Study on Numerical Simulation of Fouling in Compressor Rotor

摘要

The effects of fouling on the performance of an axial compressor rotor were investigated numerically. The NASA Rotor 37 was considered to perform a numerical investigation by means of a commercial computational fluid dynamic code. The numerical model was validated by comparing with the experimental data available from literatures. The computed performance maps and exit parameter distributions showed a good agreement with experimental data. The model was then used to simulate the effect of fouling on compressor rotor by various fouling configurations including added thickness and surface roughness levels. The mechanism of the compressor deterioration due to fouling was discussed in detail. As a result, fouling causes a significant reduction in rotor total pressure ratio and isentropic efficiency. Increased roughness was found to have a greater influence on the rotor characteristic parameters than increased blade thickness. Increased wall roughness has a weaker influence on the operation range at stable conditions than that of increased blade thickness. Increasing the blade thickness significantly reduces the operation range of the rotor at stable conditions and has a stronger influence on the stable operation of the compressor. The interaction of shock wave/boundary layer was one of the main factors that influenced the rotor characteristics.