2103-abj Fluid Mechanics 1

Note: Conventions for The Angles β and α for Turbomachine Blades and Euler Turbomachine Equation
Asi Bunyajitradulya (ABJ)
Conventions for The Angles β and α for Turbomachine Blades
and Euler Turbomachine Equation
Note:
1. These are conventions for the specifications of β and α. Hence, it is to be reminded that different books may use
different conventions for β and α.
2. These conventions are applicable to both radial and axial flow machines.

Approach to Convention 1: Establishing the Reference Coordinates

Base of The Convention:

The measurement of the angles β and α according to this convention is based upon two local (at that point)
perpendicular velocity vectors at the inlet/exit: v
1. the blade peripheral/tangential velocity U , and
v v
2. the (normal) flow velocity Vn that causes fluid to enter/leave CV. (This is V r in the case of radial-flow
v
machine and V z in the case of axial-flow machine.)

- Tangent line to blade angle [See Example 3:

Sketching of blade shapes, pp. 4-5.]
- Note that the direction of fluid velocity
relative to blade is the opposite.

β v
U

α
Right angle
v
Vn
Direction of absolute velocity of fluid

flow

Construction: v v v
- Identify/Draw U . Identify/Draw V n (which is perpendicular to U ).
- Draw them with common starting point to see the right angle.
Convention for β: v v
1. The angle β is measured from the vector U in the direction away from V n , i.e., away from the right angle (or
v
away from the V n -flow) as shown in the figure above.
Convention for α: v v
2. The angle α is measured from the vector V n in the direction towards U , i.e., towards the right angle as shown in
the figure above.

NOTE: v v
1. The convention is based upon the flow system itself ( U and V n ), and independent of the coordinates r , θ , z
which may be arbitrarily set up. [To emphasize this point, no directions of r , θ , z are drawn in the diagrams in the
following examples.] v
v
2. Since the setup of the coordinates r , θ , z are our own choice, U can be either in +θ or -θ direction, V n can be
either in +z or - z direction, etc., depending upon how we set up the coordinates.
3. The figure below compares to that of Fox et al. (which may not be stated so explicitly, see further in Approach to
Convention 2). The two are basically equivalent. You can use whichever one you prefer.
2103-abj Fluid Mechanics 2
Note: Conventions for The Angles β and α for Turbomachine Blades and Euler Turbomachine Equation
Asi Bunyajitradulya (ABJ)

β v
U
β
Fox et al. α
Right angle
v
Vn

flow

Approach to Convention 2: (For β) Anticipating the Sum of The Velocity Vectors by Parallelogram Law

In Fox et al. approach to the convention

v (which may not be stated so vexplicitly),
v the logic is based on the anticipation of
v
the sum of the velocity vectors U and V rb by parallelogram law (with U and V rb having common starting point). Hence,
the logic and the method
v are as follows.
1. Draw U .
v v v
2. At the starting point of U , draw the “starting vector” V rb with the same starting point as U but pointing in
the exact opposite direction.
v r
3. Rotate the “starting vector” V rb by the angle β towards the V n -flow direction.

v β v
V rb U
β
v v
Anticipate the sum of U and V rb by the
v v v v
V rb v parallelogram law: V = U + V rb . Use common starting
Vn v v v
point for U and V rb . Then, rotate the starting V rb in
v
flow the direction towards V n .

v β v v v
V rb U Sum U and V rb using the
β v v v
parallelogram law: V = U + V rb .
v
v V
V rb v
Vn

flow

Note: This approach of the convention does not use the customary clear and explicit statement of the reference
coordinates for the measurement of β. vHowever, the “coordinates” are there but implicit in the parallelogram law
of addition and (rotation towards) the V n -flow.
2103-abj Fluid Mechanics 3
Note: Conventions for The Angles β and α for Turbomachine Blades and Euler Turbomachine Equation
Asi Bunyajitradulya (ABJ)

Example 1: Radial-flow machine:

v v
Vn2 v V rb 2
U2
v
β2 Vn2 v
α2 V2
v
U2
v β2
V n1

v
U1
β1 v v v
ω V rb1 V n1 α1 V1

v
U1
β1

Example 2: Axial-flow machine:

flow

β1 β1
v v
U1 U1
v v ω
V n1 V n1

β2 A β2 B
v v
U2 U2
v v flow
Vn2 Vn 2

v v
U1 β1 U2 β2

α2
α1 A
v v v
V1 v V rb1 V2 v
V n1 V rb 2
v
Vn2

v
U2 β2

α2
B
v v
V2 V rb 2
v
Vn2
2103-abj Fluid Mechanics 4
Note: Conventions for The Angles β and α for Turbomachine Blades and Euler Turbomachine Equation
Asi Bunyajitradulya (ABJ)

Example 3: Axial flow – Sketching of blade shapes.

