Multistage Compressor: 2 Rotor & Stator Rows

Multistage Compressor with 2 Rotors and 2 Stators — ANSYS Fluent CFD Simulation

Description

This project covers multistage compressor simulation using CFD, applying rotary-equipment and turbomachinery modeling principles to a compressor configuration with two rotor and two stator rows. In a multistage compressor, each rotor row adds energy to the flow and each stator row conditions it for the next stage, so the pressure rises progressively from stage to stage. Multistage compressors are widely used across mechanical engineering — in gas turbines, HVAC systems, and process industries — making this a foundational skill for turbomachinery-focused CFD work. Within the MRF: Beginner CFD Training Package, this project is the most complex of the compressor cases, extending the Moving Reference Frame method to multiple rotor and stator rows in series.

Methodology

The simulation setup covers configuring the rotating reference frames for the rotor stages, defining the interface conditions between the rotor and stator domains, and applying a turbulence model suited to compressor flow. Because each rotor row rotates while each stator row stays fixed, the Moving Reference Frame approach handles the rotation of the moving stages while the interfaces transfer the flow between successive rotor and stator domains. Boundary conditions specific to compressor operation are established, and the simulation is run with convergence monitored throughout the solution process.

Analysis

The analysis examines the flow patterns, pressure ratios, and temperature changes across the compressor stages, visualized through velocity fields, pressure distributions, and streamlines. From these results you can follow how the pressure builds progressively through the two rotor–stator stages and how each row shapes the flow entering the next. This understanding supports the analysis and optimization of compression systems such as gas turbine engines, industrial air compressors, and refrigeration systems. By the end of this project, you'll be able to set up a multistage compressor simulation with multiple rotating reference frames, define rotor–stator interfaces for staged flow, apply compressor boundary conditions, and interpret the pressure-ratio, velocity, and temperature results that characterize multistage compression — core skills for advanced turbomachinery work.