Low Speed Compressor Facility

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This educational facility consists of a low speed compressor test ring with a single axial stage installed and a throttling vane for mass flow control. Two 3-hole probes are used, located at rotor and stator exit respectively. A Pitot-Prandl tube is also located at stage inlet.

Educational exercises can be performed in this facility. The object is (a) to determine experimentally the characteristic curve of a single stage axial compressor (b) to measure flow field quantities in the interior of the stage in order to establish the cross-correlation of flow kinematics’ elements with the operating point of the stage.

The aim is the familiarization of students with measurement processes that allow the determination of characteristic curve of a machine. At the same time, the realization of concrete measurements of the flow field, allows the better comprehension of what is happening in the interior of machine and more specifically the cross-correlation of velocity field with the operating point. For the execution of the exercise, the student regulates the compressor rotational speed and sets the throttling valve in fully open position. Beginning from this position, starts to close the valve in successive places of smaller opening, giving in this way a smaller amount of mass flow. For each throttling position the student moves the probes in successive radial locations from tip to hub. For each location the student records all the measured quantities and then processes them for calculation of compressor characteristic curve and detailed flow field parameters.