SSRG International Journal of Thermal Engineering ( SSRG – IJTE ) - Volume 5 Issue 2 May - Aug 2019

Performance Evaluation Of Axial Flow

Compressor Using Stages Characteristics
Avwunuketa, Ayedun Alex¹ , Adamu, Mohamed Lawal²,Ajao,Tofunmi Ayodele³
Aircraft Engineering Department, Faculty of air Engineering, School of Postgraduate studies, Ai rForce
Institute of Technology, Kaduna Nigeria .

Abstract
The performance characteristics of axial flow their inputs to the compressor performance. For the
compressors due to variation in size of blade, axial compressor to deliver compressed air to the
pressure, temperature and shaft rotational speed combustor for onward delivery to the turbine , each
determined the output variables such as work output stage should be able to attained a better performance
and efficiency. The performance depends upon the that is better than the preceding stage. This work also
blade diameter, mass flow rate, density of the flowing focus on how energy is exchange between the blades
fluid, stage pressure ratio, stage delivering pressure and the moving fluid (compressed air) and variation
and temperature. of flow over the blades.
This paper focus on how parameters obtained from
each stage, influence the Performance of the axial Keywords: Axial Velocity, Blade angle,
compressor. These various parameters that has Compressor, Mach Number, Pressure ratio,
influence on the performance of the compressor were Transonic.
analyzed with tables and graphs, to show clearly

I. INTRODUCTION

Axial flow compressor has a rotating blade called the compressor design, consist of a series of Stages. A
rotor and a stationary blade called the stator. The Stage comprises of a rotor and a stator as shown in
combination of a stator and a rotor form a stage. Each figure 1.1.

Figure 1.1: Axial compressor showing first and last stage

An inlet guide vane are provided to guide the air at direction of flow, the volume of the air decreases.
the correct angle at entry to the first row of the To keep the air velocity the same for each stage,
moving blade. The rotor impart kinetic energy to the the blade height is reduced along the axis of the
air to increase its pressure and the stator decelerate compressor.The amount of diffusion in the rotor
and redirect the at a Suitable angle for entry to the and stator is controlled by the design of the
next row of moving blades in the proper compressor and is often called the reaction of the
direction(Diffusion) and convert part of the kinetic stage. When all the diffusion takes place in the
energy to pressure energy. Modern axial flow rotor, the reaction is said to be 100%, and when all
compressors may give efficiencies of 86– 90% [1]. the diffusion takes place in the stator, the reaction
The flow of air through the compressor is in the is to be 0% (also known as impulse stage). High
direction of the axis of the compressor and, diffusion in the rotor or stator reduces the
therefore, it is called an axial flow compressor. The efficiency of the compressor and it is normal
height of the blades decreases as the fluid moves practice to design for 50% reaction in which case
through the compressor. the diffusion is equal in the stator and rotor.
As the pressure increases in the direction in the

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 SSRG International Journal of Thermal Engineering ( SSRG – IJTE ) - Volume 5 Issue 2 May - Aug 2019

Fig 1.2 : Cutaway sketch of a typical axial compressor [2]

Axial flow compressor has the inherent ability to In aircrafts the advantage of the smaller diameter
provide higher pressure ratio at reduce specific fuel axial- flow compressor can offset the disadvantage of
consumption compare to a centrifugal compressor. the increased length and weight ]compared with an
Efficiency is higher with high overall pressure ratio. equivalent centrifugal compressor[3].
It has much larger mass flow rate that is beneficial
for a given thrust per unit frontal area for jet Engines.

A. DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
 Compressor pressure ratio 18:1
This paper is to study and verify various  Air-mass flow 50kg/s
parameters obtain from design calculations, that  Reaction 50%
affect the performance of axial flow compressor  𝜂𝑐 0.88
when the compressor pressure ratio, mass flow rate,  Hub-tip ratio 0.5
turbine inlet temperature, hub-tip ratio, blade axial  Axial flow velocity 150m/s
velocity and polytropic efficiency and thrust, are  Tip speed 360m/s
known.
Suitable design point under sea-level static
condition of pressure and temperature. Pa =1.01
bar, Ta = 288K

