Session: 33-01 Deposition, erosion and fouling in gas turbine engines

Paper Number: 152704

Numerical Study of Ice Accretion on Fan Blades: Implications for the Design of Blade Geometries 

The identification of optimal trade-offs is the goal in the sustainable development of modern low-pressure compressor blades for aircraft engines. This requires a holistic approach that accounts for various disciplines, typically including aeromechanics, structural mechanics, and aerodynamics. Multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) has already achieved excellent results in blade design. However, the consideration of environmental factors should not be neglected. Ice accretion on surfaces, such as fan blades, can significantly degrade aerodynamic performance, leading to efficiency losses and increased fuel consumption. Moreover, ice shedding can induce engine vibrations that may cause damage [1].

In this study, as a preliminary step to the MDO of a fan blade, ice formation on the NASA Rotor 67 will be numerically investigated. The work focuses on assessing the sensitivity of ice accretion to variations in blade geometry and hub contour. The process involves geometry creation (Parablade [2]), flow simulation (ANSYS CFX), and ice accretion simulation (ANSYS Fensap-Ice), considering typical icing parameters such as temperature, droplet size, and liquid water content. The results of this sensitivity study will contribute to a deeper understanding of icing behavior in low-pressure compressors and provide key insights for the design and optimization of blade geometries under adverse environmental conditions.

 

References:

[1]        LIAO, S.: A PROBABILISTIC MODEL OF ICING INDUCED FAN UNBALANCE. Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2023, Boston, USA, GT2023-102984.

[2]        AGROMAYOR, R., ANAND, N., MÜLLER, J.-D., PINI, M., NORD, L. O.: A Unified Geometry Parametrization Method for Turbomachinery Blades. Computer-Aided Design, Volume 133, April 2021, 102987. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cad.2020.102987.

Presenting Author: Katja Mueller Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences

Presenting Author Biography: Ms. Katja Mueller studied mechanical engineering with a focus on the energy efficiency of technical systems at the Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences. Since the beginning of 2023, she has been working as a research assistant at the Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences on the topic of in-flight icing. Since July 2024, she has started her PhD in cooperation with Rolls-Royce Deutschland.

Authors:

Katja Mueller Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences
Klaus Markgraf Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences
Andreas Vogel Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
Peter Flassig Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences
Robert Flassig Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences