Delay of Rotating Stall in Compressors Using Plasma Actuators

2016 ◽  
Vol 138 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Farzad Ashrafi ◽  
Mathias Michaud ◽  
Huu Duc Vo
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Plasma Actuator ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Compressor Stage ◽  
Dbd Plasma ◽  
Two Stage ◽  
Stall Inception ◽  
Flow Acceleration

Rotating stall is a well-known aerodynamic instability in compressors that limits the operating envelope of aircraft gas turbine engines. An innovative method for delaying the most common form of rotating stall inception using an annular dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma actuator had been proposed. A DBD plasma actuator is a simple solid-state device that converts electricity directly into flow acceleration through partial air ionization. However, the proposed concept had only been preliminarily evaluated with numerical simulations on an isolated axial rotor using a relatively basic CFD code. This paper provides both an experimental and a numerical assessment of this concept for an axial compressor stage as well as a centrifugal compressor stage, with both stages being part of a low-speed two-stage axial-centrifugal compressor test rig. The two configurations studied are the two-stage configuration with a 100 mN/m annular casing plasma actuator placed just upstream of the axial rotor leading edge (LE) and the single-stage centrifugal compressor with the same actuator placed upstream of the impeller LE. The tested configurations were simulated with a commercial RANS CFD code (ansys cfx) in which was implemented the latest engineering DBD plasma model and dynamic throttle boundary condition, using single-passage multiple blade row computational domains. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations indicate that in both types of compressors, the actuator delays the stall inception by pushing the incoming/tip clearance flow interface downstream into the blade passage. In each case, the predicted reduction in stalling mass flow matches the experimental value reasonably well.

Delay of Rotating Stall in Compressors Using Plasma Actuators

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farzad Ashrafi ◽  
Mathias Michaud ◽  
Huu Duc Vo
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Plasma Actuator ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Compressor Stage ◽  
Dbd Plasma ◽  
Two Stage ◽  
Stall Inception ◽  
Flow Acceleration

Rotating stall is a well-known aerodynamic instability in compressors that limits the operating envelope of aircraft gas turbine engines. An innovative method for delaying the most common form of rotating stall inception using an annular DBD (Dielectric Barrier Discharge) plasma actuator had been proposed. A DBD plasma actuator is a simple solid-state device that converts electricity directly into flow acceleration through partial air ionization. However, the proposed concept had only been preliminarily evaluated with numerical simulations on an isolated axial rotor using a relatively basic CFD code. This paper provides both an experimental and a numerical assessment of this concept for an axial compressor stage as well as a centrifugal compressor stage, with both stages being part of a low-speed two-stage axial-centrifugal compressor test rig. The two configurations studied are the two-stage configuration with a 100 mN/m annular casing plasma actuator placed just upstream of the axial rotor leading edge, and the single-stage centrifugal compressor with the same actuator placed upstream of the impeller leading edge. The tested configurations were simulated with a commercial RANS CFD code (ANSYS CFX) in which was implemented the latest engineering DBD plasma model and dynamic throttle boundary condition, using single-passage multiple blade row computational domains. The CFD simulations indicate that in both types of compressors the actuator delays the stall inception by pushing the incoming/tip clearance flow interface downstream into the blade passage. In each case, the predicted reduction in stalling mass flow matches the experimental value reasonably well.

Stall Inception in a High Speed Centrifugal Compressor During Speed Transients

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fangyuan Lou ◽  
John C. Fabian ◽  
Nicole L. Key
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Flow Instability ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Fast Response ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Transient Performance ◽  
Stall Inception ◽  
Pressure Transducers

The inception and evolution of rotating stall in a high-speed centrifugal compressor are characterized during speed transients. Experiments were performed in the Single Stage Centrifugal Compressor (SSCC) facility at Purdue University and include speed transients from sub-idle to full speed at different throttle settings while collecting transient performance data. Results show a substantial difference in the compressor transient performance for accelerations versus decelerations. This difference is associated with the heat transfer between the flow and the hardware. The heat transfer from the hardware to the flow during the decelerations locates the compressor operating condition closer to the surge line and results in a significant reduction in surge margin during decelerations. Additionally, data were acquired from fast-response pressure transducers along the impeller shroud, in the vaneless space, and along the diffuser passages. Two different patterns of flow instabilities, including mild surge and short-length-scale rotating stall, are observed during the decelerations. The instability starts with a small pressure perturbation at the impeller leading edge and quickly develops into a single-lobe rotating stall burst. The stall cell propagates in the direction opposite of impeller rotation at approximately one third of the rotor speed. The rotating stall bursts are observed in both the impeller and diffuser, with the largest magnitudes near the diffuser throat. Furthermore, the flow instability develops into a continuous high frequency stall and remains in the fully developed stall condition.