II. DESIGN PROCESS

From continuity flow equation
A. ROTATIONAL SPEED
𝜸
ṁ= 𝝆𝟏 A𝑽𝒇 ……………….2.1 𝑻
𝑷𝟏 = 𝑷𝟎𝟏 [𝑻 𝟏 ]𝜸−𝟏 ………………………2.6
A=π [ 𝒓𝒕 𝟐 - 𝒓𝒉 𝟐 ] ……………….2.2 𝟎𝟏
𝒓
ṁ = 𝝆𝟏 π𝒓𝒕 𝟐 𝑽𝒇 [1-(𝒓𝒓)𝟐 ] ……………..2.3
𝒕 γ = 1.4
ṁ 1.4
𝒓𝒕 𝟐 = 𝒓 …………….2.4 276 .8
𝑃1 = 1.01[ 288 ]1.4−1
𝑽𝒇 𝝆𝟏 𝛑[𝟏−( 𝒓 )𝟐 ]
𝒓𝒕
at sea-level static condition 𝑃1 = 0.879 bar
𝑇01 = 288K Assuming no loss at the intake From equation of state
𝑷
𝑃𝑜1 = 1.01 bar 𝝆𝟏 = 𝑹×𝑻𝟏 ………………….2.7
𝟏
Assuming there is no (IGV) at the intake 0.879×𝐸5
𝑉𝑤1 = 0 𝑉1 =𝑉𝑓 = 150m/s 𝜌1 = 287 ×276 .8
From flow energy equation 𝜌1 = 1.106kg/m³
𝑽𝟏 𝟐 From equation 2.4
𝑻𝟏 = 𝑻𝒐𝟏 - …………………………2.5 50
𝟐 𝑪𝒑 𝑟𝑡 2 =150 ×1.106 ×3.142 [1−(0.5)2 ]
𝐶𝑝 = 1.005kJ/kgK
150 2
𝑟𝑡 2 = 0.128
𝑇1 = 288 - 2 ×1.005 ×1000 𝑟𝑡 = (0.128)0.5
𝑇1 = 276.8K 𝑟𝑡 = 0.36m

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 SSRG International Journal of Thermal Engineering ( SSRG – IJTE ) - Volume 5 Issue 2 May - Aug 2019

𝑟𝑟
= 0.5 𝑁 = 159.13rps
𝑟𝑡
Rotational speed of the axial compressor is
𝑟𝑟 =0.36× 0.5
159.13rps
𝑟𝑟 = 0.18m
𝑈𝑡 =360m/s
𝑼𝒕 =2× 𝝅 × 𝒓𝒕 × 𝑵……………………………2.8
360
𝑁=2×3.142 ×0.36

B. MACH NUMBER 𝑎= 333.5m/s

Assuming axial velocity to be constant across the
annulus and no inlet guide vane 𝑽𝟏𝒕
𝑴𝟏𝒕 = ………………………………..2.11
𝒂
𝑽𝟏𝒕 𝟐 = 𝑼𝟏𝒕 𝟐 + 𝑽𝒇 𝟐 …………………….2.9 390
𝑀1𝑡 =
𝑉1𝑡 2 = 3602 + 150² 333 .5
𝑉1𝑡 =390m/s 𝑀1𝑡 = 1.169
𝒂 = (𝜸 × 𝑹 × 𝑻𝟏 )𝟎.𝟓 ………………2.10 The first stage is transonic.
𝑎 = ( 1.4 × 287 × 276.8)0.5

