Detection of a Rotating Stall Precursor in Isolated Axial Flow Compressor Rotors

TLDR: In this paper, the authors investigated statistical characteristics of pressure fluctuation on the casing wall of two axial flow compressor rotors to find a precursor of rotating stall, which can be detected by monitoring collapse of the periodicity in the pressure fluctuations.

Abstract: Statistical characteristics of pressure fluctuation on the casing wall of two axial flow compressor rotors have been investigated experimentally to find a precursor of rotating stall. Near stall, the casing wall pressure across a flow passage near the leading edge is characterized by a highly unsteady region where low-momentum fluid accumulates. The periodicity of the pressure fluctuation with blade spacing disappears and an alternative phenomenon comes into existence, which supports the disturbance propagating at a different speed from the rotor revolution. The precursor of rotating stall can be detected by monitoring collapse of the periodicity in the pressure fluctuation. To represent the periodicity qualitatively, a practical detection parameter has been proposed, which is easily obtained from signals of a single pressure sensor installed at an appropriate position on the casing wall during operation of a compressor.