Numerical optimization of a 3-D multistage axial compressor

A blade parameterization module specially for 3-D turbomachinery blades using NURBS and an optimization module with several different optimization methods are developed. The numerical optimization platform for aerodynamics design of compressors is thus constructed by assembling together the blade reconstruction module, the optimization module, an in-house grid generator, and an in-house CFD solver. The platform is then applied to a aerodynamic optimization of a last stator in a 5-stage axial compressor. The improvement of the compressor performance is obtained due to the optimization.