Flow Visualisation in a Rotating Cavity With Axial Throughflow

Abstract

Annular cavities are found inside rotor shafts of turbomachines with an axial or radial throughflow of cooling air. In order to increase efficiency and system reliability, flow and heat transfer phenomena in those cavities have to be investigated in order to minimize thermal load. For research purposes an experimental rig is set up. This paper focuses on flow visualisation using a laser light sheet technique in a heated rotating cavity which is axially flown through by cooling air. Flow phenomena are observed by a rotating telemetric video camera which shows smoke flowing through the light sheet area located in the axial midplane. The visualisation procedure is described and the first results are pointed out. Additionally, heat transfer measurement across the wall is shown.

Ekman Layer Scrubbing and Shroud Heat Transfer in Centrifugal Buoyancy-Driven Convection

“…Most engine applications involve open rotating cavities with an axial throughflow. Idealised single rotating cavities with an axial throughflow of air have been experimentally studied by Farthing et al [18,19] and Bohn et al [20]. Engine representative geometries have been studied by Long and co-workers [21][22][23], Atkins and Kanjirakkad [24], and Puttock-Brown and co-workers [25,26].…”

“…Engine representative geometries have been studied by Long and co-workers [21][22][23], Atkins and Kanjirakkad [24], and Puttock-Brown and co-workers [25,26]. throughflow [18,20]. Long et al [23] carried out velocity measurements, using laser Doppler anemometry, in a multiple rotating cavity rig for two different gap sizes between the shaft and the disc bores.…”

Experimental and Computational Investigation of Flow Structure of Buoyancy Induced Flow in Heated Rotating Cavities

“…This model has been subsequently used by many researchers to describe the prevailing flow structure in a heated rotating cavity. Farthing, et al, 1992a) Bohn et al (Bohn, et al, 2000) conducted flow visualisation within a rotating cavity and reported a similar flow structure as Farthing et al (Farthing, et al, 1992a). The role of buoyancy on heat transfer in rotating cavities was the focus of Alexiou (Alexiou, 2000) whose measurements revealed that the flow in rotating cavities can be dominated by free convection, forced convection or both (Alexiou, et al, 2000;Long, et al, 2003).…”

Numerical investigation on the flow and heat transfer in a rotor-stator disc cavity

“…Bohn et al [9] performed measurements of the flow and heat transfer in a rotating cavity with axial throughflow. A centrifugal arm and two vortices appeared in their observations, which were similar with that of Farthing et al [10].…”