This thesis presents the results of a three-dimensional flow calculation with a
model of turbulent viscosity for a tandem-bladed inducer in air. The purpose is to understand
the 3D flow development through the two blade rows and to compare the results
of the calculation 'with experimental data.
A literature review tells the story of the inducer from the flat-plate design to the
tandem-bladed configuration and explains its role in cavitation management. The results
of a previous 3D-calculation on the first blade row alone are summarized and the MEFP
code is briefly described.
The generation of a grid for the second blade row is presented in detail. Then, it
is shown how this new grid is linked to the previous grid for the first blade row to get
an overall calculation grid for the whole inducer. Two 2D blade-to-blade calculations
are shown. They give an insight into the flow behavior through the inducer and allow
a test of the grid.
The results of the 3D-calculation are discussed and presented extensively with the
velocity vectors, the static pressure contours and the rotary stagnation pressure contours
on blade-to-blade, meridional and iso-8 vie"rs. The three passages of the second blade
row appear to behave differently with respect to their position relative to the wake of the
first blade row. The experimental data are used for comparison at three measurement
planes in terms of pressure and velocity. They show a fairly good agreement. The
three-dimensional calculation predicts also very well the work done and the efficiency
of the overall inducer.
next to an author's name indicates that all files or directories associated with their ETD are accessible from the Virginia Tech campus network only.
![[VT]](http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/images/ETD-db/restricted.gif)
