A combined application of micro-vortex generator and boundary layer suction in a high-load compressor cascade

In the current study, the effects of a combined application between micro-vortex generator and boundary layer suction on the flow characteristics of a high-load compressor cascade are investigated. The micro-vortex generator with a special configuration and the longitudinal suction slot are adopted. The calculated results show that a reverse flow region, which is considered the main reason for occurring stall at 7.9° incidence, grows and collapses rapidly near the leading edge and leads to two critical points occurring on the end-wall with the increasing incidence in the baseline. As the micro-vortex generator is introduced in the baseline cascade, the corner separation is switched to a trailing edge separation by the thrust from the induced vortex. Meanwhile, the occurrence of failure is delayed due to the mixed low energy fluid and main flow. The synergistic effects between the micro-vortex generator and the boundary layer suction on the performance of the cascade are superior to the baseline at all the incidence conditions before the occurrence of failure, and the sudden deterioration of the cascade occurs at 10.3° incidence. The optimal results show that the farther upstream suction position, the lower total pressure loss of the cascade with vortex generator at the near stall condition. Moreover, the induced vortex with a leg can migrate the accumulated low energy fluid backward to delay the occurrence of stall.