AXIAL FLOW COMPRESSORS

INTRODUCTION
 Axial compressors are rotating, airfoil-based compressors in which the
working fluid principally flows parallel to the axis of rotation. This is in
contrast with other rotating compressors such as centrifugal, axi-centrifugal
and mixed-flow compressors where the air may enter axially but will have a
significant radial component on exit.
 For more details on this topic, see Centrifugal compressor.
 Axial flow compressors produce a continuous flow of compressed gas, and
have the benefits of high efficiencies and large mass flow capacity,
particularly in relation to their cross-section. They do, however, require
several rows of airfoils to achieve large pressure rises making them complex
and expensive relative to other designs (e.g. centrifugal compressor).
 Axial compressors are widely used in gas turbines, such as jet engines, high
speed ship engines, and small scale power stations. They are also used in
industrial applications such as large volume air separation plants, blast
furnace air, fluid catalytic cracking air, and propane dehydrogenation. Axial
compressors, known as superchargers, have also been used to boost the
power of automotive reciprocating engines by compressing the intake air,
though these are very rare.
SCHEMATIC REPRESENTATION OF AN AXIAL FLOW
COMPRESSOR

It is easy to design a turbine that will work…. It requires a

considerable skill to design a compressor that will work…
AEROFOIL GEOMETRY

1: zero lift line

2: leading edge
3: nose circle
4: camber
5: thickness
6: upper surface
7: trailing edge
8: main camber line
9: lower surface
 MACRO GEOMETRIC SPECIFICATION OF AN AXIAL
COMPRESSOR

The geometry of a compressor can be

categorised into 3 main designs types,
A Constant Outer Diameter (COD),
A Constant Mean Diameter (CMD) or
A Constant Hub Diameter (CID),
SPECIFICATIONS OF AN AXIAL
COMPRESSOR
 There are several different parameters that can specify a
particular compressor.
 The first set of input parameters are based on the
running conditions for the machine.
 These involve mass flow, pressure ratio , rotational
speed and the number of stages.
 Stage degree of reaction : For controlling the distribution
of the load between the rotor and the stator.
 If this is not of importance, the outlet flow angle for
the each stage must be set instead.
THERMODYNAMICS OF AN AXIAL FLOW
COMPRESSOR STAGE
p03 = p02
T03 = T02
p3
Va32/cp

Va22/cp
p2
T

 ωVw2r2  Vw1r1 
P  Tω  m
T01
p01
Va12/cp

p1 T1
s
Kinematics of An Axial Flow Compressor
Stage

Inlet Velocity Triangle

Outlet Velocity Triangle

 Kinetics of An Axial Flow Compressor
Stage
Rate of Change of Momentum:
 
Inlet Velocity Triangle
F  mVw2  Vw1   mVf 2 tanα2  Vf 1tanα1 

Power Consumed by an Ideal

Moving Blade

P  m UVf 2 tanα2  Vf 1tanα1 

Outlet Velocity Triangle

 Energy Analysis of An Axial Flow
Compressor Stage
Change in Enthalpy of fluid in
Inlet Velocity Triangle moving blades :
 
P  mh02  h01   m c p T02  T01 
  2
Va2  2 
Va1

 m c p T2   T1   
 2c p  2c p  

   Va22 2 
Va1

 m c p T2  T1     
  2c p 2c p  


   Va2
2 2
Va1 
 m h
 2  h    
2 
1
  2 
Outlet Velocity Triangle
  Vr12 Vr22 
h2  h1     
 2 2 

 Vr12 Vr22 
T2  T1     
 p
2c 2c p 

 γ

  T2  1
γ  
Isentropic compression in Rotor Blade p 2  p1  p1    1
  T1  
 

Degree of Reaction of A Stage, R : R

h2  h1 
h02  h01
Vr12  Vr22
R 2
Vr1  Vr22  Va2
2
 Va1
2
Power input to the compressor :
  
Pact  mh03  h01   m c p T03  T01   m c p T02  T01 
Inlet Velocity Triangle

Current Practice:
Vf  Vf 1  Vf 2

U
 tan 1  tan 1  tan  2  tan  2
Vf
Theoretical Power input to the compressor:
Outlet Velocity Triangle
 
Pth  m UVw2  Vw1   m UVf tanα2  tanα1 

Pth  m UVf tanβ1  tanβ2 
For an isentropic compressor:
 
Pth  m c p T03  T01   mUVf tanβ1  tanβ2 
  
Pth  m c p T03  T01   m c p T03  T01   m c p ΔT0S
UVf tanβ1  tanβ2 
ΔT0s 
cp
 γ 
 
p03,iso  ΔT0S   γ 1 
 1 
p01  T01 
 γ 
 
p 03,act  ηstage ΔT0S   γ 1 

 1 

p 01  T01 
  γ 
UVf tanβ1  tanβ2  
 
  γ 1 
 η stage 
c
 1 
p03,act p

p01  T01 
 
 
2
Vr1  Vr2
2
R 2
Vr1  Vr2
2
 Va2
2
 Va1
2

U
 tanα1  tanβ1  tanα2  tanβ 2
Vf

Vf tanα1  tanβ1  tanα2 

Vr2 
cosβ 2
 AXIAL FLOW COMPRESSORS
Axial Flow Compressors
Stage= S+R
S: stator (stationary blade)
R: rotor (rotating blade)
First row of the stationary blades is called guide vanes

