Influence of Flow Coefficient on Ingress Through Turbine Rim Seals

Abstract Rim seals are critical in terms of limiting the temperature highly stressed engine components but function with a penalty to power output and contribute entropy gain stemming from mixing losses turbine. Ingress through rim is influenced by presence rotor blades stator vanes, mainstream flow coefficient annulus that determines corresponding swirl. This paper presents an experimental study ingress upstream downstream disk 1.5-stage rig double radial clearance seals. Two disks were used, one without, two platforms used rotor, vanes without. Tests conducted at rotational speeds range conditions was achieved varying sealing mass rates. Concentration effectiveness, swirl, steady pressure measurements separated, for first time, influence on over wide conditions. Measurements platform provide added insight into complex interaction between egress mainstream. unsteady revealed large-scale structures, even absence blades. The number speed structures shown depend purge rate.