The effects of stepped tip gaps and clearance levels on the flowfield of a transonic axial-flow compressor rotor were experimentally and computationally determined. This paper complements a previous experimental study by the authors regarding the effects of stepped tip gaps and clearance levels on the performance of an axial-flow compressor rotor. In the current study, the generation of blockage associated with the variation of geometry in the rotor tip region was examined. The shock-vortex interaction generating the blockage was characterized, and a theory and mechanism for relocation of blockage in the rotor tip region was developed. A two-stage compressor with no inlet guide vanes was tested in a modern transonic compressor research facility. The first-stage rotor was unswept and was tested with stepped gaps machined into the casing near the aft tip region of the rotor. Nine casing geometries were investigated consisting of three step profiles at each of three clearance levels. Computational Fluid Dynamic modeling of tip geometry effects also was performed. Increased tip clearance was found to increase the amount of flow blockage near the rotor tip. Stepped tip gaps were found to be an effective means of reducing the effects of tip region blockage, resulting in improved pressure ratio, efficiency, and mass flow. This study provides guidelines for engineers to improve compressor performance for an existing design by applying an improved casing profile.
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ASME 1998 International Gas Turbine and Aeroengine Congress and Exhibition
June 2–5, 1998
Stockholm, Sweden
Conference Sponsors:
- International Gas Turbine Institute
ISBN:
978-0-7918-7862-0
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Experimental and Computational Investigation of Stepped Tip Gap Effects on the Flowfield of a Transonic Axial-Flow Compressor Rotor
Donald W. Thompson,
Donald W. Thompson
Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
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Paul I. King,
Paul I. King
Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
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Chunill Hah,
Chunill Hah
NASA Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, OH
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Douglas C. Rabe
Douglas C. Rabe
Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
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Donald W. Thompson
Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
Paul I. King
Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
Chunill Hah
NASA Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, OH
Douglas C. Rabe
Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
Paper No:
98-GT-090, V001T01A026; 19 pages
Published Online:
December 23, 2014
Citation
Thompson, DW, King, PI, Hah, C, & Rabe, DC. "Experimental and Computational Investigation of Stepped Tip Gap Effects on the Flowfield of a Transonic Axial-Flow Compressor Rotor." Proceedings of the ASME 1998 International Gas Turbine and Aeroengine Congress and Exhibition. Volume 1: Turbomachinery. Stockholm, Sweden. June 2–5, 1998. V001T01A026. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/98-GT-090
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