1. β 1 = 30 o , β 2 = 60 o

flow

β1
v
U1
Slope increases from 30o to 60o Curvature
v
V n1
β2
v
U2
v
Vn 2
Case of positive α1.
v v v
U1 β1 U 2 = U1 β2

α1 α2

v v v v v v v
V rb1 V1 V n1 V rb 2 V2 V n 2 = V n1

v v
β1 and α1 are given. β2 is given, V n 2 = V n1

Case of negative α1.

v v v
U1 β1 U 2 = U1 β2

α2
v v v v
V rb1 V n1 V rb 2 V2
α1
v v v
V1 V n 2 = V n1

v v v v v v
Because U 1 = U 2 = U and V n1 = V n 2 = V n , the inlet and exit velocity diagrams are customarily drawn as shown
v v
U U
β1 β1
β2 α2 α1 β2
α2
v
v v v v Vn v v
V rb 2 V 2 V rb1 V1 V rb 2 V rb1 v
r
Vt1 V n α1
r v v
r Vt 2 V2 V1
∆Vt v
v Vt1
Vt 2
v
∆Vt
Case of positive α1. Case of negative α1.
v v
Note that the velocity vectors U and ∆Vt are in the same direction.
2103-abj Fluid Mechanics 5
Note: Conventions for The Angles β and α for Turbomachine Blades and Euler Turbomachine Equation
Asi Bunyajitradulya (ABJ)

2. β 1 = 60 o , β 2 = 30 o

flow

β1
v
U1
v Slope decreases from 60o to 30o Curvature
V n1

β2
v
U2
v
Vn 2

3. β 1 = 30 o , β 2 = 120 o

flow

β1
v
U1
v Slope increases from 30o to 120o Curvature
V n1

β2
v
U2
v
Vn2

4. β 1 = 120 o , β 2 = 30 o

flow

β1
v
U1
v
V n1 Slope decreases from 120o to 30o curvature

β2
v
U2
v
Vn2
2103-abj Fluid Mechanics 6
Note: Conventions for The Angles β and α for Turbomachine Blades and Euler Turbomachine Equation
Asi Bunyajitradulya (ABJ)

Euler’s Turbomachine Equation and The Associated Power

A) = m& [(r × V ) 2 − (r × V )1 ]
v v v v v v v v v
Tshaft = ∫ (r × V )(1
ρV2⋅ d3
CS dm&
v v v v
[ v v v
W& shaft = Tshaft ⋅ ω = m& (r × V ) 2 − (r × V )1 ⋅ ω ]
v v v v v v v v v
Note: From vector identity, (r × V ) ⋅ ω = (V × ω ) ⋅ r = (ω × r ) ⋅ V , we then have
v v
[
v v v v
W& shaft = Tshaft ⋅ ω = m& (r × V ) 2 − (r × V )1 ⋅ ω
v
]
[v v v v v v
= m& (ω × r2 ) ⋅ V 2 − (ω × r1 ) ⋅ V1 ; ] v v
ω = ωeˆ z , r = reˆ r + zeˆ z ; ω is signed.
[
v v v v
= m& U 2 ⋅ V 2 − U 1 ⋅ V1 ; ] v
U = Ueˆθ ; U is signed.

⎧m& (Uv ⋅ Vv ); v v
for radial flow machine with U 1 ⊥ V1
⎪ 2 2
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪
=⎨

⎪
v
[ v v
⎪m& (V 2 − V1 ) ⋅ U ; ] for axial flow machine at the same radius r
v
[ v v
⎪= m& (Vθ 2 − Vθ 1 ) ⋅ U ; ]
( )
⎪ v v v v v
⎪= m& ∆Vθ ⋅ U ; Note : Here, we revert to the notation Vθ (same as previous Vt , ∆Vt in
⎪
⎩ Example 3.1 .

Note:
v v v v
1. Hence, the mechanical power at shaft W& shaft = Tsahft ⋅ ω is positive ( Tsahft ⋅ ω > 0 ) when
v v
for the above radial-flow machine: U 2 ⋅ V 2 > 0 ; absolute tangential fluid velocity is in the same direction
v
as U , e.g., pump, compressor, fan;
v v
for the above axial-flow machine: ∆Vθ ⋅ U > 0 ; change of absolute tangential fluid velocity is in the
v
same direction as U , e.g., pump, compressor, fan. See
v v Example 3.1 above.
Note also that for axial turbines, ∆Vθ ⋅ U < 0 and mechanical power is extracted from the high-energy fluid stream.
To see this effect, practice drawing the velocity diagrams in Examples 3.2 and 3.4.
v v v
2. Note that, here W& shaft is evaluated from the mechanical power of shaft torque Tshaft : W& shaft ≡ Tsahft ⋅ ω . Hence, positive
v v
W& shaft ≡ Tsahft ⋅ ω means that the shaft delivers mechanical power into the mechanical system, and vice versa, as shown
below. v
Tshaft

v v
ω or ω′
system

This is not to be confused with W& shaft in the energy equation:

∂ ⎡ 1 ⎤ 1 v v
Q& − W& shaft − W& shear − W& other = ⎢ ∫ (u + V 2 + gz )( ρdV )⎥ + ∫ (u + Pv + V 2 + gz )( ρV ⋅ dA) ,
∂t ⎣⎢CV 2 ⎦⎥ CS 2
in which, according to the sign convention for this equation, W& shaft that delivers the mechanical power into the system is
negative.