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Transient Wave Rotor Performance Investigated

The NASA Lewis Research Center is investigating the wave rotor for use as a core gas generator in future gas turbine engines. The device, which uses gas-dynamic waves to transfer energy directly to and from the working fluid through which the waves travel, consists of a series of constant-area passages that rotate about an axis. Through rotation, the ends of the passages are periodically exposed to various circumferentially arranged ports that initiate the traveling waves within the passages. Because each passage of the wave rotor is periodically exposed to both hot and cold flow, the mean temperature of the rotor material can be expected to remain considerably below the peak cycle temperature. Estimates made using numerical simulations indicate that, for a small engine (5 lbm/sec), the mean passage wall temperature is approximately 360 °C below the combustor discharge temperature.

A one-dimensional simulation developed at Lewis was used to generate steady-state performance maps for an optimally designed wave rotor. These maps were used in cycle deck studies to assess steady on-design and off-design performance in an engine environment (i.e., with surrounding turbomachinery). The results indicate favorable performance throughout the normal operating regime.

A multipassage wave rotor simulation is being used to investigate transient wave rotor behavior. Preliminary results indicate that the wave rotor is stable and well behaved even when subjected to severe transient input. Furthermore, the wave rotor response time is very short when compared with conventional turbomachinery.

sketch and line graph

Left: Schematic of transient wave rotor simulation. Right: Wave rotor response to a 50-percent step change in fuel flow rate; nondimensional port mass flow rate.

Lewis is also investigating the concept of removing the external combustor and allowing the combustion process to occur in the rotor passages (i.e., at constant volume). To study this, we modified the one-dimensional simulation to include simple combustion kinetics. Results indicate that the concept is feasible.

Lewis contact: Daniel E. Paxson, (216) 433-8334
Headquarters program office: OA

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Last updated April 29, 1996

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