Effect of Incidence on Secondary Flows in a Linear Turbine Cascade

The effect of incidence on the generation and growth of secondary flows in a linear turbine cascade was studied in the present investigations using a Variable Density Cascade Tunnel at an exit Mach number of 0.43 and a Reynolds number of 8 × 10⁵. The angles of incidence chosen were +15°, +50, 0°, −5° and −8.5°. The flow field was surveyed at five axial stations from cascade inlet to exit with a view to understanding the development of the secondary flow with the help of the variation of mass averaged total pressure loss coefficient and the contours of local loss coefficients in the pitch and spanwise directions. The total pressure loss coefficient and the net secondary loss coefficient have shown a steady growth along the cascade upto about 74 of the axial chord from the leading edge and thereafter rose very rapidly. The incidence is found to have an effect on the passage vortex and the loss cores due to the inlet boundary layer.