Volume 9, Issue 10, October– 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology

ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24OCT1951

Analysis of Number of Blades

Effect on Performance of Rotor 37
Mohammed Balla Abdelwahid1; Hazim Mohammed Taha1; Samer Awad Almahiy1; Ali Ibrahim Ali1; Ahmed Abdalla2
1
Department of Aeronautical Engineering, College of Engineering
2
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
Karary University- Khartoum- Sudan

Abstract:- Number of blades is one of the major The number of blades is one of the important
parameters affecting the performance and stability of parameters affecting the compressor performance. The
compressors. The number of blades usually determined number of blades also is one of the influential parameters in
using blade spacing (the distance between two blades). flow analysis, and it directly related to the solidity (the ratio
This study has been devoted to estimating the change of of the aerodynamic chord over the peripheral distance
performance parameters of rotor 37 as a result of number between two blades, also called the pitch). Actually, there is
of blades change. The results of this study obtained using no general rules to guide the designer to define an optimum
the CFD code “NUMECA Fine/Turbo”. This CFD code is solidity in terms of loading or efficiency. The importance of
a steady, quasi-three-dimensional Reynolds Averaged developing a modern methodology to understand the effect of
Navier-Stokes (RANS) solver. Presented a comparison number of blades and solidity on compressors characteristics
between three turbulence models (k-Epislon, Spalart- has also become one of the objective topics in the gas turbine
Allmaras and Blatwin-lomax) with experimental data. design field.
Spalart-Allmaras turbulence model is used mainly for
calculations. The results are presented for three II. BLADE GEOMETRIC PARAMETERS
rotational speeds and three values of number of blades.
Provided an analysis of number of blades effect on rotor A. Cascade Airfoil Nomenclature.
pressure ratio, efficiency, loading coefficient and work. Figure 1 shows the cascade airfoil nomenclature and
The obtained results verified using an existing flow angles. Subscripts (i) and (e) are used for the inlet and
experimental and published data. exit states, respectively. At design, the incidence angle is
nearly zero. The exit deviation can be determined by using
Keywords:- Number of Blades, Compressor, Rotor 37, Carter's rule [2]:
Performance Parameters.
 i - e
I. INTRODUCTION c (1)
4 
Compressor is essential component of gas turbine
engines. However, compressor design can impose
particularly difficult challenges, which results in significant
changes of performance parameters, especially pressure ratio,
efficiency and stability margin.

The design requirements of a compressor in general

include high efficiency, high air flow rates and high pressure
ratio per stage. The compressor must be designed to works
satisfactory at various flight conditions and engine regimes.
The modern gas turbine engines has a transonic compressor
to obtain high pressure ratio with a minimum number of
stages. The flow field that generates inside a transonic
compressor rotor is extremely complex and presents many
challenges to the compressor designers, because of
complicated physical features such as shock waves,
shock / boundary layer interaction, secondary flows, etc. Fig 1 Cascade Airfoils Nomenclature.
including energy losses and efficiency reduction [1].
c – blade chord;
The change of blade geometric parameters of the
compressor rotor leads to many design results, so focusing on s – blade spacing;
this research area may help to develop new configurations
with optimum performance parameters.   c s = solidity;

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Volume 9, Issue 10, October– 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24OCT1951

θ – stagger angle; Several numerical studies conducted for Rotor 37 using

various CFD codes and verified using experimental data [3,
V – absolute velocity; 4, 5, and 6]. However, the rotor still presents a real challenge
to 3D viscous flow solvers because the interaction between
α – absolute flow angle; the shock waves and boundary layer is strong, and the effects
of viscosity are dominant in determining the flow deviation
γ – airfoil angle; and hence the pressure ratio.

 i   e = turning angle; In figures 2, 3 and 4 shown the geometric data, the 3D

model and mesh grid of the rotor. Table 1 shows the basic
design data of rotor 37.
 i   e = airfoil chamber angle;

 i   i = incidence angle;

 e   e   c = exit deviation.

Losses in cascade airfoils are usually estimated in terms

of total pressure drop divided by the dynamic pressure of the
incoming flow. This ratio called the total pressure loss
coefficient and defined as:

P ti  P te
c  (2)
V i2 (2 g c)

g c - is a proportionality factor depends on the used units (for

SI units g c  1 ).
Fig 2 Geometric Data of the Rotor-37.
The total pressure loss increases with Mach number and
incidence angle.

B. Solidity and Number of blades.

The solidity must be selected in the basic design process
of the compressor. However, there is no general rules to help
the designer in this choice, because the impact of solidity on
compressor performance has many approaches, and is not
fully established.

For rotor or stator blade rows, the blade spacing (s)

along the mean line is equal to the blade chord (c) divided by
its solidity ( s  c  ). The number of blades is simply the
circumference at the mean radius divided by the blade
spacing: Fig 3 3D model of Rotor 37.

