and aerodynamic peculiarities such as transition duct of complicated shape at inlet; significant gas path expansion (up to 30 deg); comparatively wide 1st stage diaphragm with height to axial chord ratio h/bx~1.2; high-load stages with 1st and 2nd stages loading factor µ>2.5.

Within the frame of the study, meanline and axisymmetric analyses were performed using AxSTREAM software. General cascade characteristics such as chords, metal and gauging angles, gap and clearing dimensions, operational conditions were taken as initial data for analyses. Resulted was a simplified turbine model shown in Figure 1, right. Principally, AxSTREAM possesses ample capabilities for axial turbine aerodynamic analysis, but in this case, 1D and 2D computations completely met the objectives of the study that was reduced to modeling results validation against the test data obtained for static pressure in the flow path gaps.

Figure 1. Pilot turbine layout (left) and its model obtained with AxSTREAM (right)

The sample of the AxSTREAM, CFX-5.7 computation results and test data comparison is presented in Figure 2. The figure show that computed and extracted from experiment pressure values have a good convergence.

Figure 2. Experimental and computed with AxSTREAM and with CFX5.7 static pressures in axial gaps near hub (left) and near tip (right)

3D simulation was carried out with CFX-5.7 solver. Figure 3 and Figure 4 depict a final 3D model with streamlines contours and models of 3 stages obtained with CFX-5.7 and with AxSTREAM, respectively.

Figure 3. 3D model of the flow path and streamline contours obtained with CFX-5.7

Figure 4. Models of the flow path and streamline contours obtained with AxSTREAM for 3 stages

Figure 2 explicitly demonstrates a sufficiently good convergence of the data extracted from experiment and computed with the help of AxSTREAM and CFX-5.7 solvers for all kinds of simulation applied, i.e. for unidimensional, axisymmetric and three-dimensional modeling.

Please address tech_support @softinway.com for more information.

AxSTREAM IN UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS

SoftInWay, Inc. announces the integration of AxSTREAM in various education courses. For example, the department of Mechanical Engineering at The Johns Hopkins University has chosen to include AxSTREAM in their Jet and Rocket Propulsion Course.

'SoftInWay offered us a powerful tool axial gas/steam turbine design that can be seamlessly integrated into our learning process as an effective assistant for students and teachers" - says Prof. Joseph Katz, the course instructor.

The educational version of AxSTREAM enables the students to examine the effect of varying flow parameters on the overall performance of the turbomachine, and in doing so enhance the theoretical topics covered in the course - Prof. Katz added. - "The students gain some practical skills, and are exposed to the basic concepts of real turbine flow-path design. AxSTREAM enables the students to examine the relationships between path parameters and blade shapes, making it a very useful supporting educational tool."

SoftInWay distributes AxSTREAM to educational entities worldwide. SoftInWay is a company deeply committed to future engineers' solid knowledge of turbomachinery design.

The AxSTREAM™ software suite empowers designers to apply a concurrent development approach while solving coupled problems of performance, reliability, operating life, and low-cost design. The software package can be downloaded for evaluation. Please request by writing to tech_support @softinway.com.

'SoftInWay offered us a powerful tool axial gas/steam turbine design that can be seamlessly integrated into our learning process as an effective assistant for students and teachers" - says Prof. Joseph Katz, the course instructor.

The educational version of AxSTREAM enables the students to examine the effect of varying flow parameters on the overall performance of the turbomachine, and in doing so enhance the theoretical topics covered in the course - Prof. Katz added. - "The students gain some practical skills, and are exposed to the basic concepts of real turbine flow-path design. AxSTREAM enables the students to examine the relationships between path parameters and blade shapes, making it a very useful supporting educational tool."

SoftInWay distributes AxSTREAM to educational entities worldwide. SoftInWay is a company deeply committed to future engineers' solid knowledge of turbomachinery design.

The AxSTREAM™ software suite empowers designers to apply a concurrent development approach while solving coupled problems of performance, reliability, operating life, and low-cost design. The software package can be downloaded for evaluation. Please request by writing to tech_support @softinway.com.

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This individual should have experience in development of complex engineering software projects and a strong background in CAE tools. Excellent understanding of FEA and / or CFD methods and issues. It is essential that the individual has a strong desire to learn and explore new technologies and is able to demonstrate good problem solving skills.

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• B.Sc., or M.Sc., or Ph.D.  in Mechanical Engineering, Applied Math or Physics with respectfully 5+, or 3+ , or 0-1 years of experience in engineering software development (C, C++, FORTRAN); 

• Thorough knowledge of FEA and / or CFD methods;

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• Masters Degree or Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering with significant related experience at Power Generation Machinery oriented companies like GE, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, Alstom. Computed Science Degree is desirable.
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