Transient Blade Row

Methods to Calculate
Rotor-Stator Interactions

Marc Kainz
ANSYS Germany GmbH
1 2014 ANSYS, Inc. May 4, 2015
 Content

Motivation and Overview about TBR Methods

Steady-State Method Stage Interface

Transient Methods

Examples

Summary
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 Rotor-Stator Interfaces

Rotating frame of reference

Stationary frame of reference

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 Transient Simulations
Better performance prediction Unsteady interactions Acoustics

Aeromechanics Asymmetric geometry or flow

Fan Inlet Distortion Po

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 Challenges of Transient Simulations
Non-matching pitches High number of blades

Source: http://www.geaviation.com/commercial/engines/ge9x/img/compressor.png
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 A Priori Transient Simulations
Original compressor Full annulus model

Huge computational time and resources are needed!

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 A Priori Transient Simulations
Original compressor Domain Scaling

Not recommended!

Change of original blade count and geometry respectively!

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 Motivation of ANSYS TBR methods

Original geometry

Original blade count

Efficient simulations

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 ANSYS Blade Row Analysis Methods

Steady Transient Transient

Pitch-Change Pitch-Change Full-Domain

Time Domain

Profile Fourier Time

Transformation Transformation Transformation

Frequency Domain Status: Under Development

Harmonic
Transformation
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 Stage Interface (Mixing Plane)
Blade pitch change via conservative mixing process in
circumferential direction

Upstream interface side Downstream interface side

Mixing

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 Stage Interface (Mixing Plane)
No transient interaction between blade rows (wakes, vortices)

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 Example 2.5 Stage Axial Compressor
Hannover compressor with modified blade counts

Design rotational speed 17100 rpm

Mass flow rate 7.82 kg/s
Total pressure ratio 2.7
Isentropic efficiency 89.8%
Inlet total pressure 60 kPa
Inlet Mach number 0.5

Ref. 1/3 wheel 11.6 mil nodes

TT, PT, mixing-plane 1.3 mil nodes

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 Profile Transformation (PT)
Blade pitch change via conservative interface flux scaling
(no geometry scaling)

Frequency error at interfaces proportional to pitch ratio

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 Profile Transformation (PT)

Transient interaction with shifted frequencies

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 Profile Transformation (PT)
Transient Methods with pitch-change
Overall machine performance
well predicted Profile Fourier
Transformation
Time
Transformation
Transformation

Frequencies are shifted

Shift in phase and wavelength as
expected for PT method

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 Fourier Transformation (FT)

Blade pitch change via shape correction of He (Fourier based)

Sampling plane (GGI)

N
(t ) A e
k N
k
j ( kt )

M N
(t , ) A
l M k N
k ,l e j ( kt l )

No limits on pitch ratio

For all flow speeds (compressible or incompressible)
Frequencies a priori given (BPF and harmonics)
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 Fourier Transformation (FT)
Transient Methods with pitch-change
Predicts well overall machine performance
Profile Fourier Time
Interface signal frequencies & phases Transformation Transformation Transformation

maintained
Signal close to Reference Solution in
Phase and magnitude (longer evolution)

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 Time Transformation (TT)

Blade pitch change via time inclining approach of Giles

All frequencies accurately resolved (e.g. vortex shedding)

Very fast, implicit convergence
Only for compressible flows and moderate pitch ratios
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 Time Transformation (TT)
Transient Methods with pitch-change
Predicts well overall machine performance
Profile Fourier Time
Transformation Transformation Transformation
Signal frequencies & phases maintained

Signal match reference solution in

phase and magnitude

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 Example Low Pressure Turbine

Time Transformation Contour plot of Static Entropy

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 Harmonic Transformation

Based on Harmonic balance / Time spectral method of Hall

Q
Q n2
n 1

n2
n 1 n3

time n3
Period

Use harmonics to reconstruct transient solution

Simultaneous coupled solution on several time instances
Solved like steady-state flow simulations
Fully accounts for all flow non-linear effects
Arbitrary pitch changes and all flow speeds
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 ANSYS TBR Flow Applications
Single Stage Multistage

Gust Analysis Blade Flutter

Blade Row

displacement
Period

2
IBPA j j 0 Nb 1
Nb
Damping Coef.

IBPA

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 Gust Analysis
Synopsis:
Synopsis:
Isolated blade row with moving inlet / outlet profile(s)
Pitch of profiles differ from blade pitch
Economical R/S interaction, with one blade

Typical application:
Typical Application:
Once per rev disturbance
Hot streak

Best practice:
Best Practice:
Small pitch change, compressible:
Time Transformation (TT)
Large pitch change &/or incompressible
Fourier Transformation (FT)

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 Single Stage Blade Row Analysis
Synopsis:
Synopsis:
Rotor + stator only
One frame change interface

Typical application:
Typical Application:
Single stage radial or axial machine
Embedded stage of multistage machine
Gases, liquids

