NVision Noncontact Measurement Services Improve Turbine Blade Performance

By DE Editors

NVision’s (Southlake,TX) noncontact measurement services are instrumental in improving blade performance for turbine blades by increasing the accuracy of flow simulations used in the design process. Blade manufacturers have long been plagued by not being able to accurately measure prototype blades, particularly the leading and trailing edges. Physical tests did not always match the simulations, leading to test results that could not always be validated. The MAXOS system from NVision to measure the critical blade geometry, ensuring the prototypes blades meet the design intent and enhance simulation accuracy.

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to design the most advanced turbine blades used in power generation, to simulate the flow of gases over the blades. Virtual prototyping, or simulation in this case, allows engineers to evaluate the performance of numerous blade designs. Although virtual prototyping is valuable in the evaluation of performance, the CFD model must be validated by running a physical test with an identical blade and operating conditions to make sure the simulation matches the test results.

The complexity of today’s turbine blades has upped the ante in terms of being able to fully capture the critical geometry with standard coordinate measuring machines (CMMs), laser scanners or white light scanners.

Rather than using a touch probe to measure, Nvision’s MAXOS system measures the geometry uses a concentrated light. What the MAXOS does is measure actual surface material without having to spray it with a matte coating. It also can measure radii down to 0.004”, and the accuracy of the system is +/- 0.0004” on polished and machined services and the resolution between the measured points down to 0.0001”.

With NVision’s non-contact measurement system, CFD simulations can precisely match the physical tests used to validate the simulations. The turbine blade manufacturers can consequently anticipate higher levels of performance from their blades and reduce the cost associated with physical testing.

For more information, contact NVision, Inc.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.