DOI: https://doi.org/10.15368/theses.2015.51
Available at: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/1384
Date of Award
6-2015
Degree Name
MS in Aerospace Engineering
Department/Program
Aerospace Engineering
Advisor
David Marshall
Abstract
This report describes the development and application of a validated Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling approach for internal cooling passages in rotating turbomachinery. A CFD Modelling approach and accompanying assumptions are tuned and validated against academically available experimental results for various serpentine passages. Criteria of the CFD modelling approach selected for investigation into advanced internal cooling flows include accuracy, robustness, industry familiarity, and computational cost.
Experimental data from NASA HOST (HOt Section Technology), Texas A&M, and University of Manchester tests are compared to RANS CFD results generated using Fluent v14.5 in order to benchmark a CFD modelling approach.
Capability of various turbulence models in the representation of cooling physics is evaluated against experimental data. Model sensitivity to boundary conditions and mesh density is also evaluated.
The development of a validated computational model of internal turbine cooling channels with bounded error allows for the identification of particular shortcomings of heat transfer correlations and provides a baseline for future CFD based exploration of internal turbine cooling concepts.