3.

LITERATURE SURVEY
A need to standardize the characteristics of inlet flow angularity distortion has been
recognized within the gas turbine engine community. Many researchers has been working to
investigate and to assess the influence of different types and magnitudes of swirl on the
performance and compatibility of turbojet engines.
3.1. Swirl Generator Development History
In the mid 1980s during the development of the multi-role combat aircraft TORNADO, a
considerable amount of full scale testing had to be done to achieve inlet/engine compatibility
resulting in costly time delays (Reference 8). The TORNADO installation consists of two
offset S-duct inlets supplying RB199 engines without inlet guide vanes (IGVs). Flight
operations at high angles of attack lead to lower lip flow separation causing low energy flow
to move inboard towards the inner turn setting up a bulk swirl in both inlets (see Figure 3.1).
1= variable ramps, 2 = auxiliary air intake doors, 3 = boundary layer diverter
Fig: 3.1. Tornado Experience with Swirl Distortion
Because the turns in the left and right inlets are mirror images of each other, the bulk swirl in
each inlet duct was rotating in the opposite direction, with the left engine experiencing
counter-rotating bulk swirl and causing it to surge. At supersonic speeds, the upper ramps
would separate setting up bulk swirl in the reverse direction in each duct, thus causing the
right engine to encounter the counter-rotating bulk swirl. The TORNADO experience led the
authors of Reference 8 to develop swirl generators that could be used to perform early engine
sensitivity testing.
On the base of an assumed steady inlet circumferential total pressure distortion, three-dimensional
time-dependent numerical simulations are conducted on an axial flow subsonic compressor rotor
by Hah C et al., (Reference 6). The performances and flow fields of a compressor rotor, either
casing treated or untreated, are investigated in detail either with or without inlet pressure
distortion. Results show that the circumferential groove casing treatment can expand the operating
range of the compressor rotor either with or without inlet pressure distortion at the expense of a
drop in peak isentropic efficiency. The casing treatment is capable of weakening or even removing
the tip leakage vortex effectively either with or without inlet distortion. In clean inlet
circumstances, the enhancement and forward movement of tip leakage vortex cause the untreated
compressor rotor to stall. By contrast, with circumferential groove casing, the serious flow
separation on the suction surface leads to aerodynamic stalling eventually. In the presence of inlet
pressure distortion, the blade loading changes from passage to passage as the distorted inflow
sector is traversed. Similar to the clean inlet circumstances, with a smooth wall casing, the
enhancement and forward movement of tip leakage vortex are still the main factors which lead to
the compressor rotor stalling eventually. When the rotor works under near stall conditions, the
blockage resulting from the tip leakage vortex in all the passages is very serious. Especially in
several passages, flow-spillage is observed. Compared to the clean inlet circumstances,
circumferential groove casing treatment can also eliminate the low energy zone in the outer end
wall region effectively.
3.2. SWIRL DESCRIPTOR ELEMENTS
Swirl descriptors require three elements to completely define swirl at a compressor face. Two
elements of the swirl descriptors share some resemblance to the circumferential total pressure
distortion descriptors (as discussed in Reference 1 by Bouldin, B. and Sheoran, Y.,),in that they are
defined on the ring-by-ring basis in terms of intensity and multiple-per-revolution. The third
element of the total pressure distortion descriptor extent is replaced by a new element unique to
the swirl distortion called directivity.
The three swirl descriptors are:
1. Intensity (SI), which captures the predominant swirl angle in degrees at the AIP. This
parameter specifies magnitude but not direction.
2. Directivity (SD) varies between +1 to 1 providing the rotational direction with respect to
the compressor rotation of the predominant swirl SI. For example, a value of +1 would
indicate a co-rotating pure bulk swirl with average incidence angle of SI degrees.
A value of zero would refer to a symmetric Multiple- Per-Rev sinusoidal swirl fluctuation
circumferentially around that ring. Finally, a 1 value of Swirl Directivity (SD) indicates a
counter-rotation pure bulk swirl with an incidence angle of SI degrees. A more detailed
discussion of the directivity values between +1 to 1 and an interpretation of the swirl pattern
they represent are presented in the Examples of Swirl Descriptors section of this document.
3. Multiple-Per-Revolution (SMPR) is a numerical indicator of the equivalent number of
