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NASA Technical Memorandum 4635

NASA Low-Speed Axial Compressor

for Fundamental Research

Charles A. Wasserbauer, Harold F. Weaver, and Richard G. Senyitko

JULY 1995

ted Copy
Corre C

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration
 NASA Technical Memorandum 4635

NASA Low-Speed Axial Compressor

for Fundamental Research

Charles A. Wasserbauer
Sverdrup Technology, Inc.
Lewis Research Center Group
Brookpark, Ohio

Harold F. Weaver
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Lewis Research Center
Cleveland, Ohio

Richard G. Senyitko
Sverdrup Technnology, Inc.
Lewis Research Center Group
Brookpark, Ohio

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration
Office of Management
Scientific and Technical
Information Program
1995

L~
 NASA Low-Speed Axial Compressor for Fundamental Research

Charles A. Wasserbauer
Sverdrup Technology, Inc.
Lewis Research Center Group
Brook Park, Ohio 44142

Harold F. Weaver
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Lewis Research Center
Cleveland, Ohio 44135

and

Richard G. Senyitko
Sverdrup Technology, Inc.
Lewis Research Center Group
Brook Park, Ohio 44142

Summary has embarked on a major research program to provide the

information and tools necessary to advance both component
A low-speed, multistage axial compressor, constructed at and system technologies. Ultimately, experiments and analyses
the NASA Lewis Research Center, is described. The purpose must be applied to realistic, high-speed, axial-flow compressors;
of this compressor is twofold: to increase the understanding of however, many of the key flow phenomena that control the
the complex flow phenomena occurring in multistage axial performance of multistage compressors can be effectively
compressors, and to obtain detailed data from a multistage studied by using large-size, low-speed research hardware as
compressor environment for use in developing and verifying shown by Day et al. (ref. 6). Using large-size hardware increases
models for computational fluid dynamic code assessment. The the size of endwall flow regions relative to the size of
compressor has extensive pressure instrumentation in both instrumentation; this allows more detailed study of the endwall
stationary and rotating frames of reference, and has provisions regions.
for flow visualization and laser velocimetry. The compressor A low-speed, multistage axial compressor has been designed
will accommodate rotational speeds to 1050 rpm and is rated at and built at NASA Lewis (1) to execute detailed experiments
a pressure ratio of 1.042. that will identify relevant flow physics, (2) to provide interaction
between detailed experiments and emerging average-passage
and Navier-Stokes computational fluid dynamic (CFD)
methods, and (3) to provide data needed for developing flow
Introduction models used by the CFD codes. The goal of this research
program is to develop efficient performance prediction
Both industry and government have placed increased capabilities for both design and off-design operating conditions.
emphasis on improving the performance of high-speed, This report describes the major components and instrumentation
multistage axial compressors. Much effort has been expended of the low-speed, multistage axial compressor.
to obtain quite detailed measurements of the flows in large
axial compressors. These measurements are used to develop
empirical models that reflect the flow processes in actual blade
rows (refs. 1 to 5). Such information has provided a better Facility
insight into the physical processes occurring in a rotating
channel. Although compressor performance has been improved General Features
by using these empirical design procedures, they require an
extensive data base, which is usually proprietary to individual The NASA Low-Speed Compressor Facility was designed
companies. Further gains in performance for axial compressors to accommodate large compressors, both centrifugal and axial.
are expected to be obtained by using improved computational The major elements of the facility are shown in figure 1. Air is
codes for design and analysis. In the past decade, NASA Lewis drawn from a filtered vent in the roof through a bank of steam
 / Volute collector
Throttle valve ~ /

Air Plenum I 1.22-m-diam axial-flow \

I Torque sensor
straight ener \ I compressor assembly I \
\ I Bellmouth I '}: II Gear / /' "
Plenum Motor
I I box / /
bell mouth ---..", I coo ling
I / / blower
" I / /

2.4 m

~
I
Bedplate --.I St ands

Atmospheric/altitude exhaust --- ----

Figure 1.-NASA Low-Speed Compressor Facility.

