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Basic Analysis of Counter-Rotating Turbines

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R. CAI
W. WU*
G. FANG
Inst. Engg. Thermophysics, Academia Sinica
P.O. Box 2706, Beijing 100080
P.R.C.

ABSTRACT Superscripts
A comprehensive basic analysis for various counter-rotating
- non-dimensional value (divided by u A or u )
turbines is given with the blade element stage assumption. Similar
to the classical analysis of common turbine stages, the appropri- non-dimensional value of unit blade row
ate independent variables and evaluation criteria of the
counter-rotating turbine stages are first presented and then three Subscripts
typical kinds of rotating blade rows are defined and all possible A first rotating blade row of a counter-rotating turbine
typical schemes of counter-rotating turbine stages are enumer- stage
ated. Their performances of specific work, load factor distribu- B second rotating blade row of a counter-rotating turbine
stage
tion between two counter-rotating shafts and efficiency are ana-
lysed and discussed for different shaft rotating speed ratios. This C third rotating blade row of a counter-rotating turbine
stage
information is useful for the selection and preliminary design of a
counter-rotating turbine. From the analysis results, it is con- e exit
i inlet
cluded that the load capacity per unit engine length of
counter-rotating turbines can be much higher than that of com- u tangential
z axial
mon turbines (approximately twice) without efficiency penalty or
1 in front of the first rotating blade row of a stage
even with higher efficiency. Some triple counter-rotating tur-
bines suitable for three shaft gas turbine power plants are pro- 2 behind the first rotating blade row of a stage
posed and analysed briefly too. 3 behind the second rotating blade row of a stage
4 behind the third rotating blade row of a stage
NOMENCLATURE
c absolute velocity INTRODUCTION
h * stage specific work (enthalpy drop) A counter-rotating turbine consists of several (at least two)
m number of blade rows in a stage co-axial counter-rotating blade rows (Fig.1), the working fluid
n rotating speed 1 2 3
u peripheric velocity
w relative velocity
a absolute velocity angle (measured from axial direction)
/3 relative velocity angle (measured from axial direction)
sy total-static efficiency
r^ • total-total efficiency
p reaction degree

* Presently at China National Aeroengine Fig. 1 Counter-Rotating Turbine Stage

'Presented at the Gas Turbine and Aeroengine Congress and Exposition—June 11-14, 1990—Brussels, Belgium
flows in series through these blade rows and delivers output pow- will be used: h= h * / u 2, since the peripheric velocity of the
er. There may be a stator row in front of or behind the first blade row is usually not lower than the second one. In order
counter—rotating blade rows; for example, a nozzle row in front to fairly compare load capacity of different configurations, an
of the rotating rows, additional criterion is defined: the average load factor of unit
There had been some practical counter—rotating turbines blade row h=ham / m where m is the blade row number of the
since the early days of this century, most of them had been the stage (for example, for an ordinary stage m = 2, for a Curtis stage
radial counter—rotating multistage steam turbines (Ljungstrom m=4 and for a common counter—rotating stage m=2 or 3 ).

