Computation of flow through a centrifugal impeller with tip leakage
Abstract
A numerical solution was obtained for the flow field through a fully-bladed centrifugal impeller. The steady-state Navier-Stokes equations were solved using a pressure-based implicit procedure. A two equation turbulence model was used with wall functions. The method was applied to a centrifugal impeller geometry suitable for turboprop or small turbofan aircraft engines. Attention was paid to the simulation of the tip leakage flow from the pressure side to the suction side of the blade. An appropriate grid was used to represent the region between the blade tip and the stationary casing. The results showed that the predicted flow, including the expected tip vortex adjacent to the suction surface and casing, was qualitatively correct. The results were validated against experimental static pressure distribution on the casing for which good agreement was obtained.
- Publication:
-
AIAA, SAE, ASME, and ASEE, 26th Joint Propulsion Conference
- Pub Date:
- July 1990
- Bibcode:
- 1990jpof.confS....B
- Keywords:
-
- Blade Tips;
- Centrifugal Compressors;
- Impellers;
- Leakage;
- Turbulent Flow;
- Vorticity;
- Aircraft Engines;
- Computational Grids;
- K-Epsilon Turbulence Model;
- Navier-Stokes Equation;
- Pressure Distribution;
- Turbofan Engines;
- Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer