MAE 4261: AIR-BREATHING ENGINES

Overview of Axial Compressors

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department

Florida Institute of Technology

D. R. Kirk

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 TWO PRIMARY TYPES OF COMPRESSORS

• Axial Devices • Radial (Centrifugal) Devices

– High mass flow – Can not handle as high mass flow
– High efficiency – Less efficient than axial device
– Stackable (multi-staging) – Short length
– More parts – Robust
– More complex – Less Parts
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CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSORS

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ALLISON 250: AXIAL + RADIAL DEVICE

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 WHERE IN THE ENGINE? PW2000

Fan
Compressor

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 2 SPOOL DEVICE: PW2000
Low Pressure Compressor (wlow)
High Pressure Compressor (whigh)

High and Low Pressure Turbines

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 SCHEMATIC REPRESENTATION

Single Shaft Compressor

Twin-Spool Turbofan

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 2 SPOOL DEVICE

Low Pressure Spool

Low Pressure Compressor High Pressure Compressor

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 FEATURES OF INTEREST: PW2000
Intra-Blade Supports
Change in cross sectional flow area

Disks (centrifugal stress)

also called ‘Blisks’

Blades are twisted

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EXTREME TWIST: GE7000

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AXIAL COMPRESSOR: SCHEMATIC REPRESENTATION

Centerline

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SCHEMATIC REPRESENTATION

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AXIAL COMPRESSOR EXPLODED VIEW

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HOW BLADES ARE ATTACHED

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REVIEW: PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION
• Rotor
– Adds swirl to flow
– Adds kinetic energy to flow
with ½rv2
– Increases total energy carried in
flow by increasing angular
momentum

• Stator
– Removes swirl from flow
– Not a moving blade → cannot
add any net energy to flow
– Converts kinetic energy
associated with swirl to internal
energy by raising static
pressure of flow
– NGV adds no energy. Adds
swirl in direction of rotor
motion to lower Mach number
of flow relative to rotor blades
(improves aerodynamics)

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 AXIAL COMPRESSOR ENERGY EXCHANGE
• Rotor
w Centerline
– Adds swirl to flow
– Adds kinetic energy to flow
with ½rv2
– Increases total energy
carried in flow by increasing
angular momentum
• Stator
– Removes swirl from flow
– Not a moving blade →
cannot add any net energy
to flow
– Converts kinetic energy
R S R
NGV

associated with swirl to

internal energy by raising
static pressure of flow
– NGV adds no energy. Adds
swirl in direction of rotor
motion to lower Mach
number of flow relative to
rotor blades (improves
aerodynamics)

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COMPRESSOR AND FAN DATA FOR VARIOUS ENGINES

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EXAMPLES OF BLADE TWIST

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COMPRESSOR MAP

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BOUNDARY LAYER LOSSES AND SEPARATION

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 LOSSES AND CASCADE TESTING

Measure of loss correlated to

Blade geometry and
Easily measured in cascade
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SHOCK AND HIGH SPEED LOSSES

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 ENGINE TESTING: BIRD STRIKE

http://100.rolls-royce.com/facts/view.jsp?id=215
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 ADDITIONAL ISSUES AND BLADE TESTING
• Other Issues
– High Cycle Fatigue
– Materials
– Manufacturing
– Containment of Blade
– Disk Rupture
– Sealing
– Tip and Hub Losses
– Turbine Cooling Bleed
– Inspection
– Replacement Parts ($) ‘Blade-Out’ Simulation

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