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turbines); however, they were almost discarded in recent years. This factor can be used to evaluate the work output per unit en-
Axial counter—rotating turbines are not widespread even there gine length or per unit engine weight more reasonably.
are a few examples. Nevertheless, the revival of the counter—ro-
tating turbines is promoted recently by the development of the
counter—rotating UDF aeroengines. Moreover, counter—rotating
turbines with unequal rotating speeds are especially suitable to
the compact and high—loaded turboshaft engines and highly
recuperative, low pressure ratio gas turbine power plants. INDEPENDENT VARIABLES AND EVALUATION
There are very few thorough basic aero—thermodynamic an- CRITERIA
alyses related to the counter—rotating turbines, even the basic One of the keys to an engineering analysis is to define the in-
blade element stage analyses. Two references were given by Louis dependent variables and evaluation criteria. It is impossible to
(1985) and Ge et al.(1988) in recent years. However, the former obtain correct results and conclusions without a careful study of
only analysed two kinds of counter—rotating turbine stage veloci- this problem. For example, an optimization analysis with wrong
ty triangles, the latter only computed very few examples with number of independent variables and without correct evaluation
some advanced aerodynamic computation methods. Moreover, criteria is nonsense.
both Louis(1985) and Ge et al.(1988) analysed the equal Similar to the ordinary turbine stages, the main evaluation
counter—rotating speed condition only and did not consider the criteria of the aero—thermodynamic performances of the
unequal condition. Therefore, for the sake of understanding the counter—rotating turbine stages are the load factor and efficiency.
full view of the counter—rotating turbine stage basic perform- However, as mentioned in preceding paragraph, besides the
ances, a thorough study based on the basic blade element stage common load factor h' , the average load factor of unit blade
analysis is given in this paper. It is expected that this study can be row h is introduced, which can evaluate the loading capacity
the theoretical foundation to further develop various counter—ro- of unit engine length or unit engine weight more reasonably. As
tating turbines. In the following discussion, only axial flow is for stage efficiency, it is recommended to use the total—static effi-
considered. It means that the blade element stage is discussed ciency including exhaust loss for the single stage turbine or the
along a cylindrical surface. However, the basic thinking and last stage in a multistage turbine and to use the total—total effi-
method can be extended to the radial or mixed flow type ciency excluding exhaust loss for the stages other than the last
counter—rotating turbines as well, stage in a multistage turbine.
There is a basic problem in the analysis of the counter—ro- For an ordinary blade element stage, if it is assumed that the
tating turbines: how many blade rows does a counter—rotating cascade internal losses are a function of the velocity triangles,
turbine stage consist of ? Ge et al (1988) thought that a stage con- then the number of independent variables will be five, i.e., there
sists of a blade row only. In this paper, the definition of a stage is are two velocity triangles describing the flow conditions of the
similar to that of the ordinary turbines: the minimum number of turbine stage, each triangle has three independent variables, how-
blade rows which can roughly make the outlet kinetic condition ever, the peripheric velocities in both velocity triangles are the
similar to the inlet kinetic condition ( for example, the value of same, then there are only five independent variables. Generally,
the inlet and outlet absolute flow angle is about the same) is four non—dimensional parameters: load factor h' (or velocity
chosen as the blade row number of a stage. So, an ordinary tur- ratio u / c,), reaction degree p, exit angles of the stator and rotor
bine stage consists of two blade rows, a Curtis stage consists of cascades a I and # 2 , and an absolute quantity—peripheric ve-
four blade rows, and a counter—rotating stage consists of at least locity u are chosen as the independent variables.
two counter—rotating blade rows, if there is a stator blade row in Similarly, for the common counter—rotating turbine stage,
front of or behind the counter—rotating blade rows, it will be in- there are four velocity triangles and twelve variables (Fig.2).
cluded in the same stage; i.e., a common counter—rotating tur- However, according to the blade element stage assumption, there
bine stage consists of two or three blade rows ( the case of four are only two peripheric velocities u A and uB in four triangles,
rows is rare). and the vector Z2 (representing two variables c 2 and a2) is the
Another definition related to a stage is the stage load fac- common vector of two triangles. Therefore, there are only eight
tor h . In this paper, it is defined as the total stage enthalpy independent variables if it is also assumed that the cascade inter-
drop (specific work output of a stage) divided by the square of nal losses are a function of the velocity triangles. Which eight
the peripheric velocity: h= h * / u2 . If the peripheric velocities of parameters are selected to be the independent variables in this
the counter—rotating blade rows are not equal, the higher one paper will be explained in following paragraphs.

2
TYPICAL KINDS OF THE COUNTER—ROTATING TUR-
BINE STAGES
In the classical analysis of ordinary turbine stages, it is first
to define two typical stages: impulse and reactive, then the load-
ing capacity and efficiency of such two typical stages are analysed
respectively and some optimum matching relations between cer-
tain independent variables are obtained. Similar to the
above—mentioned classical analysis, several typical conditions are
the axial component of the velocity in axial gap generally in-
creases along the flow direction and there are cascade internal
losses, the flow in such impulse cascade will not be divergent on
the whole, such condition is selected as the lower limit of the
practical flow acceleration in the cascade. A rotating cascade is
defined as a standard reactive cascade if its inlet relative velocity
is axial (w ; =0) and abbreviated to R. In addition, a rotating
cascade is defined as axial inlet if the inlet absolute velocity is
axial (c ; = 0) and abbreviated to A. When this rotating cascade is