Short and Long Length-Scale Disturbances Leading to Rotating Stall in an Axial Compressor Stage With Different Stator/Rotor Gaps

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Inoue ◽  
M. Kuroumaru ◽  
S. Yoshida ◽  
M. Furukawa
Keyword(s):  
High Frequency ◽  
Wavelet Transforms ◽  
Wave Length ◽  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Short Length ◽  
Length Scale ◽  
Compressor Stage ◽  
Stall Inception

The transient processes of rotating stall evolution have been investigated experimentally in a low-speed axial compressor stage with three stator-rotor gaps. The pressure traces at 8 circumferential locations on the casing wall near the rotor leading edge have been analyzed by the wavelet transforms. With the appropriate mother wavelets, the evolution of short and long length-scale disturbances leading to the stall can be captured clearly. Behavior of these disturbances is different depending on the stator-rotor gap. For the large and middle gap, the stall inception is detected by a spiky short length-scale disturbance, and the number of spiky waves increases to generate the high frequency waves. They becomes the short length-scale part-span stall cells at the mild stall for the large gap, while they turn into a big stall cell with growth of a long length-scale disturbance for the middle gap. In the latter case, therefore, the stalling process was identified with ‘high frequency stall inception’. For the small stator-rotor gap, the stalling process is identified with ‘long wave-length stall inception’, and supported the recent computational model for the short wave-length stall inception by showing that closing the rotor-stator gaps suppressed the growth of short length-scale disturbances. From the measurement of the pressure field traces on the casing wall, a hypothesis has been built up that the short length-scale disturbance should result from a separation vortex from a blade surface to reduce circulation. The processes of the stall evolution are discussed on this hypothesis.

Numerical Study on the Influence of Tip Clearance on Rotating Stall in an Unshrouded Centrifugal Compressor

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenying Ju ◽  
Shengli Xu ◽  
Xiaofang Wang ◽  
Xudong Chen ◽  
Shuhua Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Forming Process ◽  
Impeller Blade ◽  
Tip Clearance Flow ◽  
Rotating Speed ◽  
Operation Conditions

Whole annulus unsteady simulations are performed by CFD with the whole flow passage model from inlet guide vanes to volute of an unshrouded centrifugal compressor. Characteristics and development mechanism of rotating stall are analyzed including the flow field and the impeller blade load in time and frequency domain. Rotating stall with three cells is observed in both two actual operation conditions but the cell rotating speed and the forming process is different. Leading edge tip clearance leakage is a criterion to predict the formation of a spike stall in centrifugal compressors. Tip clearance flow also plays an important role in the moving of rotating instabilities and the propagation of stall cells. It can effectively slow down the stall forming and decrease the pressure load on blade by reduced the tip clearance size at the leading edge.

An Investigation of Stall Inception in Centrifugal Compressor Vaned Diffuser1

2012 ◽  
Vol 135 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan N. Everitt ◽  
Zoltán S. Spakovszky
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Short Wavelength ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Vaned Diffuser ◽  
Stall Inception ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Leakage Flows ◽  
Blade Tip