2  rm
N (3)
s

III. ROTOR 37.

NACA Rotor 37 is one of the most used transonic

compressor test case. Rotor 37 designed and tested by Reid
and Moore at NASA Lewis, presently Glenn Research
Center, is a low aspect ratio inlet stage for an eight-stage core
compressor with a 20:1 pressure ratio. It was retested at
NASA Glenn in isolation to avoid the interaction effects. As
such the test case is ideal for code verification [3, 4].
Fig 4 3D Mesh Grid of Rotor 37.

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 Volume 9, Issue 10, October– 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24OCT1951

Table 1 Main Design Data of Rotor 37.

Number of blades 36
Tip radius at leading edge 252 mm
Aspect ratio 1.19
Hub-tip radius ratio 0.7
Tip solidity 1.288
Tip clearance height 0.356 mm
Rotational speed 17188 rpm
Tip speed 454 m/s
Total pressure ratio 2.106
Mass flow (corrected) 20.19 kg/s
Chocked mass flow 20.93 kg/s
Blading Type Multiple Circular Arc

IV. COMPRESSOR ROTOR CHARACTERISTICS g c ht g c ht

  (7)
(r )
2 2
A. Rotor Performance Parameters. U
In this study, the following performance parameters
used for analysis: For a calorically perfect gas, the loading coefficient can
be written as:
 Compressor Rotor Efficiency.
Compressor rotor efficiency of an adiabatic compressor g c c p T t g c c p Tt 2  Tt1 
is defined as the ratio of the ideal work per unit mass to the   (8)
( r )
2 2
U
actual work per unit mass between the same total pressures,
or:
Modern axial flow compressors used for aircraft
engines have stage loading coefficients in the range of 0.3-

  h t 2 s h t1 (4) 0.35 at the mean radius.
h t 2  h t1
 Rotor Work.
Subscripts (1) and (2) are used for the inlet and exit states. The rotor work output is given by:

For a calorically perfect gas, this simplifies to: W  m c p Tt 2  Tt1  (9)
 1

T  T t1   p t 2 s p t1  1

B. Corrected Quantities.
 s  t 2s (5)
T t 2  T t1 T t 2 T t1  1 The characteristics of compressors usually presented by
a plot called the compressor map. The data are presented in
terms of corrected quantities that are related to the
 Rotor Pressure Ratio. compressor performance and atmospheric conditions. Table 2
The rotor pressure ratio can be determined as: shows the corrected parameters.

Then
p     1
  t 2  1   s T t  (6)
p t1  T t1  m i T ti p ref p ref
m ci   Ai MFP ( M i ) (10)
 Rotor Loading Coefficient.
p ti T ref T ref
The ratio of the rotor work to blade speed squared is
called “loading coefficient” and defined as: Therefore, mci  f ( M i ) .

Thus, the corrected mass flow rate is directly

proportional to Mach number at the defined section.

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Volume 9, Issue 10, October– 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24OCT1951

Table 2 Corrected Parameters.

Parameter Symbol Corrected
pt i
Pressure Pti t  , p ref  101300 Pa
p ref
T ti
Temperature T ti t  , T ref  288.2 K
T ref
N
Rotational speed N (RPM) Nc 
t
mi t
Mass flow rate mi mc i 
t

 Calculation of Rotor-37 Characteristics. As seen from figures 5 and 6, the calculated results are
To assess the adequacy of calculations of Rotor-37 qualitatively in a good agreement with the experimental data:
performance parameters, three turbulence models were used the mass flow rate, the character of the pressure ratio and
and compared with an existing experimental data. The results total efficiency curves. The curve of efficiency obtained
presented in figures 5and 6. using Blatwin-Lomax model is closer to experimental data,
but Spalart-Allmaras model has the best agreement with
experiment in the pressure ratio chart. The Spalart-Allmaras
model used in this study because it has a better convergence
with less cycles (iterations). From previous studies, Spalart-
Allmaras model recommended for calculations related to a
few axial compressor stages and isolated blade rows.
However, the error of obtained results is less than 3%, which
is acceptable for engineering applications. Thus, calculated
results of Rotor-37 obtained in this study can be considered
reliable.

 The effect of Number of Blades on Performance

Parameters of Rotor 37.
To estimate the effect of number of blades on
characteristics of rotor 37, a series of calculations performed
for three values of number of blades (30, 36 and 42) , at three
rotational speeds (17188 rpm (100%), 14609.8 rpm (85%)
and 12031.6 rpm (70%)). The results of calculations
presented in figures 7 and 8.
Fig 5 A Comparison of the Calculated Pressure ratio and
mass Flow rate with the Experimental Data.

Fig 7 The effect of Number of Blades on the Rotor Pressure

Fig 6 A Comparison of the Calculated Rotor Efficiency with ratio and mass flow rate.
the Experimental Data.

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Volume 9, Issue 10, October– 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24OCT1951

Fig 8 The effect of Number of Blades on the

Rotor Efficiency.

