Experimental and numerical investigation of stator exit flow field of an automotive torque converter

The objective of this investigation is to understand the nature of the complex flow field inside each element of the torque converter through a systematic experimental and numerical investigation of the pow field. A miniature five-hole probe was used to acquire the delta at the exit of the stator at several operating conditions. The flow field is found to be highly three dimensional with substantial pow deviations, and secondary flow at the exit of the stator. The secondary pow structure, caused by the upstream radial variation of the through pow, induces flow overturning near the core. Flow separation near the shell causes flow underturning in this region. The rate of decay of stator wake is found to be slower than that observed in the wakes of axial flow turbine nozzles. The pow predictions by a Navier-Stokes code are in goon agreement with the pressure and the flow field measured at the exit of the stator at the design and the off-design conditions.