Tests on an experimental three-stage turbine fitted with low reaction blading of unconventional form

Abstract

A three-stage turbine designed for high stage loading has been tested cold over a wide range of operating conditions and the test results have been compared with calculated performance figures. Inter-blade row traverses have demonstrated the development of flow in a multi-stage turbine and have provided direct measurements of stator blade loss coefficients. The relatively poor efficiency of the turbine is shown to be due to excessive losses in the rotor blade rows. It is believed that these high losses are the result of the camber-line form used in defining the profile at the root (low reaction) station.