Unsteady Losses in Transonic Compressors

Abstract

A newly developed probe has been used to measure the time-resolved total temperature and pressure in a transonic compressor. The investigation revealed the presence of large fluctuations in the blade-to-blade core flow occurring at a frequency of three to four times blade passing. These variations are not steady in the rotor relative frame and are thought to be caused by unsteadiness in the rotor shock system, driven perhaps by a shed vortex in the blade wake. The loss associated with this unsteadiness is calculated and the implications for stage performance are discussed.