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defined first for the counter—rotating turbine stages:
A rotating cascade is defined as a standard impulse cascade
if the tangential components of its inlet and outlet relative veloci-
ties are equal and opposite: wti = w1e , and abbreviated to I. Since
chosen as the first row rotating cascade, it can be run without any
stator in front of it; however, the blade temperature will be
higher. The condition of A is selected as another practical limit of
the flow acceleration in the cascade. With such definition, for the

IIA

C 1 W ^ W3 W24
C; w zB C z

IRA IRD W. -^

2
c1 w1w28 C w 2A c w1 W 2A
w c wc
3 3IAD 3

C' w1

w 3 C 3 w 2B C 2 w 2A
RIA RID

c1
w , w ze C 2 W24
w
w 3 C 3w 3
C I
c3
, W zB C z w zA

RRA /\RRD -^
NN

w 2B C w zA w 3 C 3 w ze C 2 W 2A
w ; c3RAD

C1 w i
Ii'
2B C 2 w 2A
AJA AID 3 C3

w 3 C 3 w 2B C2W 2A
ARA ARD
-1—Cl W,
W 20C
W3 C 2 W 2A
3

Fig.2 Typical Counter—Rotating Turbine Stage Velocity Triangles

3
two counter—rotating cascade row stages, there will be different bles in this paper.
typical types with different permutation of I, R and A as well as The basic performance expressions are analysed according
different exit conditions. It can be recognized easily that the reac- to the above—mentioned stage classifiation and independent vari-
tion degree (not the absolute value of enthalpy drop in the cas- ables and are shown in Table 1., for example, the
cade) of A will be higher than that of R, and the reaction degree non—dimensional work output of the IIA and RRD stages are
of R will be higher than that of I; the conditions of the reaction ç = 2(1 + i 8 ) 2 and h * = (1 + ü 8 ) 2 respectively. Some ex-
degree higher than A and lower than I are inappropriate or planation of how Table 1 has been produced is given in
unnecessary. Appendix. The work output characteristics are shown in Fig. 3

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For the exit condition of a single stage or the last stage of a and Fig.4 also.
multistage turbine, it is generally recommended to strive for an It can be seen from Table 1, as well as Fig.3 and 4, on the
axial exit absolute velocity (c=0) in order to limit the exhaust basis of the classification of typical stages and the selection of in-
loss and improve the turbine stage efficiency (Glassman, 1975). dependent variables adopted in this paper, the work output per-
Therefore, one of the typical stage exit condition in this paper is
A
c70 = 0. Another typical exit condition is the duplicate condition: formances h = h + h and h A / B B
h are functions of the
a 3 = a l , it is mainly used in the stages other than last stage in a rotating speed ratio u B = n B / n A only.
multistage turbine. The above—mentioned two typical exit condi- The rotating speed ratio is an important parameter to a
tions can be abbreviated to A and D. They are also the inlet con- practical power plant. For example, generally, the rotating speed
ditions of the next cascade, ratio of a UDF is unity, and its value in a split shaft gas turbine is
Therefore, different typical counter—rotating stages can be less than unity. To date, the condition of u B > 1 and UB < <1
marked with three characters. The first two (the inlet conditions
of the first and second counter—rotating cascades) can be I, R or is rare. However, the analysis range of u B in this paper is rather
A, the last one (the exit condition of stage) can be A or D. It wide in order to give a comprehensive study.
seems that there would be eighteen typical counter—rotating It is seen in Fig.3 and Table 1 that the load factor value is 8,
stages. Actually, the stages AAA, AAD, IAA, RAA and IID do 5, 5, 4, 3 and 2 for the axial exit single stage IIA, IRA,
not exist, AIA and ARA are the same as AID and ARD, then, RIA, AIA, RRA and ARA respectively when the rotating
there are only eleven meaningful typical counter—rotating stages speed ratio n B = 1. The corresponding value of average load
according to the above—mentioned classification. Their abbrevia-
tions and velocity triangles can be seen in Fig.2. For the sake of g $
simplicity and distinctness, the absolute values of all the axial ve-
locity components and peripheric velocities in Fig.2 are identical.
However, this restriction does not play in the analysis. Q
By the way, Louis(1985) only analysed the above—men-
tioned RRD and AIA(AID) typical stages. The analysis of this
paper is much more comprehensive. 6 ti4 6

