Comparisons Between Measured and Calculated Stall Development in Four High-Speed Multi-Stage Compressors
In this paper the development of rotating stall in four different high-speed multi-stage compressors is investigated using a numerical simulation. Below 90 per cent of design speed the model calculates well the two-dimensional moderate to long lengthscale development of rotating stall, irrespective of the lengthscale and form of the stall inception mechanism. At higher operating speeds the model is less reliable, providing better comparisons for those compressors which exhibited modal rather than spike stall inception. The model is also used to investigate the feasibility of actively controlling the stall development process in a compressor. The conclusions reached are that mass injection and removal is far more effective than varying the blade stagger angles and that sensors must be upstream of actuators.