By
[Link]
Assistant Professor
Department of Aerospace Engineering
SRM University
Angular momentum
Work and compression
Characteristic performance of a single compressor
stage
Characteristic performance of a multistage axial
compressor
Boundary layer limitation
Compressor efficiency
Degree of reaction
Radial equilibrium
Design of a subsonic axial compressor
Transonic fan stage
Numerical problems.
Basic operation of axial compressors
Axial flow compressors usually consists of a series of stages.
Each stage comprises of a row of rotor blades followed by a row of
stator blades.
The working fluid is initially accelerated by the rotor blades and
then decelerated in the stator passages.
In the stator, the kinetic energy transferred in the rotor is converted
to static pressure.
This process is repeated in several stages to yield the necessary
overall pressure ratio.
Basic operation of axial compressors
The compression process consists of a series of
diffusions.
This occurs both in the rotor as well as the stator.
Due to motion of the rotor blades two distinct velocity
components: absolute and relative velocities in the rotor.
The absolute velocity of the fluid is increased in the
rotor, whereas the relative velocity is decreased, leading to
diffusion.
Per stage pressure ratio is limited because a compressor
operates in an adverse pressure gradient environment.
Basic operation of axial compressors
Turbines on the other hand operate under favourable
pressure gradients.
Several stages of an axial compressor can be driven by a
single turbine stage.
Careful design of the compressor blading is essential to
minimize losses as well as to ensure stable operation.
Some compressors also have inlet Guide Vanes (IGV) that
permit the flow entering the first stage to vary under offdesign conditions.
Velocity triangles-Blade
Elementary Theory
Elementary analysis of axial compressors begins with
velocity triangles.
The analysis will be carried out at the mean height of the
blade, where the peripheral velocity or the blade speed is,
U.
The absolute component of velocity will be denoted by, C
and the relative component by, V.
The axial velocity (absolute) will be denoted by Ca and
the tangential components will be denoted by subscript w
(for eg, Cw or Vw)
denotes the angle between the absolute velocity with
the axial direction
denotes the angle between the absolute velocity with
relative velocity.
Velocity triangles-Blade
Elementary Theory
Velocity triangles-Blade
Elementary Theory
Work and compression
Assuming Ca=Ca1=Ca2, from the velocity triangles, we can
see that
By considering the change in angular momentum of the
air passing through the rotor, work done per unit mass
flow is
w = U(C C ),
w2
w1
where C and C are the tangential components of the fluid
w1
w2
velocity before and after the rotor, respectively.
Work and compression
The input energy will reveal itself in the form of rise in
stagnation temperature of the air.
The work done per unit mass flow as given above will also
be equal to the change in stagnation enthalpy across the
stage.
Losses in Compressor Blades
Overall blade
loss coefficient
Viscous Loss
3-D effect loss
Profile loss
Secondary flow
loss
Annulus loss
Tip clearance
loss
Shock Loss
Mixing Loss
End wall Loss
Measured
in cascade
Grouped into one term
secondary loss s
Total Profile Annulus Secondary Tip clearance Shock Loss Mixing Loss
flow loss
Loss
Profile loss
Annulus loss
End wall Loss
boundary layer growth over the blade profile including separation loss
under adverse condition of extreme angle of incidence or high inlet
Mach number.
Boundary layer growth on the inner and outer walls of the annulus
Boundary Layer effect in corner (junction between the blade surface
and the casing/hub)
Secondary flow loss
Secondary flows which are always present when a wall boundary layer
is turned through an angle by an adjacent curved surface
Tip clearance loss
Near the rotor blade tip the gas does not follow the intended path,
fails to contribute its work output and interacts with the wall boundary
layer