𝜸
C. ANNULUS DIMENSION AT EXIT FROM 𝑻
𝑷𝟐 = 𝑷𝟎𝟐 (𝑻 𝟐 )𝜸−𝟏 ……………………2.14
THE COMPRESSOR 𝟎𝟐
1.4
726 .61
𝑃2 = 18.18( 736 .8 ) 1.4−1
Compressor delivery pressure
𝑷 𝒏−𝟏 𝑃2 = 17.32 bar
𝑻𝟎𝟐 = 𝑻𝟎𝟏 (𝑷𝟎𝟐) 𝒏 …………………………..2.12 17.32×𝐸5
𝜌2 = 287 ×726 .61
𝟎𝟏
𝒏−𝟏 𝟏 𝜸−𝟏
=Ƞ …………………………….2.13 𝜌2 = 8.305kg/m³
𝒏 𝒄 𝜸 ṁ
𝑛 −1 1 1.4−1 𝑨𝟐 = 𝝆 ………………………………2.15
𝑛
= 0.88 1.4
𝟐×𝑽𝒇
𝑛 −1 50
= 0.325 𝐴2 = 8.305 ×150
𝑛
𝑇02 = 288(18)0.325 𝐴2 = 0.040m²
𝑇02 = 736.8K Exit annulus area is 0.040m²
𝒓𝒓+ 𝒓
It is assume that at exit from the stator of the 𝒓𝒎 = 𝟐 𝒕 ……………………….2.16
last stage, there is no swirl 0.36+ 0.18
𝑟𝑚 =
𝑉2 = 𝑉𝑓 = 150m/s 2
The static temperature, and density at exit 𝑟𝑚 = 0.27m
𝑨
were calculated below 𝒉 = 𝟐𝝅𝒓𝟐 ………………2.17
𝒎
150 2 0.040
𝑇2 = 736.8 - ℎ = 2×3.142 ×0.27
2×1.005 ×1000
𝑇2 = 726.61K
𝑃02 = 1.01× 18
𝑃02 = 18.18 bar
ℎ = 0.024m 𝑟𝑡 = 0.27 + 0.012
The blade height at exit = 0.024m 𝑟𝑡 = 0.282m
Radii of the last stator at exit are 𝑟𝑟 = 0.27 - 0.012
0.024
𝑟𝑡 = 0.27 + 2 𝑟𝑟 = 0.27 - 0.012 𝑟𝑟 = 0.258m

Radius Inlet Outlet

𝑟𝑟 0.18m 0.258m

𝑟𝑡 0.36m 0.282m
Table 2.1 shows the summary of the annulus dimension at inlet and outlet

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 SSRG International Journal of Thermal Engineering ( SSRG – IJTE ) - Volume 5 Issue 2 May - Aug 2019

III. COMPRESSION STAGES A. Estimation of number of stages

The overall stagnation temperature rise application and weight. Rather than choosing a
through the axial compressor is 𝑇02 - 𝑇01 (448.8K). value at random, it is instructive to estimate a
The stage temperature rise ( Δ𝑇0𝑠 ) can vary widely suitable ΔT0s based on the mean blade speed.[4]
in different compressor designs, depending on the
𝝀𝑼𝒎 𝑽𝒇 (𝒕𝒂𝒏ϐ𝟏−𝒕𝒂𝒏ϐ𝟐 )
𝑼𝒎 = 2π𝒓𝒎 𝑵 ………………….3.1 Δ𝑻𝟎𝒔 = …………………3.2
𝑈𝑚 = 2× 3.142×0.27× 159.13 𝑪𝒑

𝑈𝑚 = 270 m/s With an axial velocity at entry to the first stage and
Temperature rise is calculated with equation 3.2 no inlet guide vane (IGV) From the velocity
diagram in figure3.1

Fig 3.1: showing the velocity diagram

𝑼𝒎 150
tanϐ𝟏 = ………………………….3.3 cosϐ2 = 222 .41
𝑽𝒇
270 ϐ2 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 −1 0.6744
tanϐ1 = 150 = 1.8
ϐ2 = 47.59°
ϐ1 =𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 1.8 From equation 3.2 and neglecting work factor λ
ϐ1 =60.95° 150 ×270 (𝑡𝑎𝑛 60.95°−𝑡𝑎𝑛 47.59°)
𝑽𝒇 Δ𝑇0𝑠 =
1.005 𝐸3
𝑽𝟏 = 𝒄𝒐𝒔ϐ ………………..3.4
𝟏 Δ𝑇0𝑠 = 28.43K
150
𝑉1 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 60.95° Temperature rise per stage is 28.43K
𝑉1 = 308.9 m/s Number of stages =
𝑻𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒐𝒓
To estimate possible deflection in the rotor, de …3.7
𝑻𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆
Haller number criterion is applied
𝑽𝟐 448 .8
𝑽
≥ 0.72 …………………..3.5 Number of stages =
𝟏 28.43
𝑉2 = 308.9 ×0.72 Number of stages = 16 stages
𝑉2 = 222.41m/s
𝒗𝒇
cosϐ𝟐 = 𝑽 ……………….3.6
𝟐

