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Mechanical Engineering Batch: GATE Crash Course 2023

Subject: Applied Thermodynamics DPP -21

Topic: Axial Flow Compressor

1. In an axial flow compressor stage, air enters and leaves 8. In an axial flow compressor, the axial velocity is
the stage axially. If the axial component of the air uniform across the stage and equal to 120 m/s and
leaving the rotor is half the mean peripheral velocity of mean blade speed of each stage is 200 m/s. If the
the rotor blades, then the degree of reaction will be compressor has symmetrical blades and work done
(a) 1.00 per stage is 22.39 kJ/kg then the blade inlet and exit
(b) 0.75 angles are
(c) 0.50 (a) β1 = 42.30°, β2 = 37.13°
(d) 0.25 (b)β1 = 42.30°, β2 = 15.50°
2. If an axial flow compressor is designed for a constant (c) β1 = 52.43°, β2 = 20.15°
velocity through all stages, the area of the annulus of (d) β1 = 54.33°, β2 = 15.30°
the succeeding stages will
9. In an axial compressor, the mean blade speed is 220
(a) Remain the same
m/s and axial velocity is 180 m/s. The blade inlet and
(b) Progressively decrease
(c) Progressively increase outlet angles are 42 and 20 respectively. The degree
(d) Depend upon the number of stages of reaction of the compressor is _____%.

3. While flowing through the rotor blades in an axial flow 10. Axial flow compressor of 50% degree of reaction has
air compressor, the relative velocity of air blades with inlet & outlet angles of 45 and 15
(a) continuously decreases respectively. The compressor is used to produce an
(b) continuously increases overall pressure ratio of 6 with an overall isentropic
(c) first increases and then decreases efficiency 80%. The temperature is 37C. The blade
(d) first decreases and then increases speed and axial velocity are constant throughout the
compressor. If blade speed is 200 m/s. the number of
4. An axial compressor is fitted with half-reaction stages on compressor is ____.
blading, the blade inlet and outlet angles being 50 and
15 when measured from axial direction. The mean
diameter of a certain blade pair is 85 cm and the rotor
run at 5500 rpm. The whirl speed at inlet is
________m/s.
5. In an axial flow compressor with 50% degree of
reaction, the relative air angles at rotor inlet and outlet
are 130 & 100 respectively. Blade velocity = 180 m/s.
The work done per stage is ______kJ/kg.
6. In an axial flow air compressor: u = 200 m/s, vf = 180
m/s, 1 = 50, 2 = 15 and  = 1 kg/m3. The work done
per stage per kg of air is _____kJ.
7. In an axial flow compressor with 50% degree of
reaction, the exit angle from stator = 15 and inlet angle
to the rotor = 45. If the blade speed is 180 m/s, then
the flow velocity is _____m/s.
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Answer Key
1. (d) 6. 33.26 (33.00 to 33.50)
2. (a) 7. 141.96 (139 to 144)
3. (a) 8. (c)
4. 44.7 (43 to 46) 9. 51.7 (50 to 53)
5. 24.15 (23.5 to 25.0) 10. 12 (12 to 12)
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Hints and Solutions

vf
1. Solution: (d) 0.5= ( tan β1 -tan β 2 )
Degree of reaction, 2u
v 
Rd =  f  (tan 1 + tan 2 )
0.5=
vf
2  180
( tan 80 + tan 50 )
 2u  vf = 26.227 m/s
u − vw1 u − vw2 Work done per stage = uvf [tan 1 – tan 2]
tan 1 = , tan  2 =
= 21147.6 J/kg
vf vf
= 21.1476 kJ/kg
For axial entry and exit, vw1 = 0, vw2 = 0
 vf  1 1 vf
  = , tan 1 = tan 2 = = 6. Solution: 33.26 (33.00 to 33.50)
u  2 2 u w = u (vw1 – vw2)
11 1 1 = u vf (tan 1 – tan 2)
Rd =  +  = = 0.25 = 180  200 (tan 50 – tan 15)
4 2 2 4
= 33.257 kJ/kg
2. Solution: (a)
To keep the flow velocity constant throughout the 7. Solution: 141.96 (139 to 144)
compressor length, the annular area is reduced from Exit angle from the stator =
inlet to outlet of the compressor. absolute inlet angle (1) = 15
Inlet angle to the rotor = Blade inlet angle (1) = 45
3. Solution: (a) For 50% degree of reaction in axial flow compressor
u
Due to diffusion process in the moving blades, vr2 < = tan 1 + tan 1
vr1 but absolute velocity v2 > v1. vf
180
= tan15 + tan 45
4. Solution: 44.7 (43 to 46) vf
vf = 141.96 m/s

8. Solution: (c)
For symmetric blade (50% degree of reaction)
u
= tan 1 + tan 2
vf
tan 1 + tan 2 =1.667 …… (1)
Work done per stage w = vf u (tan 1 – tan 2)
w 22.39  103
tan 1 − tan 2 = = = 0.933 ….. (2)
vf u 200  120
u-v w1 From equations 1 and 2
tanβ1 =
vf tan 1 = 1.3
v 1 = 52.43
tanβ 2 = w1 (for Rd = 0.5) tan 2 = 0.367
vf
2 = 20.15
tanβ1 u-v w1 tan50o
= = =4.448
tanβ 2 v w1 tan15o 9. Solution: 51.7 (50 to 53)
v
v w1 =0.1826 u Degree of reaction = f  tan 1 + tan 2 
  0.85  5500 2u
= 0.1826  180
60 =  tan 42 + tan 20 
vw1 = 44.7 m/s 2  220 
= 0.517 or 51.7%
5. Solution: 24.15 (23.5 to 25.0)
10. Solution: 12 (12 to 12)
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win = N  u  vf [tan 1 – tan 2] T2 -T1

win = 146.41 Nvf …… (1) isentropic =
T2 -T1
for 50% degree of reaction in axial flow compressor
517.24 − 310
u
= tan 45 + tan15 0.8 =
vf T2 − 310
vf = 157.735 m/s T2 = 569 K
0.4
T2 From equation (1)
=6 1.4
T1 win = 146.41  157.735 N
0.4
cp ( T2 − T1 ) = 146.41  157.735 N
T2 = 310  61.4 = 517.24 K
N = 11.27  12 stages.

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