University of Li`

ege
Turbomachinery group

Olivier LEONARD, Professor

Institut de Mecanique et Genie civil (B52)
Chemin des chevreuils 1
B-4000 Li`ege Belgium

Tel : +32 (0)4 366 91 87

Fax : +32 (0)4 366 91 36
O.Leonard@ulg.ac.be
http ://www.ulg.ac.be/turbo

Brief description of the group

The Turbomachinery group is part of the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering which involves 23 professors and about 130 researchers. The staff of the Turbomachinery group involves 1 professor, 4 research engineers and 1 technician.
The group is devoted to teaching in the fields of turbomachinery (compressors, gas and
steam turbines, hydraulic machines) and aerospace propulsion (turbojets and rocket engines). Its research activities are organized along 3 major axis :
The numerical simulation of flows in turbomachines for design purpose, with
the development of a throughflow finite-volume computer code and a multi-stage, blade
row per blade row, finite-volume mean-line code.
The development of optimization techniques using genetic algorithms with application to the optimal design and operation of pumps, heat pipes, fans or blowers,
The development of methods for measurements validation, health monitoring
and model-based adaptive control of gas turbine engines.
The staff of the Turbomachinery Group involves 1 professor, 5 research engineers and 1
technician :
Olivier ADAM (o.adam@ulg.ac.be)
PhD Student
Sebastien BORGUET (s.borguet@ulg.ac.be)
Assistant - PhD Student
Wenhai DU (wenhai.du@gmail.com)
PhD Student
Vincent KELNER (v.kelner@ulg.ac.be)
PhD Student
Olivier LEONARD (o.leonard@ulg.ac.be)
Professor
Jean-Philippe THOMAS (jp.thomas@ulg.ac.be) PhD Student
Richard LABENDA (R.Labenda@ulg.ac.be)
Technician
The group is devoted to teaching in the fields of turbomachinery (compressors, gas and
steam turbines, hydraulic machines) and aerospace propulsion (turbojets and rocket engines). Its research activities are organized along 3 major axis :

 The numerical simulation of flows in turbomachines for design purpose, with

the development of a throughflow finite-volume computer code and a multi-stage, blade
row per blade row, finite-volume mean-line code.
The development of optimization techniques using genetic algorithms with application to the optimal design and operation of pumps, heat pipes, fans or blowers,
The development of methods for measurements validation, health monitoring
and model-based adaptive control of gas turbine engines.
The Turbomachinery group has developed relationships with the von Karman Institute,
CENAERO, ONERA, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, National Technical University of Athens,
Chalmers, Snecma, Techspace Aero, Fluorem, Rutten s.a. and others.
Before heading the group, Olivier LEONARD carried out the main part of his research
activities at the von Karman Institute, within the Turbomachinery Department.
Commercial codes such as FLUENT, FINE/TURBO and ECOSIMPRO are used within
the group for flow simulations. A test bench for hydraulic pumps and a small jet engine
equipped with data acquisition, fuel control and variable nozzle area are available for the
research activities.

Health Monitoring and Model-Based Control

of Gas Turbine Engines

The first objective of this project is to develop and validate parametric and adaptive
models for the health monitoring of gas turbine engines, so as to enable condition-based
maintenance. The identification of the health parameters of the engines is based on measurements taken on the process and includes their validation. It makes it possible to follow
the evolution with respect to time (a possible degradation) of the condition of the engine.
The adaptation of the non linear model and the estimation of the health of the engine are
based on the use of Kalman filters, modified to take into account the nonlinear character
of the operation of the gas turbine engines and to allow the detection of erroneous measurements. The most recent versions of the developed algorithms are based on dynamic
models and can benefit from the transients followed by the engines.
These tools can also provide an estimate of non measurable variables which are fundamental for control such as maximum temperature or surge margin. The second objective of
the project is to use these adaptive models and the diagnosis strategy to carry out actions
of control and adaptation of the gas turbine operation which would take into account its
real, modified or degraded condition.
Partners : National Technical University of Athens, Chalmers, Techspace Aero
Recent related publications :
Robust Validation of Measurements on Jet Engines, P. Dewallef, O. Leonard, European
Journal of Mechanical and Environmental Engineering, Vol 46, No 4, 2001
On-Line Validation of Measurements on Jet Engines Using Automatic Learning Methods, P. Dewallef, O. Leonard, Proceedings of the XV International Symposium on
Airbreathing Engines, Bangalore, 2001
On-Line Measurement Validation and Performance Monitoring Using Robust Kalman
Filtering Techniques, P. Dewallef, O. Leonard, Proceedings of the 5th European Conference on Turbomachinery Fluid Dynamics and Thermodynamics, Prague, 2003
On-Line Performance Monitoring and Engine Diagnostic Using Robust Kalman Filtering Techniques, P. Dewallef, O. Leonard, ASME Paper GT-2003-38379, 2003
On-Line Aircraft Engine Diagnostic Using a Soft-Constrained Kalman Filter, P. Dewallef, O. Leonard, K. Mathioudakis, ASME Paper GT2004-53539, 2004
On-Line Transient Engine Diagnostic in a Kalman Filtering Framework, S. Borguet, P.
Dewallef, O. Leonard, ASME Paper GT2005-68013, 2005
Application of the Kalman Filter to Health Monitoring of Gas Turbine Engines - A
Sequential Approach to Robust Diagnosis, P. Dewallef, PhD Thesis, ISSN 0075-9333,
D/2005/0480/44, 2005.
Combining Classification Techniques With Kalman Filters for Aircraft Engine Diagnostics, P. Dewallef, O. Leonard, K. Mathioudakis, Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines
and Power, Vol 128, No 2, pp 281-287, 2006
A Way to Deal with Model-Plant Mismatch for a Reliable Diagnosis in Transient Operation, S. Borguet, P. Dewallef, O. Leonard, ASME Paper GT2006-90412, 2006

