RESEARCH

GAS TURBINES FOR PROPULSION AND POWER GENERATION

Gas turbines are widely used for aircraft propulsion and power generation, including renewable power systems. Our research covers aerodynamic aspects of the major parts of gas turbines, including compressors, turbines, ducts, and secondary air systems.  Focus is on improving aerodynamic performance, or reducing losses, in these devices to minimize their environmental impact.  Some of the studies include:

Axial compressors

• ​Stability enhancement

• Unsteady 3-D multi-stage wake behavior

• Humidity effects on transonic compressor cascade performance

Axial turbines​​

• Boundary layer transition in low pressure turbines

• Interaction between leakage flows and passage flows

• Purge flows in turbine disc cavities and rim seal flows

• Partial shroud flows

• Performance enhancement in Oxy-Combustion Cycle CO2 turbines

INDUSTRIAL TURBOMACHINES

Radial turbomachines are widely used in oil and gas industries as well as in industrial environments. In natural gas handling equipment, for example, real gas effects, condensation, and vibration can affect performance.  Current research interests include:

Radial compressors

• Forced response of a centrifugal compressor impeller due to diffuser vanes

• Non-axisymmetric flows and rotordynamic forces in shrouded radial compressors

Radial expanders​

• Impact of condensation on radial expander performance

TURBOPUMPS FOR ROCKETS AND HYPERSONIC PROPULSION

Liquid propellant rockets are advanced launchers which facilitate thrust control, and turbopumps, which pump liquid fuel and oxidizer into the combustion chamber, are some of the most difficult components to design and manufacture. Often, an inducer is placed in front of the turbopump impeller to mitigate cavitation and increase suction performance. Like the impeller, the inducer itself can suffer from cavitation, giving rise to instabilities such as rotating cavitation and cavitation surge. Current research focus is shown below.

• Cavitation instabilities in turbopump inducers

• Laser-induced cavitation

OPTIMIZATION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY INTEGRATION INTO ENERGY SYSTEMS

Worldwide, renewable energy (wind, solar, geothermal, etc.) is increasingly being incorporated into energy systems, especially in distributed power generation systems, to provide heating/cooling and power.  TML is developing a framework to optimize such systems for varying policy scenarios.  

• Optimization of renewable energy integration into energy systems