TMA401M/101/0/2019

Tutorial Letter 101/0/2019

TURBOMACHINES IV
TMA401M

Year module

Department of Mechanical and Industrial

Engineering

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
This tutorial letter contains important information
about your module.

BARCODE
 CONTENTS
Page

1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 3
1.1 Tutorial Matter............................................................................................................................... 3
2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES ...................................................................................................... 4
2.1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 4
2.2 Outcomes ..................................................................................................................................... 4
3 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS................................................................................... 4
3.1 Lecturer(s) .................................................................................................................................... 4
3.2 Department ................................................................................................................................... 4
3.3 University ...................................................................................................................................... 5
4 RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................... 5
4.1 Prescribed books .......................................................................................................................... 5
4.2 Recommended books ................................................................................................................... 5
4.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves) ................................................................................................... 5
4.4 Library services and resources………………………………………………………………….5
5 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES ................................................................................................ 6
6 STUDY PLAN ............................................................................................................................... 6
7 PRACTICAL WORK AND WORK-INTEGRATED LEARNING..................................................... 6
8 ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................................................. 6
8.1 Assessment criteria....................................................................................................................... 6
8.2 Assessment plan .......................................................................................................................... 6
8.3 Assignment numbers .................................................................................................................... 6
8.3.1 General assignment numbers ....................................................................................................... 6
8.3.2 Unique assignment numbers ........................................................................................................ 7
8.4 Assignment due dates……………………………………………………………………………7
8.5 Submission of assignments .......................................................................................................... 7
8.6 The assignments .......................................................................................................................... 7
8.7 Other assessment methods ........................................................................................................ 11
8.8 The examination ......................................................................................................................... 11
9 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ........................................................................................ 12
10 SOURCES CONSULTED ........................................................................................................... 12
11 IN CLOSING ............................................................................................................................... 12
12 ADDENDUM ............................................................................................................................... 12

2
 TMA401M/101/0/2019

Dear Student,

1 INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the module, Turbomachines IV offered by the Department of Mechanical and
Industrial Engineering under School of Engineering in the College of Science, Engineering and
Technology at University of South Africa (UNISA)
We are pleased to welcome you to this module and hope that you will find it both interesting and
rewarding. We will do our best to make your study of this module successful. You will be well
on your way to success if you start studying early in the year and resolve to do the assignments
properly.
You will receive a number of tutorial letters during the year. A tutorial letter is our way of
communicating with you about teaching, learning and assessment.
This tutorial letter contains important information about the scheme of work, resources and
assignments for this module. We urge you to read it carefully and to keep it at hand when
working through the study material, preparing the assignments, preparing for the examination
and addressing questions to your lecturers.
Please read Tutorial Letter 301 in combination with this tutorial letter as it gives you an idea of
generally important information when studying at a distance and within a particular College.
In this tutorial letter (101), you will find the assignments and assessment criteria as well as
instructions on the preparation and submission of the assignments. It also provides all the
information you need with regards to the prescribed study material and other resources and
how to obtain them. Please study this information carefully and make sure that you obtain the
prescribed material as soon as possible.
We have also included certain general and administrative information about this module.
Please study this section of the tutorial letter carefully. This can be included in Tutorial Letter
301, which is specific to each college.
Right from the start we would like to point out that you must read all the tutorial letters you
receive during the year immediately and carefully, as they always contain important and,
sometimes, urgent information.
We hope that you will enjoy this module and wish you all the best!

1.1 Tutorial matter

Some of this study material may not have been available when you registered. Study material
that was not available when you registered will be posted to you as soon as possible, but is also
available on myUnisa.
It is very important that you log on to myUnisa as often as possible through the internet. You
must be registered on myUnisa to be able to submit assignments, gain access to the Library
functions and various learning resources, download study materials, “chat” to your lecturers and
fellow students about your studies and the challenges you may encounter, and participate in
online discussions forums. Through myUnisa you can have additional opportunities to take part
in activities and discussions which are relevant to your module topics, assignments, marks and
examinations.

