Axial flow Compressor

Flow
direction

Velocity diagrams of
compressor stage

Work done/unit mass,

cy1) --------- (1)
Writing

= h02- h01 = u (cy2-

h0 = h+ c = h+ (cx+cy)

In the Rotor
h02- h01= (h2-h1) + (c22 c12)
=(h2-h1)+ [cx22 +cy22-(cx12 +cy12) =(h2-h1)+(cy2cy1)
(Because cx1 =cx2 )
=u(cy2-cy1)
(From
(1) )
From last two terms above
h2- h1 = u(cy2-cy1) - (cy2+ cy1)(cy2- cy1)
h2 - h1 = (cy2-cy1) (2u-cy2-cy1) =0
(h2 - h1)= (cy2-cy1) {(u-cy2) + (u-cy1)}

=0

But u = cy1+ wy1 =cy2 +wy2 gives

(cy2 - cy1) = (wy1 wy2)
h2 - h1 (wy1-wy2)(wy2+wy1) =0
Or
h2 h1 + (wy2 wy1) = 0
Add and subtract (1/2) cx to the above
equation
h2 h1 + (w2 w1) = 0
h2 + w2 = h1 + w2
Or h02rel = h01rel-------------- (2)
(For the Rotor}
This is valid as long as
u 1 = u2
Across the stator
h2 + (1/2) c2 = h3 + (1/2) c3

Stagnation pressure and enthalpy loss coefficients are defined as

For Rotor
Stagnation pressure loss coefficient
YR = (po) R / w1 = (po1 rel po2 rel) / w1 -----------(3)
Enthalpy loss coefficient
R = (h2 h2s) / w1 = 2cp(T2 T2s)/ w1 -------------(4)
For stator or diffuser
YD = (po)D / (1/2) c2 = (po2 po1) / (1/2) c2
--------- (5)

And
D = (h3 h3s)/ (1/2) c2 = 2cp(T3-T3s) / c2
----------(6)

Efficiency:The ideal work in the stage

Ws = h03ss h01 = cp (T03ss T01)
Actual work
Wa = h02 h01 = h03 h01 = cp (T03 T01)
Total-to-total stage efficiency
tt = ws / wa = (h03ss h01) / (h03 h01)
But from Tds equation
Tds = dh v dp
For isentropic flow, ds =0; therefore dh = dp/
tt
= (p)s / (h03 h01)

----------------(7)

Degree of reaction:For incompressible flow

R = (p2 p1)/ (p3 p1)

----------------- (8)

for compressible and irreversible flow a more general definition is

R = (h2 h1) / (h3 - h1)
--------------- (9)
From (2)
(h2 h1) = (1/2)(w1 - w2)
For normal stage
c1 = c3
h3 h1 = h03 h01 = u(cy2 cy1)
Hence
Degree of reaction,
R =
(w1 - w2) / {2u(cy2
cy1)}

But

w = cx + wy; w12 w22 =wy12 wy22 = (wy1 + wy2)(wy1 wy2)

R = (wy1 + wy2)(wy1 wy2) / {2u(cy2 cy1)}
But

Hence

cy2 = u wy2 and cy1 = u wy1

cy2 cy1 = wy1 - wy2

So
R = (wy1 + wy2) / 2u
= (cx/2u) (tan1+tan2) -------------------------- (10)
With

wy1 = u cy1
R = (u cy1 + wy2) / 2u = +(1/2u)(wy2 cy1)
R = + (tan 2 - tan 1).cx/ 2u

------------------ (11)

If

R = 0.5

then

1 = 2

and 2 = 1

R > 0.5

then 2 > 1

R < 0.5

then

2 < 1
1

(b)

R < 50%
2 < 1

u
Asymmetry of velocity diagrams for reaction greater or less
than 50%

Stage loading (): = w / u = (h03 h 01) /u

= (cy2- cy1) / u
= cy / u
With

cy2 = u wy2

Hence

= [u - (cy1 + wy2)] / u
= 1- (cx/u).(tan1 + tan 2)

Or
= 1 - (tan1 + tan 2)

------------------

(12)
Where

= cx / u is called flow coefficient

Simplified off- design performance:In equation (12) the quantity (tan2 +tan1) can be assumed constant in a wide
range of incidence up the stalling limit
Writing
A= -ve
A = tan 2 + tan1
A= 0
Hence

A=+ve
= 1A
Losses

Ideal

Actual

Work done factor:w = u (cy2 cy1),

for increased axial velocity cy2 is less and cy1 is more . Work
capacity of the stage is reduced with an increase of the axial
velocity and vice versa, hence work capacity of the stage is
reduced in central region. The expected increase in the hub and
tip region is not obtained in actual practice on account of higher
losses. Therefore stage work is less than that given by Eulers
equation.

Casin
g

Actual

Flo
w

Annulus height
Mean

First

Last

Hub

w=h03 h01 = u(Cy2 Cy1);

where is called as work done factor and its
value varies between ( 0.98 to 0.85) depending on the number of stages

Losses in compressor: profile drag(CDp)

annulus drag (CDa)
secondary loss (CDs)
For typical axial compressor design , the following empirical formulae
have been derived
CDs = 0 .018CL
CDa = 0.020s/h
Where CL is the lift coefficient
s & h are pitch and blade height of blades.

Three Dimensional flows in Axial turbo machines:Radial Equilibrium equationWhen hub tip ratio is less than 0.8,
radial velocities through a blade row may become appreciable .
The basic equation expressing the balance between pressure force and inertial forces
can be derived by considering the forces acting on the fluid element as under

p+
dp

dr

d/2

p+
dp

P
r

p+
dp

Taking unit depth perpendicular to the section shown

Radial equilibrium of fluid element:Pressure forces balances the centrifugal
forces
(p + dp )(r + dr)d p.r.d - (p+dp).dr.d = dm . C y/ r
Ignoring second order terms, we get
(1/) dp/dr = C/r
------------------- (1)
This is referred to as radial equilibrium equation. C r is very
small as compared to Cx & C0 and can be assumed to be
negligible.

Stagnation enthalpy;
h0 = h + (Cx+Cy)
---------------------- (2)
Its variation with radius is
dh0 / dr = dh / dr + Cx dCx/dr+ y dCy/dr
--------------------- (3)

From thermodynamic relation; Tds = dh - (dp/)

T ds/dr = dh /dr - (1/) (dp / dr) -------------------- (4)
Substituting dh/dr from (4) and dp/dr from (1) & (3), We get
dh0 /dr - T(ds / dr) = Cx dCx/dr + (Cy/r)d/dr(r.C) ----------------(5)
If the stagnation enthalpy h0 and entropy s remains same at all radii hence
dh0/dr=0=ds/dr
Then equation 5 becomes
Cx.(dCx/dr)+(Cy/r).d/dr(r.Cy)=0
When Cx is maintained constant across the annuls then dCx/dr=0
Cy.r=constant
This is known as free vortex condition .
This condition gives air angel and reactions as shown in figure
For forced vortex condition
Cy/r= constant