Flow analysis and performance improvement of a radial inflow turbine with back cavity under variable operation condition of compressed air energy storage

Summary

Radial inflow turbine is an important working output device in compressed air energy storage (CAES) system. It influences the system's efficiency significantly. However, the investigation about effect of back cavity leakage flow on flow loss in radial unshrouded rotor is still needed, especially under variable operation condition of CAES system. Therefore, the performance of radial turbine with back cavity at different total expansion ratio is revealed in the present work. Results illustrate that the variation of labyrinth seal clearance in the original back cavity has limited impact on the leakage flow and the isentropic efficiency. The isentropic efficiency only reduced by 0.11%, and the leakage flow rate is only increased by 0.017 kg/s when labyrinth seal size varies from 0.09 to 0.20 mm. The fluid in back cavity intends to leak into the rotor channel and causes more flow loss; the isentropic efficiency under different total expansion ratio is thus decreased, and a maximum isentropic efficiency reduction of 1.5% is obtained when total expansion ratio is 2.89. To control the flow loss, a “rotor‐back cavity seal” is proposed, and a maximum isentropic efficiency increment of 1.12% is achieved when total expansion ratio is 2.89.