Best practice:
Best Practice:
Profile Transformation (PT) often sufficient for
performance
Use TT or FT for accurate wakes, shocks,
frequencies
Use TT for gases with modest pitch change
Use FT for liquids, and/or large pitch change

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 Asymmetric Blade Row Analysis
Synopsis:
Synopsis:
Rotor within large asymmetry
Previously full wheel needed,
or frozen rotor steady analysis

Typical application:
Typical Application:
Radial machine with scroll or volute
Axial machine with asymmetric inlet plenum
or asymmetric exhaust hood
Fan in a cross-flow
Rotor with unequal blade pitches

Best practice:
Best Practice:
Large pitch change, hence FT

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 Example Low Pressure Turbine
88 nozzles and 76 rotor blades
Reference = wheel (22 N & 19 R)
Verification of TBR-TT to full domain
true-transient solution ( wheel)
Additional steady-state and TBR-PT
calculations are also performed

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 Example Low Pressure Turbine

Velocity Signal Midspan & Midway @ Design Point

TBR-TT vs. wheel TBR-PT vs. wheel

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 Example Low Pressure Turbine

Static Entropy Contours Midspan @ Design Point

Reference wheel TBR-TT TBR-PT

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 Example Low Pressure Turbine
Performance @ Design Point
Method Steady TBR-PT TBR-TT Wheel Ref.
Mass flow kg/s 122.83 122.95 122.99 122.97
Efficiency 91.330 91.784 91.932 91.882

Very similar performance values for all methods

CPU Requirments @ Design Point

Actual Effort =
Method Steady TBR-PT TBR-TT Wheel Ref.
Total CPU time taken
Relative Mesh Size 1 1 1 20.2 for the simulations
No. of Timesteps 150 616 616 616 [Sum of all CPU for each
core of the computer
Iter. Per Timestep 1 3 5 4
cluster]
Actual Effort 1 10.7 16.3 470.8

TBR-TT & TBR-PT significantly less costly than reference

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 Example Radial Pump with IGV
15 IGV, 6 (+3*6) rotor blades and
23 diffusor vanes
Stage interface between IGV and rotor
TBR Fourier Transformation for rotor
and diffusor

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 Example Axial Compressor
Single stage transonic axial compressor
16 rotor blades and 19 stator vanes
Reference calculation: Full wheel
TBR Time Transformation model:
1 rotor passage and 2 stator passages ,
because of pitch ratio

Courtesy of Technische Universitt Darmstadt

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 Example Axial Compressor

Transient convergence Maximal residuals < 1.0 x 10-3

Reference full wheel TBR-TT

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 Example Axial Compressor

Static Pressure @ Monitor points

Reference full wheel TBR-TT

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 Example Axial Compressor

Static Pressure and Mach number @ Monitor point 5

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 Example Axial Compressor

Static Entropy @ Midspan

Reference full wheel TBR-TT

Number of cores 32 cores 8 cores

CPU wall clock time 28h 51min 2h 43min
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 Summary

ANSYS offers a broad range of

state-of-the-art transient
blade row methods
Different methods for
different applications
Methods can be combined
Extensive validation program
We look forward to your
feedback

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 Thank You
For
Your Attention

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 Publications ANSYS TBR Methods
GT2010-22762 Siemens & ANSYS
Unsteady CFD Methods In A Commercial Solver For
Turbomachinery Applications

GT2011-45820 GE & ANSYS

A Comparison Of Advanced Numerical Techniques To
Model Transient Flow In Turbomachinery Blade Rows

GT2011-46635 ANSYS
Investigation Of Transient CFD Methods Applied To A
Transonic Compressor Stage

GT2012-69019 GE & ANSYS

The Efficient Computation Of Transient Flow In Turbine
Blade Rows Using Transformation Methods

GT2012-69151 PCA & ANSYS

Impeller-Diffuser Interaction In Centrifugal Compressors

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 Publications ANSYS TBR Methods
GT2013-95059 GE & ANSYS
Efficient Computation of Large Pitch Ratio Transonic Flow in
a Fan With Inlet Distortion

GT2013-94639 Siemens & ANSYS

Experimental and Computational Analysis of a Multistage
Axial Compressor Including Stall Prediction by Steady and
Transient CFD Methods

GT2013-95005 PCA & ANSYS

Investigation of Efficient CFD Methods For The Prediction of
Blade Damping

GT2013-94739 Honeywell
Study of Steady State And Transient Blade Row CFD
Methods In a Moderately Loaded NASA Transonic High-
Speed Axial Compressor Stage

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 Publications ANSYS TBR Methods
GT2014-27097 Dresser Rand & ANSYS
Investigation of efficient CFD methods for rotating stall
prediction in a centrifugal compressor stage

GT2014-26846 Siemens & ANSYS

Efficient time resolved multistage CFD analysis applied to
axial compressors

40 2014 ANSYS, Inc. May 4, 2015