IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v314y2025ics0360544224039926.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Vortex interactions and loss mechanisms in the tip region of axial turbine rotors with cutback squealer tip

Author

Listed:
  • Zhang, Weihao
  • Wang, Yufan
  • Chen, Kailai
  • Wang, Peng
  • Jiang, Shoumin

Abstract

The vortex interactions in the rotor tip region and the resulting loss significantly reduce energy utilization efficiency of gas turbines. The vortex interactions and loss generation mechanisms in the tip region, under the effects of suction side cutback rim, are investigated numerically in this paper. The results show that a large notch could cause intruding gas to disrupt the scraping vortex, increasing the internal gap loss. More importantly, the rim notch causes a dramatic increase in leakage near the notch, leading to the formation of the leading-edge tip leakage vortex (LTLV). The interaction between the LTLV and the upper passage vortex (UPV) causes significant local loss and leads to the rapid dissipation of the UPV. This is beneficial for suppressing the interaction and mixing losses between the UPV and the tip leakage vortex (TLV) downstream. These two opposing effects mean that there may be an optimal rim notch configuration where the strength of the LTLV is just right to balance these two types of losses, potentially improving turbine aerodynamic performance. The effect mechanisms of the LTLV on the TLV and the UPV could provide guidance for flow control technologies based on the introduction of novel vortices.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Weihao & Wang, Yufan & Chen, Kailai & Wang, Peng & Jiang, Shoumin, 2025. "Vortex interactions and loss mechanisms in the tip region of axial turbine rotors with cutback squealer tip," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 314(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:314:y:2025:i:c:s0360544224039926
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.134214
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544224039926
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2024.134214?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yufan Wang & Weihao Zhang & Dongming Huang & Shoumin Jiang & Yun Chen, 2022. "Numerical Study on Vortex Structures and Loss Characteristics in a Transonic Turbine with Various Squealer Tips," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-18, January.
    2. Poullikkas, Andreas, 2005. "An overview of current and future sustainable gas turbine technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 9(5), pages 409-443, October.
    3. Zou, Zhengping & Shao, Fei & Li, Yiran & Zhang, Weihao & Berglund, Albin, 2017. "Dominant flow structure in the squealer tip gap and its impact on turbine aerodynamic performance," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 167-184.
    4. Wang, Yabo & Yu, Jianyang & Song, Yanping & Chen, Fu, 2020. "Parameter optimization of the composite honeycomb tip in a turbine cascade," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    5. Gao, Jie & Zheng, Qun & Xu, Tianbang & Dong, Ping, 2015. "Inlet conditions effect on tip leakage vortex breakdown in unshrouded axial turbines," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 255-263.
    6. Nie, Xianhua & Xue, Juan & Zhao, Li & Deng, Shuai & Xiong, Hanping, 2024. "New insight of thermodynamic cycle in thermoelectric power generation analyses: Literature review and perspectives," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    7. Du, Jiyun & Yang, Hongxing & Shen, Zhicheng & Chen, Jian, 2017. "Micro hydro power generation from water supply system in high rise buildings using pump as turbines," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 431-440.
    8. Huang, Ming & Zhang, Kaiyuan & Li, Zhigang & Li, Jun, 2024. "Effect of multi-cavity on the aerothermal performance robustness of the squealer tip under geometric and operational uncertainties," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 287(C).
    9. Jeong, Jae Sung & Bong, Seon Woo & Lee, Sang Woo, 2022. "An efficient winglet coverage for aeroengine turbine blade flat tip and its loss map," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    10. Gao, Jie & Zheng, Qun & Dong, Ping & Fu, Weiliang, 2017. "Effects of flow incidence on aerothermal performance of transonic blade tip clearance flows," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 196-209.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jeong, Jae Sung & Lee, Sang Woo, 2020. "Full aerodynamic loss data for efficient squealer tip design in an axial flow turbine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).
