Effects of Surface Riblets and Free-Stream Turbulence on Heat Transfer in a Linear Turbine Cascade

Abstract

The present study is an experimental investigation of the effects of free-stream turbulence and surface riblets on the heat transfer rate in a linear turbine cascade. The primary goal of the study is to determine if surface riblets will reduce the average heat transfer rate in a cascade in the absence and in the presence of free-stream turbulence. A smooth, airfoil shaped, constant temperature, heat transfer test surface was inserted into a linear cascade facility where heat transfer tests were run at three levels of Reynolds number and two levels of free-stream turbulence. The heat transfer test surface was then removed from the facility so that riblets could be engraved on its surface. The newly ribleted heat transfer surface was then re-inserted into the cascade facility, where a second set of heat transfer tests were run at the same set of conditions used during the testing of the test surface while it was smooth. The test results indicate that, under certain conditions, surface riblets reduce the average heat transfer rate in the cascade by 7%.