Efficiency Improvement in Turbomachinery by Flow Optimisation

The objective of this research is the design of thermal power plants with the highest possible efficiency for optimal use of fossil fuels. Efficient compression and expansion in the turbomachinery is essential for the overall efficiency of a thermal cycle process. The most important means of improving efficiency and fuel reduction is the increase of efficiency at the turbomachinery stage. Within the research work at the institute, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used for this purpose. At the institute Navier-Stokes-Codes for transonic flow throughs, turbomachinery stages are developed. The main objective is to optimise the blade profiles with the help of fully three-dimensional and unsteady flow analysis through the stages and to reduce losses by controlling the secondary flows. This numerical research is supported by experimental research in the test rigs of the institute, as there is the linear blade cascade and a transonic test turbine of 3 MW power. In this continuously operating test turbine, a full flow similarity to a real transonic gas turbine is given. In both test rigs, experimental investigations of cooling films are also performed.