THE EFFECTS OF REYNOLDS NUMBER ON THE STALL AND PRE-STALL BEHAVIOUR OF COMPACT AXIAL COMPRESSORS

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-36
Author(s):  
Jack Hutchings ◽  
Cesare A. Hall
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Near Field ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Pressure Rise ◽  
Critical Value ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Number Range

Abstract Compact axial compression systems are of interest to the domestic appliance industry. This paper investigates how Reynolds number variations affect the three-dimensional and unsteady flow field in a compact compressor both pre-stall and in stall. An experimental study has been conducted using a scaled-up single-stage axial compressor across a Reynolds number range of 104 to 105. As the Reynolds number is reduced below a critical value, 60,000 in the case of the compressor studied, the pressure rise coefficient of the compressor rapidly decreases. The exact value of the critical Reynolds number is expected to vary with the compressor geometry. This fall off in performance corresponds to an increase in the compressor rotor secondary flows. Prior to stall, a broadband hump at around 50% of the blade passing frequency is present in the near-field casing static pressure spectra. At Reynolds numbers below the critical value, multiple equally spaced peaks also appear around the peak of the broadband hump. The spacing of these peaks has been found to be exactly equal to the measured stall cell speed once rotating stall is established. When operating in stall, the stall cell is found to increase in size and slow down as Reynolds number decreases. The size and shape of the stall cells that form are related to the extent of the three-dimensional flow field present prior to stall. Below a critical value, all of these flow features are highly sensitive to Reynolds number.

The Effects of Reynolds Number on the Stall and Pre-Stall Behaviour of Compact Axial Compressors

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack Hutchings ◽  
Cesare Hall
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Static Pressure ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Pressure Rise ◽  
Critical Value ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Transitional Flow ◽  
Number Range

Abstract Compact axial compression systems are of interest to the domestic appliance industry. The associated low Reynolds number leads to high losses compared to large-scale compressors due to a transitional flow field with large regions of separation. This paper investigates how Reynolds number variations affect the three-dimensional and unsteady flow field in a compact compressor both pre-stall and in stall. An experimental study has been conducted using a scaled-up singlestage axial compressor across a Reynolds number range of 104 to 105. Steady and unsteady casing static pressure measurements, along with rotor upstream and downstream unsteady velocity measurements, have been used to observe the rotor flow field. As the Reynolds number is reduced below a critical value, 60,000 in the case of the compressor studied, the pressure rise coefficient of the compressor decreases. The exact value of the critical Reynolds number is expected to vary with the compressor geometry. This fall off in performance corresponds to an increase in the compressor rotor secondary flows. Prior to stall, a broadband hump at around 50% of the blade passing frequency is present in the near-field casing static pressure spectra. At Reynolds numbers below the critical value, multiple equally spaced peaks also appear around the peak of the broadband hump. The spacing of these peaks has been found to be exactly equal to the measured stall cell speed once rotating stall is established. When operating in stall, the stall cell is found to increase in size and slow down as Reynolds number decreases. The measured spectra and observed flow structures show that disturbances exist prior to stall at frequencies consistent with the frequencies within stall. The size and shape of the stall cells that form are related to the extent of the three-dimensional flow field present prior to stall. Below a critical value, all of these flow features are highly sensitive to Reynolds number.

scholarly journals Observations of the Growth and Decay of Stall Cells during Stall and Surge in an Axial Compressor

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Adam R. Hickman ◽  
Scott C. Morris
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Pressure Rise ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Cell Development ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Trailing Edge ◽  
Stall Inception ◽  
Compressor Rotor

This research investigated unsteady events such as stall inception, stall-cell development, and surge. Stall is characterized by a decrease in overall pressure rise and nonaxisymmetric throughflow. Compressor stall can lead to surge which is characterized by quasi-axisymmetric fluctuations in mass flow and pressure. Unsteady measurements of the flow field around the compressor rotor are examined. During the stall inception process, initial disturbances were found within the rotor passage near the tip region. As the stall cell develops, blade lift and pressure ratio decrease within the stall cell and increase ahead of the stall cell. The stall inception event, stall-cell development, and stall recovery event were found to be nearly identical for stable rotating stall and surge cases. As the stall cell grows, the leading edge of the cell will rotate at a higher rate than the trailing edge in the rotor frame. The opposite occurs during stall recovery. The trailing edge of the stall cell will rotate at the approximate speed as the fully developed stall cell, while the leading edge decreases in rotational speed in the rotor frame.

