Visualization of the flow and heat transfer over the tip of a high-pressure turbine rotor blade as computed with the LeRC-HT code. Darkest areas represent undesirable high-heat-flux regions.
For the last several years, LeRC-HT, a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) computer code for analyzing gas turbine flow and convective heat transfer, has been evolving at the NASA Lewis Research Center. The code is unique in its ability to give a highly detailed representation of the flow field very close to solid surfaces. This is necessary for an accurate representation of fluid heat transfer and viscous shear stresses. The code has been used extensively for both internal cooling passage flows and hot gas path flows--including detailed film cooling calculations, complex tip-clearance gap flows, and heat transfer. In its current form, this code has a multiblock grid capability and has been validated for a number of turbine configurations. The code has been developed and used primarily as a research tool (at least 35 technical papers have been published relative to the code and its application), but it should be useful for detailed design analysis. We now plan to make this code available to selected users for further evaluation.
Lewis contact: Dr. James D. Heidmann, (216) 433-3604,
James.D.Heidmann@grc.nasa.gov;
and Dr. Raymond E. Gaugler, (216) 433-5882,
Raymond.E.Gaugler@grc.nasa.gov
Authors: Dr. James D. Heidmann and Dr. Raymond E. Gaugler
Headquarters program office: OAT
Programs/Projects: Propulsion Systems
R&T, AST, HSR
Last updated June 16, 1999, by Nancy.L.Obryan@nasa.gov
Responsible NASA Official:
Gynelle.C.Steele@nasa.gov
216-433-8258
Point of contact for NASA Glenn's Research & Technology reports:
Cynthia.L.Dreibelbis@nasa.gov
216-433-2912
SGT, Inc.
Web page curator:
Nancy.L.Obryan@nasa.gov
216-433-5793
Wyle Information Systems, LLC
