• Recap: Lecture 4

– Thermodynamics of compression
• Static and total pressure/temperature variations through a stage
– Basic operation of axial compressors

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Radial direction
Ta
ng
en
tia
l di
re
ct
ion

Axial direction

Rotation

Typical multi-stage axial flow compressor

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Courtesy: The Jet Engine, Roll Royce Plc, 1996
 Basic operation of axial compressors

• The compression process consists of a series of diffusions.

• This occurs both in the rotor as well as the stator.
• Due to motion of the rotor bladesà two distinct velocity
components: absolute and relative velocities in the rotor.
• The absolute velocity of the fluid is increased in the rotor,
whereas the relative velocity is decreased, leading to
diffusion.
• Per stage pressure ratio is limited because a compressor
operates in an adverse pressure gradient environment.

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 Basic operation of axial compressors

• Turbines on the other hand operate under favourable

pressure gradients.
• Several stages of an axial compressor can be driven by a
single turbine stage.
• Careful design of the compressor blading is essential to
minimize losses as well as to ensure stable operation.
• Some compressors also have inlet Guide Vanes (IGV) that
permit the flow entering the first stage to vary under off-
design conditions.

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 Velocity triangles
• Elementary analysis of axial compressors begins with
velocity triangles.
• The analysis will be carried out at the mean height of the
blade, where the peripheral velocity or the blade speed is,
U.
• The absolute component of velocity will be denoted by, C
and the relative component by, V.
• The axial velocity (absolute) will be denoted by Ca and the
tangential components will be denoted by subscript w (for
eg, Cw or Vw)
• α denotes the angle between the absolute velocity with
the axial direction and β the corresponding angle for the
relative velocity.
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V

Cross-section of a airfoil section of a wind turbine blade reproduced from

Manwell, McGowan, and Rogers, [2010].

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 Lect-2
Velocity triangles

1 2 3
V2
β2

V1
Axial direction β1 α2
C2
Tangential direction

V1 α3
V2 C3
U
α1 U
C1 C2

Rotor Stator
Radial direction ! ! !
normal to this plane
C = U +V
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 Lect-2
Thermodynamics of compressors

Compression in terms
of total parameters

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 Velocity triangles

V2
β2 Vw2
α2
V1 Vw1
ΔCw
U
β1 C2 Cw2
α1
C1 Cw1

Ca

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 H2 > H1
H02 > H01
T2 > T1
T02 > T01
P02 > P01
Rotor P2 > P1
T2 > T1
C2 > C1
V2 < V1
Cw2 > Cw1
H3 > H2
H03 = H02
T3 > T2
T03 = T02
P03 < P02
Stator P3 > P2
T3 > T2
C3 < C2
C3 ≅ C1
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No relative velocity applicable
Legacy Engines …

Pegasus 11: Sea Harrier

• Developed in the 1970s by Rolls Royce & Snecma

• Two spool, 3-stage LP and 8-stage HP axial compressor, 2-
stage axial LP and HP turbine
• Pressure ratio: 15.5
• Thrust: 93 kN (wet)

Source: http://avionicsdepo.blogspot.in/2010/12/research-on-sea-harrier.html

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