Compressor characteristic

Compressor characteristic is the curve to show the behaviour of uid like change in pressure, temperature, entropy, ow rate etc. as it passes through the compressor at
dierent compressor speeds. The function of a compressor is to increase the pressure of a uid passing through
it, so that the exit pressure is higher than the inlet pressure. Due to this property, compressors are used in a wide
range of machines, such as refrigerators, cars and jet engines. These curves are plotted between various parameters and some are as follows

Pressure ratio vs.

Non[1][2][3]
dimensional ow rate

Performance of a compressor is usually specied by Figure 1. Pressure ratio vs.Non-dimensional mass ow

curves of delivery pressure against mass ow rate for various xed values of rotational speed at given values of

inlet pressure and temperature. These performance char- m p01T01 in the form of family of curves, each curve of a
acteristic curves are usually plotted with dimensionless family being drawn for xed values of N as shown in
T01
variables for this we start with implicit functional rela- Figure 1.
tionship of all the variables as [3]
F (D, N, m,
p01 , p02 , RT01 , RT02 ) = 0 [3][4][5]

2 Pressure rise vs. Flow rate[3]

Where
D = characteristic linear dimension of the compressor

The plot between pressure rise and ow rate is same as

pressure ratio vs. mass ow rate with a small dierence
as in here we take pressure dierence between inlet and
outlet of the compressor instead of their ratio.

N = rotational speed
m
= mass ow rate

p01 and p02 = stagnation pressure at compressor inlet and

p = f (Q)
outlet

T01 and T02 = stagnation temperature at compressor inlet p = f (m)

and outlet
R = characteristics gas constant

3 Loading coecient/Pressure coecient vs. Flow coecient[3]

By making use of -theorem, we obtain the nondimensional groups ( terms) as [3]

p02
p01

T01
T02

m
RT01
D 2 p01

N D
RT01

First we have to know about the loading, pressure and

When we are concerned with the performance of a ma- ow coecient which are as followchine of xed size compressing a specied gas and D may
Loading coecient = gh
u2
be omitted from the groups and we can write
p
p01
02
)
(

Pressure coecient = u
2
T01 N
T01 m
[3]
,
,
,
=
0
F pp02
T02
p01
T01
01
So we can see that

m
T01
N

Though the terms p01 and T are truly not dimen-

01
sionless, they are referred as 'non-dimensional mass ow'
and 'non-dimensional rotational speed' for practical pur- Where
pose. The stagnation pressure ratio pp02
is plotted against u = impeller tip speed
01
1

LOADING COEFFICIENT/PRESSURE COEFFICIENT VS. FLOW COEFFICIENT[3]

h = head
and also
Flow coecient

Q
N D3

So assuming a function to relate Loading coecient and

the Flow coecient
= f ()
A compressor gives its best performance while operating
at its design point but it is also expected to operate away
from the design point. Therefore, knowledge about its
behavior at o-design operation is also necessary. The
quantity (tan2 + tan1 ) can be assumed constant in a
wide range of incidence. This is justied in view of small
variations in the air angles at the rotor and stator exits.
Therefore, writing
Figure 3.O design compressor characteristic curve

3.1 Theoretical characteristic curve

Figure 2. Velocity triangle for compressor Stator and Rotor

Theoretical characteristic curve of the compressor is

the plot to show behavior of the uid without considering
losses due to shock and friction[6][7] as it passes through
the compressor at dierent constant speeds. The curve as
shown in Figure 3. is plotted between pressure coecient
and ow coecient for dierent values of A as shown
in g. From g. It is clear that as the ow coecient
increases the pressure gained per unit mass ow rate of
the uid decreases and due to this pressure coecient
at higher mass ow rate will be low.

1 = 3
A = tan2 + tan3
Where
U = blade peripheral velocity
V1 and V2 are absolute air velocity at the rotor inlet and
outlet
Vr1 and Vr2 are relative velocity at rotor inlet and outlet
V3 = absolute air velocity at the stator outlet
1 , 2 , 3 , 1 and 2 are the angles shown in the following Figure 2.
If the design values are identied by the superscript
= 1 A
At o-design conditions [3]

Figure 4. Actual compressor characteristic curve

= 1 A
= 1 (1 A )

This equation also gives the o-design characteristic of an

axial-ow compressor. The gure shown below depicts
theoretical characteristic curves for some values of the
constant A . For positive values of A , the curves are
falling, while for negative values rising characteristics are
obtained.

