The aim of this research project is to get a profound understanding of flow instabilities in axial compressors near the stability limit. In detail, this project focuses on the so-called Rotating Instability (RI) and its formation mechanism. The RI is characterized by deterministic pressure fluctuations moving in circumferential direction in an annular cascade. In frequency domain, the presence of the RI can be identified by a characteristic spectral signature with side-by-side peaks.

Previous model conceptions dealing with gap-induced vortex systems do not offer any sufficient explanations for the development of the RI, because own experimental results show significant RI signatures on a compressor stator without any tip gap. Hence, existing models describing the formation mechanism by the clearance vortex need to be reconsidered.

The specific aim of this part project is to get a comprehensive overview about the impact of the RI on detailed flow parts within the blade passage. Beside the identification of loss sources, the relevance of the RI as a precursor to rotating stall will be addressed. The experimental investigations are carried out on an axial compressor stator cascade with hub clearance. The investigation of the time resolved flow field upstream, downstream and inside of the compressor stator cascade are performed using piezoresistive pressure transducers, miniature five hole probes and hot-wire anemometry. Further, the multi color oil flow visualization is carried out to get a comprehensive picture of important secondary flows, accompanied with the inception of the RI.

Funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) ,the research project "Flow induced acoustics in turbomachinery - The rotating instability" is jointly being edited by the department of fluid system dynamics, numerical methods in fluid dynamics (Technical University of Berlin) and the department of engine acoustics of the DLR Berlin.

Person of contact: Dr.-Ing. Mario Eck [2]

A novel stall warning indicator - part II: underlying flow mechanism

M. Eck, R. Rückert, M. Lehmann, D. Peitsch
(TU Berlin)

Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo 2019:
Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition
Phoenix, Arizona, USA,  June 17-21 2019, GT2019-90243


A novel stall warning indicator - part I: applications and limitations

R. Rückert, M. Eck, M. Lehmann, D. Peitsch
(TU Berlin)

Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo 2019:
Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition
Phoenix, Arizona, USA,  June 17-21 2019, GT2019-90242


Advanced application of a sublayer fence probe in highly instationary turbomachinery flows: observations on prestall instabilities

M. Eck, R. Rückert, D. Peitsch
(TU Berlin)

Journal of Experiments in Fluids, Springer, February 2019
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-019-2686-5 [3]


Physics of prestall propagating disturbances in axial compressors and their potential as a stall warning indicator

M. Eck, S. Geist, D. Peitsch
(TU Berlin)

Journal of Applied Sciences, Gas Turbines Propulsion and Power, MDPI, 2017


Advanced stereo high-speed PIV in an annular cascade without clearance: evidence of Rotating Instability

J. Peter, B. Pardowitz, M. Eck, L. Enghardt, D. Peitsch, P.U. Thamsen

12th European Turbomachinery Conference, ETC 12,
Stockholm, Sweden, April 3-7 2017, ETC2017-205


Rotierende Instabilität in Axialverdichtern – Experimente und Analysemethoden zur Untersuchung instationärer 3D Wirbelstrukturen

M. Eck, D. Peitsch, J. Peter, P. U. Thamsen, B. Pardowitz, L. Enghardt

20 Jahre NGV Dresden - Forschung zur Verdichteraerodynamik,
Dresden, Germany, October 6-7 2015


Detailed measurements of the unsteady pressure field in the area of origin of Rotating Instability

M. Eck, C. Tiedemann, D. Peitsch
(TU Berlin)

ISUAAAT 14,
Stockholm, Sweden, September 8-11 2015


Three-Dimensional Flow Field in Highly Loaded Compressor Cascade

C. Beselt, M. Eck, D. Peitsch
(TU Berlin)

Journal of Turbomachinery, Vol. 136, Issue 10, S. 101007-1 - 101007-10
October 2014


Three dimensional flow field in a highly loaded compressor cascade

C. Beselt, M. Eck, D. Peitsch
(TU Berlin)

ASME Turbo Expo 2014,
Düsseldorf, Germany, June 16-20 2014, GT2014-25947


Experimental and numerical investigation of the unsteady endwall flow in a highly loaded axial compressor stator

C. Beselt, R. van Rennings, D. Peitsch, F. Thiele, K. Ehrenfried
(TU Berlin)

ASME Turbo Expo 2014,
Düsseldorf, Germany, June 16-20 2014, GT2014-25944


Impact of hub clearance on endwall flow in a highly loaded axial compressor stator

C. Beselt, R. van Rennings, D. Peitsch, F. Thiele
(TU Berlin)

ASME Turbo Expo 2013,
San Antonio, USA, June 3-7 2013, GT2013-95463


Influence of clearance size on rotating instability in an axial compressor stator

C. Beselt, B. Pardowitz, R. van Rennings, R. Sorge, D. Peitsch, L. Enghardt, F. Thiele, K. Ehrenfried, P. U. Thamsen
(TU Berlin)

10th European Turbomachinery Conference, ETC 10,
Lappeenranta, Finland, 15.–19. April 2013, ETC10-A141


Experimental investigation of endwall flow in highly loaded annular compressor stator cascade

C. Beselt, D. Peitsch
(TU Berlin)

10th European Turbomachinery Conference, ETC 10,
Lappeenranta, Finland, 15.–19. April 2013, ETC10-A152


Experimentelle und numerische Untersuchungen von Rotierende Instabilitäten an einem Axialverdichter-Stator. Part I: Aerodynamik und Akustik

C. Beselt, B. Pardowitz, U. Tapken, L. Enghardt, D. Peitsch
(TU Berlin, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V.)

Instationäre Sekundärströmungseffekte in Verdichter- und Turbinengittern,
Dresden, November 2012


Experimental and numerical investigation of rotating instability phenomenon in an axial compressor stator

C. Beselt, D. Peitsch, R. van Rennings, F. Thiele
(TU Berlin)

42nd AIAA Fluid Dynamics Conference,
New Orleans, USA, June 25-28 2012, AIAA-2012-2980


Influence of mach number and aerodynamic loading on rotating instability in an annular compressor cascade

C. Beselt, D. Peitsch
(TU Berlin)

ASME Turbo Expo 2012,
Kopenhagen, Denmark, June 11-15 2012, GT2012-69393


Strömungsinduzierter Schall in Turbomaschinen – Die Rotierende Instabilität

C. Beselt, D. Peitsch, B. Pardowitz, L. Enghardt
(TU Berlin, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V.)

Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress 2011,
Bremen, Germany, September 27-29 2011, DLRK 2011-241377