Numerical simulation of an axial compressor with nonaxisymmetric casing treatment

Abstract

This study deals with unsteady numerical simulation of casing treatment in a stage of an axial compressor. The stall inception process is first investigated in the compressor with smooth wall. At low mass flow, the simulation shows the development of large reversed flow regions near the casing that leads to rotating stall. Then, a simulation is performed for a compressor stage with casing treatment. Despite a strong impact on the rotor casing flow, the operating range extension is low, meaning that other processes like rotor/stator interactions may play a role in the loss of stability.