Measurement of Aerodynamic Losses for Turbine Airfoil Cascades With Varying Pitch, Operating Under Transonic Conditions

The paper presents detailed experimental results of the midspan total pressure losses, secondary flow field, and static pressure measurements on two linear, high-turning turbine cascades at transonic conditions. The airfoils in the two cascades being studied are identical and their aerodynamic loading levels are varied by increasing the pitch of one cascade by 25% with respect to the other. The turbine cascades are referred to as B1-SP and B1-IP. Cascade B1-IP, with its increased pitch, has a Zweifel coefficient increased by 25%. The airfoils have a turning angle of ∼127°. Measurements are made at design and off-design conditions, at exit Mach numbers ranging from 0.71 to 0.95. The exit span of the airfoils are increased relative to the inlet span with the intention of obtaining a ratio of inlet Mach number to exit Mach number that is representative to that encountered in a real engine. This results in one end wall diverging from inlet to exit at a 13 degree angle, which simulates the required leading edge loading as seen in an engine. The objective of this study is to investigate the variation in airfoil loading distribution and the effect it has on aerodynamic performance in terms of pressure losses. Detailed loss measurements, both in the pitchwise as well as spanwise directions, are conducted at 0.1 Cax and 1.0 Cax locations downstream of the trailing edge. Results from 3D viscous numerical simulations have been used to assist the interpretation of experimental results.