Performance of an axial flow helium compressorunder high through-flow conditions

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this investigation is to determine the performance of an axial ow compressor operating in a closed loop helium cycle under high through- ow conditions. The GTHTR300 four-stage helium test compressor was chosenfor this investigation. Limited information on the helium test compressor'sblade pro les are available, therefore a mathematical model was developed tocalculate the blade geometries based on the theory of Lieblein and Aungier.A locally available three-stage compressor was used to con rm whether themathematical model calculated the blade pro le geometries correctly. TheStellenbosch University Compressor Code (SUCC), an axisymmetric inviscidthrough- ow code, was used to compare the performance of the calculatedthree-stage compressor blade geometries with available experimental data. Excellentcorrelation was obtained, thus it was concluded that the mathematicalmodel as well as the SUCC could be used to predict the performance of anaxialow compressor. The blade geometries of the helium test compressorwere calculated and the pressure ratio and e ciency predictions of the SUCCcorrelated well with the experimental data. The helium test compressor wassimulated to verify the calculated blade geometries further using the ComputationalFluid Dynamics (CFD) package NUMECA FINE /Turbo. TheFINE /Turbo pressure ratio and e ciency predictions compared adequatelywith the SUCC and available experimental data, especially in the design region.At high massow rates the stator blade row experiences negative incidencestall which results in a large recirculation zone in the stator blade wake.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University