Study on Aerodynamic Optimization Design Process of Multistage Axial Turbine

An aerodynamic optimization design process of multistage axial turbine is presented in this article: first, applying quasi-three dimensional(Q3D) design methods to conduct preliminary design and then adopting modern optimization design methods to implement multistage local optimization. Quasi-three dimensional(Q3D) design methods, which mainly refer to S2 flow surface direct problem calculation, adopt the S2 flow surface direct problem calculation program of Harbin Institute of Technology. Multistage local optimization adopts the software of Numeca/Design3D, which jointly adopts genetic algorithm and artificial neural network. The major principle of the methodology is that the successive design evaluation is performed by using an artificial neural network instead of a flow solver and the genetic algorithms may be used in an efficient way. Flow computation applies three-dimensional viscosity Navier Stokes(N-S) equation solver. Such optimization process has three features: (i) local optimization based on aerodynamic performance of every cascade; (ii) several times of optimizations being performed to every cascade; and (iii) alternate use of coarse grid and fine grid. Such process was applied to optimize a three-stage axial turbine. During the optimization, blade shape and meridional channel were respectively optimized. Through optimization, the total efficiency increased 1.3% and total power increased 2.4% while total flow rate only slightly changed. Therefore, the total performance was improved and the design objective was achieved. The preliminary design makes use of quasi-three dimensional(Q3D) design methods to achieve most reasonable parameter distribution so as to preliminarily enhance total performance. Then total performance will be further improved by adopting multistage local optimization design. Thus the design objective will be successfully achieved without huge expenditure of manpower and calculation time. Therefore, such optimization design process may be efficiently applied to the aerodynamic design optimization of multistage axial turbine.