Flow measurements in a curved-wall annular contraction

Flow development in an annular contraction is of fundamental and practical importance in various applications including the gas turbine systems. This paper describes an experimental study of flow characteristics in a curved wall annular contraction. The results are presented in terms of the velocity vectors, surface pressure coefficients, static and stagnation pressure distributions, and profiles of mean velocities, turbulence intensity, and Reynolds shear stress. The flow conditions at the entrance were varied to evaluate how they affected the flow development in the passage. Results show that the contraction produced uniform static pressure and axial velocity profiles at the exit plane. Higher inlet turbulence affected the Reynolds shear stress in the contraction although the change in the static and total pressure fields was insignificant. The overall stagnation pressure loss was only 2 to 3 percent of the dynamic head at the contraction exit plane. Results showing only typical data are included in this paper. More extensive data sets to validate computer codes are available from the authors.