Browsing by Author "Lopes, Diogo Marques"
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- Analysis of the influence of the tip clearance on the performance of transonic compressorsPublication . Lopes, Diogo Marques; Brojo, Francisco Miguel Ribeiro ProençaIn aviation, compressor efficiency is essential for reducing operating costs and improving engine performance. More efficient compressors consume less fuel, which reduces airlines' expenses. It is with this goal in mind that this study was carried out, focusing on the analysis of a transonic compressor. This study explores the performance of the NASA Rotor 67 axial compressor in two configurations: with and without tip clearance. Computational fluid dynamics simulations were carried out to evaluate the effects of tip clearance on the flow characteristics and overall efficiency of the compressor. Tip clearance refers to the small gap between the blade tips of a rotor and the surrounding casing in turbomachinery. This gap is necessary and intentionally designed to allow for thermal expansion, mechanical tolerances, and structural deformation during operation to ensure that the blades do not come into direct contact with the casing. In this study, Ansys CFX software was used as a tool to analyze the aerodynamic performance of the transonic compressor under steady-state conditions, and the model used for the simulations was the SST k-? turbulence model. Ansys CFX makes it possible to accurately simulate the complex flow phenomena present in turbomachinery, including the effects of compressibility. The analysis focused on critical performance metrics such as pressure ratio and efficiency, comparing the two models to understand the impact of the gap on flow characteristics. Contours of the relative Mach number and pressure distributions were used to study the flow behavior in different sections of the rotor, highlighting the main differences between the two cases. The results showed that the absence of spacing improves performance, achieving higher pressure ratios and more uniform flow patterns near the blade tips, where the irregularities induced by spacing were mitigated. This was expected, as tip clearance is associated with leaked losses, which can reduce overall efficiency.