Numerical Investigation on the Secondary Flow Control by Using Splitters at Different Positions with Respect to the Main Blade

Abstract

In turbomachinery, strong secondary flow can produce significant losses of total pressure near the endwall and reduce the efficiency of the considered turbomachine. In this study, splitters located at different positions with respect to the main blade have been used to reduce such losses and improve the efficiency of the outlet guide vane (OGV). Three different relative positions have been considered assuming a NACA 65-010 profile for both the main blade and the splitter. The numerical results indicate that splitters can effectively reduce the total pressure loss by suppressing the secondary flow around the main blade, but the splitters themselves also produce flow losses, which are caused by flow separation effects.