The low-pressure and low-density conditions encountered at high altitudes significantly reduce the operating Reynolds number of micro radial-flow turbines,frequently bringing it below the self-similarity critical thre...The low-pressure and low-density conditions encountered at high altitudes significantly reduce the operating Reynolds number of micro radial-flow turbines,frequently bringing it below the self-similarity critical threshold of 3.5×10^(4).This departure undermines the applicability of conventional similarity-based design approaches.In this study,micro radial-flow turbines with rotor diameters below 50 mm are investigated through a combined approach integrating high-fidelity numerical simulations with experimental validation,aiming to elucidate the mechanisms by which low Reynolds numbers influence aerodynamic and thermodynamic performance.The results demonstrate that decreasing Reynolds number leads to boundary-layer thickening on blade surfaces,enhanced flow separation on the suction side,and increased secondary-flow losses within the blade passages.These effects jointly produce a pronounced and non-linear deterioration of turbine efficiency.Geometric scaling analysis further indicates that efficiency losses intensify with decreasing turbine size,and become particularly severe at low rotational speeds and high expansion ratios.Detailed flow-field analyses reveal a direct link between the degradation of blade loading distribution and the amplification of transverse pressure gradients under low-Reynolds-number conditions,providing physical insight into the observed performance decline.展开更多
基金supported by the Tiangsu Association for Science and Technology(Grant No.JSKX 0225089).
文摘The low-pressure and low-density conditions encountered at high altitudes significantly reduce the operating Reynolds number of micro radial-flow turbines,frequently bringing it below the self-similarity critical threshold of 3.5×10^(4).This departure undermines the applicability of conventional similarity-based design approaches.In this study,micro radial-flow turbines with rotor diameters below 50 mm are investigated through a combined approach integrating high-fidelity numerical simulations with experimental validation,aiming to elucidate the mechanisms by which low Reynolds numbers influence aerodynamic and thermodynamic performance.The results demonstrate that decreasing Reynolds number leads to boundary-layer thickening on blade surfaces,enhanced flow separation on the suction side,and increased secondary-flow losses within the blade passages.These effects jointly produce a pronounced and non-linear deterioration of turbine efficiency.Geometric scaling analysis further indicates that efficiency losses intensify with decreasing turbine size,and become particularly severe at low rotational speeds and high expansion ratios.Detailed flow-field analyses reveal a direct link between the degradation of blade loading distribution and the amplification of transverse pressure gradients under low-Reynolds-number conditions,providing physical insight into the observed performance decline.