Studies on Downstream Stator With Rotor Re-Staggering and Forward Sweeping in a Subsonic Axial Compressor Stage

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. V. Ramakrishna ◽  
M. Govardhan
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Computational Model ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Total Pressure ◽  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Pressure Rise ◽  
Axial Distance ◽  
Compressor Stage ◽  
Numerical Work ◽  
Stagger Angle

The present numerical work studies the flow field in subsonic axial compressor stator passages for: (a) preceding rotor sweep (b) preceding rotor re-staggering (three stagger angle changes: 0°, +3° and +5°); and (c) stator sweeping (two 20° forward sweep schemes). The following are the motives for the study: at the off-design conditions, compressor rotors are re-staggered to alleviate the stage mismatching by adjusting the rows to the operating flow incidence. Fundamental to this is the understanding of the effects of rotor re-staggering on the downstream component. Secondly, sweeping the rotor stages alters the axial distance between the successive rotor-stator stages and necessitates that the stator vanes must also be swept. To the best of the author’s knowledge, stator sweeping to suit such scenarios has not been reported. The computational model for the study utilizes well resolved hexahedral grids. A commercial CFD package ANSYS® CFX 11.0 was used with standard k-ω turbulence model for the simulations. CFD results were well validated with experiments. The following observations were made: (1) When the rotor passage is closed by re-staggering, with the same mass flow rate and the same stator passage area, stators were subjected to negative incidences. (2) Effect of stator sweeping on the upstream rotor flow field is insignificant. Comparison of total pressure rise carried by the downstream stators suggests that an appropriate redesign of stator is essential to match with the swept rotors. (3) While sweeping the stator is not recommended, axial sweeping is preferable over true sweeping when it is necessary.

Analysis of Single- and Two-Phase Flows in Turbopump Inducers

1967 ◽  
Vol 89 (4) ◽  
pp. 577-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Equation Of State ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Thermal Effects ◽  
Single Phase ◽  
Fluid Pressure ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Pressure Rise ◽  
Recent Theory ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Overall Efficiency

A model is developed for analytically determining pump inducer performance in both the single-phase and cavitating flow regimes. An equation of state for vaporizing flow is used in an approximate, three-dimensional analysis of the flow field. The method accounts for losses and yields internal distributions of fluid pressure, velocity, and density together with the resulting overall efficiency and pressure rise. The results of calculated performance of two sample inducers are presented. Comparison with recent theory for fluid thermal effects on suction head requirements is made with the aid of a resulting dimensionless vaporization parameter.

Dynamic Stall Simulation of Flow Over NACA0012 Airfoil at 1 Million Reynolds Number

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Venkata Ravishankar Kasibhotla ◽  
Danesh Tafti
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Lift Coefficient ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Dynamic Stall ◽  
Sharp Drop ◽  
Airfoil Surface ◽  
Naca0012 Airfoil ◽  
Reduced Frequency ◽  
Edge Vortex

The paper is concerned with the prediction and analysis of dynamic stall of flow past a pitching NACA0012 airfoil at 1 million Reynolds number based on the chord length of the airfoil and at reduced frequency of 0.25 in a three dimensional flow field. The turbulence in the flow field is resolved using large eddy simulations with the dynamic Smagorinsky model at the sub grid scale. The development of dynamic stall vortex, shedding and reattachment as predicted by the present study are discussed in detail. This study has shown that the downstroke phase of the pitching motion is strongly three dimensional and is highly complex, whereas the flow is practically two dimensional during the upstroke. The lift coefficient agrees well with the measurements during the upstroke. However, there are differences during the downstroke. The computed lift coefficient undergoes a sharp drop during the start of the downstroke as the convected leading edge vortex moves away from the airfoil surface. This is followed by a recovery of the lift coefficient with the formation of a secondary trailing edge vortex. While these dynamics are clearly reflected in the predicted lift coefficient, the experimental evolution of lift during the downstroke maintains a fairly smooth and monotonic decrease in the lift coefficient with no lift recovery. The simulations also show that the reattachment process of the stalled airfoil is completed before the start of the upstroke in the subsequent cycle due to the high reduced frequency of the pitching cycle.

scholarly journals Incidence Angle and Pitch-Chord Effects on Secondary Flows Downstream of a Turbine Cascade

1992 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Perdichizzi ◽  
V. Dossena
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Incidence Angle ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Pressure Probe ◽  
Turbine Cascade ◽  
Oil Flow ◽  
Secondary Velocity ◽  
Secondary Flow Field

This paper describes the results of an experimental investigation of the three-dimensional flow downstream of a linear turbine cascade at off-design conditions. The tests have been carried out for five incidence angles from −60 to +35 degrees, and for three pitch-chord ratios: s/c = 0.58,0.73,0.87. Data include blade pressure distributions, oil flow visualizations, and pressure probe measurements. The secondary flow field has been obtained by traversing a miniature five hole probe in a plane located at 50% of an axial chord downstream of the trailing edge. The distributions of local energy loss coefficients, together with vorticity and secondary velocity plots show in detail how much the secondary flow field is modified both by incidence and cascade solidity variations. The level of secondary vorticity and the intensity of the crossflow at the endwall have been found to be strictly related to the blade loading occurring in the blade entrance region. Heavy changes occur in the spanwise distributions of the pitch averaged loss and of the deviation angle, when incidence or pitch-chord ratio is varied.

