CONTACT:
Klaus Brun, Ph.D.
Aero-Thermal Flow
   Analysis
(210) 522-5449
E-mail: Klaus Brun
(Español)

link to gas turbine technology experience
link to gas turbine technology technical papers and presentations
link to root cause blade failure diagnosis tutorial
link to gas turbine technology brochure
link to gas turbine technology contacts
link to gas turbine technology and SwRI company information
link to gas turbine technology home page

link to international gas turbine institute website
link to western turbine users, inc. website

KEY TERMS:
 fluid dynamics
heat transfer
flow measurement
heat rate
turbomachinery test 
facility
flow facilities
flow visualization 
techniques
gas turbines

Gas Turbine Technology
Aero-Thermal Flow Analysis
Pressure contours and velocity vectors for flow through first stage blades are determined from computational fluid dynamics codes. Boundary element codes determine heat transfer coefficients that are then used in thermal and stress analysis of the blades.

Fluid dynamics, heat transfer, combustion, and fluid-structure interaction are essential disciplines to the effective design, application, and performance evaluation of gas turbines. Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) maintains a variety of commercial and SwRI-developed analysis and computational codes to meet specific needs. A number of flow facilities are used in conjunction with computational methods to support simulation and understanding of fluid flows and their interactions with structures. Flow visualization techniques enhance this capability. Flow facilities include: 

  • High pressure (2,500 psi), large volume (750 ft3) N2 gas blowdown system 

  • Low pressure (2 to 200 psia) air and inert gas recirculating loop to 8 MMSCFD

  • Low pressure (to 200 psia) natural gas recirculating loop (to 6 MMSCFD) 

  • High pressure (to 1,400 psi) natural gas recirculating loop (to 165 MMSCFD)

  • 0-6,000 gpm low-turbulence water tunnel

  • High-pressure, high-flow combustion tunnel

image of turbo-compressor test facility being prepared for full speed test of performance near stall and surge conditions
Turbo-compressor test facility being prepared for full speed test of performance near stall and surge conditions.

Turbomachinery Test Facility

The SwRI turbomachinery laboratory is set up to conduct detailed research on centrifugal compressors, gas turbines, internal flows, performance and the onset of problems such as stall, surge, and various shaft and bearing instabilities.

Special instrumentation including laser measurements and high-g self-power imbedded telemetry systems for instrument signals are developed and used by SwRI.

 

Flow Instability

graphic of contours of pressure on the mid-width plane in the vaneless diffuser
Contours of pressure on the mid-width plane in the vaneless diffuser. Images displayed at 10-ms intervals.

SwRI uses computation fluid dynamics, along with other analysis and 1D modeling, to predict turbine flows, local behaviors and contributions to performance, and the onset of stall, surge, flutter, or other instabilities. 

Blade temperature predictions can be made with various degrees and types of cooling as a diagnostic prediction or as a guide to interpreting measurements.

More information about aero-thermal turkey design services and fault diagnostics offered at SwRI is available in this printable PDF flyer.

For more information about gas turbine technology or aero-thermal flow analysis capabilities at SwRI or how you can contract with SwRI, please contact  Klaus Brun, Ph.D., at kbraun@swri.org or (210) 522-5449. 


Mechanical & Fluids Engineering Department
 Mechanical and Materials Engineering Division SwRI Home

Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a multidisciplinary, independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 11 technical divisions.