This paper investigates the use of a Vortex Lattice Method to simulate tip-leakage flow with small computational effort. The module PyLiSuite presented in the present paper has been completely developed from scratch and is validated on two-dimensional and three-dimensional basic cases. The validation lies on the estimate of the lift coefficient computed from the circulation given by the module. The capabilities of PyLiSuite regarding tip-leakage flow are gauged in comparison with novel experimental measurements on a single blade with an adjustable gap. The results show a good prediction of the shape and size of the tip-leakage vortex for large tip gaps. Differences in the position and the deficit of static pressure in the core of the vortex are noted. The future improvements on the module concern the influence of viscosity to be accounted for and the computation time which could be shortened.
The tip-leakage flow has detrimental effects on the performance of compressors. In this paper the effects of gap height and incoming casing boundary layer thickness are analyzed. Velocity and total pressure measurements are carried out in a plane behind the trailing edge of an isolated fixed blade. The total pressure loss is decomposed in a vortex loss and a wake loss. It appears that the increase of total pressure losses with the gap height comes essentially from the vortex part. This observation motivated the development of a model based on an analogy with a jet in crossflow to estimate the tip-leakage vortex circulation. The predictions of this model are consistent with the experimental data for gaps smaller than 4% of chord.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.