pipes and louvers, which are designed to control the air tem-
perature to within ±O.5 K for mass flows up to 45 kg/sec. The
flow enters the test cell and is drawn into the plenum through a TABLE I.-DESIGN PARAMETERS FOR LOW-
bank of flow straighteners contained between two mesh screens. SPEED AXIAL COMPRESSOR
The air passes through a bell mouth specially designed with a
Tip speed ..... . ........ . . . . ... . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. ..... 61.0 m1sec
12.7:1 area contraction. The flow then enters the compressor Rotative speed ... ... .............•.. .. ......• . ....... 980 rpm
and exits through a specially designed throttle valve at the Axial velocity . . ...•.. . ... ... •..... ... .. . .. . . . . .. ... 24.4 m1sec
entrance to the collector. The valve consists of two concentric Mass flow . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 12.3 kg/sec
rings with 1O.2-cm-diam overlapping holes drilled in each so Pressure ratio ... .. .....•.. . .... ... . .... .. .............. 1.042
that the circumferential translation of one ring reduces the Temperature ratio .... .... .... . ........... . .... . . . . ...... 1.013
Tip radius . .......... . . . ..... . . . •...... ... .. •. .. . .... 61.0 cm
available flow area. This throttle valve design was chosen to Hub radius . . ....•. . . . ...... . . . . ..... ...... ...... . ... 48.8 cm
minimize the circumferential asymmetry in the exit static pres- Blade span . ... ......... . .................. . .... .. . .. 12.2 cm
sure distribution that is typically found in scroll-type collectors.
Aspect ratio (span/chord)
A complete description of the facility is provided by Wood et Rotor . .... .. ....... . . .. .............. ..... ...... . . .... 1.20
al . in reference 7. Stator .... .... ............. . .. •.....•.. .. .... . .. . ... . . 1.31
Research in this facility was fust done with a centrifugal Aerodynamic chord midspan
compressor (refs. 8 to 10). The common elements for both the Rotor . ....... . .............. .. .. .. .•... . . .... . . . .. . 10.2 cm
axial and centrifugal configuration, as shown in figure 1, are Stator ..... .. ..... . ... . ........ . .............. .. .... 9.4 cm
the plenum bellmouth inlet, the air straightener, the throttle Blade setting angle midspan
valve, the volute collector/exhaust system, the gear box, both Rotor . .. .... ........... ... ........ . ........ . . .......... 43"
electronic and pneumatic slip-ring assemblies, and the variable- Stator .. ... ... _..... . .. . .............. .... ... ...... . .. . 42"
speed drive motor. The following facility elements were Axially projected chord midspan
designed and fabricated for the axial configuration: the Rotor .... ... .. _..... . ..................... . ........ . 7.6 cm
bellmouth, the 1.22-m-diam axial-flow compressor assembly, Stator .. . ..... _..... .. .. ... . .. . ......... . ..... •.... , 6.6 cm
and a new diffusing bend, which is shown in figure 2. Number of blades
Rotor ...... .... ...... .. .. ........ .. . ...... .... ..... • ... 39
Test Compressor Stator and IGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 52
Axial gap between blade rows .. . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2.54 cm
The low-speed axial compressor consists of four repeating Clearances
stages (i.e., rotor and stator blade rows) plus an inlet guide Rotor tip .... . . _ . .•. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . .. 1.40-percent span;
vane (lGV) row, as shown in figure 3. The overall design 0.17cm
requirements for the axial compressor are given in table I. The Stator seal . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 0.78-percent span;
0.09 cm
NASA compressor was modeled after a low-speed research

L
~ Diffuser flow path

/ r- Existing inner wall

/
/

Dump location ~ -- ~F-::::!~~~il~!1~

New outer wall ______ ,

,,
,

-- New inner wall

Figure 2.-Diffuser geometry for the multistage axial compressor.

