Reduction of tip and end-wall losses in compressors using macro/micro surface structures (Fully Funded Home Student Award)

In pursuit of higher efficiency, wider operating range and more compact components, methods capable of reducing pressure losses in turbomachines are constantly being sought. This research project aims to achieve a significant reduction of end-wall loss and tip leakage loss in compressors using micro/macro surface structures. At the beginning of the project, the surface features will be designed with the aid of numerical simulations and be manufactured using advanced manufacturing techniques. A series of carefully designed experiments will then be carried out in a linear cascade to investigate the effect of changing pattern geometry on end-wall losses and tip losses, to identify the optimal geometry for given incoming flow conditions and to establish the physical flow mechanisms at play. Based on the experimental results, design guidelines for selection of surface structures for practical settings will be also developed.
The successful candidate will work under the direction of an academic supervisory team with a combined research expertise in aerodynamics and manufacturing. This project will be undertaken in close collaboration with a leading industrial company in the UK, offering a unique opportunity of transferring research findings into innovative engineering designs.