THE WORK OUTPUT CHARACTERISTIC

Actually, three independent variables have been determined
in the typical stage definition mentioned in the preceding para-
graph (for example, IRA or RAD et al.), therefore, there are only
five variables can be selected as independent ones. Generally, the 4
peripheric velocity is selected as the first independent design vari-
able since it is a key parameter in turbines, and has influences
directly both on the strength and aerodynamic performances of
turbines. There are two peripheric velocities in the counter—ro-
tating turbine stages, u A and u B . It is appropriate to select the
larger one as the criterion, and to present another as a 2
non—dimensional parameter, for example, UA and the rotating
speed ratio u B = u B / u A = n B'NA' The remained three inde-
pendent variables can be selected in many ways, for example,
three flow angles or three flow coefficients. The flow coefficients
c 1 / u A , c /U A and c 3 /u 4 are the key parameters deter-
mining the meridional shape of the flow path and it seems that 0 0.5 1
they are most suitable to the above—mentioned classification of
stages and capable to obtain very simple performance Fig.3 Power Output Characteristic of Various Counter—Rotating
expressions, therefore, they are selected as the independent varia- Turbine Stages

4
 Table I Work Output Characteristic of Counter—Rotating Turbine Stages

cIx tanrx c1. tanfJ 1 F 2: tanf 2A c2, tana 2Cu tan^ 2eE lan13
1 IIA 2(l+ue) 1+2u e —(1+2u,) —2ue — ue
2 IRA 2+i 5 1+uB —(l+ue) —ue 0 ue
3 RIA 1 0 —(1+2u5) —2ue —ue ue
4 RRA 1 0 — (l + u e ) —i5 0 ue

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5 AIA 0 —1 —(1+2ue) —2ua —ue ua
6 ARA 0 —1 —(l+ue) —uB 0 uB
7 IRD 2+u e l+ue —(H-ud) —ua 0 2(1+u,)
8 IAD 2 1 —1 0 i5 2+ue
9 RID 1 0 —2(l+ue) —(1+2u B ) —(l +u e ) l+u e
10 RRD 1 0 —(H-ue) —ue 0 l+ue
11 RAD 1 0 —1 0 ue l+ue

c 3 lana 3 II A h, h he/he uA/cI

0 2(1+2ue) 2i 2(l+ue)2 (1+2ue)/uB sina,/2(1+ue)

0 2(l+ue) Us 1+(I+i5)2 2(l+u e )/uB sina 1 /(2+u B )

0 l+2uB 2i uB+(1+uB)2 (1+2u e )/2uB sins,

-

uzs 1+ue+u,l+ue)/uB
(
0 l+u e sina i

0 2u e 2uzB 2i5(1+ue) 1/uB —tan# i

0 ua uB ue(l+ue) 1/ue —tanfl1

2+u B 2(1+uB) 2u B (l+u e ) 2(1+u B )2 1/u, sina,/(2+iB)

2 2 2i, 2(1 + u5) / ue sina, / 2

1 (1+u,) 2u e (1+u B ) 2(l+ue)2 1/ue sinal

_ z 1/uB
1 l+ue ue(1+UB) (l+uB) sinal

1 1/ue sina,
1 ue l+u e

factor of unit blade row is 8 / 3, 5 / 3, 5 / 3, 2, 1 and I counter—rotating stages.

respectively ( For a single stage, IIA, IRA, RIA or RRA must
consist of three blade rows : a nozzle row and two counter—ro-
tating rows; however, AIA and ARA can consist of only two
counter—rotating rows without nozzle row). Comparing these
figures with that of common turbine stages: 0.5, 1 and 2 for
reactive, impulse and Curtis stages with axial exit condition
respectively, it can be concluded that the load of counter—ro-
tating turbine stages is much higher than that of common turbine
stages. The same conclusion can be obtained when comparing
common stages in a multistage turbine with duplicate
It can also be seen from Table I and Fig.3 that the load fac-
tor value h' = f(is) of RRD is one half of that of IIA, IRD
and RID; similar relation exists between ARA(ARD) and
AIA(AID) as well as between RAD and IAD. In addition, Fig.3
only represents the condition of is =0 —1. Actually, if is > 1,
us > u A , it is reasonable to select h' "=h' / u and u A
= u A / us instead of h' and is to be the performance criteria.
In such condition, the load performances can also be represented
by the curves shown in Fig.3 with following modifications: for
IIA, IRD, RID, RRD and RRA, the original curves can be util-

