The effect of inlet distortion on low bypass ratio turbofan engines

Abstract

Inlet flow non-uniformity, commonly known as inflow distortion, has been a long-standing problem in the history of gas turbine engines. Distortion can be present in the form of total pressure, total temperature or inflow incidence or any combinations of these. The search for better and robust performance requires engines that can sustain a large amount of inlet distortion without considerable loss in the thrust. In the present paper, the effect of total pressure distortion on a single-stage compressor and low bypass ratio fans are studied. Distortion near hub and tip in the form of step radial total pressure profiles is imposed at far upstream of the rotor leading edge. A systematic approach to qualitatively predict the performance maps in the presence of these distortions is discussed. Further, two extents of total pressure distortion are explored for constant inlet distortion intensity. Hub distortion is found to increase the stability margin, whereas tip distortion reduces it. On extending the distortion extent, hub distortion drastically reduces the stability margin, whereas a comparatively lower reduction in stability margin with tip distortion is observed. The critical distortion limit is observed by varying the inlet distortion extent. Also, it is found that downstream ducts in the bypass axial fan do not interact with the upstream fan. This can be exploited to perform independent simulations of the core engine from low bypass ratio fans. Hub distortion is found to drastically affect the duct performance owing to the presence of thicker upstream inlet boundary layer.