Selection of Parameters for 3D Finite-volume Mesh for CFD Simulation of Axial Turbines

Samara University, Department of aircraft engine theory, 443086, St. 34 Moskovskoe shosse, Samara, Russia

Abstract

This article describes the second part of the global work done by the authors aimed at finding the best settings for a numerical model for calculations of axial uncooled turbines using the RANS approach. For the research, more than 1000 models of full-size axial turbines (including multistage turbines) and their elements were created. They differed in the number, size, parameters of the elements of finite volume meshes, in turbulence models, in the degree of simplification. The results were compared with the experimental data.

As a result, the following was obtained:

1. A method for developing and optimizing the working process of turbines using numerical simulation based on the RANS approach is proposed. The search for the optimal turbine configuration is carried out using light computational models, which are based on the simplified channel geometry and the finite volume mesh. Their application makes it possible to reliably find the optimal turbine configuration 2.8 times faster. The characteristics of the selected variants are verified with the help of verification models that consider the real geometry of the channels and have a minimum error.

2. Recommendations are given on the selection of parameters for finite volume meshes and the selection of turbulence models for numerical models of the working process of axial turbines designed to perform optimization and verification calculations.