** Basic operation

*Axial flow compressors:

1) series of stages
2) each stage has a row of rotor blades followed by
a row of stator blades.
3) fluid is accelerated by rotor blades.
AXIAL FLOW COMPRESSORS
Inside the rotor, all power is consumed.
Stator only changes K.E.P static, To2=To3
Increase in stagnation pressure is done in the rotor.
Stagnation pressure drops due to friction loss in the stator:
C1: velocity of air approaching the rotor.

 1 : angle of approach of rotor.

u: blade speed.
V1: the velocity relative t the rotor at inlet at an
angle 1 from the axial direction.
V2: relative velocity at exit rotor at angle 2
determined from the rotor blade outlet angle.
2: angle of exit of rotor.
Ca: axial velocity.
 AXIAL FLOW COMPRESSORS
In stator, fluid is then decelerated causing change in the
kinetic energy to static pressure.

Due to adverse pressure gradient, the pressure rise for each

stage is small. Therefore, it is known that a single turbine stage
can drive a large number of compressor stages.

Inlet guide vanes

C are
 C  used
w w2C w1to guide the flow into the first stage.

Elementary Theory:
Assume mid plane is constant r1=r2, u1=u2
assume Ca=const, in the direction of u.

C w  C w2  C w1 , in the direction of u.
AXIAL FLOW COMPRESSORS
Two dimensional analysis:
Only axial ( Ca) and tangential (Cw). no radial component
  
C1  u  V1

V2 tangnt to blade at exit.
assuming C a1  C a2  C a
this V2 can be ontained V2  C a2 cos  2

then V2 & u triangle  get C 2
normally  3   1 to prepare air to go to a similar stage
also C 3  C1
.
W  m c p (To2  To1 )
AXIAL FLOW COMPRESSORS
 AXIAL FLOW COMPRESSORS
from velocity triangles
assuming Ca  Ca1  Ca2

u/Ca  tan1  tan 1 , u / Ca  tan  2  tan  2 (a)

the power input to stage

'
W  mu(Cw2  Cw1 )
where

Cw1 andCw2 are tangentia l components at inlet and exit of the rotors.

or in terms of the axial velocity W  muC a (tan 2 - tan1 )

From equation (a)
(tan 2 - tan1 )  (tan1 - tan2 )
 AXIAL FLOW COMPRESSORS
Energy balance
c p To5  c p (To3  To1 )  c (To2  To1 )  uC a (tan 1  tan  2 )
To5  uC a (tan 1  tan  2 ) / c p

pressure ratio at a stage


po3  s To5   1
ps   1   where, s  stage isentropic efficiency
po1  To1 
Ex.
u  180 m/s, 1  43.9o , s  0.85,   0.8,
Ca  150m / s,  2  13.5, To1  288, Rs  1.183  Rcentrifugal ,
higher due to centrifugal action
 AXIAL FLOW COMPRESSORS
Degree of reaction
 is the ratio of static enthalpy in rotor to static enthalpy rise
in stage
static enthalpy rise in rotor hr
 
static enthalpy rise in the stage hs
For incompressible isentropic flow Tds=dh-vdp
dh=vdp=dp/ Tds=0
h=p/ ( constant )
Thus enthalpy rise could be replaced by static pressure rise ( in
the definition of )
o   1 but generally choose =0.5 at mid-plane of
the stage.
AXIAL FLOW COMPRESSORS
=0: all pressure rise only in stator
=1: all pressure rise in only in rotor
=0.5: half of pressure rise only in rotor and half is in
stator. ( recommend design)

Assume C3  C1 ,and Ca  const. ( for simplicity)

To5  Tstagnation  Tstage  Ts
  1  Ca (tan 1  tan  2 ) / 2u
 1   tan   ,   C a / u

tan   (tan 1  tan 2 ) / 2

AXIAL FLOW COMPRESSORS
special condition
=0 ( impulse type rotor)
from equation 3
  Ca (tan 1  tan 2 ) / 2u
1=-2 , velocities skewed left, h1=h2, T1=T2
=1.0 (impulse type stator from equation 1)
=1-Ca(tan1+tan2)/2u, 2=1
velocities skewed right, C1=C2, h2=h3T2=T3
=0.5
1 
from 2    (tan 1  tan  2 )
2 2
 2  1 ; symmetric angles
P2  P1
V2  c1 , V1  c2 ; 
P3  P1
 AXIAL FLOW COMPRESSORS
Three dimensional flow
2-D
1. the effects due to radial movement of the fluid are ignored.
2. It is justified for hub-trip ratio>0.8
3. This occurs at later stages of compressor.

