Transonic axial compressor design case study and preparations for testing

Abstract : Test runs of the transonic axial compressor test rig at the Naval Postgraduate School, Turbopropulsion Laboratory, were conducted in preparation for the installation of a new stage design. Modifications in the cooling air supply to the high speed bearings, and to the design of the torque measuring system were completed during subsequent overhaul. A case study of the design of the new transonic stage was initiated. This consisted of a review of the procedure used in the design, as well as a design comparison. The comparison examined the differences between the blades designed for the new stage, which was primarily accomplished using a full, three- dimensional, Computational Fluid Dynamics code, and blades designed using two-dimensional streamline curvature methods. The axi-symmetric through-flow code, used in the design case study was modified to run on workstations at the Naval Postgraduate School, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, providing students and faculty with a design tool for single or multiple stage axial flow compressors.