IV. STAGE DESIGN

A. STAGE ONE
From the velocity diagram in fig 3.1 temperature rise are based on rotor considerations
𝑽𝒘𝟏 = 𝑽𝒇 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝜶𝟏 …………………4.1 only, but care must be taken to ensure that the
𝑽𝒘𝟐 = 𝑽𝒘𝟏 + Δ𝑽𝒘 ………………..4.2 diffusion in the stator is kept to a reasonable
For the first stage 𝛼1 = 0 because no inlet guide level.[4].
vanes (IGV) at entry. Calculations of stage
For the purpose of this research, a value of 0.98 270
tanϐ1 = 150 = 1.8
work-done factor (λ) is applied to stage one
𝑪𝒑 𝜟𝑻𝟎 ϐ1 =𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 1.8
Δ𝑽𝒘 = 𝝀𝑼𝒎
……………………….4.4 ϐ1 =60.95°
𝑼 −𝑽
tanϐ𝟐 = 𝒎𝑽 𝒘𝟐 ……………….4.5
1.005 𝐸3×28.43 𝒇
Δ𝑉𝑤 = 0.98×270 270 −107 .98
tanϐ2 = 150
Δ𝑉𝑤 = 107.98m/s
tanϐ2 = 1.080
Since 𝑉𝑤1 = 0 𝑉𝑤2 = 107.98m/s

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 SSRG International Journal of Thermal Engineering ( SSRG – IJTE ) - Volume 5 Issue 2 May - Aug 2019

ϐ2 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 1.080 tan𝛼2 =

107 .98
150
ϐ2 = 47.21° tan𝛼2 = 0.7199
𝑽
tan𝜶𝟐 = 𝑽𝒘𝟐……………………………4.6
𝒇
𝛼2 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 0.7199 𝛿𝑟1 = 13.74°
𝛼2 = 35.75° The deflection of stator blade
The velocity diagram of the first stage is shown in 𝜹𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓 = 𝜶𝟐 - 𝜶𝟏 ……………………..4.8
fig 1.2 𝛿𝑠1 = 35.75°
The deflection of the rotor blade The diffusion can be check using de Haller number
𝜹𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒓= ϐ𝟏 - ϐ𝟐 ………………………4.7 𝑪𝑶𝑺ϐ𝟏
de Haller number = ……….4.9
𝑪𝑶𝑺ϐ𝟐
Deflection of the rotor blade for stage one
𝛿𝑟1 = 60.95° - 47.21°
𝐶𝑂𝑆 60.95° 𝑽𝒘𝟐+𝑽𝒘𝟏
de Haller number = 𝐶𝑂𝑆 47.21° Ʌ=1- 𝟐𝑼𝒎
…………………4.13
de Haller number = 0.714
Pressure ratio for stage one
𝜼𝒄 𝜟𝑻𝟎 𝜸
𝑷 107 .98
(𝑷𝟎𝟐)𝒏= (𝟏 + 𝑻𝟎𝟏
)𝜸−𝟏……………4.10 Ʌ = 1 - 2×270
𝟎𝟏
Ʌ = 0.80
𝑃 02 0.89×28.43 STAGE TWO
(1.01 )1 = (1 + 288
)3.5
λ=0.96 ,Ʌ = 0.70
𝑃𝑟1 = 1.34 ϐ1 = 58.43°
𝑃02 = 1.356 bar ϐ2 = 41.75°
𝑻𝟎𝟐 = 𝑻𝟎𝟏 + 𝜟𝑻𝟎 …………….4.11 𝛿𝑟2 = 16.68°
𝑇02 = 288 +28.43 𝑼
𝑇02 = 316.43K tan𝜶𝟏 + tanϐ𝟏 = 𝑽𝒎 ………………..4.14
𝒇
Pressure difference in stage one 𝑼𝒎
tan𝜶𝟐 + tanϐ𝟐 = ………………..4.15
𝜟𝒑 = 𝑷𝟎𝟐 - 𝑷𝟎𝟏 ……………. 4.12 𝑽𝒇

𝛥𝑝1 = 0.346 bar 4.2 WORK DONE PER STAGE

Degree of Reaction 𝑾𝒄𝒔 = 𝑼𝒎( 𝑽𝒘𝟐 - 𝑽𝒘𝟏 )…………….4.16

The summary calculation of the stages are shown in table 4.