Integrated Microcomputer-LDV Instrumentation for Studying Finite Wing Aerodynamics

1993 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdollah Khodadoust
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Data Acquisition ◽  
Fiber Optic ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Laser Doppler ◽  
Laser Doppler Velocimeter ◽  
Ice Accretion ◽  
Wing Model ◽  
Finite Wing

Abstract The effect of a simulated glaze ice accretion on the flow field of a three-dimensional wing is studied experimentally. A PC-based data acquisition and reduction system was used with a four-beam two-color fiber-optic laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV) to map the flow field along three spanwise cuts on the model. Results of the LDV measurements on the upper surface of the finite wing model without the simulated glaze ice accretion are presented for α = 0 degrees at Reynolds number of 1.5 million. Measurements on the centerline of the clean model compared favorably with theory.

Characteristics of Stable Rotating Stall Cells in an Axial Compressor

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam R. Hickman ◽  
Scott C. Morris
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Flow Coefficient ◽  
Stable Operation ◽  
Double Phase

Flow field measurements of a high-speed axial compressor are presented during pre-stall and post-stall conditions. The paper provides an analysis of measurements from a circumferential array of unsteady shroud static pressure sensors during stall cell development. At low-speed, the stall cell approached a stable size in approximately two rotor revolutions. At higher speeds, the stall cell developed within a short amount of time after stall inception, but then fluctuated in circumferential extent as the compressor transiently approached a stable post-stall operating point. The size of the stall cell was found to be related to the annulus average flow coefficient. A discussion of Phase-Locked Average (PLA) statistics on flow field measurements during stable operation is also included. In conditions where rotating stall is present, flow field measurements can be Double Phase-Locked Averaged (DPLA) using a once-per-revolution (1/Rev) pulse and the period of the stall cell. The DPLA method provides greater detail and understanding into the structure of the stall cell. DPLA data indicated that a stalled compressor annulus can be considered to contained three main regions: over-pressurized passages, stalled passages, and recovering passages. Within the over-pressured region, rotor passages exhibited increased blade loading and pressure ratio compared to pre-stall values.

The Behavior of the Casing Boundary Layer With the Presence of Tip Leakage Vortex

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xi Nan ◽  
Feng Lin ◽  
Takehiro Himeno ◽  
Toshinori Watanabe
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Skin Friction ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Pressure Rise ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Tip Leakage Vortex ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Transonic Compressor ◽  
Flow Loss ◽  
Produce Flow

Casing boundary layer effectively places a limit on the pressure rise capability achievable by the compressor. The separation of the casing boundary layer not only produce flow loss but also closely related to the compressor rotating stall. The motivation of this paper is to present a viewpoint that the casing boundary layer should be paid attention to in parallel with other flow factors on rotating stall trigger. This paper illustrates the casing boundary layer behavior by displaying its separation phenomena with the presence of tip leakage vortex at different flow conditions. Skin friction lines and the corresponding absolute streamlines are used to demonstrate the three-dimensional flow patterns on and near the casing. The results depict a Saddle, a Node and several tufts of skin friction lines dividing the passage into four zones. The tip leakage vortex is enfolded within one of the zones by the separated flows. All the flows in each blade passage are confined within the passage as long as the compressor is stable. The casing boundary layer of a transonic compressor is also examined in the same way, which results in qualitatively similar zonal flows that enfolds the tip leakage vortex. This research develops a new way to study the casing boundary layer in rotating compressors. The results may provide a first-principle based explanation to stalling mechanisms for compressors that are casing sensitive.

Aerodynamic-Rotordynamic Interaction in Axial Compression Systems—Part I: Modeling and Analysis of Fluid-Induced Forces

2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (3) ◽  
pp. 405-415
Author(s):  
Ammar A. Al-Nahwi ◽  
James D. Paduano ◽  
Samir A. Nayfeh
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Pressure Rise ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Rotor Blades ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Analytical Models ◽  
Modeling And Analysis ◽  
Equal Importance ◽  
Consistent Treatment

This paper presents a first principles-based model of the fluid-induced forces acting on the rotor of an axial compressor. These forces are primarily associated with the presence of a nonuniform flow field around the rotor, such as that produced by a rotor tip clearance asymmetry. Simple, analytical expressions for the forces as functions of basic flow field quantities are obtained. These expressions allow an intuitive understanding of the nature of the forces and—when combined with a rudimentary model of an axial compressor flow field (the Moore-Greitzer model)—enable computation of the forces as a function of compressor geometry, torque and pressure-rise characteristics, and operating point. The forces predicted by the model are also compared to recently published measurements and more complex analytical models, and are found to be in reasonable agreement. The model elucidates that the fluid-induced forces comprise three main contributions: fluid turning in the rotor blades, pressure distribution around the rotor, and unsteady momentum storage within the rotor. The model also confirms recent efforts in that the orientation of fluid-induced forces is locked to the flow nonuniformity, not to tip clearance asymmetry as is traditionally assumed. The turning and pressure force contributions are shown to be of comparable magnitudes—and therefore of equal importance—for operating points between the design point and the peak of the compressor characteristic. Within this operating range, both “forward” and “backward” rotor whirl tendencies are shown to be possible. This work extends recent efforts by developing a more complete, yet compact, description of fluid-induced forces in that it accounts for all relevant force contributions, both tangential and radial, that may influence the dynamics of the rotor. Hence it constitutes an essential element of a consistent treatment of rotordynamic stability under the action of fluid-induced forces, which is the subject of Part II of this paper.

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