Optimization Design Of Axial Flow Compressor

Production Engineering

An axial compressor is a pressure producing machine. It is a rotating, airfoil-based compressor in which the working fluid principally flows parallel to the axis of rotation. This is in contrast with other rotating compressors such as centrifugal compressors, axi-centrifugal compressors and mixed-flow compressors where the air may enter axially but will have a significant radial component on exit. The energy level of air or gas flowing through it is increased by the action of the rotor blades which exert torque on the fluid which is supplied by an electric motor or a steam or a gas turbine. In this thesis, an axial flow compressor is designed and modeled in 3D modeling software SOLIDWORKS. The present design has 30blades, in this thesis it is replaced with 10 blades. The present used material is Alloy Steel; it is replaced with chromium alloy and Tungsten alloy. Structural analysis is done on the compressor models to verify the strength of the compressor. CFD analysis is done to verify the flow of air. The stress values are less for Tungsten alloy than the respective yield stress values for Chromium steel and Alloy steel. The stress value is less for Tungsten alloy than Chromium steel and Alloy steel, so using Tungsten alloy is better. By using 10blades the stresses are increasing, but are within the limits. CFD analysis is done to verify the flow of air. The outlet velocity is increasing for 10 blades; pressure is more for 30 blades. So it concluded that using Tungsten alloy and 10 blades is better for compressor blade.

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