Effect of Surface Roughness Location and Reynolds Number on Compressor Cascade Performance

Abstract

An experimental investigation has been conducted to characterize the influence of surface roughness location and Reynolds number on compressor cascade performance. Flow field surveys have been conducted in a low-speed, linear compressor cascade. Pressure, velocity, and flow angles have been measured via a 5-hole probe, pitot probe, and pressure taps on the blades. In addition to the entirely smooth and entirely rough blade cases, blades with roughness covering the leading edge; pressure side; and 5%, 20%, 35%, 50%, and 100% of suction side from the leading edge have been studied. All of the tests have been done for Reynolds number ranging from 300,000 to 640,000.Cascade performance (i.e. blade loading, loss, and deviation) is more sensitive to roughness on the suction side than pressure side. Roughness near the trailing edge of suction side increases loss more than that near the leading edge. When the suction side roughness is located closer to the trailing edge, the deviation and loss increase more rapidly with Reynolds number. For a given roughness location, there exists a Reynolds number at which loss begins to visibly increase. Finally, increasing the area of rough suction surface from the leading edge reduces the Reynolds number at which the loss coefficient begins to increase.