Title
Axial compressor – rotating stall, aeroelasticity, and control
When?
Wednesday, 21 December 2022
12:00 – 13:00, Nepal Standard Time
Where?
IOE Pulchowk, DMAE
Synopsis
In today’s world of aircraft engine design technology, there is a need to
reduce the weight of the engine preferably by reducing the number of axial
compressor stages and increasing the blade loading per stage. Aero engine
performance is mainly governed by the rotating components namely the axial flow
compressor. Transonic axial compressor stages are the most preferred
compressors because of its ability to produce higher pressure ratio, and thus reduce
the overall weight and size of the aero engines, even though they are more prone
to instabilities.
Aerodynamic instabilities such as rotating stall and surge that are detrimental
can occur at higher blade loadings as the operating mass flow is reduced. There
are possibilities of aeroelastic instabilities such as forced excitations/stall induced
blade flutter occurring in compressors that are operating at their design limits.
This lecture will briefly discuss about the Axial Compressors, its challenges
related to aerodynamic and aeroelastic stability, historical perspective of the
methods to address these instabilities, etc. Various numerical and experimental
studies carried out at the Axial Flow Compressor Research Rig of Propulsion
Division, CSIR-NAL, India will be highlighted. The aim is to understand the complex
3D flow field of the compressor annulus with detailed survey made near the tip
region of the compressor using numerical and experimental techniques (Steady
and Unsteady). The knowledge gained from such studies aided in addressing the
compressor instabilities by developing a new passive flow control device for
alleviating stall to a lower mass flow rate. The aeroelastic significance of the flow
control device will also be discussed.
About the speaker
Dr Satish Kumar
Dr. S Satish Kumar is working as a Principal Scientist at CSIR-National
Aerospace Laboratories, Bangalore, India since 2008. He has a PhD in the field of
Aerospace Engineering from The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Has
overall 15+ years of research experience in the area of Aerospace Propulsion. He
is involved in Experimental and CFD/CSD related activities of Axial Flow
Compressors in Gas Turbine engines, Icing research for indigenous Aircraft
development programs. His areas of interest are in Turbomachinery CFD,
Secondary flows, Structural Dynamics (CSD) and Aeroelasticity, Aircraft Icing and
Deicing. He has authored in 6 high impact factor international journals and 17
National / International Conference papers. He is also serving as a reviewer for
many reputed international journals / National and International Conferences. He is
a recipient of the prestigious “IEI Young Engineers Award” in the field of Aerospace
Engineering for the year 2016. Recipient of “Excellence award in the field of
research” from CSIR-NAL for the year 2021.
He is currently working on the national aircraft development program
(SARAS MKII) for development of anti-icing & deicing systems for engine air
intakes.