Steady and Unsteady Numerical Characterization of the Secondary Flow Structures of a Highly Loaded Low-Pressure Compressor Stage

Abstract

This paper presents the numerical characterization of a highly loaded compressor by means of 3D unsteady RANS simulations. The focus is on critical flow structures and their evolution at different operating points of the machine. First, the numerical setup and mesh quality are presented to support the reliability of the provided results. The comparison against experiments is then described for this purpose. Later, a full description of the unsteady behavior of the machine is provided, giving special attention to the two regions where the most critical features are expected: the rotor hub wall and the casing. Rotor–stator interactions are then investigated and the role of the inlet guide vane (IGV) is finally discussed. Results are analyzed at design and near-stall conditions, with a focus on the behavior close to the stability limit at 100% speed.