This paper reports on the numerical assessment of the differences in aerodynamic performance between part span shrouded and un-shrouded fan blades generally found in the first stage of multi-stage fans in low bypass ratio aircraft engines. Rotor flow fields for both blade designs were investigated at two operating conditions using a three-dimensional viscous flow analysis. Although designed to the same radius ratio, aspect ratio and solidity, the un-shrouded fan rotor had a slightly increased tip speed (+3%) and somewhat lower pressure ratio (-3.2%) due to engine cycle requirements. Even when allowing for these small differences, the analysis reveals interesting differences in the level and in the radial distribution of efficiency between these two rotors. The reason for the improved performance of the shrouded rotor in part can be attributed to the shroud blocking off the radial migration of boundary layer fluid centrifuged from the hub on the suction side. As a result, the shock boundary layer interaction seems to be improved on the shrouded blade. At the cruise condition, the efficiency is the same for both rotors. The slightly better efficiency of the shrouded blade in the outer panel is nullified by the large efficiency penalty in the vicinity of the shroud. As there is no significant radial migration of fluid in the suction side boundary layer as indicated by the analysis at this condition relative to the design speed case; the benefit due to the shroud is greatly reduced. At this speed and at lower speeds the shroud becomes a net additional loss for the blade. Also of interest from the numerical results, is the indication that significant blade ruggedization penalties to performance can be reduced in the case of the un-shrouded blade through custom tailoring of its mean camber line.
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ASME Turbo Expo 2006: Power for Land, Sea, and Air
May 8–11, 2006
Barcelona, Spain
Conference Sponsors:
- International Gas Turbine Institute
ISBN:
0-7918-4241-X
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Inner Workings of Shrouded and Un-Shrouded Transonic Fan Blades
A. R. Wadia,
A. R. Wadia
GE Aircraft Engines, Cincinnati, OH
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P. N. Szucs
P. N. Szucs
GE Aircraft Engines, Cincinnati, OH
Search for other works by this author on:
A. R. Wadia
GE Aircraft Engines, Cincinnati, OH
P. N. Szucs
GE Aircraft Engines, Cincinnati, OH
Paper No:
GT2006-90992, pp. 399-412; 14 pages
Published Online:
September 19, 2008
Citation
Wadia, AR, & Szucs, PN. "Inner Workings of Shrouded and Un-Shrouded Transonic Fan Blades." Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo 2006: Power for Land, Sea, and Air. Volume 6: Turbomachinery, Parts A and B. Barcelona, Spain. May 8–11, 2006. pp. 399-412. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/GT2006-90992
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