3.2 Actual characteristic curve[8][9]

Actual characteristic curve of the compressor is the
modied version of the theoretical characteristic curve.
In this we take care of both shock and friction losses as
shown in the Figure 5. As seen in the gure the steepness
of the curve increases at higher mass ow rates because

4.2

Surge cycle

since there will be higher frictional losses at high ow co- 4.2 Surge cycle
ecient (Darcys friction law).
Due to ow reversal, pressure in the pipe falls and the
compressor regains its normal stable operation (let at
[10][11]
point B) delivering the air at higher ow rate ( m
B ). But
4 Surging
the control valve still corresponds to the ow rate m
D.
Due to this compressors operating conditions will again
return to D through points C and S. And due to lower
compressor pressure, the pressure falls further to pE and
the entire phenomenon from point E to D repeats again
and again and this cycle EBCSDE known as the surge
cycle.

4.3 Surge point

Surge points are the peak points on the characteristic
curves (as in Figure 5.) left of which the pressure generated by the compressor is less than the pipe pressure and
these points initiates the surge cycle. These points on the
curves are shown in the g. by point S.[3]
Figure 5. Surging

Surging is the complete breakdown of steady ow in the

compressor which occurs at low ow rate. Surging takes
place when compressor is operated o the design point
and it aects the whole machine and this is aerodynamically and mechanically undesirable. It can damage the
rotor bearings, rotor seals, compressor driver and aect
the whole cycle operation. It results in high temperature,
high vibration and leads to ow reversal.[3]

4.4 Surge line

4.1

4.5 Surge control line

Surge process

Assuming the compressor operates at point A ( pA , m

A
) on the characteristic curve (let at constant speed N4 )
as shown in Figure 5. Now if the ow rate is reduced
to m
B by closing a control valve on the delivery pipe, the
static pressure upstream of the valve is increased. This increased pressure ( pB ) is then matched by the increased
delivery pressure (at B) which is developed by the compressor. Now further reducing the ow (to m
C and m
S
), the increased pressures in the delivery pipe are again
matched by the compressor delivery pressures at C and S
on the characteristic curve.
On the characteristic curve at the ow rates below S
provides lower pressure as seen in the g. at D and E. But
now the pipe pressures due to further reduction of ow by
valve (let at point D) will be higher than the pressure at D
and E. This unbalance between the pipe pressure and the
compressor delivery pressure only exist for a very short
time. This is because there is higher pressure in the pipe
than the air pressure produced by the compressor and due
to this reversing of the ow takes place and it leads to a
complete break-down of the normal steady ow from the
compressor to the pipe.

Surge line is the line which connects the surge points (S)
on each characteristic curve corresponding to dierent
constant speeds. The stable range of operation for the
compressor is on the right hand side of the surge line.

Surge control line is the line which works as the indicating line for the surge control mechanism so that surge can
be prevented in the system and proper steps can be taken.
The line can vary for dierent surge control systems as it
is up to the system to decide the margin between operating point and the surge point. [12]

4.6 Surge margin

Surge margin is the indicator to show that how close is
the system to the surge. It is dierent for the dierent
surge control system as they employ dierent surge control lines.[13] The basic surge margin can be dened as
Surge margin =

m
O m
S
m
O

Where
m
O = mass ow rate at surge control line at a particular
constant speed
m
S = mass ow rate at surge line at the same constant
speed.

REFERENCES

6.2 Choke line

Choke line is the line joining the choke points on different constant speed lines in the Figure 5. The operation
on right side of choke line is not possible.

