Surface flow visualization of a scaled-up turbine blade passage

Abstract

Surface flow visualization results are presented for the endwall and suction-side blade of a turbine blade passage. The passage consists of two adjacent blades with inlet flow control to model a multi-blade cascade. Flow visualization was performed with established methods utilizing ink dots and solvent, and oil and black powder. The flow features captured using these techniques include the horseshoe vortex and its migration across the passage to impinge on the neighbouring blade, endwall cross flow and the endwall saddle point. The methodology for using these techniques in a low-speed wind tunnel is discussed.