Structures and methods for forcing coupling of flow fields of adjacent bladed elements of turbomachines, and turbomachines incorporating the same

摘要

Turbomachines having close-coupling flow guides (CCFGs) that are designed and configured to closely-couple flow fields of adjacent bladed elements. In some embodiments, the CCFGs may be located in regions extending between the adjacent bladed elements, described herein as coupling avoidance zones, where conventional turbomachine design would suggest no structure should be added. In yet other embodiments, CCFGs are located upstream and/or downstream of rows of blades coupled to the bladed elements, including overlapping one of more of the rows of blades, to improve flow coupling and machine performance. Methods of designing turbomachines to incorporate CCFGs are also provided.

主权项

1. A turbomachine, comprising:
a primary flow path; a first bladed element having a first blade region containing a plurality of first blades in said primary flow path; a second bladed element having a second blade region containing at least one second blade in said primary flow path, wherein said second blade region is located adjacent to and downstream from said first blade region; and a close-coupling flow guide (CCFG) that is designed and configured to, during use, couple a flow field of said first bladed element within said primary flow path with a flow field of said second bladed element within said primary flow path to thereby increase at least one of a work input coefficient and relative impeller diffusions; wherein said first bladed element has a rotational axis and at least one of said plurality of first blades has a trailing edge located at a radius, r2, from said rotational axis, said CCFG having a leading edge located at a radius, rc, from said rotational axis, and wherein rc/r2 is less than about 1.