Experimental Investigation of Particle Rebound Characteristics on Turbomachinery Leading Edge Geometry

Abstract

Aircraft gas turbines, steam turbines, coal utilization turbines and many other systems operating under particulate flows are exposed to erosion wear and performance deterioration. This paper describes an experimental technique to evaluate particle rebound characteristics on turbomachinery leading edge geometry using laser velocimetry and high-speed photography. The experimental work was conducted with silica sand particle sizes of 1000–1500 microns and velocity of 15 and 30 m/s. Stainless Steel was the target material. Mach Number and Reynolds Number of the flow were 0.09 and 105 (Based on inlet velocity and test section width) respectively. Wollensax Fastax high-speed camera was used. A camera speed of 2500 frames per second was used. The data were analyzed using x-v, image-processing software. Velocity restitution ratio at various impact locations was calculated. The measured velocity restitution ratio could be used in the numerical simulation to predict particle trajectories, subsequently could be used to identify the critical zones and to predict the erosion rates.