5
ized directly except that the parameters h ' / u 3 and
uH / u Aare replaced with h' / u it and UA / U 5 ; for other typical
stages, another modification has to be added: the curves of IRA
and RIA replace each other, similar replacement exists between
TAD and AID(AIA) as well as between RAD and ARD(ARA).
The load ratio h;, / h a is also an important performance
parameter, it represents the work distribution between the coun-
ter—rotating turbine shafts. In most practical cases, its value is
determined by the requirement of power plant. For example, the
load ratio of a UDF and a split shaft gas turbine is unity and
about two respectively. The possibility of higher load ratio value
exists also, for instance, the two shaft gas turbine with high pres-
sure compressor shaft delivering output; however, it is commonly
less than three. The curves of h ,i / h a = ,)(u a) are shown in
Fig.4. Among these curves, the load ratio value h A* /h a = Ku a )
of RIA and RRA is one half of that of 1IA and IRA respectively.
In addition, the load ratio curves hi / h a = AU B) of all dupli-
-
cate stages XXD (including AIA and ARA) are inverse ratio
curves. It is clear in physical meaning: since the differences of in-
let and outlet absolute tangential velocities in two counter—ro-
tating blade rows of such stages are equal , the work output is
completely proportional to the rotating speed.
Both Fig.3 and Fig.4 are very important for the under-
standing and preliminary design of the counter—rotating turbines
since all three parameters --the specific work output delivered
by the turbine, the work distribution and the rotating speed ratio
between the counter—rotating shafts are key design parameters.
Generally, the preliminary design process can be started with
Fig.4 to select the type of counter—rotating turbine according to
the design value of load ratio and rotating speed ratio, then to
check whether the specific work output is satisfied or not with
Fig.3. For example, if the design object is a single stage
counter—rotating turbine with inlet nozzle and u a = 0.8,
hA / hB = 2, h' = 4, then it can be concluded from the
curves in Fig.4 and 3 that a RIA type counter—rotating turbine is
the right solution (its efficiency is good also, it will be described in
next paragraph ). Of course, the design point is commonly not
just right on the lines shown in Fig.3 and 4. In such case, the de-
A and it is assumed that the aspect ratio is unity in the following
A analysis. Since the blade end loss is not the main loss when the
i,
Fig.4 Load Ratio of Various Counter—Rotating turbine Stages
sign process can be started from interpolation between two simi-
lar stage curves (the names of these two stages have two identical
alphabets). For example, if a counter rotating turbine stage with
ue = 0.7 and hA / hB =2 is desired, then it can be seen from
Fig.4 that an intermediate stage between AIA and RIA is a pos-
sible selection. It means that the reaction degree of the first ro-
tating blade row is somewhat larger than that of RIA, or the tri-
angle ( c,, w 1 , uA) has an intermediate position between that of
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RIA and AIA shown in Fig.2. In addition, an intermediate stage
between ARA and IRA can be selected also. However, the load
factor h • and efficiency n of different stages will be different, It
has to be considered at the same time.
Some other preliminary design processes can be applied also.
for example, to select stage with desired h' and u B , or h' and
hi / h a first. However, the principal consideration is about
the same and will not be explained in further detail .
THE EFFICIENCY OF COUNTER—ROTATING TUR-
BINES
The turbine efficiency characteristic can not be determined
and described as explicit as the work output characteristic since
the latter depends on the flow velocity triangles only but the for-
mer depends on the cascade internal losses also. Therefore, some
empirical loss formulas have to be adopted for the sake of ob-
taining a representative efficiency characteristic.
In order to fairly compare the efficiency condition of differ-
ent counter—rotating turbine stages with the ordinary turbine
stages, the empirical cascade flow friction loss coefficient relation
proposed by Abiantz (1979) is adopted here. The detail of this re-
lation is given in Appendix. The reason of adopting this relation
is as follows: It considers both the influences of flow turning and
flow acceleration and is better than the relation adopted by Louis
(1985) to analyse the counter—rotating turbine stage efficiency
which only considers the influence of flow turning. In addition,
the relation proposed by Abiantz(1979) can be presented in ana-
lytical form and easier to be used. The trailing loss is not consid-
ered here since it mainly depends on the thickness of the blade
trailing edge and does not directly depend on the blade element
stage flow condition. The empirical blade end loss relation with
analytical form proposed by Gykasova et al. (1960) is used also,
aspect ratio is not less than unity, the qualitative conclusion ob-
tained in the following discussion is valid for stages with longer
blades.
For the sake of simplicity, all turbine stages in the compari-
son analysis satisfy following conditions: u A =U B , c 1 =c2z=c3,. In
addition, the absolute value of the maximum flow angle in front
of or behind the cascades is assumed to be 70 °. Raising this angle
value will commonly lower the flow efficiency in the cascade and
the flow capacity but improve the stage output, 70 °is the common
compromise value.
The efficiency characteristic of various turbine stages with
above—mentioned assumptions is shown in Fig.5 and 6, where
RA and IA represent the ordinary axial exit reactive and impulse
 turbine stage respectively. The axial exhaust stages are commonly
used in single stage turbine, then the total—static efficiency is
adopted as the criterion; when a t *0, a nozzle cascade in front of
the first rotating cascade is necessary, therefore, the average load
factor of unit blade row is adopted as the criterion instead of h'.
The duplicate stages are commonly used as the stages in
multistage turbine other than the first and last stages, therefore,

