Meanline Calculation of Surge Margin Loss due to Inlet Flow Distortion

In the present work, a methodology for the preliminary analysis of axial compressors operating under clean and distorted inflow conditions is discussed. A 1D mean-line solver has been developed, and the validation has been carried out under clean conditions considering the datasets of the subsonic Rolls-Royce HP9, as well as the transonic NASA Rotor 37 and NASA Rotor 67. Numerical results have been reported together with experimental data in terms of performance maps and spanwise distributions. The ARP1420 procedure and the parallel compressor theory have been implemented for the impact assessment of inlet flow distortion on the compressor surge line. A full-annulus CFD simulation of the NASA Rotor 37 has been carried out, in order to generate high-fidelity benchmark results. A 180° circumferential distortion has been considered as inlet boundary condition, and the surge line has been calculated using the two numerical models.