Aerodynamic Optimization Design of Last Stage Long Blade for Steam Turbine Using Self-Adaptive Differential Evolution Algorithms and RANS Solutions

Abstract

High performance of the last stage long blade plays an important role on the aerodynamic performance of low pressure cylinder for steam turbines. Aerodynamic optimization design of the last stage long blade for the maximization total-total isentropic efficiency with constraints of mass flow rate and leaving velocity using self-adaptive differential evolution algorithm is presented in this work. The aerodynamic performance of last stage is evaluated using three-dimensional Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) computations. Six two-dimensional airfoils along the span and three controlling points for the radial foil of blade using B-Spline functions are used to parameterize the three-dimensional profiles of the stator and rotor blade of the last stage, respectively. Self-adaptive differential evolution algorithms is developed to optimize the maximization total-total isentropic efficiency of last stage. The results show that the total-total isentropic efficiency of the optimized last stage is higher 1.68% than that of the referenced design. Furthermore, the aerodynamic performance of the five stages low pressure cylinder with three extractions coupled with the optimized last stage and referenced design is analyzed and compared. The detailed flow field and aerodynamic parameters of the optimized last stage are also illustrated.

Performance Improvement of an Industrial Axial Turbine: Two-Stage Power Turbine Aerodynamic Optimization

“…The new profile has been applied to HP and IP sections and 1.5-2.2% efficiency improvement is obtained. Yin et al [16] optimized last stage of a steam turbine to maximize the total-to-total efficiency. Mass flow rate and exit velocity are considered as constraints.…”