Analysis on the unsteady flow structures in the tip region of axial compressor

The unsteady characteristic in the tip region of an axial compressor has been numerically studied with the help of the dynamic mode decomposition analysis. The characteristics of frequency and dynamic modes are compared and discussed under different operating points and different parameters, such as tip clearance and rotating speeds. For the flowfield structures in the tip region, such as tip leakage flow, separation flow and shock wave, their relationships with the unsteadiness are studied in detail. Except for the unsteadiness caused by the interaction between rotating rotor and the stationary boundaries, it is found that the unsteadiness is attributed to the moving of the low-velocity cell. Based on the generation and the development of the low-velocity cell, the unsteady characteristics in tip region are divided into 4 types: BPF-dominated, shedding-dominated, self-induced and separation-dominated. When the tip leakage flow is weak, the unsteadiness in the tip region is only triggered by the blade sweeping. As the tip leakage flow gets stronger to a certain extent, the low-velocity cell is shed into the flow passage and mixed with the main-flow. When the main-flow is weaker under the low flowrate condition, the interaction between the low-velocity cell and the pressure side occurs and generates a new low-velocity cell near the leading-edge of the neighboring blade. The frequency of the new cell generation is actually the self-induced frequency. In the zero and small clearance model, the low-velocity is shed by the separation in the leading-edge and the casing-suction corner. By understanding these unsteady characteristics, the change tendency of the leading frequency in the rotor tip is easily explained and forecasted. Furthermore, under the transonic operation condition, the low-velocity cell is decelerated and eliminated by the shock wave in the unsteadiness of the self-induced type and the separation-dominated type, respectively. Thus, the leading frequency in the tip flow field is moderated.