CFD validation of a new gas turbine stage design with experimental data

Gas turbines are present in two energy-intensive sectors: aviation and energy production. Improving the efficiency of gas turbines has a huge impact on the reduction of CO2 in the atmosphere, therefore many research groups are studying innovative strategies to improve the performance of these turbines. This thesis work concerns the evaluation of the global performance of a turbine located in the laboratory of the Unit of Heat and Power Technology of the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH). The innovative features of this turbine are the presence in the rotor of a more three-dimensional geometry of the blades, of a non-axisymmetric hub with endwall contouring for the reduction of secondary losses and a smaller number of blades. The performance evaluation is done both with experimental tests and using CFD simulations. The current efficiency is compared with that of the previous rotor blisk to understand if there has been an improvement or deterioration in performance. Furthermore, a comparison was also made between the results of the experimental tests and simulations, justifying possible discrepancies.