Flow Field Improvement by Bowed Stator Stages in a Compressor with Different Axial Gaps Under Near Stall Condition

The outlet flow fields of a low-speed repeating-stage compressor with bowed stator stages are measured with five-hole probe under the near stall condition when the rotor/stator axial gap varies. The performances of the straight stator stages are investigated and compared to those of the bowed stator stages. The results show that using bowed stator stages could alleviate the flow separation at both upper and low corners of the suction surface and the endwalls, and decrease the losses along the flow passage as well as the outlet flow angle. As the rotor/stator axial gap decreases, although the diffusion capacity of the compressor increases obviously, the outlet flow field in the straight stator stages deteriorates quickly. By contrast, little changes occur in the bowed stator stages, indicating that as the rotor/stator axial gap decreases, improved performance is achieved in the bowed stator stages.