Condensation-shock-boundary layer interactions in a transonic steam nozzle flow and the effect of external disturbances on the interactions

As a first step toward the design of steam turbine blades by analysis, rather than solely by experience based upon field testing, a combined experimental and theoretical program was undertaken. The study focused on the flow in a one-dimensional Laval nozzle to determine the nature of possible self-excited or forced fluctuations due to the interaction among spontaneous condensation, fluid dynamic shocks and surface boundary layers. It was found that interactions could occur between shocks and spontaneous condensation in the presence of boundary layers. Good agreement was also found between theory and experiment for flows with shocks and condensation, both for steady flows and for ones in which there were fluctuations introduced in downstream pressure levels. The results presented detail these interactions in the form of steady and fluctuating pressure measurements