Assessment of two-phase unsteady leakage flow induced blade vibration in subsea counter-rotating axial flow compressor

Weizheng An; Zhengyuan Li; Yuan Tao; Guangfeng An; Liya Zhu

doi:10.59400/sv3552

Assessment of two-phase unsteady leakage flow induced blade vibration in subsea counter-rotating axial flow compressor

Weizheng An CNOOC Research Institute, Beijing 100028, China
Zhengyuan Li School of Astronautics, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
Yuan Tao College of Aeronautical Engineering, Civil Aviation University of China, Tianjin 300300, China
Guangfeng An Research Institute of Aero-Engine, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
Liya Zhu CNOOC Research Institute, Beijing 100028, China

Article ID: 3552

Keywords: subsea counter-rotating axial flow compressor, turbomachines, leakage flow, fluid-induced vibration, fluid-structure interaction analysis

Abstract

As a novel lift method for subsea oilfield development, the subsea counter-rotating axial compressor can achieve a higher pressure ratio with a smaller size through a row of counter-rotating blades. However, unsteady tip leakage flow inevitably exists due to the clearance between blade tips, which may cause blade vibration and lead to fatigue failure eventually. Here, a numerical study based on fluid-structure interaction analysis is conducted on a laboratory subsea counter-rotating compressor to investigate its tip leakage flow-induced vibration characteristics. Firstly, the unsteady two-phase flow field is simulated using computational fluid dynamics. Flow characteristics and aerodynamic force are obtained. Then, the aerodynamic force is loaded on the blade surface to achieve the one-way fluid-structure interaction analysis. Finally, finite element analysis simulations are performed to obtain the blade vibration characteristics. Simulation results show that rotating speed has a dominant influence on high-cycle fatigue failure. A potential fatigue risk is identified at 4250 rpm, where the maximum stress (680–713 MPa) exceeds the yield strength (580 MPa) of the blade material. A two-phase turbulence unsteady flow model is established here to simulate the state of the working fluid more accurately. A simplified unsteady flow simulation method for counter-rotating compressors is applied to save computational cost. Besides, the fluid-structure interaction analysis technique presented here helps understand blade vibration mechanisms, facilitating anti-vibration design with reduced reliance on physical experiments. It also serves to identify potential fatigue failures caused by unsteady tip leakage flow, ensuring the secure operation of subsea counter-rotating axial compressors.

Published

2025-08-30

How to Cite

An, W., Li, Z., Tao, Y., An, G., & Zhu, L. (2025). Assessment of two-phase unsteady leakage flow induced blade vibration in subsea counter-rotating axial flow compressor. Sound & Vibration, 59(4). https://doi.org/10.59400/sv3552

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Issue

Vol. 59 No. 4 (2025)

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Article

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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