The Supersonic Axial Inlet Component in a Compressor

Abstract

A prototype rotor has been designed to investigate the supersonic axial component at the inlet face of a compressor. A flexible inflatable nozzle is installed in the inlet duct in order to simulate a continuously variable inlet Mach number up to 1.5. A relative inlet Mach number of 2.4 was achieved at 90 percent of the design speed. The transition from the subsonic to the supersonic axial component is explored. A blade failure prevented completion of the research on the dynamic response of the compressor to throttle valve, speed and inlet nozzle variations.