PERFORMANCE AND SECONDARY FLOW STRUCTURES CHARACTERIZATION IN A HIGHLY-LOADED LOW-PRESSURE COMPRESSOR UNDER DISTORTED INFLOW CONDITIONS

Toracchio, Riccardo; Hillewaert, Koen; Fontaneto, Fabrizio

doi:10.1115/GT2025-153169

Paper published in a book (Scientific congresses and symposiums)

PERFORMANCE AND SECONDARY FLOW STRUCTURES CHARACTERIZATION IN A HIGHLY-LOADED LOW-PRESSURE COMPRESSOR UNDER DISTORTED INFLOW CONDITIONS

Toracchio, Riccardo; Hillewaert, Koen; Fontaneto, Fabrizio

2025 • In Turbomachinery: Axial Flow Fan and Compressor Aerodynamics; Axial Flow Turbine Aerodynamics

Peer reviewed

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https://hdl.handle.net/2268/341500

DOI
10.1115/GT2025-153169

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Keywords :

Compressor; Distortion; Experiments; Secondary flows; Unsteady CFD; % reductions; Axial compressors; Highly loaded; Inflow conditions; Low pressure compressor; Performance; Structure characterization; Total pressure distortion; Von Karman; Engineering (all)

Abstract :

[en] A highly-loaded 1.5-stage axial compressor representative of the first stage of a modern booster was tested in the von Karman Institute (VKI) R4 facility with an inlet total pressure distortion replicating realistic engine installation effects. Given the significant impact of the distortion on the stage operability, the flow features responsible for the observed performance loss were identified and characterized. To this end, time-averaged and time-resolved measurements were employed to gain a comprehensive understanding of the involved physical phenomena. Additionally, full-annulus URANS simulations were performed to characterize the distortion transfer mechanisms and the flow reorganization. Unlike typical cases where the intensification of secondary flows leads to a reduction of stability and performance, the present stage responded unexpectedly to the inlet distortion, exhibiting an increased stall margin compared to the clean machine. Beyond the clean stall boundary, a significant performance reduction was observed in distorted conditions, yet without the onset of rotating stall. This behaviour was attributed to the propagation of critical flow structures within the distorted region and to a severe flow redistribution taking place after the distortion screen.

Disciplines :

Mechanical engineering

Author, co-author :

Toracchio, Riccardo ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Université de Liège - ULiège ; von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Rhode-St-Genèse, Belgium

Hillewaert, Koen ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Aérospatiale et Mécanique (A&M)

Fontaneto, Fabrizio; von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Rhode-St-Genèse, Belgium

Language :

English

Title :

PERFORMANCE AND SECONDARY FLOW STRUCTURES CHARACTERIZATION IN A HIGHLY-LOADED LOW-PRESSURE COMPRESSOR UNDER DISTORTED INFLOW CONDITIONS

Publication date :

2025

Event name :

ASME Turbo Expo

Event organizer :

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

Event place :

Memphis, Usa

Event date :

16-06-2025 => 20-06-2025

Audience :

International

Main work title :

Turbomachinery: Axial Flow Fan and Compressor Aerodynamics; Axial Flow Turbine Aerodynamics

Publisher :

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

ISBN/EAN :

978-0-7918-8886-5

Peer review/Selection committee :

Peer reviewed

Additional URL :

https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/GT/proceedings-pdf/doi/10.1115/GT2025-153169/7528106/v010t29a028-gt2025-153169.pdf

Funding text :

The authors would like to express their gratitude to Remy Princivalle for the valuable insights provided throughout the duration of the project. They also thank Safran Aero Boosters to make the DREAM compressor stage available for this study, and Cadence to grant access to the simulation software. The C\u00C9CI consortium is acknowledged for providing access to the Tier-1 Lucia cluster. Additionally, the authors thank the F.R.S.-FNRS for funding the FRIA scholarship of Riccardo Toracchio.

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