pairs of positive and negative swirl direction changes that are represented in the swirl
measured at that ring.
3.3. CONVENTION AND DEFINITION OF TERMS
The positive or negative value of swirl can be defined relative to the direction of the
compressor rotation or relative to an absolute frame of reference. Bruce B et al., (Reference
1) take the position that it is important that the swirl direction be defined relative to the
direction of compressor rotation for the following reasons:
1. The three elements of the swirl descriptor will be directly used to model and assess the
effect on compressor performance and stability.
2. The swirl incidence direction relative to the compressor rotation direction is very
important in determining the effect on compressor performance.
3. This approach allows the swirl descriptors to become independent of ground reference or
vehicle references and are directly related to the compression system; the engine component
most effected by swirl. This also allows Swirl Directivitys positive or negative value to have
a powerful meaning relative to the compressor performance without the use of additional
descriptors.
4. This approach also removes the complication of orientation errors with respect to fixed
external references in situations where two compressors are deployed in the same plenum,
facing each other and rotating on the same shaft as is the case in most of the load compressor
APUs.
Table1 Impact of Swirl on Compressor Performance
Co-Rotating Swirl Counter-Rotating swirl
Reduced flow Increased Flow
Reduced pressure ratio Increased Pressure Ratio
Increased Efficiency Reduced Efficiency
Increased stall margin Reduced Stall margin
Positive swirl is defined as co-rotating swirl, or that swirl which rotates in the same direction
as the compressor. Negative swirl is defined as counter-rotating swirl, or that swirl which
rotates in the opposite direction as the compressor.
3.4. TYPES OF SWIRL:
The types of swirl distortion encountered with gas turbine engines can be categorized by four
types:
(1) Tightly wound vortices,
(2) Bulk swirl
(3) Paired swirl and
(4) Wrapping swirl.
Swirl types 1 and 4 are specific types of swirl typically found with particular installation
features such as ground vortices in the case of type 1 or in unique inlet designs such as
turboprop inlets in the case of type 4. Instead, this paper will focus on swirl types 2 through
3, whose effects are felt across most or all of the AIP.
Bulk swirl consists of an inlet flow that is all rotating in the same direction, either co-rotating
or counter-rotating relative to the compressor rotation. As a convention, co-rotating swirl will
be considered positive while counter-rotating swirl will be considered negative. Figure 3.2
shows a sketch of a typical bulk swirl pattern along a ring of constant radius. Bulk swirl can
be generated in an engine by means of a set of inlet guide vanes (IGVs) or by a scrolled duct
leading to a compressor.
Fig: 3.2. Typical bulk swirl pattern.
Paired swirl consists of two or more vortices rotating in opposite directions. If the paired
vortices are symmetric (same magnitude and extent) then the pattern is called twin swirl. If
one of the vortices dominates the other, resulting in an asymmetric pattern, then it is called
offset swirl. Figure 3.3 shows examples of twin and offset swirl, along with a plot showing
how the swirl pattern resembles a sinusoidal wave when the swirl is plotted along a ring of
constant radius.
Fig: 3.3 Two types of paired swirl patterns
3.5. Swirl Descriptor Definition
Three swirl descriptors and two sub-parameters are required to completely define swirl at a
compressor face. These descriptors were first proposed in Reference 5 by Joubert H. Two
elements of the swirl descriptors share some resemblance to the circumferential total pressure
distortion descriptors of ARP1420 in that they are defined on a ring-by-ring basis in terms of
intensity and multiple-per-revolution. The third element of total pressure distortion radial
intensity is replaced by a new element unique to swirl distortion called directivity.
Fig: 3.4. Typical 1/rev Paired Swirl Pattern at Constant Radius
A typical paired swirl pattern at the i
th
constant radius, idealized as a sine wave for definition
purposes, is shown in Figure 3.4. Before the descriptors can be defined, the sub-parameters
that are the building blocks of the descriptors must be defined. These are defined Bouldin, B.
and Sheoran, Y., in Reference 2.
Using the extent labels shown in Figure 3.4, the two sub parameters can be defined as:
Extent (), which has both positive (Eqn.1) and negative (Eqn.2) elements. The extent
defines the circumferential angular spacing that a certain swirl pattern is above or below the
0 swirl line. The extent is measured in either degrees or radians.

