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.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
July 1999
Research Papers
The Role of Tip Leakage Vortex Breakdown in Compressor Rotor Aerodynamics
M. Furukawa,
M. Furukawa
Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8581, Japan
Search for other works by this author on:
M. Inoue,
M. Inoue
Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8581, Japan
Search for other works by this author on:
K. Saiki,
K. Saiki
Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8581, Japan
Search for other works by this author on:
K. Yamada
K. Yamada
Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8581, Japan
Search for other works by this author on:
M. Furukawa
Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8581, Japan
M. Inoue
Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8581, Japan
K. Saiki
Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8581, Japan
K. Yamada
Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8581, Japan
J. Turbomach. Jul 1999, 121(3): 469-480 (12 pages)
Published Online: July 1, 1999
Article history
Received:
February 1, 1998
Online:
January 29, 2008
Citation
Furukawa, M., Inoue, M., Saiki, K., and Yamada, K. (July 1, 1999). "The Role of Tip Leakage Vortex Breakdown in Compressor Rotor Aerodynamics." ASME. J. Turbomach. July 1999; 121(3): 469–480. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2841339
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Effect of Blade Damage on Low Pressure Ratio Fan Windmill Aerodynamics
J. Turbomach (September 2025)
Related Articles
Experimental Investigation of Unsteady Flow Field in the Tip Region of an Axial Compressor Rotor Passage at Near Stall Condition With Stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry
J. Turbomach (July,2004)
Vorticity Dynamics in Axial Compressor Flow Diagnosis and Design—Part II: Methodology and Application of Boundary Vorticity Flux
J. Fluids Eng (January,2010)
Numerical Investigation of End Wall Boundary Layer Removal on Highly Loaded Axial Compressor Blade Rows
J. Turbomach (January,2008)
Aerodynamics of Tip Leakage Flows Near Partial Squealer Rims in an Axial Flow Turbine Stage
J. Turbomach (January,2005)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Introduction
Design and Analysis of Centrifugal Compressors
Aerodynamic Performance Analysis
Axial-Flow Compressors
Introduction
Mixed-flow Pumps: Modeling, Simulation, and Measurements