Propagating Stall in Compressors With Porous Walls

A modification is presented to the Emmons/Stenning analysis for predicting stall propagation, taking into account the unsteady flow through the end wall of a cascade row of compressor blades. It is shown that if radial flow from the blade channels is permitted, then the condition for flow instability is changed. The expression obtained for the flow coefficient at which stall occurs indicates an improvement in operating range, with virtually no effect on stall cell speed. Experimental evidence suggests that a mechanism such as that described may be the reason for the delay in stall onset produced by porous wall treatment of axial compressors.