Proof of concept study on a self-driven pulsed jet on a compressor stator blade by numerical simulation

Abstract

This study presents a new concept of self-driven pulsed jet flow control on a compressor stator blade. This passive unsteady flow control method has the advantage that neither external flow nor electrical source is needed. This study’s preliminary proof-of-concept study on a low-speed compressor stator blade is performed using numerical simulation. When the pulsed jet frequency is 100 Hz, the optimum control performance and control efficiency are reached, and the total pressure loss coefficient is reduced by 8.9%. As the valve’s rotational speed increases, the pulsed jet’s momentum coefficient decreases gradually. The analysis of the unsteady characteristics of the self-driven pulsed jet shows that the jet velocity is close to a periodic square wave signal, and the typical reduced jet velocity ranges from approximately 0.15 to 0.8. Moreover, the time-averaged driving torque on the valve depends on the rotational speed and is relevant to the self-starting and self-driven characteristics of this passive flow control method. Under different bearing resistance torque, the self-driven valve behaves differently in three cases that can self-start and be self-driven, cannot self-start but can be self-driven, and cannot self-start nor be self-driven.