In compression systems, the stable operating range is limited by rotating stall and/or surge. Two distinct types of stall precursors can be observed prior to full scale instability: the development of long-wavelength modal waves or a short-wavelength, three-dimensional flow breakdown (so-called “spike” stall inception). The cause of the latter is not well understood; in axial machines it has been suggested that rotor blade-tip leakage flow plays an important role, but spikes have recently been observed in shrouded vaned diffusers of centrifugal compressors where these leakage flows are not present, suggesting an alternative mechanism may be at play. This paper investigates the onset of instability in a shrouded vaned diffuser from a highly loaded turbocharger centrifugal compressor and discusses the mechanisms thought to be responsible for the development of short-wavelength stall precursors. The approach combines unsteady 3D RANS simulations of an isolated vaned diffuser with previously obtained experimental results. The unsteady flow field simulation begins at the impeller exit radius, where flow is specified by a spanwise profile of flow angle and stagnation properties, derived from single-passage stage calculations but with flow pitchwise mixed. Through comparison with performance data from previous experiments and unsteady full-wheel simulations, it is shown that the diffuser is accurately matched to the impeller and the relevant flow features are well captured. Numerical forced response experiments are carried out to determine the diffuser dynamic behavior and point of instability onset. The unsteady simulations demonstrate the growth of short-wavelength precursors; the flow coefficient at which these occur, the rotation rate and circumferential extent agree with experimental measurements. Although the computational setup and domain limitations do not allow simulation of the fully developed spike nor full-scale instability, the model is sufficient to capture the onset of instability and allows the postulation of the following necessary conditions: (i) flow separation at the diffuser vane leading edge near the shroud endwall; (ii) radially reversed flow allowing vorticity shed from the leading edge to convect back into the vaneless space; and (iii) recirculation and accumulation of low stagnation pressure fluid in the vaneless space, increasing diffuser inlet blockage and leading to instability. Similarity exists with axial machines, where blade-tip leakage sets up endwall flow in the circumferential direction leading to flow breakdown and the inception of rotating stall. Rather than the tip leakage flows, the cause for circumferential endwall flow in the vaned diffuser is the combination of high swirl and the highly nonuniform spanwise flow profile at the impeller exit.

Criteria for Spike Initiated Rotating Stall

2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Huu Duc Vo ◽  
Choon S. Tan ◽  
Edward M. Greitzer
Keyword(s):  
Computational Study ◽  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Short Length ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Length Scale ◽  
Stall Inception ◽  
Tip Clearance Flow ◽  
Clearance Flow

A computational study to define the phenomena that lead to the onset of short length-scale (spike) rotating stall disturbances has been carried out. Based on unsteady simulations, we hypothesize there are two conditions necessary for the formation of spike disturbances, both of which are linked to the tip clearance flow. One is that the interface between the tip clearance and oncoming flows becomes parallel to the leading-edge plane. The second is the initiation of backflow, stemming from the fluid in adjacent passages, at the trailing-edge plane. The two criteria also imply a circumferential length scale for spike disturbances. The hypothesis and scenario developed are consistent with numerical simulations and experimental observations of axial compressor stall inception. A comparison of calculations for multiple blades with those for single passages also allows statements to be made about the utility of single passage computations as a descriptor of compressor stall.

Clearance Effects on Centrifugal Compressor Characteristic and Stability

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Sang Yoon ◽  
Shin Hyung Kang ◽  
Seung Jin Song
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Rotational Speed ◽  
Pressure Rise ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Flow Coefficient ◽  
Component Level ◽  
Stall Inception ◽  
Stability Model ◽  
Number Of Cells

The effects of impeller inlet tip clearance and diffuser width on centrifugal compressor characteristic and stability have been experimentally investigated in a centrifugal compressor with a vaneless diffuser. An increase in the impeller inlet tip clearance decreases the overall pressure rise across the compressor, mainly due to the tip clearance loss in the impeller. However, the effect of inlet tip clearance on diffuser pressure rise or compressor stability is weak. A decrease in the diffuser width significantly lowers the compressor pressure rise, especially at hight flow rates. At the component level, the impeller is insensitive to the diffuser width variation, and the pressure rise across the diffuser actually increases as diffuser width is decreased. Upon further investigation, it has been found that the overall compressor characteristic is strongly influenced by the region between the impeller exit and the diffuser inlet. Also, a decrease in the diffuser width delays stall inception by increasing the radial velocity of the flow in the diffuser. Thus, the stalling flow coefficient is more sensitive to the variation in the diffuser than the inlet tip clearance. In all cases, rotating stall consists of two or three cells rotating at about approximately one tenth of the compressor rotational speed. When the number of cells changes from three to two, the rotational speed drops. However, when the number of cells remains constant, the cells’ rotational speed increases as flow coefficient is lowered. All of these trends agree well with predictions from a new stability model developed by the first author.

