Turbomachinery

The research activities in the Turbomachinery field are:

Design, simulation and experimental analysis of turbomachinery components 

  • Development of 1D and 2D design tools for turbines, axial and radial fans and compressors, and for side channel blowers; 
  • Development and application of RANS and URANS computational fluid dynamic codes for the analysis and 3D design phase of turbines, axial and radial fans and compressors, and side channel blowers;
  • Development of experimental techniques and advanced post-processing tools for the detailed analysis of the unsteady tri-dimensional flow field inside turbomachinery components;
  • Hi-fidelity simulations for the detailed inspection of the unsteady flow field of compressor and turbine blade cascades;
  • Analysis of the aerodynamic noise generating mechanisms in fans and side channel blowers;
  • Aeroelastic vibration (flutter) in axial fans;
  • Development of big data analysis and machine learning tools for the calibration of models of complex system and identification and prediction, like turbomachinery and efficiency surface response linked to them. 

Aeronautical propulsion and aeroengines

  • Investigation of the rotor-stator aerodynamic interaction process in axial and radial turbomachines;
  • Analysis of the transition and separation processes of the boundary layer for different flow and geometric parameters influencing the real operation of aeroengine components; 
  • Boundary layer transition and separation control with passive and active devices; 
  • Design of high lift and ultra-high-lift turbine profiles optimizing the loading distribution in the unsteady operation;
  • Aero-thermal analysis of the cooling system for thermal insulation of high pressure turbine stages;
  • Experimental and numerical investigation of the secondary and cavity flows in aeroengine turbine stages.

Researchers

  • Pietro Zunino
  • Marina Ubaldi
  • Andrea Cattanei
  • Giovanni Tanda
  • Daniele Simoni
  • Davide Lengani
  • Francesca Satta
  • Edward Canepa
  • Carlo Cravero

Laboratories

  • Laboratorio di Aerodinamica e Turbomacchine - Flussi Interni dei Motori Aeronautici –Genova
  • Laboratorio di Aerodinamica e Turbomacchine - Flussi Interni dei Motori Aeronautici –Savona
  • Laboratorio di Combustione – Aeroacustica – Fluidodinamica Numerica - Genova
  • Laboratorio di Combustione – Aeroacustica – Fluidodinamica Numerica - Savona

References

  • Lengani D., Simoni D., Ubaldi M., Zunino P., Bertini, F., “Recognition of Structures Leading to Transition in a Low Pressure Turbine Cascade Under Unsteady Inflow Conditions”, ASME Journal of Turbomachinery, 2020
  • Dellacasagrande M., Lengani D., Simoni D., Ubaldi M., Zunino P., “Evaluation of Turbulent Spot Production Rate in Boundary Layers Under Variable Pressure Gradients for Gas Turbine Applications”, ASME Journal of Turbomachinery, 2020
  • Lengani D., Simoni D., Pichler R., Sandberg R., Michelassi V., Bertini F., “On the Identification and Decomposition of the Unsteady Losses in a Turbine Cascade”, ASME Journal of Turbomachinery, 2019, pp. 1-12
  • Baggetta L., Satta F., Tanda G., 2019, “A Possible Strategy for the Performance Enhancement of Turbine Blade Internal Cooling With Inclined Ribs”, Heat Transfer Engineering, Volume 40, Issue 1-2, 20 January 2019, Pages 184-192, DOI: 10.1080/01457632.2017.1421305.Satta F., 
  • Canepa E., Cattanei A.,Mazzocut Zecchin F., Parodi D.” Large-scale unsteady flow structures in the leakage flow of a low-speed axial fan with rotating shroud” Experimental Thermal and Fluid Sciences, 2019 pp.1-19
Last update 10 May 2022