Design and Replacement of a Three-Stage Axial Compressor with a Centrifugal Compressor in a Gas Turbine to Enhance Performance

Document Type : Article

Authors

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Dynamic compressors are vital components in gas turbines and various industrial applications such as transportation, power generation, oil refineries, and petrochemical plants. The gas turbine at the Gas Turbine Laboratory of Sharif University of Technology uses a two-stage combined compressor with an axial first stage and a centrifugal second stage. This study investigates replacing the centrifugal stage with a multi-stage axial compressor to enhance turbine performance. A one-dimensional model was developed and validated against experimental data to predict compressor behavior under design and off-design conditions. Based on this analysis, a three-stage axial compressor and a new stator were designed, forming a four-stage axial configuration. Performance predictions indicate that the proposed design achieves 10.1–15.1% higher isentropic efficiency along the operating line, and at speeds above 90% of the design point, its pressure ratio surpasses that of the existing combined compressor by up to 9.4%. The results confirm that replacing the centrifugal stage with the new axial compressor is both feasible and beneficial, improving performance while reducing engine diameter.

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References

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