3
2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES
2.1 Purpose
The main purpose of this course is to examine, through the laws of fluid mechanics and
thermodynamics, the means by which energy transfer is achieved in the main types of
turbomachines, together with the differing behaviour of individual types in operation. The
methods of analysing the flow processes differ depending upon the geometrical configuration of
the machine, whether the fluid can be regarded as incompressible or not and whether the
machine absorbs or produces work. As far as possible, a unified treatment is adopted so that
machines having similar configurations and function are considered together.
2.2 Outcomes
At the end of this course the student will be able to choose the best turbomachine design for a
given application, predict the performance characteristics and parameters of axial flow
turbomachines so that the final design lies within acceptable limits for each parameter.

3 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS

3.1 Lecturer(s)
Your lecturer is: Prof. Veeredhi. Vasudeva Rao (Primary)
Tel nr :011 670 9420
e-mail :vasudvr@unisa.ac.za
Prof. Christopher Enweremadu
Tel nr: 011 471 2057
E-mail: enwercc@unisa.ac.za
3.2 Department
You may contact the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering by post, e-mail,
telephone, or online through myUnisa.
Please refer to the booklet: My studies @ Unisa
Departmental Address:
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Unisa (Florida Campus)
Private Bag X6
Florida
1710
Phone: 011 471 2361
Use the general E-mail address: dubasgn1@unisa.ac.za Find our department on the Internet at
the online address:
http://www.unisa.ac.za/Default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=19251
Always state your STUDENT NUMBER and your module code TMA401M in all correspondence
and enquiries.
Whenever you contact the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, ensure that
the first thing you mention after greeting is your subject (Module) code! It does not help, if you
say, that you are a student in Mechanical Engineering. At Unisa lecturers deal with modules.

4
 TMA401M/101/0/2019

3.3 University
Email: study-info@unisa.ac.za
Online address: http://myunisa.ac.za

4 RESOURCES
4.1 Prescribed books
Title: Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Turbomachinery
Author: S. L. Dixon and C. A. Hall
Edition: 7th
Publisher: ELSEVIER
ISBN: 978-0-756067-870-4
4.2 Recommended books
Title: Hydraulic and Compressible flow Turbomachines
Author: A. T. Sayers
Publisher: McGraw-Hill
ISBN: 187890793X
4.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves)
The prescribed book is available from UNISA Library EBSCO e-book collection through the link:
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=320859&site=ehost-
live&scope=site
E-reserves can be downloaded from the Library catalogue. More information is available at:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/request
4.4 Library services and resources
The Unisa Library offers a range of information services and resources:

 for detailed Library information go to

http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library
 for research support and services (e.g. personal librarians and literature
search services) go to
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Library-
services/Research-support
The Library has created numerous Library guides:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za
Recommended guides:

 Request and download recommended material:

http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/request
 Postgraduate information services:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/postgrad
 Finding and using library resources and tools:
5
 http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/Research_skills
 Frequently asked questions about the Library:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask
 Services to students living with disabilities:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/disability

5 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Important information appears in your my Studies @ Unisa brochure

6 STUDY PLAN
Use your my Studies @ Unisa brochure for general time management and planning skills.

7 PRACTICAL WORK AND WORK-INTEGRATED LEARNING

There are no practical sessions for this module.

8 ASSESSMENT
8.1 Assessment criteria
Assessment of the registered candidates will be done based on the submitted assignments and
a final examination together.
8.2 Assessment plan
This course is part of a year-long system.
The marks for Turbomachines IV (TMA401M) are calculated as follows:
The year mark contributes to 20% of final mark and is calculated: Year mark = (Assignment 1
x 0.04) + (Assignment 2 x 0.16). The examination mark contributes to 80% of the final mark.
These marks are independent of the exam credit value. In order to qualify for sitting the
examinations, you have to submit assignment 01 for this year module. BUT PLEASE note that
you risk losing assignment contribution to your year mark if you opt not to submit your
assignment 02.
The year mark is based on all the assignment marks obtained and their contribution towards the
final year mark are as shown in the table below:

CONTRIBUTIONTOWARDS
ASSIGNMENT NUMBER
SEMESTER MARK

01 (Compulsory) 4%

02 (Compulsory) 16%

TOTAL 20%

8.3 Assignment numbers

8.3.1 General assignment numbers
Assignments are numbered consecutively per module, starting from 01

6
 TMA401M/101/0/2019

8.3.2 Unique assignment numbers

Assignment 01: 784264
Assignment 02: 785504
8.4 Assignment due dates
The closing dates for the submission of the assignments are:

THE CUT-OFF SUBMISSION DATES FOR THE ASSIGNMENTS ARE :

Year course

Assignment 1 15 May 2019

Assignment 2 21 August 2019
Note: The cut-off dates given here are the last dates on which a given
assignment may be submitted. Students must adhere to these dates only. All
other dates referring to cut-off submission dates for assignments, as may be
posted on myUnisa or elsewhere, refers to administrative dates as managed by
the Assignment Department and does NOT influence or change the above
dates.

8.5 Submission of assignments

For detailed information on assignments, please refer to my Studies @ Unisa brochure which
you received with your study package.
To submit an assignment via myUnisa:

 Go to myUnisa.

 Log in with your student number and password.

 Select the module.

 Click on “Assignments” in the menu on the left-hand side of the screen.

 Click on the assignment number you wish to submit.

 Follow the instructions.

8.6 The assignments

ASSIGNMENT 01(COMPULSORY)
Assignment 01 is based on the basic principles and some important fundamentals.
QUESTION 1
Define Mach number. Write the mathematical expression for Mach number and explain each
term in the expression along with their units. If the fluid velocity approaching an aerofoil section
is 250 m/s, determine the Mach number assuming static temperature of the fluid is 200K.
Further, assume ᵞ = 1.4.

7
QUESTION 2
What is a compressible flow? When do you say that the flow is compressible and what is the
Mach number beyond which the flow is said to be compressible? For an incompressible flow
machine define the flow coefficient. At what speed the blade must run to get a flow coefficient
equal to 0.5. if the average meridional speed is 100 m/s.

QUESTION 3
Define reheat factor. What is the range of reheat factor?
What is flow capacity? Express in terms of a mathematical equation. Explain each term in the
equation along with their units.
What is stagnation enthalpy? Write the mathematical expression with explanation of each term.

QUESTION 4
Define and determine the specific gas constant for Oxygen, Nitrogen and air assuming them to
be an ideal gas. Gas expands in an isentropic process causing a pressure drop from 200kPa to
150kPa. Initial temperature of the gas before expansion is 185 0C. Determine the final
temperature of the gas after expansion.

QUESTION 5
From a general steady flow energy equation, arrive at a specific equation for the case of work
producing machine (turbine), and for work absorbing machine (compressor). State the
assumptions made in the process.

QUESTION 6
Certain quantity of a perfect gas undergoes an isentropic process. The initial pressure and
temperature of the gas are 140 kPa and 145 deg. C respectively. At the end of the process the
pressure reduces to 110 kPa. Determine the final temperature.
Inlet stagnation air pressure of a two-dimensional compressor cascade is 1.0 bar and inlet
stagnation temperature of 295K. For an inlet Mach number of 0.75 and an inlet flow angle of
480, the exit flow angle is measured as 16.50. Assuming the flow is isentropic, determine the
mass flow rate per unit frontal area, the exit Mach number and the static pressure ratio across
the cascade.
QUESTION 7
An axial flow air compressor is designed to provide an overall total-to-total pressure ratio of 8 to
1. At inlet and outlet, the stagnation temperatures are 300 and 500 K, respectively. Assuming
γ=1.4 for air, determine the overall total-to-total efficiency and the polytropic efficiency of the
compressor.

QUESTION 8
An axial flow fan 1.83 m diameter is designed to run at a speed of 1400 rev/min with an average
axial air velocity of 12.2 m/s. A quarter scale model has been built to obtain a check on the
design and the rotational speed of the model fan is 4200 rev/min. Determine the axial air
velocity of the model so that dynamical similarity with the full-scale fan is preserved. The effects
of Reynolds number change may be neglected.

A sufficiently large pressure vessel becomes available in which the complete model can be
placed and tested under conditions of complete similarity. The viscosity of the air is independent
of pressure and the temperature is maintained constant. At what pressure must the model be
tested?

8
 TMA401M/101/0/2019

QUESTION 9
The velocity of steam, flowing in a tube, is 275 m/s. The quality of steam is dry saturated and
the pressure is 1 atm. For such conditions, calculate the stagnation (total) pressure and the
stagnation temperature of the steam using the following two methods (i) using steam tables, (ii)
assuming steam to behave as a perfect gas with γ = 1.3

QUESTION 10
A multi-stage high –pressure steam turbine is supplied with steam at a stagnation pressure of 7
MPa and a stagnation temperature of 5000C. The corresponding specific enthalpy is 3410kJ.kg.
The steam exhaust from the turbine at a stagnation pressure of 0.7 MPa abs., the steam having
been in a super-heated condition throughout the expansion. It can be assumed that the steam
behaves like a perfect gas over the range of the expansion and that ᵞ = 1.3. Given that the
turbine flow process has a small-stage efficiency of 0.82, determine (1) the temperature and
specific volume at the end of the expansion; (2) the re-heat factor.
The specific volume of superheated steam is represented by pv=0.231(h-1943), where “p” is in
kPa, v is in m3/kg and “h” is in kJ/kg.

QUESTION 11
In a steam turbine, the measurements at the inlet show that the static pressure, the
static temperature and the flow velocity are 50 bar, 525°C and 210 m/s respectively. The
measurements at the turbine exit for the static pressure, static temperature and velocity are 1
bar, 120°C and 250 m/s respectively. Calculate:

a) the total-to-total efficiency

b) total-to-static-efficiency

QUESTION 12
In a certain axial flow turbine stage the axial velocity cx is constant. The absolute velocities
entering and leaving the stage are in the axial direction. If the flow coefficient c x/U is 0.6 and the
gas leaves the stator blades at 68.2 deg from the axial direction, calculate:

(i) the stage loading factor, ∆W/U2;

(ii) the flow angle relative to the rotor blades;
(iii) the degree of reaction;

ASSIGNMENT 02(COMPULSARY)
QUESTION 1
Inlet stagnation air pressure of a two-dimensional compressor cascade is 1.0 bar and inlet
stagnation temperature of 295K. For an inlet Mach number of 0.75 and an inlet flow angle of
480, the exit flow angle is measured as 16.50. Assuming the flow is isentropic, determine the
mass flow rate per unit frontal area, the exit Mach number and the static pressure ratio across
the cascade.
QUESTION 2
A compressor blade design tested in a cascade is found to choke with an inlet Mach number of
0.9 when the inlet flow angle is 52 deg. If the ratio of the throat area to the frontal area, A*/H1s,
for the cascade is).625, calculate the loss of stagnation pressure between the far upstream and
the throat and express this as a loss coefficient. Give your comments on what could cause this
loss.

9
QUESTION 3
A high-pressure axial compressor for a jet engine rotates at 15,000 rpm with and overall
stagnation pressure ratio of 8.5. The mass flow rate of air through the compressor is 16 kg/s
and the stagnation conditions at inlet are 200 kPa and 450 K. The polytropic efficiency is 91%.

(a) If the mean radius is 0.24 m and this is constant throughout the compressor, calculate
the total-to-total isentropic efficiency of the compressor and show that, for the stage
loading to be less than 0.4 in all stages, eight stages are required.
(b) The compressor is designed with repeating stages and zero inlet swirl. If the inlet axial
Mach number is 0.52, calculate the mean flow coefficient and sketch the velocity
triangles for one stage. Show that the blade height at exit from the compressor is about
7.8 mm.

QUESTION 4
Derive the following expression for the diffuser efficiency:

T2s
1
T1
D 
T2
1
T1

QUESTION 5
At the inlet to an axial diffuser the velocity of the approaching air is 420 m/s, the stagnation
pressure is 300 kPa, and the stagnation temperature is 600 K. At exit the stagnation pressure is
285 kPa and the static pressure 270 kPa. Using compressible flow analysis, determine (i) the
static temperature, static pressure, and Mach number at inlet and the diffuser efficiency; (ii) the
Mach number at exit and entry. For air take γ = 1.376 and R = 287 J/(kg K).

