Effect of tip-leakage flow on an isolated rotor of an axial compressor

축류압축기의 회전차에 관한 누설유동의 영향

It has been recognized that the flow in the blade passage of an axial turbomachinery rotor is very complex and is influenced by various flow phenomena, of which the tip leakage flow passing through the gap between rotor blade tip and casing plays a significant role. The losses produced due to the existence of the clearance have been known to be a large contributor of the rotor overall losses. Despite several experimental studies on non-rotating blade in the cascade configuration, and on actual rotating blades, the detailed nature of the complex flow phenomena associated with tip leakage, however, remains largely unresolved. Thus, a single-stage compressor test rig was built and measurements were taken at upstream and downstream of the rotor of this compressor at the aerodynamics laboratory of University of New South Wales. A five-hole probe and a hot-wire probe were used to measure mean and fluctuating flow parameters. The results show that tip leakage losses rise rapidly beyond tip gap of 0.01 Furthermore, the present project also identifies the regions in the wake behind the rotor of the axial compressor where such losses are concentrated. These results should be useful in the better design of rotors for improved performance of axial compressor.