An Entropic Minimization Technique for Turbine Blade Profiles

The optimization of the boundary layer edge velocity distribution may hold the key to the minimization of entropy generation in the boundary layers of turbomachinery blades. A preliminary optimization analysis in the laminar region of a non film cooled turbine blade is presented, which demonstrates the concept of how the entropy generation rate may be reduced by varying the boundary layer edge velocity distribution along the suction surface, whilst holding the work done by the blade constant. In the laminar region the analytical technique developed by Pohlhausen and others to predict the boundary layer momentum thickness in the presence of pressure gradients has been adopted to predict the entropy generated as described in other papers by the same authors. The result gives an expression for the entropy generation rate in terms of the boundary layer edge velocity distribution for incompressible flows. The boundary layer edge velocity distribution may then be represented as a polynomial with undefined variables. This allows a minimization technique to be used to minimize the entropy generation rate on these variables. Constraints are included to keep the work output constant and the diffusion low to avoid separation. In this analysis it is only the laminar region that is considered for minimization, thus it is necessary to ensure that the modified boundary layer edge velocity distribution does not undergo transition earlier than the baseline boundary layer edge velocity distribution. This is accomplished by considering transition and separation criteria available in the literature. The result of this analysis indicates that the entropy generation rate may be reduced in the laminar boundary layers by using this technique.