3
 ® Station 0.5 (l GV inlet) @ Station 2.5 (Rot or 2 exit)
® Station 0.0 ® Stati on 3.0 (Rot or 3 inlet)
© Station 1.0 (Rot o r 1 inlet) CD Station 3.5 (Rotor 3 exit)
@ Rotor 1 (Tip treatment) Q) Station 4.0 (Rot or 4 inlet)
® St ation 1.5 (Rotor 1 exit) ® Station 4.5 (Rot or 4 exit)
® St ation 2.0 (Rot o r 2 inlet) CO Station 5.0 (Compressor exit) ®

Fig ure 3.-Low-speed axial c ompressor aerodynamic su rvey locati ons.

compressor developed by the General Electric Co. during the so that surveys can be done automatically during testing
1950's. The blading, however, was designed after the model (ref. 11). Both computers transmit the appropriate data to NASA
used in support of a program to develop energy efficient en- Lewis' data acquisition system (ref. 12).
gines in the early 1980's. The NASA compressor incorporates
many design features aimed at achieving an accurate, low- Special Features
speed simulation of a high-speed, state-of-the-art multistage
core compressor. The design philosophy was to consider the To provide maximum versatility, a number of special features
third stage to be the test stage. Thus, (1) a long entrance length were incorporated in the compressor blading, casing, and hub
develops thick endwall boundary layers typical of an section.
embedded-stage environment, (2) the inlet guide vane and the Blade.-The following are the special features of all the
fIrst two compressor stages serve to present a true multistage blade rows.
flow field to the third stage, and (3) the fourth stage acts to (1) There are two instrumented blades on one side and two
buffer the third stage from the compressor exit conditions. counter-balanced blades on the opposite side of each rotor
Therefore, the third stage of this compressor will be the focus blade row, each made of aluminum. There are two instrumented
of future research efforts. Since the compressor was developed aluminum blades for each stator blade row, except for the third
to enable investigation of the multistage flow field and to stage which has four. All the other stator and rotor blades are
provide input for compressor performance prediction codes, made of fiberglass and are shown in figure 5.
all stages of the compressor were instrumented. (2) The compressor features stator blade row indexing,
The compressor was designed to accommodate extensive which is the ability to vary the circumferential location of one
instrumentation. A torquemeter (rated at 1130 N-m) for blade row relative to the other blade rows in the compressor.
measuring overall work input has a nonlinearity of ±O.34 N-m. All stator blade rows have indexing capability except the inlet
Other instrumentation includes static pressures on the casing, guide vane and the fourth stage stator. Each indexing blade
hub, and blade surfaces, and in the stator footrings . Standard row is free to move across almost two full blade pitches
aerodynamic survey probes can be used to measure total (i.e., about 12°) in the circumferential direction. Stator blade
pressure, flow angle, and speed behind each blade row, including row indexing is used to accomplish probe area traverses between
the inlet guide vanes. All stationary pressure measurements are stages 1 and 3 by traversing the stator rows past fixed probes.
recorded by an electronically scanned pressure (ESP) system Circumferential actuator pads are used ahead of stage 1 and
that utilizes transducers rated to 6.9 kN/m 2 . The system has an downstream of stage 4 to accommodate area traverses.
accuracy of about ±.02 kN/m 2 . The flow angle probes have an (3) All blade rows in the compressor have the option of
accuracy of ±OS. Provisions for flow visualization, trace gas variable stagger (i.e., blade setting angle) adjustment, and can
injection, and laser velocimetry are also included. In addition, be adjusted prior to a research run.
the ability to survey in the rotating frame of reference is (4) The number of rotor blades in each of the four stages can
provided behind rotor 3. A block diagram of the research be changed as required. Each rotor blade is mounted on a
instrumentation is shown in figure 4. A host computer controls separate rotor blade platform. Thus, the number of rotor blades
the ESP system and updates the calibration of each transducer in a blade row can be changed by changing the number of
periodically throughout the test. A second computer is dedicated blade platforms. The IGV and stator blade rows were designed
to controlling the position of all aerodynamic survey probes, to hold 52 Vanes or stator blades.