observed
measurements

external
disturbances

yk

vk
uk

command
parameters

enginetomonitor

engineperformance
simulationmodel

vk

estimated
external
disturbances

residuals
rk

xk

wk

yk
estimated
measurements

estimated estimated
state
health
variables parameters

% of deviation from
nominal value

0.5
FAN capacity
FAN efficiency
LPC capacity

LPC efficiency
HPC capacity
HPC efficiency

0.5
0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

% of deviation from
nominal value

0.5
HPT capacity

HPT efficiency
LPT capacity

0.5

LPT efficiency

Nozzle area

1.5
0

100

200

300

400
time [s]

500

600

700

 On Inverse Problems in Turbine Engine Parameter Estimation, M. Henriksson, S. Borguet, T. Gronstedt, O. Leonard, ASME Paper GT2007-27756, 2007
A Sensor-Fault-Tolerant Diagnosis Tool Based on a Quadratic Programming Approach,
S. Borguet, O. Leonard, ASME Paper GT2007-27324, 2007
An Adaptive Estimation Algorithm for Aircraft Engine Performance Monitoring, O.
Leonard, P. Dewallef, S. Borguet, submitted to the AIAA Journal of Propulsion and
Power, 2007
Coupling Principal Component Analysis and Kalman Filter Algorithms for On-line
Aircraft Engine Diagnostics, S. Borguet and O. Leonard, Proceedings of the XVIII
International Symposium on Airbreathing Engines, Beijing, 2007
A Quadratic Programming Framework for Constrained and Robust Jet Engine Health
Monitoring, S. Borguet, O. Leonard, Proceedings of the 2nd European Conference on
Aerospace Sciences, Brussels, 2007
A Study on Observability and Sensor Selection for Efficient Jet Engine Health Monitoring, Sebastien Borguet and Olivier Leonard, to be presented at the ISROMAC-12,
Honolulu, 2008
A Generalised Likelihood Ratio Test for Adaptive Engine Health Monitoring, Sebastien
Borguet and Olivier Leonard, ASME Paper GT2008-50117, 2008

Optimization using genetic algorithms

The purpose of this project is to develop robust metaheuristic methods for solving optimization, design or process control problems which utilizes simultaneously binary, discrete
and continuous parameters. This situation results in a great number of configurations
to be considered, which must satisfy a important number of constraints. Moreover real
world problems lead to the optimzation of several but contradictory objectives.
This project brings a response to this type of problems, by combining the advantages
of genetic algorithms and nonlinear mathematical programming. The genetic algorithms
allow a broad and systematic exploration of the design space, the various possible solutions
being subjected to a Darwinian natural selection process. The nonlinear programming
brings the efficiency of a local and fast exploration around a promising configuration. The
resulting optimization tool can be coupled to any metamodel of the application to be
optimized (data bases, response surfaces, neural networks, analytical models, parametric
models...). The multiplicity of the objectives is addressed following the Pareto approach.
Up to now these optimization tools were applied to several problems such as the optimal
sizing of lubrication pumps for turbojets, the optimization of pump scheduling, the design
and the operation of blowers and the optimization of heat pipes geometries.
Partners : Partners : CENAERO, Fluorem, Euro Heat Pipes, Techspace Aero, Valeo
Recent related publications :
Application of Genetic Algorithms to Lubrication Pumps Stacking Design, V. Kelner,
O. Leonard, Journal of Computational and Applied Mathematics, Vol 168/1-2 pp 255265, 2003
Optimal Pump Scheduling for Water Supply Using Genetic Algorithms, V. Kelner and
O. Leonard, Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Evolutionary Computing for Industrial Applications - EUROGEN03, Barcelona, 2003
An Hybrid Optimization Technique Coupling Evolutionary and Local Search Algorithms, V. Kelner, F. Capitanescu, O. Leonard, and L. Wehenkel, Proceedings of the
3rd International Conference on Advanced Computational Methods in Engineering ACOMEN05, Ghent, 2005
Multi Objective of a Fan Blade by Coupling a Genetic Algorithm and a Parametric
Flow Solver, V. Kelner, G. Grondin, O. Leonard, and P. Ferrand, Proceedings of the
6th International Conference on Evolutionary Computing for Industrial Applications EUROGEN05, Munich, 2005
Robust Design of a Fan Blade by Coupling Multi Objective Genetic Optimization and
Flow Parameterization, V. Kelner, G. Grondin, O. Leonard, P. Ferrand, Proceedings of
the International Congress on Fluid Dynamics Applications in Ground Transportation,
Lyon, 2005
Geometric Optimization of Grooved Heat Pipes by a Genetic Algorithm Technique, C.
Goffaux, S. Pierret, S. Rossomme, V. Kelner, S. Van Oost and L. Barremaecker, Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Heat Pipes, Heat Pumps and Refrigerators,
Minsk, 2005