Short and Long Length-Scale Disturbances Leading to Rotating Stall in an Axial Compressor Stage With Different Stator/Rotor Gaps

2002 ◽  
Vol 124 (3) ◽  
pp. 376-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Inoue ◽  
M. Kuroumaru ◽  
S. Yoshida ◽  
M. Furukawa
Keyword(s):  
High Frequency ◽  
Wavelet Transforms ◽  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Short Length ◽  
Length Scale ◽  
Compressor Stage ◽  
Stall Inception ◽  
High Frequency Waves

The transient processes of rotating stall evolution have been investigated experimentally in a low-speed axial compressor stage with three stator-rotor gaps. The pressure traces at eight circumferential locations on the casing wall near the rotor leading edge have been analyzed by the wavelet transforms. With the appropriate mother wavelets, the evolution of short and long length-scale disturbances leading to the stall can be captured clearly. Behavior of these disturbances is different depending on the stator-rotor gap. For the large and middle gap, the stall inception is detected by a spiky short length-scale disturbance, and the number of spiky waves increases to generate the high frequency waves. They become the short length-scale part-span stall cells at the mild stall for the large gap, while they turn into a big stall cell with growth of a long length-scale disturbance for the middle gap. In the latter case, therefore, the stalling process was identified with “high-frequency stall inception.” For the small stator-rotor gap, the stalling process is identified with “long wavelength stall inception” and supported the recent computational model for the short wavelength stall inception by showing that closing the rotor-stator gaps suppressed the growth of short length-scale disturbances. From the measurement of the pressure field traces on the casing wall, a hypothesis has been developed that the short length-scale disturbance should result from a separation vortex from a blade surface to reduce circulation. The processes of the stall evolution are discussed on this hypothesis.

Stall Inception in a High-Speed Centrifugal Compressor During Speed Transients

2017 ◽  
Vol 139 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fangyuan Lou ◽  
John C. Fabian ◽  
Nicole L. Key
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Flow Instability ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Fast Response ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Transient Performance ◽  
Stall Inception ◽  
Pressure Transducers

The inception and evolution of rotating stall in a high-speed centrifugal compressor are characterized during speed transients. Experiments were performed in the single stage centrifugal compressor (SSCC) facility at Purdue University and include speed transients from subidle to full speed at different throttle settings while collecting transient performance data. Results show a substantial difference in the compressor transient performance for accelerations versus decelerations. This difference is associated with the heat transfer between the flow and the hardware. The heat transfer from the hardware to the flow during the decelerations locates the compressor operating condition closer to the surge line and results in a significant reduction in surge margin during decelerations. Additionally, data were acquired from fast-response pressure transducers along the impeller shroud, in the vaneless space, and along the diffuser passages. Two different patterns of flow instabilities, including mild surge and short-length-scale rotating stall, are observed during the decelerations. The instability starts with a small pressure perturbation at the impeller leading edge (LE) and quickly develops into a single-lobe rotating stall burst. The stall cell propagates in the direction opposite of impeller rotation at approximately one-third of the rotor speed. The rotating stall bursts are observed in both the impeller and diffuser, with the largest magnitudes near the diffuser throat. Furthermore, the flow instability develops into a continuous high frequency stall and remains in the fully developed stall condition.

Experimental Study of Modal Disturbance and Rotating Stall Distribution

2013 ◽  
Vol 718-720 ◽  
pp. 1804-1810
Author(s):  
An Qing Lai ◽  
Jun Hu ◽  
Liang Li ◽  
Ju Luo
Keyword(s):  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Propagation Speed ◽  
Axial Direction ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Rotor Speed ◽  
Stall Inception ◽  
Tip Clearance Flow ◽  
Modal Type

To execute stall active control technology effectively and make clear of stall inception induced by modal disturbance, this paper carries out the correlative research on modal disturbance and rotating stall on the two-stage low-speed axial compressor. The results indicate that the stall inception of the compressor is modal style and the modal oscillation propagates at 38% rotor speed while the stall cell propagation speed is 42% rotor speed. The phase angles of modal oscillation and rotating stall along the axial direction are different, but their trajectories are both similar to the blade passage shape. The stall mechanisms of modal-type and spike-type inceptions are different. It doesnt appear that leading-edge tip clearance flow spillage blow the blade tip while the modal-type stall formation.

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