Large Eddy Simulation of Rotationally Induced Ingress and Egress around an Axial Seal between Rotor and Stator Disks

Sabina Nketia, Tom I-P. Shih (), Kenneth Bryden, Richard Dalton and Richard A. Dennis
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Sabina Nketia: School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
Tom I-P. Shih: School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
Kenneth Bryden: Ames National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Ames, IA 50011, USA
Richard Dalton: National Energy Technology Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
Richard A. Dennis: National Energy Technology Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 11, 1-25

Abstract: In gas turbines, the hot gas exiting the combustor can have temperatures as high as 2000 °C, and some of this hot gas enter into the space between the stator and rotor disks (wheelspace). Since the entering hot gas could damage the disks, its ingestion must be minimized. This is carried out by rim seals and by introducing a cooler flow from the compressor (sealing flow) into the wheelspace. Ingress and egress into rim seals are driven by the stator vanes, the rotor and its rotation, and the rotor blades. This study focuses on the ingress and egress driven by the rotor and its rotation. This is carried out by performing wall-resolved large eddy simulation (LES) around an axial seal in a rotor–stator configuration without vanes and blades. Results obtained show the mechanisms by which the rotor and its rotation induce ingress, egress, and flow trajectories. Kelvin–Helmholtz instability was found to create a wavy shear layer and displacement thickness that produces alternating regions of high and low pressures around the rotor side of the seal. Vortex shedding on the backward-facing side of the seal and its impingement on the rotor side of the seal also produces alternating regions of high and low pressures. The locations of the alternating regions of high and low pressures were found to be statistically stationary and to cause ingress to start on the rotor side of the seal. Vortex shedding and recirculating flow in the seal clearance also cause ingress by entrainment. With the effects of the rotor and its rotation on ingress and egress isolated, this study enables the effects of stator vanes and rotor blades to be assessed.

Keywords: gas turbines; rim seals; rotationally induced ingress (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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