The structure of developing flows inside curved channels has been investigated numerically using the time-averaged Navier Stokes equations in three dimensions. The equations are solved in primitive variables using finite difference techniques. The solution procedure involves a combination of repeated space-marching integration of the governing equations and correction for elliptic effects between two marching sweeps. Type-dependent differencing is used to permit downstream marching even in the reverse-flow regions. The procedure is shown to allow efficient calculations of turbulent flow inside strongly curved channels as well as laminar flow inside a moderately curved passage. Results obtained in both cases indicate that the flow structure is strongly controlled by local imbalance between centrifugal forces and pressure gradients. Furthermore, distortion of primary flow due to migration of low momentum fluid caused by secondary flow is found to be largely dependent on the Reynolds number and Dean number. Comparison with experimental data is also included.

Due to copyright restrictions, the access to the full text of this article is only available via subscription.An analysis method is developed to test the operational performance of a horizontal axis wind turbines. The rotor is constrained to the torque–speed characteristic of the coupled generator. Therefore, the operational conditions are realized by matching the torque generated by the turbine over a selected range of incoming wind velocity to that needed to rotate the generator. The backbone of the analysis method is a combination of Schmitz' and blade element momentum (BEM) theories. The torque matching is achieved by gradient-based optimization method, which finds correct wind speed at a given rotational speed of the rotor. The combination of Schmitz and BEM serves to exclude the BEM iterations for the calculation of interference factors. Instead, the relative angle is found iteratively along the span. The profile and tip losses, which are empirical, are included in the analysis. Hence, the torque at a given wind speed and rotational speed can be calculated by integrating semi-analytical equations along the blade span. The torque calculation method is computationally cheap and therefore allows many iterations needed during torque matching. The developed analysis method is verified experimentally by testing the output power and rotational speed of an existing wind turbine model in the wind tunnel. The generator's torque rotational speed characteristic is found by a separate experimental set-up. Comparison of experiments with the results of the analysis method shows a good agreement.German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD

A fundamental theoretical study of the flow within a compressor wheel suggests that: (a) a necessary (but not sufficient) criterion for the prevention of surge can be obtained from the inviscid solution of the internal compressor flow problem, (b) the use of backward leaning blades is not the only blade passage modification which has the potential to increase the usable flow range of the compressor, and (c) a usable flow range much broader than previously thought to exist can be obtained. One alternative approach suggested by this study has been experimentally tested up to compressor pressure ratios in excess of 3.0. The new approach allowed a 50 percent reduction in the surge mass flow at design impeller speed while maintaining the inducer geometry of the machine identical to that of a conventional radial-bladed impeller used as a comparison standard. This new approach indicates the potential for a-priori prediction of surge flow characteristics of radial turbomachinery. Conversely, the design of hardware to a prespecified surge to choke flow ratio may be able to be accomplished by predefined blade geometry. It appears that the usable flow range for centrifugal compressors could extend down to 15 to 20 percent of the choke flow capability without sacrificing maximum component efficiencies.

Due to copyright restrictions, the access to the full text of this article is only available via subscription.An aerodynamic shape optimization method for a horizontal axis wind turbine is developed and verified through experimentation with a laboratory-scale wind turbine. Our method is based on matching the rotor's and the coupled generator's torque. Prior to shape optimization, an initial rotor design is established with a hybrid use of Schmitz and blade element momentum theories. The experimental verification of the developed method is conducted with a small-scale wind turbine; thus, the operating Reynolds number is one order of magnitude lower than large-scale wind turbines. Therefore, a high-lift low-Re airfoil, namely, SG6043, is selected for the blade along the whole span. The shape is optimized by determining the optimum chord and cumulative pitch angle distributions by manipulating the tapering and twisting of the blade. The objective of the optimization is to maximize the turbine's power coefficient Cp , while maintaining the torque equal to that of the generator. The generator's characteristics are found through experimentations which are conducted apart from the wind tunnel experiments. During the optimization process, the local aerodynamic forces on the blade are calculated by interfacing the optimization program with XFOIL; thus, the torque and power can be calculated for the rotor at each iteration step. The optimized turbine performance is evaluated under a design and off-design operating condition. The performance verification experiments are carried out in the wind tunnel with a specially designed setup. A comparison of the measured and computed performance shows good agreement

Given the instantaneous operating conditions of the radial inflow turbine on a diesel engine and the possible requirement of a variable geometry turbine casing, an alternate approach was used to design an impeller which could accommodate the large variations in inlet states. Several impeller designs were generated and tested. Each was found to give a performance advantage in some portion of the turbine map. A blunt inlet shape design was found to give the best performance at all suspected inlet conditions. A final design turbine wheel was generated to cover the operating range of a variable geometry turbine casing. It was found that this impeller gave improved efficiencies at all operating conditions.