A Stochastic Model for a Compressor Stability Measure

Abstract

A stability measure rooted in the unsteady characteristics of the flow field over the compressor rotor has been previously developed. The present work explores the relationship between the stochastic properties of this measure, called the correlation measure, and the compressor stability boundary. A stochastic model has been developed to gauge the impact of the correlation measure’s stochastic nature on its applicability to compressor stability management. The genesis of this model is in the fundamental properties of a specific stochastic process, one that is created by the threshold crossings of a random process. The model validation utilizes data obtained on three different axial compressor facilities. These include a single-stage low-speed axial compressor, a four-stage low-speed research compressor, and an advanced technology demonstrator high-speed compressor. This paper presents details of the model development and validation, as well as closed loop experimental results to demonstrate correlation measure’s usefulness in compressor stability management.