Effect of suction surface plasma actuation on the low-pressure turbine flow field

Abstract

To investigate the control mechanism of suction side plasma actuation on the low-pressure turbine flow field, a numerical simulation method was used to study the boundary layer evolution as well as the aerodynamic loss development under different actuation positions. The results show that plasma actuation at three different positions on the suction side effectively reduces the separation bubble size and moves the separation point downstream of the cascade. The plasma actuation has a stronger effect on weakening the boundary layer separation and separation bubble thickness. As the actuation position is moved downstream, the peak of the total pressure loss coefficient decreases nonlinearly, and the peak point shifts closer to the pressure surface. Plasma actuation significantly alters the pressure distribution on the aft portion of the suction side, resulting in an increase in the lateral pressure along the pitchwise direction, and causes the high-loss region at the outlet to move closer to the pressure surface.