Cascades Tunnel

P Karthikeyan
Cascade
Cascade definition
- A row of blades representing blade ring of the actual turbo
machine
Importance of cascade tests
- Cascade tests are useful in predicting the performance of
blade rows in actual machines and optimization of blade row
design
- In sonic velocity condition, cascades can gives information on
compressibility effects
- The angle at which the air is turning for minimum loss can be
determined
- Profile drag coefficient from which the cascade efficiency can
be estimated

Cascade types
Cascade Types
- Rectilinear cascade, blades are arranged in a st. line
- Annular cascade, blades are arranged in annulus (closer to real
life situation)
- Radial cascade, flow through the ring of blades in radial
direction (both inward and outward)

Behavior of flow though cascades
Models of flow in actual machines can be constructed
in stationary row of blades (cascades) by maintaining
the geometric, dynamic and kinematic similarities
Measurement usually consists of pressures, velocities
and flow angles on the upstream and downstream of the
cascades
By using st. cascade, the mechanical complication of
the test rig is reduced
2-d flow conditions obtained in a tunnel of rectangular
section simplifies the interpretation of the test results

Cascade Tunnel
Main parts of Cascade tunnel
- Blower
- Diffuser
- Settling chamber
- Honeycomb chamber
- Contraction zone
- Test section
Turntable
- Instrumentation
Pitot tubes
Yaw meters
Cylindrical
Claw
Boundary layer suction is applied to prevent the contraction of the flow
and to overcome the 3d effects
Cascade tunnel
Cascade Tunnel
Cascade tunnel
Tunnel consists of an arrangement whereby a stream
of air can be sucked or blown through a no. of blades
set out in the form of a st. cascade
- Blower can be either axial or centrifugal type
Air from the blower is supplied to the settling chamber
through short diffuser
Due to large cross sectional area of the settling
chamber, the flow velocity is reduced to a small value
Settling chamber contains wire gauges and
honeycomb will straighten the flow and remove
turbulence before it is expanded into contraction zone
Contraction can be achieved simultaneously or
achieved in two stages
- Profile of the converging walls must be designed carefully in
order to avoid separation and thickening of boundary layers
Cascade tunnel
Working or test section receives uniform flow from
contraction
The exit section is oblique to receive the cascade of
blades in an inclined position
To obtain a 2-d flow, a cascade of large no of blades
are required
- This in turn requires a large test section and high flow rates
The height and the length of the cascade are made as
large as the available air supply will allow
- This is to eliminate the inference effects due to tunnel walls
The contraction always induce the boundary layer do
to this the passage of the test section is further
contracted and flow is accelerated
- This will result in stalling of the flow at top blade
Cascade tunnel
Boundary layer suction on the walls is applied to
prevent the contraction of the air flow as it flows the
down stream of the tunnel
Turntable- The cascades are mounted on the turn
table
- The table can be rotated so that the angle of incidence of the
air can be varied
The disturbance in the flow in the central region of
the cascade communicated due to flow distortions
at the ends A and B is minimized by employing
minimum no of blades
- Cascade of seven blades of aspect ratio (h/l) is found to be
good compromise


Cascade tunnel
Means are provided for traversing pressuring and
flow direction measurement over two planes
- Usually at a distance of one chord upstream and
downstream of the cascade
- Various quantities such as velocity, direction of flow are
measured

Blade nomenclature
Blade nomenclature
Performance parameters
Stagnation pressure loss


- Loss depends on the magnitude of inlet velocity. So it is
expressed in terms of dynamic head at inlet (dimensionless)
The loss is more at the trailing edge
Performance parameters
Loss is minimum (fairly constant for wide range of
incidence
Loss rises more rapidly when the incidence angle is
positive or negative on the larger side
At extreme incidence, the flow of air breaks down
from the blade (stall) and so the losses are higher
S
t
.

P
r
.

l
o
s
s

+
_
Performance parameters
Blade loading
- Blade loading can be assessed in terms of static pressure
coefficient
- Cp distribution gives an idea about the chord wise load
distribution

C
p
x/C
Air deflection
Air deflection is the difference b/w air inlet and
outlet angle
Objective of the cascade is to turn the air at maximum angle with
minimum loss
Air deflection
Practice is to select a deflection which corresponds
to definite proportion of the stalling deflection


s
= Stalling deflection



* mainly depends on the pitch chord ratio and air outlet angle
2