Large eddy simulations of a turbulent mixing layer periodically excited with fundamental and third harmonic frequency

A better understanding of the mixing behavior of excited turbulent mixing layers is critical to a number of aerospace applications. Previous studies of excited turbulent mixing layers focused on single frequency excitation or the excitation with fundamental and its second harmonic frequency. There is a lack of detailed studies on applying low and higher frequency excitation. In this study, we have performed large-eddy simulations of periodically excited turbulent mixing layers. The excitation consists of a fundamental frequency and its third harmonic. We have used phase-averaging to identify the vortex structure and strength in the mixing layer, and we have studied the vortex dynamics. Two different vortex paring mechanisms are observed depending on the phase shift between the two excitation frequencies. The influence of these two mechanisms on the mixing of a passive scalar is also studied. It is found that exciting the mixing layer with these low and high frequencies has initially an adverse influence on the mixing process; however, it improves the mixing further downstream of the splitter plate with the excitation using a phase shift of $\mathrm{\Delta }\varphi =\mathrm{\pi }$ showing the best mixing performance. The present works shed lights on the fundamental vortex dynamics, and has great potential for aeronautical, automotive and combustion engineering applications.     

Effects of swirl and hot streak on thermal performances of a high-pressure turbine

Advanced civil aero-engines tend to adopt lean burn combustors to meet emission requirements. The exit of a lean burn combustor experiences highly non-uniformities in both temperature (Hot Streak, HS) and flow (swirl). This paper presents a numerical investigation on the behaviors of a High-Pressure (HP) turbine under a combined effect of swirl and hot streak. The investigation was conducted on a GE-E3 HP turbine with unsteady numerical simulations, which considered the realistic clocking position of the HP Nozzle Guide Vane (NGV) relative to the combustor. The influences of swirl orientations on the HS migration and thermal performances on the blade surface were examined. Results indicate that, inside the NGV passage, the swirl’s induced incidence angle effect dominates the HS radial migration. The transversal movement of HS follows the cross flow and thus makes itself approach the Suction Side (SS) and keep away from the Pressure Side (PS) as passing through the NGV, so that HS near the SS is more influenced by the incidence angle effect than that near the PS. As for the heat transfer, swirl affects the Heat Transfer Coefficient (HTC) on the NGV’s PS and SS mainly through the incidence angle effect. Different from the NGV, the inlet swirl and HS have limited effect on the HTC on the rotor blade’s PS, while on the rotor blade’s SS, the original vortex system dominates; therefore, the inlet non-uniformities merely enhance the HTC on the SS rather than alter its distribution characteristics.