Prediction of Cascade Performance of Circular-Arc Blades with CFD

Abstract Thin circular-arc blade is often used as a guide vane, a deflecting vane, or a rotating blade of low pressure axial-flow turbomachine because of its easy manufacture. Ordinary design of the blade elements of these machines is done by use of the carpet diagrams for a cascade of circular-arc blades. However, the application of the carpet diagrams is limited to relatively low cambered blade operating under optimum inlet flow conditions. In order to extend the applicable range, additional design data is necessary. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a promising method to get these data. In this paper, two-dimensonal cascade performances of circular-arc blade are widely analyzed with CFD. The results have been compared with the results of experiment and potential theory, and useful information has been obtained. Turning angle and total pressure loss coefficients are satisfactorily predicted for lowly cambered blade. For high camber angle of 67°, the CFD results agree with experiment for the angle of attack less than that for shockless inlet condition.