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Axial Flow Compressor.

The document describes the construction and working of an axial flow compressor. It consists of alternating fixed and moving blades attached to a rotor and stator. Each set of blades constitutes a stage where the air is compressed. The rotor blades add kinetic energy and the stator blades diffuse the flow, increasing pressure at each stage. This keeps the axial velocity constant through the compressor. Axial flow compressors are ideal for constant load applications like aircraft engines due to their high efficiency over a narrow operating range. Any deviation from the design condition causes efficiency to drop drastically.

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Mohit Minz
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156 views3 pages

Axial Flow Compressor.

The document describes the construction and working of an axial flow compressor. It consists of alternating fixed and moving blades attached to a rotor and stator. Each set of blades constitutes a stage where the air is compressed. The rotor blades add kinetic energy and the stator blades diffuse the flow, increasing pressure at each stage. This keeps the axial velocity constant through the compressor. Axial flow compressors are ideal for constant load applications like aircraft engines due to their high efficiency over a narrow operating range. Any deviation from the design condition causes efficiency to drop drastically.

Uploaded by

Mohit Minz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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GOVERNMENT ENGINEERING COLLEGE, BHARUCH

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT


PRACTICAL 10: TO STUDY THE CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF AXIAL FLOW COMPRESSORAND
DRAW ITS CHARACTERISTICS CURVE.

Objective:
• To understand construction of an axial flow compressor.
• To understand working of an axial flow compressor.
• To draw characteristics curve of an axial flow compressor.
Introduction:
Axial flow compressors are turbo machines that increase the pressure of air or gas flowing
continuously in the axial direction. Early axial flow compressors had pressure ratios of around 5:1 and
required about 10 stages. The efficiency was less than 40 per cent. Continued aerodynamic development
has resulted in a steady increase ratio has been greatly reduced.
Today, axial flow compressors are reported with efficiencies of up to 90% at pressure ratios
of 7 or 8 to 1. The efficiency of the axial flow compressors surpasses the maximum centrifugal
compressor efficiency by about 4 per cent. However, a penalty has to be paid for such high flow rate at
the design point. Any deviation from the design condition causes the efficiency to drop off drastically.
Thus the axial flow compressor is ideal for constant load applications such as in aircraft gas
turbine engines. They are also used in fossil fuel power stations where gas turbines are used for topping
up the station output when normal peak loads are exceeded.
CONSTRUCTION OF AN AXIAL FLOW COMPRESSOR
Figure 1 shows an axial flow compressor construction. An axial flow compressor consists of
fixed and moving set of blades in alternating sequence. The set of moving blades are attached to
periphery of a rotor hub. The set of fixed blades are attached to the walls of the outer stationary casing,
called stator. At the inlet of the compressor, an extra row of fixed vanes called inlet guide vanes are
fitted. These guide vanes guide the air at the correct angle onto the first row of moving blades. The rotor
and stator blade banks must be as close as possible for smooth and efficient flow. The radius of the rotor
hub and the length of the blades are designed so that there is only a very small tip clearance atthe end of
the rotor blades and one set of the stator blades constitute a stage.
The height of successive sets of blades is reached to compensate in volume resulting from
increasing pressure from stage to stage. This keeps the axial velocity (flow velocity) constant through
the compressor. The reduction in volume may be obtained by flaring the stator or by flaring the rotor.
Fig shows flared stator (called drum rotor) type compressor and fig-b shows flared rotor (called disc
rotor) type compressor. Generally disc rotor compressor is used as they are superior. For the same over
all weight, the centrifugal stress is lower in the disc type than the drum type.
The rotor and stator blades are so arranged that the spaces between them form diverging
passages and hence the velocity of the air is decreased as it passes through them, and there is ac rise in
pressure.
WORKING

Air enters axially from the left into inlet guide vanes, where it is deflected by a certain angleto impinge on
the first row of moving blades, with proper angle of attack. The moving blades add kinetic energy to the air.
As the air passes through the moving blades, pressure rises at the expense of areduction in the relative
velocity of the air. This is done by providing diffuser passage between blades. The absolute velocity of air
increase due to work input to the moving blades through the rotor shaft. The air is then discharged at the
proper angle to the first row of fixed blades, where the pressure is future increased bu diffusion. The air is
then directed to the second row of moving blades and the sameprocess is repeated through the remaining
compressor stages
.
It is usually arranged to have an equal temperature rise in the moving and the fixed blades and to keep
the axial velocity of the air constant throughout the compressor. Thus each stage of the compression is
exactly similar with regard to air velocity and blade inlet and outlet angles.

Exercise:

What is an axial flow compressor? With a suitable sketch explain the working principle of an axial flow
1
compressor
What are basic requirements of compressor for aircraft application? Does the axial flow compressor
2
meet them? Explain
3 The axial flow compressor is ideal for constant load application. Why?

4 Explain phenomenon of surging and stalling in an axial flow compressor. Explain also the rotating stall.

5 What are merits and demerits of centrifugal and axial flow compressor

6 Draw and explain performance characteristics of an axial flow compressor

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