Controlling Secondary-Flow Structure by Leading-Edge Airfoil Fillet and Inlet Swirl to Reduce Aerodynamic Loss and Surface Heat Transfer

Computations, based on the ensemble-averaged compressible Navier-Stokes equations closed by the shear-stress transport (SST) turbulence model, were performed to investigate the effects of leading-edge airfoil fillet and inlet-swirl angle on the flow and heat transfer in a turbine-nozzle guide vane. Three fillet configurations were simulated: no fillet (baseline), a fillet whose thickness fades on the airfoil, and a fillet whose thickness fades on the endwall. For both fillets, the maximum height above the endwall is positioned along the stagnation zone/line on the airfoil under the condition of no swirl. For each configuration, three inlet swirls were investigated: no swirl (baseline) and two linearly varying swirl angle from one endwall to the other (+30 to −30 deg and −30 to +30 deg). Results obtained show that both leading-edge fillet and inlet swirl can reduce aerodynamic loss and surface heat transfer. For the conditions of this study, the difference in stagnation pressure from the nozzle’s inlet to its exit were reduced by more than 40% with swirl or with fillet without swirl. Surface heat transfer was reduced by more than 10% on the airfoil and by more than 30% on the endwalls. When there is swirl, leading-edge fillets became less effective in reducing aerodynamic loss and surface heat transfer, because the fillets were not optimized for swirl angles imposed. Since the intensity and size of the cross flow were found to increase instead of decrease by inlet swirl and by the type of fillet geometries investigated, the results of this study indicate that the mechanisms responsible for aerodynamic loss and surface heat transfer are more complex than just the intensity and the magnitude of the secondary flows. This study shows their location and interaction with the main flow to be more important, and this could be exploited for positive results.