ME4528 AXIAL COMPRESSOR REVISION QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1

Consider a single-stage axial compressor operating with the following design conditions:
Stage inlet stagnation temperature T01 = 283K
Stage pressure ratio p03 p01 = 1.3
Stage isentropic efficiency η st = 0.85
Degree of reaction Rc = 0.625
Blade speed U = 350 m s
Constant axial velocity cz = 180 m s
Gas properties γ = 1.3, c p = 1244 J kg.K

Complete the following tasks:

i. Draw and label the rotor blade velocity diagram.

ii. Calculate the rotor blade inlet and outlet angles ( β1 and β 2 ).
iii. Calculate the stator blade inlet and outlet angles ( α1 and α 2 ).

Answers
 β1 = 54.85o  ,  β 2 = 45.29o  , α1 = 27.78o  , α 2 = 43.14o 
       

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 ME4528 AXIAL COMPRESSOR REVISION QUESTIONS

QUESTION 2

Consider a single-stage axial compressor which has the following operating conditions;

• Inlet stagnation temperature T01 = 283 K

• Stage pressure ratio p03 p01 = 1.09
• Stage isentropic efficiency η st = 0.80
• Degree of reaction Rc = 0.367
• Blade speed U = 160 m s
• Flow coefficient cz U = 0.625
• Constant axial velocity.
• γ = 1.3, c p = 1244 J/kg.K

Calculate the rotor blade inlet and outlet angles ( β1 and β 2 ). Accompany your calculations
with a labelled drawing of the rotor-blade velocity diagram.

Sketch a T-s diagram for a single-stage 0.5 reaction compressor which clearly indicates all
the relevant static temperatures and pressures. Briefly explain why the actual exit static
temperature is greater than the isentropic exit static temperature.

Answers
 β1 = 41.3o  ,  β 2 = 16.5o 
   

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 ME4528 AXIAL COMPRESSOR REVISION QUESTIONS

QUESTION 3

A ten-stage axial flow compressor operates with an overall pressure ratio of 5 and an inlet
temperature of 288K. The overall isentropic efficiency of the entire compressor is 87%, the
degree of reaction is 60%, the axial velocity has a constant value of 135m/s, and the blade
speed is 210m/s.

If the power input is divided equally between the stages, determine the rotor blade angles.

Accompany your calculations with a sketch of the velocity diagram.

Take γ = 1.4 c p = 1005 J kg .K

Answers
 β1 = 51.9o  ,  β 2 = 30.6o 
   

QUESTION 4

A multi-stage axial compressor is required to produce an overall pressure ratio of not less
than 10 when operating with an inlet temperature and pressure of 293K and 101300Pa
respectively, and an overall efficiency of 0.9.

The compressor is constructed from a series of 50% reaction stages operating with a
constant axial velocity of 125m/s, and rotor blade inlet and outlet angles of 60o and 40o
respectively. The mean rotor radius is 0.3m.

Sketch and label the stage velocity diagram and, assuming the total shaft work input is
shared equally by each stage, calculate the shaft rpm and the number of stages required to
satisfy the overall pressure ratio criterion.

Answers
[ N = 10230.5rpm] , [ M st = 9]

End of Revision Questions.

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