A comprehensive one-dimensional meanline design approach for radial inflow turbines is described in the present work. An original code was developed in Python that takes a novel approach to the automatic selection of feasible machines based on pre-defined performance or geometry characteristics for a given application. It comprises a brute-force search algorithm that traverses the entire search space based on key non-dimensional parameters and rotational speed. In this study, an in-depth analysis and subsequent implementation of relevant loss models as well as selection criteria for radial inflow turbines is addressed. Comparison with previously published designs, as well as other available codes, showed good agreement. Sample (real and theoretical) test cases were trialed and results showed good agreement when compared to other available codes. The presented approach was found to be valid and the model was found to be a useful tool with regards to the preliminary design and performance estimation of radial inflow turbines, enabling its integration with other thermodynamic cycle analysis and three-dimensional blade design codes.

Blade failure caused by flutter is a major problem in the last stage of modern steam turbines. It is because rotor at this stage always has a large scale in spanwise, which provides low structural frequency as well as supersonic tip speeds. Since most of the unsteady aerodynamic work is done in the tip region, transonic tip-leakage flow that influences the tip region flow could have a remarkable effect on the aerodynamic stability of rotor blades. However, few research had been done on the tip-leakage flow influence on flutter characteristic based on full-scale steam turbine numerical models. In this paper, an open 3D steam turbine stage model designed by Durham University was applied, which was widely analyzed and representative for the last stage of modern industrial steam turbines. The average Mach number at the rotor outlet is 1.1. URANS simulation carried by both numerical software CFX and LUFT code is applied, and the two solvers show an agreement on steady and unsteady results. The numerical results indicate that the influence of tip leakage flow on blade stability is based on two types of flow mechanisms. Both mechanisms act on the suction side of near tip region. The first type of mechanism is produced by the reduction of passage shock near the leading edge, and the other type of mechanism at the rear of blade is caused by the interaction between tip leakage vortex and trailing edge shock of the neighbor blade. In conclusion, tip leakage flow has a significant influence on steam turbine flutter boundary prediction and requires further analysis in the future.

The paper describes a multidisciplinary conceptual design of an axial compressor, targeting a three stage, high speed, high efficiency booster with a design pressure ratio of 2.8. The paper is outlined in a step wise manner starting from basic aircraft and engine thrust requirements, establishing the definition of the high speed booster interface points and its location in the engine. Thereafter, the aerodynamic 1D/2D design is carried out using the commercial throughflow tool SC90C. A number of design aspects are described, and the steps necessary to arrive at the final design are outlined. The SC90C based design is then carried over to a CFD based conceptual design tool AxCent, in which a first profiling is carried out based on a multiple circular arc blade definition. The design obtained at this point is referred to as the VINK compressor. The first stage of the compressor is then optimized using an in-house optimization tool, where the objective functions are evaluated from detailed CFD calculations. The design is improved in terms of efficiency and in terms of meeting the design criteria put on the stage in the earlier design phases. Finally, some aeromechanical design aspects of the first stage are considered. The geometry and inlet boundary conditions of the compressor are shared with the turbomachinery community on a public server. This is intended to be used as a test case for further optimization and analysis.

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This paper introduces an open three-dimensional (3D) flutter test case for steam turbines. The test case is fully described and initial results are presented. The steam turbine last stage blading geometry is taken from a test case originally presented by Durham University. The stage is representative of the aerodynamic characteristics of modern steam turbine blading. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first time that a steam turbine flutter test case is presented based on an open 3D realistic blade geometry. ANSYS CFX and LUFT (Linearized Unsteady Flow solver for Turbomachinery) were both applied to calculate inviscid and RANS steady and unsteady flow solutions. Plots of aerodynamic damping versus inter-blade phase angle and plots of the local work coefficient on the blade for critical cases are presented.