Endoscopic Stereoscopic PIV for

Turbomachinery Applications
25 Years of Particle Image Velocimetry in Aerodynamics
Sept. 23 25, 2009, DLR Center Gttingen, Germany

Headline

Axial
Exhaust
Diffuser

7-Stage Air
Turbine

For several years, Particle Image

Velocimetry (PIV) has been successfully used for the determination of
planar velocity fields. With the introduction of the Stereoscopic PIV
(SPIV) all components of internal
velocity fields can be captured in
enclosed spaces. This method has
proved to be particularly suitable for
the
investigation
of
strongly
unsteady, turbulent flow structures in
turbomachines.

However, compared to conventional

applications, PIV measurements in
turbomachines are more challenging.
Limited access to measurement
section, light reflections, camera
calibration, and machine vibration
must be taken into account, to name
but a few. The implementation of
endoscopic PIV in turbomachines
gives an advantage for investigating
more complex measurement setups
and even real machines.

The axial exhaust diffuser test facility

at the institute of turbomachinery and
fluid dynamics is a 1:10 scaled
model of a heavy duty gas turbine
exhaust diffuser with a last turbine
stage simulation in form of a rotating
spoke wheel. The variable inlet
velocity can reach up to Mach 0.15.
The purpose of the PIV application is
to capture unsteady structures in the
diffuser flow and to find information

about their influence on the flow

separation. The velocity distribution
is measured 15 mm downstream of
the blade passage. An external
trigger synchronizes PIV images and
the rotor position. For seeding very
lightweight hollow glass particles are
used, which are brought into inlet by
a powder dispersion generator.

In the present work a method is

developed to realize SPIV measurements only by means of endoscopic
entrances (both camera and light
sheet). Using the endoscope technology a low interference into the
existing system is ensured, since
only three entrance drillings in the
machine casing are needed. However, this requires a camera calibration outside of the machine. The
endoscopic SPIV system is employed to a complex test facility of a

700 kW 7-stage thermal working air

turbine to study the wake structures
behind the last stage. It is shown that
a
precise
detection
of
the
3component velocity field can be
achieved with this kind of SPIV
application (at medium loading of
40% mass flow and 83% of design
speed). In comparison with a
1dimensional calculation and conventional 5-hole probe measurements the results of velocity magnitude and flow angles are in range.

Fig.:Typical endoscopic stereoscopic PIV setup in

an axial machine

Fig.: PIV in exhaust diffuser. (a) SPIV setup, (b) diffuser test
facility, (c) evaluated image, (d) velocity distribution.

b
Fig.: (a) ESPIV setup on air turbine, (b) measurement principle,
(c) velocity distribution and vector field of turbine outlet flow.

SPIV on
Centrifugal
Compressor

The centrifugal compressor test facility at the institute of turbomachinery

and fluid dynamics consists of a
onestage centrifugal air compressor
with inlet guide vanes (IGV), capable
of operating in open and closed-loop
modes. During successive projects,
the compressor has been equipped
with new and optimized IGV and
impeller. Current research activities
involve the use of endoscopic stereoscopic particle image velocimetry

(ESPIV) in order to investigate the

flow phenomena at compressor inlet,
including flow interaction between
IGV and impeller. The design of PIV
setup pro-vides the ability to capture
spatial steady state phase-resolved
three-component
velocity
fields
between IGV and impeller by
sectionwise PIV measurements.
Fig.: ESPIV measurement between IGV and impeller. (a) assembly
of PIV system, (b) ESPIV setup, (c) a typical single exposure
double image, (d) and (e) three-component velocity field.

Michael Bartelt, Arman Mohseni, Victor Opilat, Jrg R. Seume ( )

Leibniz Universitt Hannover
Institute of Turbomachinery and Fluid Dynamics (TFD)
Appelstr. 9, De-30167 Hannover
Email: seume@tfd.uni-hannover.de
Tel +49 (0)511 762-2732
www.tfd.uni-hannover.de