Investigation on the Formation and Evolution Mechanism of Flow-Resistance-Increasing Vortex of Aero-Engine Labyrinth Based on Entropy Generation Analysis

Labyrinth seals are widely employed in the air system of aircraft engines since they reduce the leakages occurring between blades and shrouds, which affect the entropy generation significantly. Excessive leakage flow of the labyrinth may be reduced the efficiency and performance of the engine. This...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSymmetry (Basel) Vol. 14; no. 5; p. 881
Main Authors Liu, Xiaojing, Ding, Shuiting, Shao, Longtao, Zhao, Shuai, Qiu, Tian, Zhou, Yu, Zhang, Xiaozhe, Li, Guo
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel MDPI AG 01.05.2022
Subjects
3D simulation
Aircraft engines
correlation coefficient
Correlation coefficients
Design parameters
Dissipation
Efficiency
Energy
Entropy
entropy generation
Experiments
Flow characteristics
Flow resistance
flow-resistance-increasing vortex
Fluid dynamics
Fluid flow
labyrinth
Labyrinth seals
Leakage
Mathematical models
Numerical analysis
Reynolds number
Simulation
Three dimensional models
Turbulence models
Velocity
Vortices
Vorticity
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Summary:Labyrinth seals are widely employed in the air system of aircraft engines since they reduce the leakages occurring between blades and shrouds, which affect the entropy generation significantly. Excessive leakage flow of the labyrinth may be reduced the efficiency and performance of the engine. This paper proposes the concept of flow-resistance-increasing vortex (FRIV) on the top of the labyrinth that is based on the flow entropy generation mechanism of the stepped labyrinth and the main flow characteristics that lead to entropy generation. A three-dimensional simulation model of the labyrinth structure was established, and the model was compared and verified with the experimental data of the reference. The relative dissipation strength and vorticity distribution of the FRIV were theoretically analyzed. It was confirmed that the dissipative intensity distribution was the same as the vorticity distribution, and the correlation coefficient was larger in the labyrinth tip region. Therefore, a parametric study was conducted on design parameters related to the FRIV, including the teeth inclined angle, tooth crest width, step inclined angle, and other parameters. The results are beneficial for the construction of a stronger FRIV to reduce the leakage. This research is of great significance for the improvement of engine efficiency and for the reduction of fuel consumption in the future.
ISSN:2073-8994
2073-8994
DOI:10.3390/sym14050881