4
 n Clearance
readout

Torque
Clearance
probes

Torque
H readout sensor

Dynamic
Dynamic pressure
,-- pressure transducers
read out
Slip-ring
assembly Strain

H Strain
readout
--
Temperature
reference
block
gages

H Thermocouples
/
Rotating
measurements

I Rotating probe
.. Pressure C I actuators
Pressure
L.. data ( sensor
Central I-
acquisition ~I Pressure
ca~ibration I (
Rotating
glands
I modules
and

I
data Unit
acquisition
control
unit
(' Pressure
sensor
system

I-
Controller
for aerodynamic
r Probe
modules

Pro""e, tempe",t,ro,
Measurements
in stationary
survey probes
actuators Iand angle probes reference
frame
Temperature
reference . IThermocouples I
block
Flow
Flow
visualization
control
I visualization

Laser Doppler
velocimeter ~I LDV
I
I (LDV)
I
~
Tape
recorder

Microvax 1-01.------1 High speed >-----1

/..... Hot wire / Hot wire
L-"-.AI"-.D=-=c;;:..o:..:.nv"-.e:..:.rt.:..:e:..:.r--.J. anemometer f.o..o----~---'p_r_o_b_
e_s_-'
Figure 4.-Block diagram of compressor instrumentation system.

(5) All four stator rows are shrouded on the hub end by windows are located over the first and second stage rotor,
insertion into a stator footring. Figure 6 shows the details of respectively. The third window runs from the leading edge of
the stator footrings with a single labyrinth seal. the third stage rotor to the trailing edge of the fourth stage
Casing.- The following are the special features of the casing. rotor. The third window also allows complete optical access to
(1 ) Circumferential grooves were provided in the casing the third stage stator. The stator blades located under this
wall over the tip of the first stage rotor (fig. 3). General Electric window were mounted on the hub, and then rubber gaskets
found this treatment necessary for their low-speed compressor were mounted on the blade tips to prevent leakage across the
to ensure that the first rotor did not set the stall point for the stator tips at the casing. Solid metal covers are used for each
compressor. Since the NASA compressor was designed as a window when optical access is not needed.
direct scale of the General Electric machine, tip treatment over (3) Mounting pads were machined into the casing for aero-
the first rotor was also incorporated in the NASA design. dynamic survey probes and tip clearance probes at all axial
(2) Three windows, shown in figure 7, are provided in the survey stations. All actuators carry either cobra, wedge, Kiel,
casing for use in flow visualization, trace gas research, and in or hot wire probes. These probes are shown in figures 8, 9, 10,
acquiring laser anemOmeter measurements. The first two and II , respectively. Probe locations are specified in table II.

5
 The mounting pads for the probes are placed circumferentially,
a multiple of stator pitches apart, so that the wake of one probe
does not fallon the wake of another probe. Metal plugs are
provided for each mounting pad when they are not in use.
(4) Two mounting pads are used for touch probes to mea-
sure tip clearance. One is located near the top and the other
near the bottom of the casing at each rotor blade row.
Hub.- The following are the special features of the hub.
(1) A rotating-frame traverse probe mechanism is located
within the hub casing at the third stage, as shown in figure 12.
This traverse mechanism has two actuators located 180' apart,
and is capable of circumferential motion across two rotor
pitches starting and ending at rotor mid-pitch. Each probe
actuator is capable of moving the probe in both radial and yaw
motion. Although the probe actuator is located at a fixed axial
location, the probe measurements can be acquired at various
Figure 5.-Fiberglass airfoils (left to right): stator blade, rot or
axial locations within the rotor by using right-angle probe
blade, and IGV.
stems of varying length.
(2) The hub casing has two circumferential slots located
180' apart in the same axial plane as the actuators. Each slot
can hold a total pressure rake in a fixed position and can
,r- Stator blade provide for a continuously variable location across the pitch of
the rotor blade. All the probes are mounted through the casing
/,r- St ator footri ng window and secured within the hub cavity.
/

,r- Hub casing

Figure S.-Low-speed axial compressor stator footri ng.

T
~ O.5-m m-diam
/ support rod

f4-4.2:-]
I ~ mm
-...L.Y45°
1.5mm ~
O.05-mm -o.d. T
x OA -mm-i.d. t ubes --.l
/
Figure 7.-Low-speed axial compressor w indows. Figure 8.-Cobra probe.

6
 1220 mm 1220 mm

1
25.4 mm
~ 0.5-mm-diam
/ support rod
0.51-mm-o.d.
xO.06-mm
wall tubing,
\
\
/
/
L 0.5-mm hole

~l/
"'\. / --l::l~
mm.J
/ - - 3mm
/
/
L 1.64-mm-o.d. x 0.24-mm wall tubing
Figure 9.-Wedge probe. Figure 10.-Kiel probe.