    2. Touil, Kaddour & Ghenaiet, Adel, 2019. "Simulation and analysis of vane-blade interaction in a two-stage high-pressure axial turbine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 1291-1311.
    3. Zhou, Kai & Zheng, Xinqian, 2022. "Novel wave-shaped tip-shroud contours towards reducing turbine leakage loss," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PA).
    4. Shuai, Jiang & Jianyang, Yu & Hongwu, Wang & Fu, Chen & Shaowen, Chen & Yanping, Song, 2020. "Experimental investigation of the bending clearance on the aerodynamic performance in turbine blade tip region," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    5. Okoroigwe, Edmund & Madhlopa, Amos, 2016. "An integrated combined cycle system driven by a solar tower: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 337-350.
    6. Rocha, P. A. Costa & Rocha, H. H. Barbosa & Carneiro, F. O. Moura & da Silva, M. E. Vieira & de Andrade, C. Freitas, 2016. "A case study on the calibration of the k–ω SST (shear stress transport) turbulence model for small scale wind turbines designed with cambered and symmetrical airfoils," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 144-150.
    7. Ramadan, Mohamad & Murr, Rabih & Khaled, Mahmoud & Olabi, Abdul Ghani, 2018. "Mixed numerical - Experimental approach to enhance the heat pump performance by drain water heat recovery," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 1010-1021.
    8. Lin, Tong & Zhu, Zuchao & Li, Xiaojun & Li, Jian & Lin, Yanpi, 2021. "Theoretical, experimental, and numerical methods to predict the best efficiency point of centrifugal pump as turbine," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 31-44.
    9. Mahmood, Muhammad H. & Sultan, Muhammad & Miyazaki, Takahiko & Koyama, Shigeru & Maisotsenko, Valeriy S., 2016. "Overview of the Maisotsenko cycle – A way towards dew point evaporative cooling," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 537-555.
    10. Daniel da Silva Tonon & Jesuino Takachi Tomita & Ezio Castejon Garcia & Cleverson Bringhenti & Luiz Eduardo Nunes de Almeida & Jayanta Kapat & Ladislav Vesely, 2025. "Winglet Geometries Applied to Rotor Blades of a Hydraulic Axial Turbine Used as a Turbopump: A Parametric Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-26, April.
    11. Kandi, Ali & Meirelles, Gustavo & Brentan, Bruno, 2022. "Employing demand prediction in pump as turbine plant design regarding energy recovery enhancement," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 223-236.
    12. Chacartegui, R. & Sánchez, D. & Muñoz, J.M. & Sánchez, T., 2009. "Alternative ORC bottoming cycles FOR combined cycle power plants," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(10), pages 2162-2170, October.
    13. Sinagra, Marco & Aricò, Costanza & Tucciarelli, Tullio & Morreale, Gabriele, 2020. "Experimental and numerical analysis of a backpressure Banki inline turbine for pressure regulation and energy production," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 980-986.
    14. Venturini, Mauro & Manservigi, Lucrezia & Alvisi, Stefano & Simani, Silvio, 2018. "Development of a physics-based model to predict the performance of pumps as turbines," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C), pages 343-354.
    15. Park, Min Young & Shin, Serin & Kim, Eung Soo, 2015. "Effective energy management by combining gas turbine cycles and forward osmosis desalination process," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 51-61.
    16. Ghazikhani, M. & Passandideh-Fard, M. & Mousavi, M., 2011. "Two new high-performance cycles for gas turbine with air bottoming," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 294-304.
    17. Mohtaram, Soheil & Sun, HongGuang & Lin, Ji & Chen, Wen & Sun, Yonghui, 2020. "Multi-Objective Evolutionary Optimization & 4E analysis of a bulky combined cycle power plant by CO2/ CO/ NOx reduction and cost controlling targets," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    18. Saghafifar, Mohammad & Gadalla, Mohamed, 2017. "Thermo-economic optimization of hybrid solar Maisotsenko bottoming cycles using heliostat field collector: Comparative analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 686-702.
    19. Katulić, Stjepko & Čehil, Mislav & Schneider, Daniel Rolph, 2018. "Thermodynamic efficiency improvement of combined cycle power plant's bottom cycle based on organic working fluids," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 36-50.
    20. Grzegorz Peczkis & Piotr Wiśniewski & Andriy Zahorulko, 2021. "Experimental and Numerical Studies on the Influence of Blade Number in a Small Water Turbine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-15, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:314:y:2025:i:c:s0360544224039926. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.