EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON SWIRL AND HEAT TRANSFER WITHIN A ROTOR-STATOR CAVITY

A rotating test rig, reproducing a rotor-stator cavity with an axial admission system, has been exploited for an experimental investigation on the internal flow field and its effect on heat transfer on the stator side. Working conditions were varied in a wide range of rotating velocities and superposed mass flow rates. 2D PIV flow measurements were performed in order to obtain a radial distribution of the tangential velocity, results were used to validate numerical simulations aimed at understanding the admission system effect on the swirl distribution. Heat transfer coefficient distribution along the stator disk has been evaluated performing a steady state technique exploiting Thermo-chromic Liquid Crystals (TLC). Tests have been performed varying the superposed mass flow rate up to reaching the condition of cavity completely sealed, further increase of the mass flow rate showed to reduce the effect of the rotation. Working conditions were set in order to investigate cases missing in open literature, however few tests performed in similarity with other researches provided comparable results.