Optimal design of high pressure steam turbine stage using computational fluid dynamics

Abstract

This paper presents the results of the development and application of the shape optimization method of a high pressure steam turbine stage, which takes into account the nature of the flow around the turbine profiles and leakages through the radial seals. Computational fluid dynamic methods (ANSYS CFX) were used to calculate the stage flow characteristics. A comprehensive three-step verification of the computational model was carried out before its optimization. As a result of the optimization a new stage with an efficiency increase of 0.48 % compared to the original design was obtained. The reasons leading to this performance boost were analyzed and are presented here.