Numerical simulation of the 3d viscous flow in the exhaust casing of a low pressure steam turbine

The numerical simulation results of the 3D viscous flow in the downward exhaust casing of a low pressure steam turbine, obtained with the 3D Navier-Stokes solver Fine/TURBO, is presented in this paper. The central scheme of Jameson, together with the algebraic turbulence model of Baldwin and Lomax are applied, and the grid points used in this work are nearly 310,000. The computational results are compared with the experimental data available. The numerical simulation result reveals the complex vortex structures in the casing and the passage vortex is the main cause for the static pressure recovery reduction and total pressure losses.