A hot-streak (combustor) simulator suited to aerodynamic performance measurements

Abstract

A new hot-streak (combustor) simulator has been designed and implemented in a turbine test facility at QinetiQ Farnborough (the QinetiQ Isentropic Light Piston Facility, ILPF) to study the impact of temperature distortion on high pressure (HP) turbine efficiency, aerodynamics, and heat transfer. The ILPF is an engine scale, short duration, rotating transonic turbine test facility, in which M , Re, T g /T w , and N / √ T are matched to engine conditions. The research forms part of the EU Turbine Aero-Thermal External Flows (TATEF II) programme.The hot-streak simulator is a second-generation design, in which cold gas is introduced into a hot mainstream though radial and circumferential slots upstream of the turbine stage. The simulator is rotatable, so the effect of clocking (relative circumferential position of hot streak and nozzle guide vane leading edge) can easily be investigated. An emphasis was placed on accurate measurement of turbine inlet enthalpy flux so that the impact of hot streaks on turbine efficiency could be investigated.The hot-streak simulator differs from all previous systems in that a pronounced radial and circumferential temperature profile has been generated, with a hot-streak to vane count of 1:1. The profile is very well matched (non-dimensionally) to the target profile, which is a combustor temperature profile measured in a modern operating engine at the most extreme point in the cycle. The most accurate area survey of a simulated temperature profile has been conducted to date, and this demonstrates that the simulator offers an exceptionally high degree of circumferential symmetry and run-to-run repeatability.The design and commissioning of the simulator is described, and the measured temperature profiles are compared with the target profile.

Design of a Nonreacting Combustor Simulator With Swirl and Temperature Distortion With Experimental Validation

“…The initial concept drew on the experience of Povey and Qureshi [8] and Qureshi and Povey [13] in designing the OTRF EOTDF simulator and the swirl simulator respectively. Both of these systems performed as designed.…”

“…Povey and Qureshi [8] presented the design of a hot-streak sim ulator for OTRF. The simulator was able to produce a pronounced radial and circumferential temperature profile dockable with respect to the NGV leading edge.…”

Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Combustor-Turbine Interaction Using an Isothermal, Nonreacting Tracer

“…"Inlet profile generators" are then used to approximate the combustor exit flow supplied to the turbine rig. State-of-the-art work along these lines include, most recently, the work of Colban and co-workers [3,4], Barringer and co-workers [5,6], Povey and Qureshi [7,8], and Simone et al [9]. These past approaches have led to an improved understanding of the sensitivity of the turbine to the various inflow parameters separately, e.g., OTDF level.…”

Effect of Simulated Combustor Temperature Nonuniformity on HP Vane and End Wall Heat Transfer: An Experimental and Computational Investigation

“…To allow comparisons with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, a hot streak to vane count of 1:1 was chosen. The design of the EOTDF simulator-which is a novel development on an earlier simulator in the same facility-is discussed by Povey and Qureshi [45] and is put in the context of a recent review of temperature distortion simulators by the same authors [46].…”