Surging in Centrifugal and Axial-Flow Compressors

THIS paper reviews the work done in analyzing the causes of surge and in investigating the effects of compressor operating conditions on the character of the flow variations that occur during surge.

A comparison of flow conditions in the centrifugal and axial-flow compressors is presented to shed further light on the causes and characteristics of the surge phenomenon.

It has been found that eddies may arise within the flow through compressors that make the surge characteristics of centrifugal and axial-flow compressors similar.

The effect of matching the stages of an axial-flow compressor at various design points is presented to indicate the importance of the effect of stage matching in extending the surge-free operating range of a compressor. Several other methods of inhibiting surge are discussed, based on analysis of the flow stability and the stage performance characteristics.