Analysis of a Variable Geometry Radial Inflow Turbine Using 1D Mean-line Model

Despite great progress in 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD), mathematical modeling used for turbomachinery analysis, the prediction of flow parameters in the rotor (impeller) of radial inflow turbines using existing turbulence models often yields unsatisfactory results. This is because real physical processes related to turbulence are very complex. Other limitations of CFD tools include numerical errors due to finite difference approximations. Thus, for the analysis and optimization of radial inflow turbines, empirical loss correlations applied to a mean-line 1D mathematical model can provide faster and more accurate results compared to CFD simulations. In this study, a 1D approach was used for the mathematical modeling of gas flow in a variable geometry radial inflow turbine with a vaneless volute distributor (VVD). [...]