The breakdown of tip leakage vortex has been investigated on a low-speed axial compressor rotor with moderate blade loading. Effects of the breakdown on the rotor aerodynamics are elucidated by Navier–Stokes flow simulations and visualization techniques for identifying the breakdown. The simulations show that the leakage vortex breakdown occurs inside the rotor at a lower flow rate than the peak pressure rise operating condition. The breakdown is characterized by the existence of the stagnation point followed by a bubblelike recirculation region. The onset of breakdown causes significant changes in the nature of the tip leakage vortex: large expansion of the vortex and disappearance of the streamwise vorticity concentrated in the vortex. The expansion has an extremely large blockage effect extending upstream of the leading edge. The disappearance of the concentrated vorticity results in no rolling-up of the vortex downstream of the rotor and the disappearance of the pressure trough on the casing. The leakage flow field downstream of the rotor is dominated by the outward radial flow, resulting from the contraction of the bubblelike structure of the breakdown region. It is found that the leakage vortex breakdown plays a major role in characteristic of rotor performance at near-stall conditions. As the flow rate is decreased from the peak pressure rise operating condition, the breakdown region grows rapidly in the streamwise, spanwise, and pitchwise directions. The growth of the breakdown causes the blockage and the loss to increase drastically. Then, the interaction of the breakdown region with the blade suction surface gives rise to the three-dimensional separation of the suction surface boundary layer, thus leading to a sudden drop in the total pressure rise across the rotor.

1.
Anderson
W. K.
,
Thomas
J. L.
, and
van Leer
B.
,
1986
, “
Comparison of Finite Volume Flux Vector Splittings for the Euler Equations
,”
AIAA Journal
, Vol.
24
, No.
9
, pp.
1453
1460
.
2.
Ayder
E.
, and
Van den Braembussche
R.
,
1994
, “
Numerical Analysis of the Three-Dimensional Swirling Flow in Centrifugal Compressor Volutes
,”
ASME JOURNAL OF TURBOMACHINERY
, Vol.
116
, pp.
462
468
.
3.
Baldwin, B. S., and Lomax, H., 1978, “Thin Layer Approximation and Algebraic Model for Separated Turbulent Flow,” AIAA Paper No. 78-257.
4.
Chakravarthy, S. R., 1986, “The Versatility and Reliability of Euler Solvers Based on High-Accuracy TVD Formulations,” AIAA Paper No. 86-0243.
5.
Delery
J. M.
,
1994
, “
Aspects of Vortex Breakdown
,”
Progress in Aerospace Sciences
, Vol.
30
, No.
1
, pp.
1
59
.
6.
Escudier
M.
,
1988
, “
Vortex Breakdown: Observations and Explanations
,”
Progress in Aerospace Sciences
, Vol.
25
, No.
2
, pp.
189
229
.
7.
Furukawa
M.
,
Yamasaki
M.
, and
Inoue
M.
,
1991
, “
A Zonal Approach for Navier–Stokes Computations of Compressible Cascade Flow Fields Using a TVD Finite Volume Method
,”
ASME JOURNAL OF TURBOMACHINERY
, Vol.
113
, pp.
573
582
.
8.
Furukawa
M.
,
Nakano
T.
, and
Inoue
M.
,
1992
, “
Unsteady Navier–Stokes Simulation of Transonic Cascade Flow Using an Unfactored Implicit Upwind Relaxation Scheme With Inner Iterations
,”
ASME JOURNAL OF TURBOMACHINERY
, Vol.
114
, pp.
599
606
.
9.
Furukawa
M.
,
Saiki
K.
, and
Inoue
M.
,
1995
, “
Numerical Simulation of Three-Dimensional Viscous Flow in Diagonal Flow Impeller
,” in:
Numerical Simulations in Turbomachinery
, ASME FED-Vol.
227
, pp.
29
36
.
10.
Furukawa
M.
,
Saiki
K.
,
Nagayoshi
K.
,
Kuroumaru
M.
, and
Inoue
M.
,
1998
, “
Effects of Stream Surface Inclination on Tip Leakage Flow Fields in Compressor Rotors
,”
ASME JOURNAL OF TURBOMACHINERY
, Vol.
120
, pp.
683
692
.
11.
Hall
M. G.
,
1972
, “
Vortex Breakdown
,”
Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics
, Vol.
