Basic operational advantages of the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) systems and specific issues of turbines working in these systems are discussed. The strategy for CFD simulation of the considered ORC turbine and the main issues of the numerical model are presented. The method of constructing the 3D CAD geometry as well as discretisation of the flow domain are also shown. Main features of partial admission flow in the multi-stage axial turbine are discussed. The influence of partial admission on the working conditions of the subsequent stage supplied at the full circumference is also described.

DESIGNATION OF OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS FOR MICRO-JET ENGINE AND CFD VALIDATION The paper presents three-dimensional numerical analysis and experimental validation of operating characteristics of a GTM-140 miniature turbine engine. The Realisable k-ε Turbulence Model (RANS) and Non-Premixed

Several high vibration amplitude problems have been reported regarding the slender last stage blades of commercial LP steam turbines. This paper presents a numerical study of unsteady forces acting on rotor blades using ANSYS CFX. A 3D transonic viscous flow through the stator and rotor blades with an exhaust hood was modelled. The last stage was modelled as a full blade annulus, so that the axial, radial and circumferential distribution of flow patterns and blade forces could be examined. An unsteady flow analysis was conducted on a typically designed last stage and exhaust diffuser, with measured and calculated downstream static pressure distribution as the outlet boundary condition. The results showed that under off-design conditions, vortices occurred in the last stage and diffuser. Unsteady aerodynamic forces were found at high frequencies (stator passing frequencies) and low frequencies (generated from asymmetric pressure distributions behind the rotor), with the relative dominance of these forces/frequencies shifting as a function of radial span. An FFT analysis was carried out. Three sections were investigated: the hub, midspan and peripheral (tip) section. The steady pressure behind the rotor blade was compared with experimental results in the LP last stage behind the rotor blades and in a specified cross-section of the exhaust hood. The lower frequency unsteady forces had a higher relative contribution towards the tip of the blade.

Design processes and numerical simulations have been presented for a few cases of turbines designated to work in ORC systems. The chosen working fluid isMDM. The considered design configurations include single stage centripetal reaction and centrifugal impulse turbines as well as multistage axial turbines. The power outputs vary from about 75 kW to 1 MW. The flow in single stage turbines is supersonic and requires special design of blades. The internal efficiencies of these configurations exceed 80% which is considered high for these type of machines. The efficiency of axial turbines exceed 90%. Possible turbine optimization directions have been also outlined in the work.