Mach Number Distribution and Profile Losses for Low-Pressure Turbine Profiles With High Diffusion Factors

The results of this investigation come from two linear cascades at high diffusion factors (DFs). The measurements presented for each low-pressure turbine (LPT) profile were conducted at midspan under a range of Reynolds- and exit Mach numbers. The exit Mach number was varied in a range covering low subsonic up to values where a transonic flow regime on the suction side of the blade could be expected. This work focuses on two profiles with a diffusion factor in a range of $0.18≤DF≤0.22$⁠, where values in this range are considered as a comparable for the two cascades. Profile A is a front-loaded design and has shown no obvious flow separation on the suction side of the blade. Compared to the design A, design B is a more aft-loaded profile which exhibits flow separation on the suction side for all Reynolds numbers investigated. The integral total pressure losses were evaluated by wake traverses downstream of the airfoil. To determine the isentropic Mach numbers and the character of the boundary layer along the suction side of the profile, the static pressure measurements and traverses with a flattened Pitot probe were carried out. A correlation between the position of maximum Mach number on the suction side and the integral total pressure losses has been successfully established. The results show that the optimum location of peak Mach number to minimize integral total pressure losses is significantly dependent on the Reynolds number. However, the correlation presented in this paper, which is based on the data of the integral total pressure losses of an attached boundary layer, is not able to predict the integral total pressure loss or the location of the maximum Mach number on the suction side of the blade when an open separation bubble occurs.