4
, pp.
195
218
.
12.
Inoue, M., and Furukawa, M., 1994, “Artificial Dissipative and Upwind Schemes for Turbomachinery Blade Flow Calculations,” VKI Lecture Series No. 1994-06.
13.
Inoue
M.
, and
Kuroumaru
M.
,
1984
, “
Three-Dimensional Structure and Decay of Vortices Behind an Axial Flow Rotating Blade Row
,”
ASME Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power
, Vol.
106
, pp.
561
569
.
14.
Inoue
M.
,
Kuroumaru
M.
, and
Fukuhara
M.
,
1986
, “
Behavior of Tip Leakage Flow Behind an Axial Compressor Rotor
,”
ASME Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power
, Vol.
108
, pp.
7
14
.
15.
Inoue
M.
, and
Kuroumaru
M.
,
1989
, “
Structure of Tip Clearance Flow in an Isolated Axial Compressor Rotor
,”
ASME JOURNAL OF TURBOMACHINERY
, Vol.
111
, No.
3
, pp.
250
256
.
16.
Inoue, M., Kuroumaru, M., and Ando, Y., 1990, “Behavior of Tip Clearance Flow in Axial Flow Impellers at Low Flow Rate,” Proc. 3rd Japan–China Joint Conference on Fluid Machinery, Vol. II, pp. 179–186.
17.
Inoue
M.
,
Kuroumaru
M.
,
Iwamoto
T.
, and
Ando
Y.
,
1991
, “
Detection of a Rotating Stall Precursor in Isolated Axial Flow Compressor Rotors
,”
ASME JOURNAL OF TURBOMACHINERY
, Vol.
113
, No.
2
, pp.
281
289
.
18.
Inoue, M., Furukawa, M., Saiki, K., and Yamada, K., 1998, “Physical Explanations of Tip Leakage Flow Field in an Axial Compressor Rotor,” Paper No. 98-GT-91.
19.
Lakshminarayana
B.
,
Zaccaria
M.
, and
Marathe
B.
,
1995
, “
The Structure of Tip Clearance Flow in Axial Flow Compressors
,”
ASME JOURNAL OF TURBOMACHINERY
, Vol.
117
, pp.
336
347
.
20.
Leibovich
S.
,
1978
, “
The Structure of Vortex Breakdown
,”
Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics
, Vol.
10
, pp.
211
246
.
21.
Leibovich
S.
,
1984
, “
Vortex Stability and Breakdown: Survey and Extension
,”
AIAA Journal
, Vol.
22
, No.
9
, pp.
1192
1206
.
22.
Levy
Y.
,
Degani
D.
, and
Seginer
A.
,
1990
, “
Graphical Visualization of Vortical Flows by Means of Helicity
,”
AIAA Journal
, Vol.
28
, pp.
1347
1352
.
23.
Maskell, E. C., 1955, “Flow Separation in Three Dimensions,” RAE Aero. Rept. 2655.
24.
Perry
A. E.
, and
Chong
M. S.
,
1987
, “
A Description of Eddying Motions and Flow Patterns Using Critical-Point Concepts
,”
Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics
, Vol.
19
, pp.
125
155
.
25.
Sawada
K.
,
1995
, “
A Convenient Visualization Method for Identifying Vortex Centers
,”
Trans. Japan Soc. of Aero. Space Sci.
, Vol.
38
, No.
120
, pp.
102
116
.
26.
Swanson, R. C., and Turkel, E., 1993, “Aspects of a High-Resolution Scheme for the Navier–Stokes Equations,” AIAA Paper No. 93-3372-CP.
27.
Schlechtriem, S., and Lotzerich, M., 1997, “Breakdown of Tip Leakage Vortices in Compressors at Flow Conditions Close to Stall,” ASME Paper No. 97-GT-41.
28.
Van Leer, B., Thomas, J. L., Roe, P. L., and Newsome, R. W., 1987, “A Comparison of Numerical Flux Formulas for the Euler and Navier–Stokes Equations,” AIAA Paper No. 87-1104.
29.
Zhiyong, L., 1991, “A Study on Mode of 3-Dimensional Separation and Open Separation,” in: Separated Flows and Jets, Springer-Verlag, pp. 219–223.
This content is only available via PDF.
You do not currently have access to this content.