Fig. 1 Otimizing a jet engine lubrication pump stacking

Fig. 2 Optimizing the pressure jump and the pressure losses of blower blades

4
4.1

Throughflow simulations in turbomachines

High-order throughflow, deterministic and circumferential
stresses

The objective of this project is to introduce non stationary effects due to the rotorstator interactions into a throughflow model for compressors and turbines. Following the
approach of Adamczyk, several averages of the unsteady 3-D Navier-Stokes equations are
performed to end up with a steady axisymmetric set of equations. In this final set of
equations, different stresses and forces appear. They introduce the (mean) effect of the
flow phenomena that have been averaged ; in that sense they are similar to the Reynolds
stresses. The inclusion of these deterministic and circumferential stresses in a stationary
model makes it possible to predict the radial mixing process observed in experiments and
in non stationary simulations, but which are not reproducible in stationary simulations
using a mixing plane.
This set of equations represent the ultimate throughflow model, provided that one could
find a way to model the stresses and forces. This throughflow model differs from classical
streamline curvature method as it is directly based on the Navier-Stokes equations solved
by finite volume techniques. In a first step, the results of unsteady 3-D simulations were
used to evaluate the effects of the different stresses and forces (and their modelization)
inside the throughflow environment. In a second step, the circumferential stresses and the
blade forces are being modelled using an harmonic approach.
Partners : ONERA, Ecole Centrale de Lyon
Recent related publications :
A Throughflow Analysis Tool Based on the Navier-Stokes Equations, J.-F. Simon, O.
Leonard, Proceedings of the 6th European Conference on Turbomachinery Fluid Dynamics and Thermodynamics, Lille, 2005
Modeling of 3-D Losses and Deviations in a Throughflow Analysis Tool, J.-F. Simon,
O. Leonard, Journal of Thermal Science, Vol 16, No 3, pp 208-214, 2007
Contribution to Throughflow Modelling, J.-F. Simon, PhD Thesis, University of Li`ege,
2007
On the Role of the Deterministic and Circumferential Stresses in Throughflow Calculations, Jean-Francois Simon and Olivier Leonard, ASME Paper GT2008-50119, 2008
Investigating Circumferential Non-Uniformities in Throughflow Calculations using an
Harmonic Reconstruction, Jean-Philippe Thomas, Jean-Francois Simon and Olivier
Leonard, ASME Paper GT2008-50328, 2008

4.2

Fast quasi-one-dimensional simulations in multistage turbomachines

The performances of a gas turbine engine must be analyzed well before the engine is
tested on the bench or in flight. This study provides the designer with guidelines for the
choice of the many design parameters and for optimizing the final configuration of the jet
engine. It also allows to test (in a virtual way) the correct operation of the engine during
critical manuvres. The present project is aimed at providing a quasi-1D modern CFD
tool for the numerical modeling of the operation of a compressor and a whole jet engine.
Thanks to the progress of the simulation methods and computing power, it is now possible
to develop and to use models of jet engines based on the application of the laws of the
fluid mechanics to a great number of cells. This approach makes it possible to describe
with a high degree of accuracy the exchanges of mass, energy and momentum within the
machine, while reducing to the bare minimum the quantity of information of empirical
nature. It takes advantage of the high precision and efficiency of the CFD methods for
space and time discretization, with CPU times of a few seconds.
This quasi-1D tool tool may be applied to the a large number of problems such as water
and hail ingestion, bleeds and cooling flows, mechanical and thermal transients, reversed
flows and surge, characteristic map extrapolation, building global compressor model from
stage/partial results, coupling with cycle calculations and global modeling of a jet engine.
Recent related publications :
Explicit Thermodynamic Properties Using Radial Basis Functions Neural Networks, O.
Adam, O. Leonard, Proceedings of the 2nd SIAM International Conference on Data
Mining, Arlington, 2002
A Quasi-One-Dimensional Model for Axial Compressors, O. Adam, O. Leonard, Proceedings of the XVII International Symposium on Airbreathing Engines, Munich, 2005
A Quasi-One-Dimensional Model for Axial Turbines, O. Adam and O. Leonard, Proceedings of the XVIII International Symposium on Airbreathing Engines, Beijing, 2007
A Quasi-One-Dimensional CFD Model for Multistage Turbomachines, O. Leonard and
O. Adam, submitted to the Journal of Thermal Sciences

Fig. 3 Blade force and circumferential stress distribution in a compressor stage

Fig. 4 Comparison of the quasi-1D and experimental results on a 3-stage compressor

Fig. 5 Comparison of the quasi-1D and experimental results on a 2-stage cooled turbine