As seen from figures 7 and 8, the increase of number of Fig 10 The effect of Number of Blades on Rotor Work.
blades leads to a decrease in the maximum values of mass
flow at all values of rotational speed. At lower values of Figures 9 and 10, show that, the number of blades
rotation speed, the efficiency and pressure ratio are increase increase leads to a clear increase in the rotor loading
due to decreasing the number of blades, but at higher values coefficient and work at the high rotational speeds, with a
of rotational speed, they increased by increasing the number slight advantage when using 36 and 42 blades at lower
of blades. These results suggested with the results of similar speeds.
previous numerical studies [7, 8].
In figures 11, 12 and 13 shown the distribution of
In figures 9 and 10 shown the change of the rotor relative Mach number and velocity vectors at the blade tip
loading coefficient and work with rotational speed due to (95% of the blade height) for various rotational speeds.
number of blades change.
In figure 11, a shock wave appear when using 42 blades
in low rotational speed (70%) in the middle of blade to blade
passage, this leads to a decrease in efficiency. However, in
the case of 30 blades there is no formation of shocks in the
passage (due to the increase of passage area), thus the
efficiency increases with less number of blades.

Fig 9 The effect of Number of Blades on

Rotor Loading Coefficient.

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Volume 9, Issue 10, October– 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24OCT1951

Fig 11 Distribution of Relative mach Number at 95% of Blade Height (Maximum Efficiency at N= 70% ).

Fig 12 Distribution of Relative mach Number at 95% of Blade Height (Maximum Efficiency at N=100%).

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Volume 9, Issue 10, October– 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24OCT1951

Fig 13 Distribution of Relative Velocity Vectors at 0.95% of Blade Height (Maximum Efficiency at N=100%).

From figures 12 and 13, it is evident that, due to spacing

increase when using 30 blades at high values of the rotational
speed, the flow separation occurs at the suction side and
trailing edge, which may interacts with the generated shock
waves at this section and decreases the rotor efficiency.
When using 42 blades, fewer vortices formed due to the
proximity of the blades to each other, thus give greater
efficiency.

Figures 14, 15, 16 and 17 show the distribution of stage

pressure ratio and efficiency along the radius (downstream of
the rotor). The decrease of local values of pressure ratio and
efficiency at high rotational speed when using less number of
blades occurs at the tip sections as a result of leakage flow
and vortex formation. At lower value of rotational speed, the
highest values of pressure ratio and efficiency occur when
using 30 blades due to the absence of oblique waves and flow
separation, this consistent with the analysis of the previous
task results. At the mean radius and hub section, the change Fig 15 Distribution of Effeciency along the Radius at
of these parameters not significant. N=100%.

Fig 14 Distribution of Pressure Ratio along the Radius at Fig 16 Distribution of Pressure Ratio along the Radius at
N=100%. N=70%.

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Volume 9, Issue 10, October– 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24OCT1951

[6]. J. Castaneda, A.Mehdi, D. di Cugno, V. Pachidis, A

Preliminary Numerical Cfd Analysis Of Transonic
Compressor Rotorswhen Subjected To Inlet Swirl
Distortion, Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2011,
Canada, 2011.
[7]. J´erome Sans, The Effect of Solidity on Compressor
Performance and Stability, Technical report, Von
Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, 2011.
[8]. J´erome Sans, Experimental And Numerical
Investigations of Solidity Effects on Compressor
Performance And Stability, PhD Thesis, Von Karman
Institute for Fluid Dynamics, April 2015.

Fig 17 Distribution of Efficiency along the Radius at

N=70%.

V. CONCLUSION

A numerical investigation of the number of blades

effect on Rotor 37 characteristics has been presented. The 3D
model and mesh grid of Rotor 37 are created. To assess the
adequacy of calculations of Rotor 37 performance
parameters, three turbulence models have been used and
compared with an existing experimental data. The increase of
number of blades leads to an increase of total pressure ratio,
adiabatic efficiency, loading coefficient of the rotor at the
high values of rotational speed. The decrease of number of
blades leads to an increase of maximum efficiency and
maximum mass flow rate at lower values of rotational speed.
The use of 36 blades is more stable and reliable at different
values of rotational speed, therefore it used in the designed
rotor 37. The obtained results of this study suggested with
previous similar studies.

REFERENCES

[1]. K. Kotsarinis, NASA Rotor 37 Endwall Profiling

Using the GPU-Enabled CFD Solver PUMA, Diploma
Thesis, National Technical University of Athens,
2021.
[2]. J. D. Mattingly, W. H. Heiser, D. T. Pratt , Aircraft
Engine Design, Second edition, 2002.
[3]. A. Boretti, Experimental And Computational Analysis
of a Transonic Compressor Rotor, Australasian Fluid
Mechanics conference, New Zealand, December
2010.
[4]. L. Reid, R. D. Moore, Experimental study of low
aspect ratio compressor blading, ASME paper 80-
GT-6, March 1980.
[5]. R. Biollo, E. Benini, Aerodynamic Behaviour of a
Novel Three-Dimensional Shaped Transonic
Compressor Rotor Blade, Proceedings of ASME
Turbo Expo 2008: Power for Land, Sea and Air.
Berlin, 2008.

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