1'~-4.~~~~~~~O~~~~
~~-t4-·I"--- 38mm ---" 1
1--- - - 16mm

1.5-mt diam t
3.2-mm diam
Figure 11.-Hot wire probe.

Instrumentation Stator. -There are 54 casing static pressure taps over all
4 stages. The rotating stator rings 1 and 2, have a total of
Inlet.-From the bellmouth to the IGV 's, there are a total of 51 outer wall static taps; stator ring 3 has 36. In addition, there
21 static pressure taps in the outer casing and 20 in the are 96 static taps in the footring platform and 12 in the footring
centerbody wall. The IGV's have a total of 12 static taps: 4 at cavity. Two aluminum stator blades at each station are instru-
the inlet outer wall, 4 at the inlet inner wall, and 4 at the exit mented with static taps. The suction surface of one blade has
inner wall. an array of 15 chordwise by 12 spanwise static taps, as shown

7
 __ -r- Circumferential
__ ,---- / actuators ~,
............ '...... ,/ '\'''''
.----',0.:,...... / "

I
IGV
I

Rotating-frame
mechanism~, I
", Probe
""'''', I
I
Instrument
tower ~",

"'"''''

Figure 12.-Rotating-frame traverse probe mechanism and instrument tower.

in figure 13. The pressure surface on the opposite side of the 141 channels for rotating-frame pressure measurements from
passage has an array of 11 chordwise by 12 span wise static the hub static taps and the rotating probe mechanism. The four
taps (fig. 14). Tills gives a total of 312 stator blade surface ESP transducers and the absolute transducer have a system
static taps per station. accuracy of about ±0.06 kN/m 2 . The absolute pressure trans-
Rotor.-On the rotor drum at each rotor blade station, there ducer is used to calibrate the ESP transducers during a research
are a total of 12 static taps in the footring cavity and 96 in the run. The pressure information is then relayed to the slip ring
rotor blade platform. Two aluminum rotor blades at each sta- mechanism. Because of the centrifugal head effect of the air in
tion are instrumented with static taps. The suction surface of the tubes produced by rotation, the pressure sensed by the
one blade has an array of 15 chordwise by 12 spanwise static pressure transducer on the tower is not the same as that located
taps (the same array as on the stator suction surface shown in at the static tap on the blades or rotor drum. This centrifugal
figure 13). The pressure surface on the opposite side of the head effect is accounted for during data reduction.
passage has an array of 11 chordwise by 12 spanwise static In addition to blade static taps, one strain gage is mounted
taps (the same array as on the stator pressure surface shown in on each instrumented IGV blade and the third stage stator
figure 14). Tills gives a total of 312 surface static taps per blade. The gage wires are routed through the blade base. Strain
station. In total, there are 54 static taps in the casing, 1424 in gage measurements are stored on magnetic tape for further
the stator ring, and 1398 in the rotor drum. processing.
Stainless steel tubes from the static taps are routed inside Exit.-Forty static pressure taps are located in the annular
the rotor drum to the ESP transducers on the instrument tower diffuser section: 2 groups of 10 in the outer wall and 2 groups
located at the end of the rotor shaft (fig. 12). The instrument of 10 in the inner wall , both at circumferential locations spaced
tower holds four ESP transducers rated to 34.5 kN/m 2 and an 180· apart at each streamwise location. These static taps are
absolute pressure transducer. The 4 ESP transducers provide used to determine the flow qUality within the diffuser.

8
 TABLE Il.-PROB E SURVEY Special Instrumentation Features
STATION LOCATIONS

Sta- Axial position, Circumferential position,

The three windows in the casing (fig. 7) provide access for
tion m dega the flow visualization techniques , trace gas technique, and
laser anemometry.
0.5 - 0.167 6' 55' Flow visualization.-Fluorescent paint can be used on the
117' 42'
blades and endwalls to show the flow within the boundary
1.0 .039 41 ' 09' layer. The solid metal covers are used on the casing for these
96' 32' tests. Mter the test, the covers are removed and the blades and
1.5 .183 55' 36' covers are illuminated with fluorescent (black) light and pho-
97"08' tographed to record the results.
2.0 .279 43' 50' Smoke can be injected ahead of each stage to visualize
85' 22' unsteady flows arising from blade row interactions within the
2.5 .376 55' 36' compressor. Results may be recorded by using either a strobe
104' 03' light and fast frame camera, or a laser sheet and video recorder.
3.0 .472 43' 50' Smoke is injected into the flow field through tubes fixed to the
92' 00' casing. Figure 15 shows the location of these tubes.
3.5 .569 271 ' 00' The ammonia vapor/ozalid paper technique can be used to
determine the flow direction on the blade and endwall surfaces
4.0 .666 271 ' 00'
and to indicate regions of separated flow. Ozalid paper is
4.5 .762 41 ' 45' attached to the surface of the blade of interest, just behind a
97' 08'
row of static pressure taps. Ammonia gas is introduced through
5.0 .945 41 ' 09' the static pressure taps, while the compressor is rotating, to
89' 03' expose a streak on the ozalid paper. These streaks show the
aLooking downstream; lOp=O local flow angle on the blade. The ozalid paper is then removed
and used as a record of the surface flow s.

Figure 13.-5tator blade suction surface static taps. Figure 14.-5tator blade pressure surface static taps.

9
 __ ~ ~ Smoke injection stations -",

-------_ ...
. :../.:~? \\,\ /,/'/ '\~"""""'"

IGV
I
I

Figure 15.-Low-speed axial compressor smoke injection locations.

Slot for adjustment Trace gas technique.-The trace gas sampling technique
of injection probe involves injecting a small amount of ethylene gas into the flow
location relative to
field at a given radial location through a sampling tube in the
the ",.tom ~"""" ""'" ~ stator leading edge plane (fig. 16), or through static pressure
taps in the stator blade surfaces. The ethylene gas concentra-
tion is measured at locations downstream of the injection
point. A continuous sample of gas is drawn from the flow field
using a vacuum pump attached to a sampling tube; the sample
Ethylene injection
probe fixed to the
stator ring ~""""'"
'!\ is analyzed with a flame ionization detector.
Laser anemometry . -An argon-ion laser Doppler
velocimeter (LDV) system can be used to obtain velocity
' ; Ethylene sampling
measurements. The LDV system is mounted on translating
", f tube fixed to the
tables (i.e., slides) to provide motion in the X-, Y- , and
casing
" Z-directions. A dedicated minicomputer is used both to control
the table drivers (positioning the system to predetermined
measuring points), and to automatically record the data. Data
are inspected on-line to determine acceptability and processed
later for graphical presentation.

Concluding Remarks
A new, large multistage axial compressor was built at NASA
Lewis Research Center for the Low-Speed Compressor Facil-
ity. It is primarily used to obtain detailed internal flow mea-
surements. These measurements will be used to improve
understanding of multistage compressor flow physics for flow
physics modeling, and ultimately, to develop efficient perfor-
Figure 16.- Trace gas injection probes for stators 1, 2, and 3
(only stator 2 shown). mance prediction capabilities for both design and off-design

