Axial compressor configuration

Abstract

An axial compressor includes a housing and a plurality of stages arranged within the housing and along an airflow direction, each stage of the plurality of stages including a first blade assembly and a second blade assembly, wherein the first blade assembly is a rotor, each rotor being drivable independently from the rotors in the other first blade assemblies.

1 . An axial compressor comprising:
 a housing;   a plurality of stages arranged within the housing and along an airflow direction, each stage of the plurality of stages comprising a first blade assembly and a second blade assembly, wherein the first blade assembly is a rotor, each rotor in each first blade assembly being drivable independently from the rotors in the other first blade assemblies.   
     
     
         2 . The axial compressor according to  claim 1 , further comprising an electric motor attached to each rotor. 
     
     
         3 . The axial compressor according to  claim 2 , further comprising a central shaft about which the rotors rotate, wherein each electric motor is mounted to the central shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The axial compressor according to  claim 2 , wherein each electric motor is mounted to an inside of the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The axial compressor according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect an airflow condition, wherein each rotor is independently drivable in accordance with the detected airflow condition. 
     
     
         6 . The axial compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the second blade assembly is a counter-rotating rotor configured to rotate in an opposite rotational direction of the rotors, each counter-rotating rotor being drivable independently from the other counter-rotating rotor and rotors. 
     
     
         7 . The axial compressor according to  claim 6 , further comprising an electric motor attached to each rotor and counter-rotating rotor. 
     
     
         8 . The axial compressor according to  claim 7 , further comprising a central shaft about which the rotors and counter-rotating rotors rotate, wherein each electric motor is mounted to the central shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The axial compressor according to  claim 7 , wherein each electric motor is mounted to an inside of the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The axial compressor according to  claim 7 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect an airflow condition, wherein each rotor and counter-rotating rotor is independently drivable in accordance with the detected airflow condition. 
     
     
         11 . The axial compressor according to  claim 1 , further comprising a vehicle, the front end to which the compressor is mounted. 
     
     
         12 . The axial compressor according to  claim 11 , further comprising a tube through which the vehicle is configured to travel. 
     
     
         13 . An axial compressor comprising:
 a housing;   a plurality of stages arranged within the housing and along an airflow direction, each stage of the plurality of stages comprising a rotor and a counter-rotating rotor, each counter-rotating rotor being driveable independently from the counter-rotating rotors in the other stages.   
     
     
         14 . The axial compressor according to  claim 13 , further comprising a vehicle, the front end to which the compressor is mounted. 
     
     
         15 . The axial compressor according to  claim 14 , further comprising a tube through which the vehicle is configured to travel. 
     
     
         16 . A method for operating an axial compressor having a plurality of stages arranged within a compressor housing and along an airflow direction, each stage of the plurality of stages having a first blade assembly and a second blade assembly, the method comprising:
 detecting, via a sensor, an airflow condition of the axial compressor; and   driving, via an electric motor, at least one of the first blade assemblies and second blade assemblies independently, in accordance with the detected airflow condition.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the compressor is mounted to a front end of a vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising operating the vehicle to travel within a tube. 
     
     
         19 . An axial compressor system comprising:
 a central axial compressor; and   a first plurality of axial compressors arranged about a longitudinal axis of the central axial compressor.   
     
     
         20 . The axial compressor according to  claim 19 , wherein the first plurality of axial compressors are arranged downstream of the central axial compressor. 
     
     
         21 . The axial compressor according to  claim 19 , further comprising a second plurality of axial compressors arranged about the first plurality of axial compressors. 
     
     
         22 . The axial compressor according to  claim 19 , wherein the second plurality of axial compressors are arranged downstream of the first plurality of axial compressors. 
     
     
         23 . The axial compressor according to  claim 19 , wherein the second plurality of axial compressors are staggered in the circumferential direction with respect to the first plurality of axial compressors. 
     
     
         24 . The axial compressor according to  claim 17 , wherein each axial compressor of the first plurality of axial compressors and central axial compressor are drivable independently from the other axial compressors. 
     
     
         25 . The axial compressor according to  claim 19 , further comprising a vehicle, the front end to which the compressor is mounted. 
     
     
         26 . The axial compressor according to  claim 25 , further comprising a tube through which the vehicle is configured to travel. 
     
     
         27 - 28 . (canceled)