Validation of nonlinear harmonic method in dual-stage counter-rotating compressor

NLH (nonlinear harmonic) method implemented in Fine/Turbos code was evaluated for unsteady rotor-rotor interaction analysis of the NWPU (Northwestern Polytechnical University) dual-stage counter-rotating compressor. Strengths and weaknesses of the NLH method were first highlighted through direct comparison with experimental data and reference classic time-domain unsteady simulation close to the design point. Then its ability to correctly capture rotor-rotor interactions of the counter-rotating compressor was investigated in detail to enhance the understanding of the flow physics involved. The results show, on one hand, the good behavior of the NLH method and its ability to correctly predict global quantities as well as local flow pattern, on the other hand, for the present case, the NLH method is about one order magnitude faster than the classic unsteady simulation.