Three-dimensional numerical simulations of the effect of fouling on an axial compressor stage were carried out. As a case study, the NASA Stage 37 was considered for the numerical investigation, which was performed by means of a commercial computational fluid dynamic code. The numerical model was validated against the experimental data available from literature. Computed performance maps and main flow field features showed a good agreement with the experimental data. The model was considered representative of a realistic compressor stage. The model was then used to simulate the occurrence of fouling by imposing different combinations of added thickness and surface roughness levels. The effect of fouling on compressor performances was studied. Reductions in the flow coefficient and in the pressure coefficient were found to be of the same order of magnitude of the experimental results found in literature. The model developed seems to overcome some of the limitations of other models found in literature that tend to significantly underestimate the actual values of performance reduction. The numerical results were also used to analyze and debug the stage performance scaling procedure used in stage-stacking models in order to represent fouling in multistage compressors. The analysis highlighted that scaling can adequately represent the behavior of the fouled stage in the choked flow region, but it does not capture the reduction in the maximum of the pressure coefficient, which is instead revealed by the numerical simulations. Finally, blockage due to fouling was investigated both qualitatively and quantitatively.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
July 2010
Research Papers
Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation of Fouling on Axial Compressor Stages
Mirko Morini,
Mirko Morini
Engineering Department in Ferrara (ENDIF),
University of Ferrara
, Via Saragat 1, 44122-Ferrara, Italy
Search for other works by this author on:
Michele Pinelli,
Michele Pinelli
Engineering Department in Ferrara (ENDIF),
University of Ferrara
, Via Saragat 1, 44122-Ferrara, Italy
Search for other works by this author on:
Pier Ruggero Spina,
Pier Ruggero Spina
Engineering Department in Ferrara (ENDIF),
University of Ferrara
, Via Saragat 1, 44122-Ferrara, Italy
Search for other works by this author on:
Mauro Venturini
Mauro Venturini
Engineering Department in Ferrara (ENDIF),
University of Ferrara
, Via Saragat 1, 44122-Ferrara, Italy
Search for other works by this author on:
Mirko Morini
Engineering Department in Ferrara (ENDIF),
University of Ferrara
, Via Saragat 1, 44122-Ferrara, Italy
Michele Pinelli
Engineering Department in Ferrara (ENDIF),
University of Ferrara
, Via Saragat 1, 44122-Ferrara, Italy
Pier Ruggero Spina
Engineering Department in Ferrara (ENDIF),
University of Ferrara
, Via Saragat 1, 44122-Ferrara, Italy
Mauro Venturini
Engineering Department in Ferrara (ENDIF),
University of Ferrara
, Via Saragat 1, 44122-Ferrara, ItalyJ. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. Jul 2010, 132(7): 072401 (10 pages)
Published Online: April 8, 2010
Article history
Received:
April 9, 2009
Revised:
April 10, 2009
Online:
April 8, 2010
Published:
April 8, 2010
Citation
Morini, M., Pinelli, M., Spina, P. R., and Venturini, M. (April 8, 2010). "Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation of Fouling on Axial Compressor Stages." ASME. J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. July 2010; 132(7): 072401. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4000128
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Experimental Identification Of Blade Tip Rub Forces At Engine Relevant Temperatures And Speeds
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power
Study Of Tandem Rotor Dual Wake Interaction With Downstream Stator Under Unsteady Numerical Approach
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power
Experimental Design Validation of a Swirl-Stabilized Burner With Fluidically Variable Swirl Number
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power (April 2025)
Experimental Characterization of a Bladeless Air Compressor
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power (April 2025)
Related Articles
Compressor Fouling Modeling: Relationship Between Computational Roughness and Gas Turbine Operation Time
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power (May,2012)
Fouling Mechanisms in Axial Compressors
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power (March,2012)
Numerical Analysis of the Effects of Nonuniform Surface Roughness on Compressor Stage Performance
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power (July,2011)
Prediction of the Nonuniform Tip Clearance Effect on the Axial Compressor Flow Field
J. Fluids Eng (May,2010)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Other Components and Variations
Axial-Flow Compressors
Control and Operational Performance
Closed-Cycle Gas Turbines: Operating Experience and Future Potential
Performance Testing of Combined Cycle Power Plant
Handbook for Cogeneration and Combined Cycle Power Plants, Second Edition