Numerical Study of the Inlet Guide Vane Adjustment Strategy of a Counter-Rotating Compressor

The counter-rotating configurations have considerable potential to enhance the aerodynamic performance of turboelectric distributed propulsion (TeDP) systems. To address the demand for high-efficiency operation of counter-rotating fans under various operating conditions, this study focuses on a dual-stage counter-rotating compressor. The objective of the study is to enhance its efficiency by conducting a numerical investigation of the inlet guide vane (IGV) adjustment strategy at varying rotational speeds. Additionally, the analysis of the adjustment mechanism at the design rotational speed was analyzed. Numerical simulations were performed across at various rotational speeds and IGV stagger angles to obtain performance maps, and response surface models were constructed for compressor efficiency and pressure ratio. The results indicate that the optimal IGV stagger angle increases nonlinearly with a decreasing mass flow rate, demonstrating an initial rapid adjustment, followed by a slower adjustment and then acceleration. At the design rotational speed, the adjustment of the IGV has been demonstrated to enhance the efficiency and pressure ratio of the counter-rotating compressor by 4.61% and 0.036, respectively. A detailed analysis of the flow field indicates that negative pre-swirl from the IGV enhances the flow field on the pressure surface of R1 at high mass flow rates, thereby reducing aerodynamic loss. At low mass flow rates, positive pre-swirl effectively suppresses tip leakage flow spilling near the leading edge of R2, thereby extending the stall margin. These findings provide significant insights into the IGV adjustment strategy and provide practical guidance on optimizing the performance of a counter-rotating configuration in TeDP applications.