The Importance of Circumferential Non-Uniformities in a Passage-Averaged Quasi-Three-Dimensional Turbomachinery Design System

The purpose of this paper is to show, for both rotating and non-rotating blade rows, the importance of including circumferential non-uniform flow effects in a quasi-three-dimensional blade design system. The paper follows on from previous publications on the system in which the mathematical analysis and computerised system are detailed. Results are presented for a different stack of the nozzle guide vane presented previously and for a turbine rotor. In the former case it is again found that the blade force represents a major contribution to the radial pressure gradient, while for the rotor the radial pressure gradient it is dominated by centrifugal effects. In both examples the effects of circumferential non-uniformities are detailed and discussed.