6.3 Constant eciency lines

Figure 6. Stalling process

Stalling

Stalling is the separation of ow from the compressor

blade surface as shown in the Figure 6. At low ow rates
the incidence angle or angle of attack increases and due
to this there occurs the ow separation on the suction side
of the blades which is known as positive stalling. If the
ow separation occurs on the pressure side of the blade
then its known as negative stalling and this occurs due to
negative incidence angle. But generally positive stalling
is taken into consideration.
In the compressor at high pressure stages if there occurs
a deviation from design point (at which compressor is designed to operate) the angle of attack exceeds its stalling
value and stall cells (which are the regions where uid
starts to whirl at a particular location and dont moves
forward) to form at hub and tip of the blade. The size
of these cells increases with decreasing ow rate. If the
ow rate is further reduced these cells grow larger and it
aects the whole blade height and this causes signicant
drop in the delivery pressure and at very low ow rate,
ow reversal takes place which is known as surge. It also
results in drop in stage eciency of the compressor and
its delivery pressure.[14]

Constant eciency lines are the elliptical shaped curves

in the compressor characteristic curve along which the
eciency of the compressor remains constant.

Other compressor phenomena

Following are some other characteristics of the compressor

6.4 Maximum allowable speed

This is the maximum speed at which compressor can
work properly(shown as N4 in Figure 5.) and beyond
this speed limit stresses and vibrations in the compressor
crosses the prescribed limit and this can damage the compressor and to control this, compressors speed is lowered.

6.5 Minimum required speed

This is the minimum speed at which compressor should
operate (shown as N0 in Figure 5.) and below this limit
compressor can't increase the pressure of inlet uid and
goes into idle condition.

7 References
[1] Klassen, H.A., `Performance of low pressure ratio centrifugal compressors with four diuser designs`, NACA,
TN 7237, March 1973.
[2] Nahimo, T. Et al., `Eect of Reynolds number on performance characteristics of centrifugal compressors with
special reference to congurations of impellers`, ASME
paper No.74-GT-59, 1974.
[3] Yahya ,S.M, Turbine, Compressors & Fans,4TH
ED.McGraw Hill,2011.
[4] Horlock, J.H., Axial Flow Turbines, Kruger Publishing
Co., 1973.

6.1

Choke/Stone wall point

Choking is the condition which occurs in the compressor in which it operates at very high mass ow rate and
ow through the compressor cant be further increased
as mach number at some part of the compressor reach
to unity i.e. to sonic velocity and the ow is said to be
choked. In compressor maximum volume ow rate is
limited by cross-section at the inlet. This condition can
be seen in the right side of the Figure 5. in which constant
speed lines descends steeply. The point on constant speed
line at which choking occurs is known as choke point or
stone wall point. [15]

[5] Horlock, J.H., Axial Flow Compressors, Kruger Publishing Co., 1973.
[6] Ferguson, T.B., The Centrifugal Compressor Stage, Butterworth, London, 1963.
[7] Whiteld, A. and Wallace, F.J., `Study of incidence loss
models in radial and mixed ow turbomachinery`, Instn.
Mech. Engrs. Conference Publication, 3, paper No.
C55/73, 1973.
[8] Watanabi, I. and Sakai, T., `Eect of the cone angle of
the impeller hub of the mixed ow compressor upon performance characteristics`, SAE paper No. 996A, 1965.

[9] Whiteld, A. and Wallace, F.J., `Performance prediction

for automotive turbocharger compressors`, Proc. Instn.
Mech. Engrs. 1975.
[10] Greitzer, E.M., `Surge and rotating stall in axial ow compressors`, ASME J. Eng. Power, Vol. 98. No. 2, April
1967.
[11] Tsui, Chih-Ya et al., ` An experiment to improve the surge
margin by use of cascade with splitter blades`, J. Eng.
Thermophys,, Vol. 1, no. 2, May 1980.
[12] http://www.gmrc.org/documents/
GMRCSurgeGuideline_000.pdf
[13] Cumpsty, N. A. (1989).
Longman.

Compressor Aerodynamics.

[14] Howell, A. R. (1942). The present basis of axial ow compressor design: Part 1, Cascade theory and performance.
ARC R and M. 2095.
[15] http://www.turbodriven.com/en/turbofacts/
designCompressor.aspx

8 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

8.1

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