10
 operating conditions. The compressor is heavily instrumented 5. Hodson, H.P. ; Huntsman, /. ; and Steele, A.B.: An Investigation of Bound-
and has many features that provide the tools necessary for ary Layer Development in a Multistage LP Turbine. ASME Paper 93-
GOAD- 310, May 1993.
developing detailed models that describe the flow. Measure- 6. Day, LJ.; and Freeman, c.: The Unstable Behavior of Low and High Speed
ments can be made by using both standard aerodynamic probes Compressors. ASME Paper 93-GOAD- 26, May 1993.
and laser Doppler velocimetry. Flow visualization can be ac- 7. Wood, J.R.; Adam, P.w. ; and Buggele, A.E.: NASA Low-Speed Centrifugal
complished by using smoke, fluorescent paint, ammonia Compressor for Fundamental Research. NASA TM- 83398, 1983.
8. Hathaway, M.D.; Wood, J.R.; and Wasserbauer, C.A. : NASA Low-Speed
vapor/ozalid paper techniques, and trace gas sampling.
Centrifugal Compressor for Three-Dimensional Viscous Code Assess-
ment and Fundamental Flow Physics Research. J. Turbomach., vol. 114,
no. 2, 1992,pp. 295- 303.
References 9. Hathaway, M.D., et al.: Experimental and Computational Investigation of
the NASA Low-Speed Centrifugal Compressor Flow Field . J.
Turbornach., vol. 115, no. 3, 1993, pp. 527- 543.
1. Wagner, J.H.; Dring, R.P.; and Joslyn, H.D.: Axial Compressor Middle
10. Hathaway, M.D., et al .: Experimental and Computational Results From a
Stage Secondary Flow Study. NASA CR- 3701 , 1983.
Large Low-Speed Centrifugal Impeller. ASA TM- 10642I, 1993.
2. Bettner, J.L.; and Elrod, c.:The Influence of Tip Clearance, Stage Loading,
II. DeArmon, J.: PACS ELECTRONICS-Ax Motion System Manual for
and Wall Roughness on Compressor Casing Boundary Layer Develop-
the Probe Actuator Control System. NASA Lewis Research Center, Cleve-
ment. ASME Paper 82-GOAD-153, Apr. 1982.
land, OH, 1993.
3. Wi sler, D.C.: Core Compressor Exit Stage Study. NASA CR- 165553,
12. Fronek:, D.L., et al .: A Distributed Data Acqui sition System for Aero-
1981.
nautics Test Facilities. NASA TM-8896I , 1987.
4. Lakshminarayana, B.: An Axial Flow Research Compressor Facility De-
signed for Flow Measurement in Rotor Passages. J. Fluids Eng., vol. 102,
no. 4, Dec. 1980, pp. 402-411.

i 11
I
L
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1- AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 2 AEPOATDATE 3 REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED
1 . July 1995 1 . Technical Memorandum
4 . TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. FUNDING NUMBERS

NASA Low-Speed Axial Compressor for Fundamental Research

WU -505-62-52
6 . AUTHOR(S)
Charles A. Wasserbauer, Harold J. Weaver and Richard G. Senyitko

7 _ PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) B. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION

REPORT NUMBER
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Lewis Research Center E-9016
Cleveland, Ohio 44135-3191

9 . SPONSORINGIMONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSORINGIMONITORING

AGENCY REPORT NUMBER

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Washington, D .C. 20546-0001 NASA TM--4635
Corrected copy

11 . SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
Charles A. Wasserbauer and Richard G. Senyitko, Sverdrup Technology, Inc., Lewis Research Center Group, Brook Park, Oruo,
(work funded by NASA contract NAS3- 25266), presently at NYMA, Inc., Engineering Services Division, 2001 Aerospace Park-
way, Brook Park, Oruo 44142; and Harold F. Weaver, NASA Lewis Research Center. Responsible person, Charles A. Wasserbauer,
organization code 2840, (216) 433-5709.
12a. DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITY STATEMENT 12b. DISTRIBUTION CODE

Unclassified - Unlimited
Subject Category 09

13. ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 words)

A low-speed multistage axial compressor built by the NASA Lewis Research Center is described. T he purpose of this
compressor is to increase the understanding of the complex flow phenomena within multistage axial compressors and
to obtain detailed data from a multistage compressor environment for use in developing and verifying models for com-
putational fluid dynamic code assessment T he compressor has extensive pressure instrumentation in both stationary
and rotating frames of reference, and has provisions for flow visualization and laser velocimetry. The compressor will
accommodate rotational speeds to 1050 rpm and is rated at a pressure ratio of 1.042.

14. SUBJECT TERMS 15. NUMBER OF PAGES

Multistage axial compressor; Rotating stator ring; Instrumented blades; 13
Low-speed aerodynamics 16. PRICE CODE
A03
17. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION 18. SECURITY CLASSIFICAT ION 19. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION 20. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT
OF REPORT OF THIS PAGE OF ABSTRACT
Unclassified Unclassified Unclassified
NSN 7540-0 1-280-5500 S ta nd a rd F orm 2 9 8 (Rev . 2-8 9)
Prescribed by ANSI Std . Z39-1 B
29B-l02