Numerical simulation and experimental validation of a compressor stage with splittered rotor

In order to validate the accuracy of a 3-D computation code used for compressor design, a low-speed large-scale single-stage axial flow compressor with splittered rotor was computed and detailed flow inside the compressor was measured. To have a comprehensive examination to the computation code, the experiment was performed based on compressible flow, and the internal flow was documented in detail. It is concluded from the comparison that the computation code is capable of simulating the nominal characteristics of the compressor with accuracy of 1% for both the flow rate and pressure ratio, while incapable of forecasting stall margin. On the other hand, the computational code is incompetent for complex flow simulation, especially for the secondary flow. This makes the characteristics predicted by the computation code also questionable, especially for off-design circumstance.