Development of Velocity Profile Generating Screens for Gas Turbine Components

Abstract

Laboratory experiments on components of complex systems such as gas turbines require many conditions to be met. Requirements to be met in order to simulate real world conditions include inlet flow conditions such as velocity profile, Reynold's number, and temperature. The methodology to be introduced designs a velocity profile generating screen to match real world conditions through the use of perforated plates. The velocity profile generating screen is an array of jets arranged in a manner to produce sections of different solidities, a ratio of area that obstructs fluid flow compared to that of the total area. In an effort to better understand the interaction between perforated plate sections of different solidities, a collection of experimental data sets is presented to characterize the plates. This includes identification of fluid flow regions with characterization of the flow dynamics, though the analysis of velocity and turbulence decay.The aim of this characterization is to determine how the perforated plate's solidity affects the velocity development downstream and the location at which the velocity profile being produced can be considered complete.iii