Unsteady simulation of a counter–rotating research compressor using the nonlinear harmonic method

Abstract

In this article, the nonlinear harmonic method implemented in Fine/Turbo code has been evaluated for unsteady rotor–rotor interaction analysis. Strengths and weaknesses of the nonlinear harmonic method are highlighted through direct comparison with experimental data and time-domain unsteady simulation for the Northwestern Polytechnical University counter-rotating research compressor at the design and off-design conditions. The rotor–rotor interactions were studied in detail to advance the understanding of the flow physics involved. Based on the unsteady simulation, deterministic stresses were computed and compared to the nonlinear harmonic method to analyze distinct sources of unsteadiness and their effect on the time-averaged flow field. For the present case, the nonlinear harmonic method efficiently computes unsteady flows and shows major improvements regarding the computational time (to a factor up to 10).

Keywords

Counter-rotating rotor–rotor interaction harmonic deterministic stress

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Schmidt-Eisenlohr ULH and Kosing OE. Turbo fans with very high bypass ratio but acceptable dimensions. In: ASME turbo expo 2008, ASME paper no. 2008-GT-50817.

Brear

Kerrebrock

Epstein

. Propulsion system requirements for quiet, long range, supersonic aircraft. ASME J Fluids Eng 2006; 128(2): 370–377.

Schimming

. Counter rotating fans: an aircraft propulsion for the future. J Therm Sci 2003; 12(2): 97–103.

Merchant AA, Epstein AH and Kerrebrock JL. Compressors with aspirated flow control and counter-rotation. In: 2nd AIAA flow control conference, Portland, Oregon, 28 June–1 July 2004, AIAA paper no. 2004-2514. Reston, VA: AIAA.

Kerrebrock JL, Epstein AH, Merchant AA, et al. Design and test of an aspirated counter-rotating fan. In: ASME turbo expo 2006, ASME paper no. GT-2006-90582.

Shin

Whitfield

Wisler

. Rotor-rotor interaction for counter-rotating fans, part 1: three-dimensional flowfield measurements. AIAA J 1994; 32(11): 2224–2233.

Hembera M, Loos A, Kührmann A, et al. Validation of the non-linear harmonic approach for quasi-unsteady simulations in turbomachinery. In: ASME turbo expo 2009, ASME paper no. GT-2009-59933.

Guidotti E and Turner MG. Analysis of the unsteady flow in an aspirated counter-rotating compressor using the nonlinear harmonic method. In: ASME turbo expo 2009, ASME paper no. GT-2009-60285.

Ning

. Efficient approach for analysis of unsteady viscous flows in turbomachines. AIAA J 1998; 36(11): 2005–2012.

10.

Chen

Vasanthakumar

. Analysis of unsteady blade row interaction using nonlinear harmonic approach. J Propul Power 2001; 17(3): 651–658.

11.

Vilmin S, Hirsh C, Lorrain E, et al. Unsteady flow modeling across the rotor/stator interface using the nonlinear harmonic method. In: Proceedings of GT2006 ASME turbo expo 2006: power for land, sea and air, Barcelona, Spain, 8–11 May 2006, ASME paper no. GT-2006-90210. New York, NY: ASME.

12.

Chen

Y-Y

Liu

Xuan

. A study of speed ratio affecting the performance of a contra-rotating axial compressor. Proc IMechE, Part G: J Aerospace Engineering 2008; 222(7): 985–991.

13.

Xiang X-R, Liu B, Nan X-Y, et al. Numerical and experiment investigation of the dual stage counter rotating compressor by boundary layer suction. ISABE paper-2009-1190, 2009.

14.

Liu

Yang

Wang

Y-G

. Investigation of influence of rotational speed and pressure ratio on performance of two-stage counter-rotating compressor. J Northwestern Polytechnical University 2007; 25(4): 576–580.

15.

Chen Y-Y. Flow field and performance investigation and three-dimension optimization study of contra-rotating compressor. PhD Thesis, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 2002.

16.

Arnone

Pacciani

. Rotor-stator interaction analysis using the Navier–Stokes equations and a multigrid method. J Turbomach 1996; 122(2): 679–689.

17.

Gerolymos

Michon

Neubauer

. Analysis and application of chorochronic periodicity in turbomachinery rotor/stator interaction computations. J Propul Power 2002; 18(6): 1139–1152.

18.

Jameson A. Time dependent calculations using multigrid with applications to unsteady flows past airfoils and wings. In: Proceedings of the 10th computational fluid dynamics conference, Honolulu, HI, 24–26 June 1991, AIAA paper no. 91-1596.

19.

. Harmonic solution of unsteady flow around blades with separation. AIAA J 2008; 46(6): 1299–1307.

20.

Kerrebrock

Mikolajczak

. Intra-stator transport of rotor wakes and its effect on compressor performance. ASME J Eng Power 1970; 92: 359–368.

21.

Hall

. Aerodynamic modelling of multistage compressor flow fields. Part 2: modelling deterministic stresses. Proc IMechE, Part G: J Aerospace Engineering 1998; 212(2): 91–107.

22.

Adamczyk

. Aerodynamic analysis of multistage turbomachinery flows in support of aerodynamic design. J Turbomach 2000; 122(2): 189–217.