Study on the total pressure and total temperature distortion of axial flow compressor based on different rain ingestion forms

Abstract

Aero-engines are required to maintain stable operation under adverse weather conditions, such as heavy rain ingestion. Excessive water ingestion can significantly impact the aerodynamic performance of compressor, potentially leading to performance degradation and even stall. Current investigations reveal that rain ingestion causes losses in both total pressure and total temperature, contributing to the overall deterioration of the performance of compressor. However, these theoretical findings lack robust experimental validation, and the precise relationship between total pressure and temperature losses, alongside the heat and mass transfer mechanisms within the two-phase flow field inside the compressor, remains to be fully established. In this study, a comprehensive experimental and numerical investigation is conducted on a 1.5-stage compressor to assess the effects of water ingestion on compressor performance and internal flow characteristics with varying droplet size distributions and liquid water content (LWC). The results demonstrate that key performance indicators, such as total pressure ratio, efficiency, and the compressor’s stable operating range, are influenced by LWC, droplet size, and the spatial distribution of water ingestion at the inlet. Water ingestion induces non-uniformities in both total pressure and total temperature, with the extent of these distortions governed by factors such as droplet size, concentration, and ingestion patterns across different stages of the compressor. Specifically, increasing water ingestion rates and a concentrated droplet distribution exacerbate total pressure distortions, while simultaneously mitigating total temperature distortions due to the saturation of water vapor. Furthermore, the location and extent of the distorted regions are also influenced by these parameters.