Stages 𝑷𝒓 𝑷𝟎𝟐 (bar) 𝑻𝟎𝟐 (K) Δ𝑽𝒘 (m/s) λ 𝑾𝒄𝒔 (kJ)

1 1.143 1.36 316.43 107.98 0.98 29.2
2 1.150 1.78 344.86 110.07 0.96 29.7
3 1.156 2.27 373.29 112.56 0.94 30.4
4 1.163 2.86 401.72 118.05 0.92 31.9
5 1.164 3.55 430.15 116.70 0.90 31.5
6 1.172 4.33 458.58 120.28 0.88 32.5
7 1.173 5.24 487.01 123.00 0.86 33.2
8 1.18 6.45 515.44 126.00 0.84 34.0
9 1.21 7.61 543.87 129.50 0.82 35.0
10 1.22 8.92 572.30 132.30 0.80 35.7
11 1.23 10.38 600.73 135.60 0.78 36.6
12 1.24 12.16 629.16 139.20 0.76 37.6
13 1.26 14.16 657.59 142.95 0.74 38.6
14 1.28 16.37 686.02 146.97 0.72 39.7
15 1.34 18.83 714.45 151.20 0.70 40.8
16 1.34 21.52 742.88 155.55 0.68 42.0
Table 4.1 The summary calculation of other stages are shown in

V. CONCLUSION
The performance of an axial flow compressors 1.2with stage pressure ratio of 1.15 – 1.6 [5]. This
depends on it applications. For industrial application, research work fall into the category of aerospace
their flow is subsonic with inlet relative velocity application because the inlet mach number is 1.169.
mach number of 0.4 – 0.8 with stage pressure ratio From the results obtain from the calculations, figure
of 1.05 – 1.2. For Aerospace application, its flow is 5.1 indicate that as the stage pressure ratio increases,
transonic with inlet relative mach number of 0.7 - the delivery temperature for each stage also increase.

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 SSRG International Journal of Thermal Engineering ( SSRG – IJTE ) - Volume 5 Issue 2 May - Aug 2019

This temperature increase across stages, help to Pressure delivered across the stage increases as the
increase the work input from the compressor per pressure ratio increase, to attain the desire or design
stage to the fluid (air). pressure output of the axial compressor. This deliver
The graph shown in figure 5.2 shows how delivery pressure from the compressor is to sustain the
pressure varies with pressure ratio across each stage. pressure of the combustor.
From basic thermodynamics, temperature is directly A departure from design specifications such as the
proportional to pressure, figure 5.3 is a verification of flow rate will change the axial velocity component.
the thermodynamics law ( Charles law). The speed of rotation (N) of the shaft calculated, any
The higher the difference between the rotor speed at deviation from the value will change the blade mean
exit and inlet to a stage, the higher the work speed 𝑈𝑚 , which will alter the angle ϐ1 at which the
available for compression. This also increase the flow approaches the rotor.
delivery pressure per stage. The result obtained from this research can be
functionally improve with simulation.

Fig 5.3: Stage temperature Vs Stage Pressure

Fig 5.1 : stage pressure ratio Vs Stage deliver
temperature.

Fig5.4: Delivery Pressure Vs Net Whirl speed

Fig: 5.2 stage pressure ratio Vs Stage deliver

pressure.

Fig 5.5: showing Work Done Vs Pressure ratio

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 SSRG International Journal of Thermal Engineering ( SSRG – IJTE ) - Volume 5 Issue 2 May - Aug 2019

REFRENCES

[1] Rama,S.R.G;Aijaz,A.K.;Turbomachinery Design and [5] Boyce, M.P., Transonic Axial-Flow Compressor. ASM
Theory, 1st edition. 2003) Paper No. 67-GT-47.
[2] Philip, G. H., Carl, R.P.) Mechanics and [6] Turton,R.K., Principles of Turbomachinery,2nd
Thermodynamics of Propulsion,2nd Edition. 2014 Edition,1995
[3] Eastop, T.D., McConkey, A, Applied Thermodynamics [7] Dixon, S.L., Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics of
for Engineering Technologist 5th Edition. Turbomachinery,4th Edition,1993
[4] Saravanamutoo,H.I.H,et al, Gas Turbine Theory, 7th [8] Boyce,M.P., Gas Turbine Engineering Handbook, 2nd
Edition,2017. Edition 2003.
[9] Lebele-Alawa, B.T. “Rotor-blades‟ profile influence on
a gas turbines compressor effectiveness", Applied
Energy 85 (2008). Pp.494– 505.
[10] Mathur,M.L.,Sharma,R.P.,Gas Turbines and Jet &
Rocket Propulsion 4th edition2014
[11] Walsh,P.P.,Fletcher,P., Gas Turbine Performance 2nd
Edition,2004.

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