Reconsideration of the Annulus Flow Problem in Axial Turbomachinery

Abstract

The theory pertaining to the annulus flow problem in axial turbomachinery is reviewed and a simplified analysis which is essentially concerned with the effect of streamline curvature is worked out. Some generalized results are obtained for the case of a single blade row and for the oscillating flow between repeating blade rows of arbitrary spacing. The effect of finite blade width is assessed. The simple radial equilibrium hypothesis which is still attractive to designers is reconsidered and a modified radial equilibrium theory which directly eliminates the oscillatory terms is proposed as being more accurate and simpler than the conventional radial equilibrium theory.