i
+
=
2i
-
1i -
extent for the positive sector. (1)

i
-
=
3i
-
2i -
extent for the negative sector. (2)
Sector Swirl (SS) also has positive (Eqn. 3) and negative (Eqn.4) elements. It is composed of
the integrated extent averaged swirl value in each of the individual extents.

+
+

+
i
d
i
i
i
ss

) (
1
)
- Average swirl in the positive sector. (3)

i
d
i
i
i
ss

) (
1
)
- Average swirl in the negative sector. (4)
With the sub-parameters defined, the three main swirl descriptors can now be described.
They are: Swirl Intensity (SI), which captures the predominant swirl angle in degrees at the
AIP. This parameter specifies magnitude but not direction so it always has a positive sign. It
has units of degrees or by changing the denominator in Eqn. 5 to 2, units of radians.
360
* ) * )
)
i i
SS
i i
SS
i
SI

+
+ +

- Weighted average absolute swirl angle for given
ring at the i
th
immersion. (5)
Swirl Directivity (SD) varies between +1 to 1 providing the rotational direction with respect
to the compressor rotation of the predominant swirl SI (Eqn. 6). For example, a value of +1
would indicate a co-rotating pure bulk swirl with average incidence angle of SI degrees.
A value of zero would indicate a perfect twin paired swirl pattern at that constant radius.
Finally, a 1 value of Swirl Directivity (SD) indicates a counter-rotation pure bulk swirl with
an incidence angle of SI degrees. There are an infinite number of values between +/-1 that
result in a spectrum of paired swirl patterns as shown in Figure 3.5.
i i
SS
i i
SS
i i
SS
i i
SS
i
SD

+
+ +

+
+ +

* ) * )
* ) * )
)
- defines the rotational direction of swirl.
Fig: 3.5. Spectrum of Swirl Directivity, SD.
Swirl Pairs (SP) is a numerical indicator of the equivalent number of pairs of positive and
negative swirl direction changes that are represented in the swirl measured at that ring
(Equation7). Like Swirl Directivity, Swirl Pairs can fall along a spectrum of values
depending on the swirl pattern. Figure 3.5 shows that this spectrum has a minimum value of
+0.5 for positive or negative bulk swirls, as bulk swirl can be considered to be one half of a
1/rev swirl pattern. Although the spectrum shown in Figure 3.4 reaches its maximum at 1.0
for a pure 1/rev swirl pattern, in actuality SP has no upper limit as complex swirl patterns can
yield SP values greater than 1 (e.g. SP = 2.0 for a pure 2/rev swirl pattern).

'

1
]
1

1
]
1

+ +

+
+ +

i i
SS or
i i
SS Maxof
i i
SS
i i
SS
i
SP


* ) * ) * 2
* ) * )
)
(7)
Numerical indicator of equivalent no. of swirl pairs
Fig: 3.6.Spectrum of Swirl Pairs, SP, with 1/rev Maximum.
All swirl distortion can be defined numerically using the spectrums shown in Figure 3.5 and
Figure 3.6 along with the swirl magnitude provided by the SI descriptor. From Figure 3.6 one
can conclude that all swirl distortion can be considered to be subsets of paired swirl
distortion. For example, an inlet system containing turns (such as seen in Figure 3.1) which
generates paired swirl can also be exposed to a crosswind which could collapse one of the
pair halves leading to bulk swirl.
3.6. Objective
The main objective of the present paper is to present the bulk swirl distortion on compressor
performance using a new approach for analyzing the effect of swirl distortion. Utilizing a
new system of flexible and adaptable swirl generators, bulk swirl patterns were developed
within a CFD model.
7. CONCLUSION.
A compressor is made up of a relatively large number of stages, each stage, consisting of a
row of rotating blades (airfoils) and a row of stationary blades (stators), arranged so that the
air is compressed as it passes through each stage. A Compressor Stall in a gas turbine engine
is a condition in an axial-flow compressor in which one or more stages of rotor blades fail to
pass air smoothly to the succeeding stages. Turbulent or distorted airflow to the engine inlet
reducing the axial velocity. To reduce this distorted airflow, study on swirl is done.
Swirl is considered to be that portion of the flow vector that is directed circumferentially at
the compressor face. Swirl distortions encountered with gas compressor are of different
types. Bulk Swirl is one of them.
This study presents the influence of bulk swirl distortion on compressor performance using a
new approach for analyzing the effect of swirl distortion. Utilizing a new system of flexible
and adaptable swirl generators, bulk swirl patterns were developed within a CFD model. This
swirl generator was then attached to fully 3D first stage compressor geometry.
The study indicated that the much quicker and simpler frozen rotor CFD technique for
modeling rotating geometry was just as accurate as the far more complex sliding mesh
technique. The CFD results matched tested undistorted rig data very well.
Compressor maps were presented for the resulting swirl distortion patterns. These maps
showed the impact of the different swirl patterns on compressor performance. The results for
positive and negative bulk swirl have shown a clear shift in speed lines from base line. This
shift is due to the reduction in efficiency seen with the different swirl patterns.
Further investigation can be done on the sensitivity studies of different other types of swirl
distortion on the compressor performance