QUESTION 6
Air enters a diffuser with an averaged velocity of 360 m/s at a stagnation pressure and
temperature of 340 kPa and 420 K and leaves at a stagnation pressure of 300 kPa with an
averaged velocity of 120 m/s and a static pressure of 285 kPa. Determine,

(i) the static pressure and Mach number of the air at inlet;
(ii) the diffuser efficiency;
(iii)the Mach number at exit and the overall entropy increase.
QUESTION 7
Air is expanded in a multi-stage axial flow turbine, and the pressure drop across each stage is
very small. Assuming that air behaves as a perfect gas with ratio of specific heats γ, derive
pressure-temperature relationships for the following processes:
A) Reversible adiabatic expansion:
B) Irreversible adiabatic expansion, with small stage efficiency ᵑp ;
C) Reversible expansion in which the heat loss in each stage is a constant fraction k
of the enthalpy drop in that stage.

10
 TMA401M/101/0/2019

QUESTION 8
On a Mollier diagram show all the stagnation and static points required to represent the
complete flow process in a diffuser.
Air enters a diffuser with an average velocity of 375 m/s at a stagnation pressure and
temperature of 360 kPa and 470 K respectively and leaves at a stagnation pressure of 300 kPa
with an average velocity of 120 m/s and a static pressure of 280 kPa.
Determine
(i) The static pressure and Mach number of the air at inlet
(ii)The diffuser efficiency,
(iii)The Mach number at exit and the overall entropy increase.

QUESTION 9
In a jet engine rotor the high pressure axial compressor rotates at a speed of 15000 rpm. The
overall stagnation pressure ratio due to compression is 10:1. It was recorded that the air flows
at a rate of 16 kg/s. The stagnation properties at the inlet are 215 kPa and 460K. The poly-tropic
efficiency of the compressor is 90%.
Assume the mean radius of the compressor is constant and equal to 0.25m. Calculate the total-
to-total isentropic efficiency of the compressor. Estimate the number of stages required, if the
stage loading to be less than 0.45.
QUESTION 10
Atmospheric air enters the intake diffuser of a jet aircraft flying at a Mach number of 0.8 at a
constant altitude where the static pressure and temperature are 25kPa and 220K, respectively.
The entrance area of the intake is 0.5m 2 and the area at entry to the compressor is 0.8 m2.
There is a loss of 10% of the stagnation pressure of the air as it flows to the compressor. Using
compressible flow theory and assuming adiabatic flow in the intake, determine the Mach
number and velocity of the flow entering the compressor.

8.7 Other assessment methods

No other assessment methods will be used.
8.8 The examination
Use your my Studies @ Unisa brochure for general examination guidelines and examination
preparation guidelines.

EXAMINATION INFORMATION FOR TURBOMACHINES IV (TMA401M)

Type of examination Closed book

Duration of examination 3 Hours

Language used for examination English

Calculators allowed Yes (non-programmable)

11
9 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The my Studies @ Unisa brochure contains an A-Z guide of the most relevant study
information.
10 SOURCES CONSULTED
None

11 IN CLOSING
This tutorial letter on Turbomachines IV provides you with such information as administrative
matters, resource materials such as prescribed and recommended books, assignments and
their due dates and course syllabus provides the essential information to guide you throughout
the duration of this module. It is important you consult it regularly in the course of your study of
this module. I wish you success in the study of this module.

12 ADDENDUM
COURSE SYLLABUS
Please pay particular attention to the following topics from the prescribed book by Dixon and
Hall. The required knowledge for the module are selected from these topics.
- Basic principles. Read and understand the entire chapter except any theories about
turbomachines using liquids such as pumps for liquids and hydraulic turbines.

- Dimensional analysis. Read and understand the entire chapter. Exclude cavitation
and specific speed as applied to pumps and hydraulic turbines.

- Cascades. Read and understand the entire chapter. Important: compressor and
turbine cascade performance.

- Axial flow turbines. Read and understand the entire chapter.

- Axial-flow compressors and ducted fans. Read and understand the entire chapter.
May leave stall and surge phenomena in compressors, and low speed ducted fans,
blade element theory, blade element efficiency and lift coefficient of a fan aero foil.

- Three-dimensional flow in axial turbomachines. Read and understand all the

concepts. Important: free-vortex and forced-vortex flow in compressors and turbines.
May leave actuator disc approach, computer-aided methods, application of CFD,
secondary flows.

- Centrifugal pumps, fans and compressors. Read and understand the entire
chapter except optimum design of pump inlet, and head increase of a centrifugal
pump.

12