SHAPE FACTOR OPTIMIZATION OF MULTI-STAGE COMPRESSOR BLADE PROFILES

The purpose of this research was to develop a searchable, expandable database of compressor blade profiles optimized over a range of inlet flow angles for a desired outlet flow angle and to build a selection tool to interpolate new profiles from the database without performing the entire optimization process. Two optimization parameters were analyzed: boundary layer shape factor and blade surface pressure gradient. MATLAB, a matrix-based programming language, was used to perform the geometry generation, flow analysis, and optimization, and ANSYS CFX, a computational fluid dynamics program, was used to perform the fluid flow simulation. Three conclusive accomplishments were made. Firstly, both optimization parameters resulted in blades that turned the inlet flow to the desired outlet angle; however, the pressure-optimized blades resulted in greater total pressure recovery across a cascade and, thus, were chosen for the database. Secondly, the selection tool successfully used Delaunay triangulation to linearly interpolate new blade profiles that closely approximated the shape and performance of an optimized profile at the same set of inlet and outlet conditions. Finally, with sufficient entries in the database, the selection tool provided, at best, a faster method of generating compressor blade profiles or, at worst, initial conditions for the optimization parameters very close to the optimized solution.Ensign, United States NavyApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited