Effect of swirl on the performance and stability of transonic axial compressor

Abstract

To investigate the effect of twin swirl and bulk swirl on the performance and stability of a transonic axial compressor, a blade swirl generator was designed and simulated with a transonic single rotor using steady and unsteady numerical calculation methods. The bulk swirl intensity was adjusted by replacing the blades with different camber angles. The twin swirl intensity was decreased by reducing the blade number. The counter-rotating bulk swirl generated a significant drop in both the efficiency and stall margin, and resulted in an increase in the choked mass flow, and total pressure ratio. The co-rotating bulk swirl generated a decrease in the mass flow, total pressure ratio and stable operating range. The counter-rotating bulk swirl resulted in suction surface boundary layer separation beyond 50% of the span-wise height as well as more serious tip leakage blockage. The twin swirl resulted in a decrease in the total pressure ratio, maximum efficiency and stable operating range. The steady and unsteady numerical calculation results were consistent, though some differences were observed in the values. For the steady calculation, the maximum efficiency and choked mass flow decreased by 0.88% and 1.74%, respectively, and the mass flow at the stable boundary increased by 3.92% as compared to the uniform inlet flow at twin swirl intensity of 24°. During the unsteady calculation, the mass flow exhibited an increase of only 2.2% at the stable boundary. Under twin swirl and co-rotating bulk swirl and uniform inlet flow, the leading edge spillage of the tip leakage flow resulted in compressor instability. The counter-rotating bulk swirl changed the mechanism of instability. The characterisation of the swirl distortion presented a difference between the steady and unsteady calculations near the stable boundary. The unsteady calculation exhibited a lower mass flow at the stable boundary point and a higher total pressure ratio.