Numerical Simulation of Sand Erosion Phenomena in a Single-Stage Axial Compressor

Abstract

Sand erosion is a phenomenon whereby solid particles impinging on a wall cause serious mechanical damage to the wall surface. This phenomenon is a typical gas-solid two-phase turbulent flow and can be considered as a multi-physics problem in which the flow field, particle trajectory, and wall deformation interact. On the other hand, aircraft engines operating in a particulate environment are subjected to performance and lifetime deterioration due to sand erosion. In particular, the compressors of aircraft engines can be severely damaged. In order to consider sand erosion in the design phase, it is important to develop a prediction method and to obtain basic data. In the present study, we apply our three-dimensional sand erosion prediction code to a single-stage axial flow compressor. The numerical results for the eroded surface geometry and the performance deterioration showed the same tendency as the experimental results. Moreover, the change in the flow field and the particle trajectories are investigated in order to clarify the erosion mechanisms of the compressor.

Keywords

• erosion
• gas-solid two-phase flow
• three-dimensional flow
• turbulent flow
• subsonic flow
• compressor
• computational fluid dynamics