Numerical Simulation of the effect of passive control method by changing tip geometry on the performance of the axial turbine

Turbine tip leakage flow is one of the effective factors in reducing the efficiency and performance of axial turbines, which can also destroy turbine blades. Accordingly, it is important to identify and control the tip leakage flow. In this paper, we investigate the effect of tip clearance sizes and changes in tip shape as a passive control method on tip structure and total turbine flow performance. For this purpose, the flow loss in a two-stage axial turbine is performed using the CFX software. In order to ensure the accuracy of the results, the turbine performance curves were compared with the experimental results which good consistency have been observed. Considering the four cases for tip clearance size, the turbine performance curves and resulting pressure loss have been investigated. It was found that increasing the tip clearance size leads to reduced efficiency and increased losses in the axial turbine. In the following, we examine the application of the passive control method through the change of the tip geometry. In this regard, the shape of the blade tip is somehow considered that the tip clearance size is variable from leading edge to trailing edge. The results show that in these cases, tip leakage flow and the resulting vertices are weakened, which leads to a decrease in the rotor loss coefficient. Observing the flow contours results in lower temperatures in the blade region due to the formation of a weaker tipping leak flow, which helps cool the turbine blades.