Three-Dimensional Unsteady Flow Field due to IGV-Rotor Interaction in the Tip Region of an Axial Compressor Rotor Passage

This paper reports an experimental study of the three-dimensional unsteady flow field due to IGV-rotor interaction in the tip region of an axial compressor rotor passage. The measurements were conducted on a low-speed large-scale axial compressor using a 3-component Laser Doppler Velocimetry. Both experimental method and measurement techniques are presented in details. The results indicate that the tip corner flow of the IGV suction surface has deeper effects on the downstream flow than the IGV wake in the tip region. The interaction and the flow mixing among the IGV wake, the IGV comer flow and the rotor leading-edge flow occur at the inlet of a rotor passage, which make the rotor inlet flow three-dimensional, turbulent and unsteady. The low-energy fluids from the upstream tend to accumulate toward the rotor pressure surface after they enter a rotor passage. In the procedure, the interaction and the flow mixing among the rotor tip leakage vortex and the low-energy fluids occur in the rotor passage.