Modeling of Liquid Dynamics in Spray Laden Compressor Flows

The injection of water spray into the compressor inlet of stationary gas turbines is used for rapid power augmentation. Besides covering peak loads the method is applicable to compensate power grid fluctuations in the context of increased use of renewable energy resources. While flowing through the compressor, the injected water droplets evaporate and thus cool the ambient flow, whereby the compression work is reduced and the net power output is increased. Dependent on the operating conditions and fineness of the water spray a significant portion of droplets impact onto the blades leading to severe erosion of the compressor blading. A part of the impacting liquid drop mass is ejected back to the carrier gas flow, while the remaining share forms a liquid film along the blading surfaces. The liquid is advected towards the trailing edge, where it is released to the ambient flow and disintegrates to single drops. In order to reduce losses and damages caused by application of high fogging systems, involved liquid dynamical subprocesses ought to be physically apprehended. The objective of the present work is to provide a numerical tool that enables the three-dimensional simulation of a droplet laden flow through the compressor stage, allowing for the consideration of the interaction between blading and the liquid.