3-D are valid due to

1. due to difference in hub-trip ratio from inlet stages to
later-stages, the annulus will have a substantial taper.
Thus radial velocity occurs.
2. due to whirl component, pressure increase with radius.
 AXIAL FLOW COMPRESSORS
U
 tan 1  tan 1  tan  2  tan  2
Ca
W m U (C w1  C w1 )
m UCa (tan  2  tan 1 )
 UCa (tan  2  tan 1 )
m
Tos  To 3  To1  To 2  To1
UCa
 (tan 1  tan  2 )
cp
pressure rise per stage
p  Ts  /( 1)
R s  o 3  [1  s ]
po1 To1
AXIAL FLOW COMPRESSORS
 Design Process of an axial compressor

 (1) Choice of rotational speed at design point and annulus

dimensions
 (2) Determination of number of stages, using an assumed
efficiency at design point
 (3) Calculation of the air angles for each stage at the mean line
 (4) Determination of the variation of the air angles from root to
tip
 (5) Selection of compressor blades using experimentally
obtained cascade data
 (6) Check on efficiency previously assumed using the cascade
data
 (7) Estimation on off-design performance
 (8) Rig testing
AXIAL FLOW COMPRESSORS
 Design process:
 Requirements:
 A suitable design point under sea-level static conditions (with
=1.01 bar and , 12000 N as take off thrust, may emerge as
follows:
 Compressor pressure ratio 4.15
 Air-mass flow 20 kg/s
 Turbine inlet temperature 1100 K
 With these data specified, it is now necessary to investigate the
aerodynamic design of the compressor, turbine and other
components of the engine. It will be assumed that the
compressor has no inlet guide vanes, to keep weight and noise
down. The design of the turbine will be considered in Chapter 7.
AXIAL FLOW COMPRESSORS
 Requirements:
 choice of rotational speed and annulus dimensions;

 determination of number of stages, using an assumed

efficiency;

 calculation of the air angles for each stage at mean radius;

 determination of the variation of the air angles from root to

tip;

 investigation of compressibility effects

AXIAL FLOW COMPRESSORS
 Determination of rotational speed and annulus
dimensions:
 Assumptions
 Guidelines:
 Tip speed ut=350 m/s
 Axial velocity Ca=150-200 m/s
 Hub-tip ratio at entry 0.4-0.6
 Calculation of tip and hub radii at inlet
 Assumptions Ca=150 m/s
 Ut=350 m/s to be corrected to 250
rev/s

 AXIAL FLOW COMPRESSORS
 r 
2

 Equations   1C a1 A  1rt 1   r
m
2
 C a
 continuity   rt  

m
thus rt       (a)
2

 rr 
2

1C a1 1  2 
 rt 
 r 
2

1rt 1   r
2
 C a

  rt  
350
U t  2 *  * t t * N rps N , solve to get rt & rr / rt
2rt
AXIAL FLOW COMPRESSORS

 procedure
To 1  Ta  288K , Po1  Pa  1.01 bar
C1  C a1  150
2
C1
T1  To1   276.8
2c p 2


P1  T1   1
  P1
 
Po1  To1 
P1
1   1.106kg / m 3
RT
AXIAL FLOW COMPRESSORS

 From equation (a)

0.03837
rt 
2

  r 2 
1   r  
  rt  
N  350 / 2rt
assume rr / rt from 0.4  0.6

rr / rt rt N
0.4 0.2137 260.6
0.5 0.2262 246.3
0.6 0.2449 227.5
AXIAL FLOW COMPRESSORS
 Consider rps250
 Thus rr/rt=0.5, rt=0.2262, ut=2rt*rps=355.3
m/s
Get V1t  u1t  C a1  385.7
2 2

a  RT1
v1t
M1   1.165
a
Is ok. Discussed later. Results r-t=0.2262, r-
r=0.1131, r-m=0.1697 m
 AXIAL FLOW COMPRESSORS
 At exit of compressor
n 1
Po2 To2  Po2  n
 4.15 [ given Po 2  4.19bar ];  
Po1 To1  Po 
 1 
n -1 1 0.4
where    317, assume    0.9; To 2  452.5 K ;
n   1.4

Ca
2
P2  T2   1
T2  To2   441.3 K;  
2c p Po 2  To 
 2 
P
 P2  3.84 bar;  2  2  3.03 kg/m 3 ; m    2 A2 C a , A 2  0.044;
RT 2
h
but A 2  h( 2rm )  h  0.0413; thus rt  rm   0.19303m;
2
h
rr  rm   0.1491 m
2
results
N  250 rps; u t  355.3; C a  150; rm  0.1697 m
inlet : rt  0.2262m; rr  0.1131m; Outlet : rt  0.1903m; rr  0.1491m
AXIAL FLOW COMPRESSORS

 No. of stages
 To =overall = 452.5-288=164.5K
 rise over a stage 10-30 K for subsonic
 4.5 for transonic
 for rise over as stage=25
 thus no. of stages =164.5/25  7 stages

- normally To5 is small at first stage

de haller criterion V2/V1 > 0.72
-work factor can be taken as 0.98, 0.93, 0.88 for 1st,
2nd, 3 rd stage and 0.83 for rest of the stages.