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the total—total efficiency is adopted as the criterion and it is as-
sumed that there are only two counter—rotating blade rows in a
counter—rotating turbine stage. Fig.7 Triple Counter—Rotating Turbine
The single stage efficiency condition is shown in Fig.5. It can
compressibility.
be seen that when the load factor is the same, the counter—ro-
tating turbine stages have higher efficiency compared with the
TRIPLE COUNTER—ROTATING TURBINE STAGES
ordinary turbine stages, or, the load capacity per unit engine
For those three shaft gas turbine power plants with two
length of the counter—rotating turbine stages is higher when the
compressor turbines and a power turbine, there may be a new
efficiency is the same. Similar condition is shown in Fig.6 des-
triple counter—rotating turbine stage arrangement as shown in
cribing the duplicate stages. It can be seen from Fig.5 and 6 that
Fig.7, where A, B and C are counter—rotating turbine blade rows,
the performances of following stages are better: RRA, RIA, AIA,
A drives the high pressure compressor and B drives the low pres-
IIA, RRD and IRD (the temperature of the first blade row of
sure compressor, C is the power turbine. In front of A, there
IRD stage is lower than that of RID).
may be a stator blade row. Perhaps it is the simplest three shaft
The above—mentioned analysis does not include the effect of
gas turbine arrangement already known.
Mach number. It is acceptable for a preliminary basic analysis.
The triple counter—rotating turbine can be analysed similar-
However, the comparing condition--the axial velocity compo-
ly with above—mentioned thinking. For example, to define typi-
nents and the maximum absolute value of flow angles (70°) are
cal stages with A, I, R et al. Since the duplicate stages have no
the same for all stages--has partly considered the effect of
practical meaning now owing to the concrete construction of the
Counter Rotating Stages
itRA three shaft gas turbine, and a single stage turbine commonly
0.9 aRRA _ needs axial exit condition to limit its exhaust loss, so that only
— Ordinary Stages
axial exhaust typical stages are analysed here. Even so, there are
\ S ARA RIA still 21 practical variants. Only four simpler variants without inlet
"o AIA nozzle row are illustrated here and their velocity triangles are
IA \
IRA
shown in Fig.8 with assumptions: u4 = u e = u c , c t, = c,
0.8
IIA = c 3, = c 4. . Their load capacity is given in Table 2.

—o Curtis
In three shaft gas turbines, it is often that
UB =0.7u4, uc <ua and he =(h! +he)/2.
1 2 3 Stages ARIA and ARRA are easier to meet these conditions ac-
Fig.5 Typical Efficiency of Single Stage Counter—Rotating Tur- cording to Table 2. Among them, ARIA would have higher out-
bines put capacity and ARRA would have higher efficiency.
' • RA ARD
°^ RAD oRRD RID
SUMMARY
0.95 \ IRD
1. A comprehensive basic study of the counter—rotating tur-
CIA oAID bine is given to thoroughly analyse the influences of various pos-
IAD
Counter Rotating Stages sible velocity triangles and rotating speed ratio on the work out-
put capacity, the work distribution between counter—rotating
Ordinary Stages
shafts and the efficiency.
0.85 Curtis 1i ' 2. An elementary counter—rotating turbine stage may consist
1 2 3 4 of two counter—rotating blade rows or may consist of these two
Fig.6 Typical Total—Total Efficiency of Counter—Rotating Tur- blade rows and a stator row in front of or behind them. There-
bine Stages fore, it is recommended to evaluate the work output capacity
AIIA AIRA ARIA ARRA
hA ' 2(i,+uc) 2i,+,uc ue ue
h a '2(i +2u c )u s 2(i 3+ u c )u s 3uauc (us+uc)us
e 2u2 u2 2u 22u

