Jet Flap Stator Blade Test in the High Reaction Turbine Blade Cascade Tunnel

A researcher examines the setup of a jet flap blade in the High Reaction Turbine Blade Cascade Tunnel at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Lewis Research Center. Lewis researchers were seeking ways to increase turbine blade loading on aircraft engines in an effort to reduce the overall size and weight of engines. The ability of each blade to handle higher loads meant that fewer stages and fewer blades were required.
This study analyzed the performance of a turbine blade using a jet flap and high loading. A jet of air was injected into the main stream from the pressure surface near the trailing edge. The jet formed an aerodynamic flap which deflected the flow and changed the circulation around the blade and thus increased the blade loading. The air jet also reduced boundary layer thickness. The jet-flap blade design was appealing because the cooling air may also be used for the jet.

The performance was studied in a two-dimensional cascade including six blades. The researcher is checking the jet flat cascade with an exit survey probe. The probe measured the differential pressure that was proportional to the flow angle. The blades were tested over a range of velocity ratios and three jet flow conditions. Increased jet flow improved the turning and decreased both the weight flow and the blade loading. However, high blade loadings were obtained at all jet flow conditions.