AE 711

Propulsion
Turbines

1
Axial Flow Turbines

2
Introduction
Gas Turbine engine derives its name from the turbine,
which is at the heart of the work producing
mechanism of the engine.

Principle
A fluid with large kinetic energy content is allowed to
hit a freely rotating set of blades, certain amount of
energy can be extracted from the passing fluid - as
shaft power

3 3
Shaft energy from the turbine is used to run:

i) The compressor, which raises the internal

energy content of the fluid before it goes into
the combustor,

ii) A propeller to create the propulsive thrust

4
Impulse turbines
High energy flow is first accelerated and made to
impinge on the rotor blade with high momentum and
then made to take huge turn through the passage
between the blades.

Reaction turbines
The flow is accelerated through the rotor blades by
through a converging curved nozzle, in addition to the
large turning executed. Jet effect creates a reaction as
per Newton’s 3rd law of motion.

5 5
Axial flow turbine 2-D cascade velocity distribution

6
(a) Multi-stage HP + LP turbine layout

7
(b) Elemental stage

8
Axial flow turbine
2-D flow diagram

9
T-s of Axial Turbine Stage

10
, Work Done HTh = U  Cw +Cw  = ΔT0T .Cp
 2 3

Stator -Nozzle loss coefficient is w noz = (

C2/2 1 - φ 2 )
given as C3/2
Normalized by Rotor exit flow velocity, C3/
/2
C 2 = Isentropic heat drop (static) in stator-nozzle (01 to 2’)
C
By definition φ= 2 , and C3/ = 2HT/ ≅ 02 to 3/
C/
2
w noz = (1 - DR ) (1 - φ2 )

11
 Rotor loss coefficient
( )
,
/2
V 1 - ψ2 V
w rotor = 3
ψ= 3
C /2 Where, V/
3 3
Normalized by Rotor exit flow velocity, C3/
 2 2.U.φ. 1- DR .sinα 
( 
) U
= 1-ψ2 φ2 (1- DR ) + 2 -
C3 C3
2


using a nozzle, whose exit angle α2 and DR (Rx) and ψ

are held constant along the span

w Rotor U
∝ / and 1
w Rotor ∝
C3 ψ
12
; Isentropic Efficiencies

Total-to-total ∆T0T
efficiency,
η0T = /
∆T0T

Static-to-static ∆TT ∆TT

ηT = /
= / /
efficiency, ∆TT ∆TStator + ∆TRotor
Total-to-static ∆T0T ∆T0T
efficiency, ηTS = /
= / /
∆TT ∆TStator + ∆TRotor

13
; Isentropic Efficiencies
Total-to-total
isentropic ∆T0 -Rotor T02 -T03
efficiency of η0 -Rotor = /
= /
the rotor only ∆T0 -Rotor T02 -T03

Degree of Reaction, Rx
2 2
hrotor hrotor V3 -V2
D.Ractual = = =
hrotor +hstator hT 2hT

14
Constant mean diameter axial LPT
turbine HPT

LPT

HPT

15
 Constant tip diameter flowConstant hub diameter flow
track track
1 Higher average value of More number of stages
peripheral velocity U required for same amount
of work for low U
2 High load per stage due Higher limit for divergence
high U angle than 1.
3 Limited divergence angle Used for high bypass ratio
available within the tip engines where turbine flow
and the hub diameter track diverges significantly
restrictions with a large number of
stages

16
After these calculations divergence angle is checked
and if γ >15o , the blades angles are modified to
allow for more expansion.

Radial variation: either use α2 as constant from hub

to tip or use some vortex law e.g. constant
reaction of free vortex law

Profiling: same as in compressor except use turbine

specific airfoils e.g. T6 or T106 airfoils

17
After these calculations divergence angle is checked
and if γ >15o , the blades angles are modified to
allow for more expansion.

Radial variation: either use α2 as constant from hub

to tip or use some vortex law e.g. constant
reaction of free vortex law

Profiling: same as in compressor except use turbine

specific airfoils e.g. T6 or T106 airfoils

18
Axial Turbine Airfoils

19
20
Turbine Cooling

21
Flow profile over typical turbine blade

22
23
24
25
26
Coolant flow paths in
modern HP turbine (a)
stator

27
Coolant flow paths in modern HP turbine (b) rotor

28