LASER VELOCIMETER MEASUREMENTS IN THE TURBINE OF AN AUTOMOTIVE TORQUECONVERTER .1. AVERAGE MEASUREMENTS

The three-dimensional average velocity field in an automotive torque c onverter turbine was examined. Two significantly different operating c onditions of the torque converter were tested: the 0.065 and 0.800 tur bine/pump speed ratio. Velocities were measured using a one-directiona l, frequency-shifted laser velocimeter. The instantaneous angular posi tions of the torque converter turbine and pump were recorded using dig ital shaft encoders. Shaft encoder information and velocities were cor related to generate average velocity blade-to-blade profiles and veloc ity vector plots. Measurements were taken in the inlet, quarter, mid, and exit planes of the turbine. From the experimental velocity measure ments, mass flows, turbine output torque, average vorticities, viscous dissipation, inlet incidence flow angles, and exit flow angles were c alculated Average mass flows were 23.4 kg/s and 14.7 kg/s for the 0.06 5 and 0.800 speed ratios, respectively. Velocity vector plots for both turbine/pump speed ratios showed the flow field in the turbine quarte r and midplanes to be highly nonuniform with separation regions and re versed flows at the core-suction corner. For the conditions rested, th e turbine inlet flow was seen to have a high relative incidence angle, while the relative turbine exit flow angle was close to the blade ang le.