Averaging Nonuniform Flow for a Purpose

Averaging nonuniform flow is important for the analysis of measurements in turbomachinery and gas turbines; more recently an important need for averaging arises with results of computational fluid dynamics (CFD). In this paper we show that there is a method for averaging which is “correct,” in the sense of preserving the essential features of the nonuniform flow, but that the type of averaging which is appropriate depends on the application considered. The crucial feature is the decision to retain or conserve those quantities which are most important in the case considered. Examples are given to demonstrate the appropriate methods to average nonuniform flows in the accounting for turbomachinery blade row performance, production of thrust in a nozzle, and mass flow capacity in a choked turbine. It is also shown that the numerical differences for different types of averaging are, in many cases, remarkably small.