Table 2 Work Output Characteristic of Triple Counter—Rotating Turbines

 REFERENCES
AIIA Abiantz,V.Kh., 1979, "Theory of Gas Turbine Jet Engines"
(in Russian), Mashinostroenie, Moscow.
W'2A C2 w 2B W1
C I W3 C w 3e _^ Ge, M. ,Lou,Y., Liu, H. and Sun Y., 1988, "The Computa-
tion and Analysis of Counter—Rotating Turbine" (in Chinese),
W4 C4
Chinese Society of Engineering Thermophysics, paper 880214.
AIRA ^- Glassman A. J., 1975,"Turbine Design and Application",

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NASA SP 290.
Gykasoba,Ye.A.,Joukovsky, M.I., Zavadovsky, A.M.,
w2 A C2 W 2e w 1 C
W 3c C 3 w 3B
Zeysina—Molojen, L.M. Sknare, N.A. and Teyreyshkin, V.G.,
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4 4 1960,"Aerodynamic Improvement of Blade Rows in Steam and
ARIA Gas Turbines" (in Russian), Gosenergoizda.
41- Louis, J.F., 1985, "Axial Flow Contra—Rotating Turbines",
ASME paper 85—GT-218.
W2
C 2 W 2B W 3c C W 3B APPENDIX
w 4 C4
ARRA 1_ 1. Some explanation of how Table I and 2 have been pro-
duced:
For example , the c 1. tans i and load factor of IIA stage
i
WC 1
(Fig.2) can be obtained according to the stage definition as fol-
W 2 c 2 W 2B lows:
w3cC3 W38 '.ci.tanai=c1.=uA+W1„=uA+IW2A. I=uA+uA
W 4
4 C 4 + IUB I + I W2B. 1=2UA + IUB I +w3, =2UA +2IUB I
Fig.8 Typical Triple Counter—Rotating Turbine Velocity Trian- citanai =2(1+UB)
gles
* =UA(C I. — C7,,i)+UB(C2. — C3r)=UA(2UA +2I UB I
+21UB I)+uB(2uB)=2(UA + IUB 1) 2
with the average load factor of unit blade row h"' proposed by .'.h' =2(1+ue)Z
the authors to fairly evaluate the work capacity per unit engine 2. The empirical cascade flow friction loss coeffficient ex-
length or unit engine weight. pression:
3. Similar to the basic analysis of ordinary turbine stages, = 0.02185(0.01065x 2 — 2.295x + 160.5) x (0.1055y 2
several typical rotating blade rows: impulse (I), reactive (R) and — 0.3427y + 0.295)
axial inlet(A) as well as the typical exhaust conditions: axial out-
let (A) and duplicate (D) are specified, and then eleven typical x=180°—Iflu I—IQ2l whenI#.I+IQ21>70°,
basic counter—rotating turbine stages can be defined to improve x = 110 ° when I Q, I + 1 Q 2 1 < 70 ° ;
the analysis. y = COSII / COSQ2 when cost I / CO5132 < 1.7,
4. A set of work output characteistic formulas are given for y=1.7 when cos(3I / cosjiz > 1.7.
these eleven typical stages. According to this analysis, it is very 3. The empirical cascade blade end loss coefficient expres-
easy to thoroughly understand the load capacity and to consider sion:
the preliminary design of the counter—rotating turbine stages. e=0.01f3-2[l —(cosf32/cos#1) 2 ]}/(I/b), where 1/b is
5. A preliminary efficiency analysis is carried on with an em- the aspect ratio.
pirical loss model. It can be concluded that the counter—rotating
turbine stages have higher load capacity and efficiency compared
to the ordinary turbine stages with the same number of blade
rows.
6. It is recommended that the following typical counter—ro-
tating turbine stages are more suitable for practical application:
RRA, RIA, AIA, IIA, RRD and IRD.
7. A new type counter—rotating turbine--triple
counter—rotating turbine is proposed, it is suitable to the three
shaft gas turbine power plants. The typical stages ARIA and
ARRA are recommended.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This study was supported by the National Science Founda-
tion of China.