Plasma enhanced compressor duct

Abstract

A compression system is disclosed, comprising a first compressor having a first flowpath, a second compressor having a second flowpath located axially aft from the first compressor, and a transition duct capable of flowing an airfow from the first compressor to the second compressor, the transition duct having at least one plasma actuator mounted in the transition duct.

1 . A compression system comprising:
 a first compressor having a first flowpath;   a second compressor located axially aft from the first compressor, the second compressor having a second flowpath; and   a transition duct located between the first compressor and the second compressor capable of flowing an airfow from the first compressor to the second compressor, the transition duct having at least one plasma actuator mounted in the transition duct.   
   
   
       2 . A compression system according to  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the second flowpath is located radially inward from a portion of the first flowpath. 
   
   
       3 . A compression system according to  claim 1  wherein the first compressor is a booster having a row of booster blades arranged in a circumferential direction around a longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       4 . A compression system according to  claim 3  wherein the second compressor is an axial-flow compressor having a row of compressor blades arranged in a circumferential direction around the longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       5 . A compression system according to  claim 1  wherein the transition duct comprises an axially arcuate inner wall and an axially arcuate outer wall. 
   
   
       6 . A compression system according to  claim 5  wherein the inner wall and outer wall form a third flowpath having an inlet portion and an exit portion located at a distance axially aft from the inlet portion. 
   
   
       7 . A compression system according to  claim 6  wherein the inlet portion has an inlet area and the exit portion has an exit area that is greater than the inlet area. 
   
   
       8 . A compression system according to  claim 5  wherein the at least one plasma actuator is located on the inner wall. 
   
   
       9 . A compression system according to  claim 5  wherein the at least one plasma actuator is located on the outer wall. 
   
   
       10 . A compression system according to  claim 1  further comprising an outlet guide vane located between the first compressor and the transition duct wherein the outlet guide vane comprises a hub portion having a plasma actuator located on the hub portion. 
   
   
       11 . A compression system according to  claim 1  wherein the plasma actuator is continuous in a circumferential direction around a longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       12 . A compression system according to  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of plasma actuators arranged in a circumferential direction around a longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       13 . A compression system according to  claim 1  wherein the plasma actuator comprises a first electrode and a second electrode separated by a dielectric material. 
   
   
       14 . A compression system according to  claim 13  further comprising an AC power supply connected to the first electrode and the second electrode to supply a high voltage AC potential to the first electrode and the second electrode. 
   
   
       15 . A duct comprising:
 an inlet portion;   an exit portion located at a distance axially aft from the inlet portion;   an axially arcuate inner wall extending between the inlet portion and the exit portion;   an axially arcuate outer wall extending between the inlet portion and the exit portion;   an axially arcuate flowpath between the inner wall and the outer wall; and   at least one plasma actuator mounted in the duct.   
   
   
       16 . A duct according to  claim 15  wherein the inlet portion has an inlet area and the exit portion has an exit area that is greater than the inlet area. 
   
   
       17 . A duct according to  claim 15  wherein the at least one plasma actuator is located on the inner wall. 
   
   
       18 . A duct according to  claim 15  wherein the at least one plasma actuator is located on the outer wall. 
   
   
       19 . A duct according to  claim 15  wherein the plasma actuator comprises a first electrode and a second electrode separated by a dielectric material. 
   
   
       20 . A duct according to  claim 13  further comprising an AC power supply connected to the first electrode and the second electrode to supply a high voltage AC potential to the first electrode and the second electrode. 
   
   
       21 . A gas turbine engine comprising a duct located between a first compressor and a second compressor, the duct having at least one plasma actuator mounted in the duct.