Control of Corner Separation in Compressor Cascade Using Biomimetic Fish Scales Structure

Biomimetics (Basel). 2024 Dec 7;9(12):746. doi: 10.3390/biomimetics9120746.

Abstract

In this study, a fish scale structure with low viscous drag was proposed and applied to the suction surface of a compressor cascade to reduce total pressure loss and suppress corner separation, a key source of compressor inefficiency. By using CFD simulations, the biomimetic structure was identified and integrated into the cascade design. To evaluate its effects, we analyzed secondary flow structures using 2D projected streamlines, axial velocity density (AVD), and vortex visualization techniques. The results show that the fish scale structure effectively reduces the volume of low-energy fluid by 18.36% and decreases total pressure loss at the outlet by 3.5%. Additionally, the AVD iso-surface proved instrumental in identifying low-energy fluid regions, which correlate closely with total pressure loss distribution. These findings highlight the potential of biomimetic-inspired designs to improve compressor performance by mitigating corner separation and reducing flow losses.

Keywords: compressor cascade; fish scale cascade; numerical simulation; total pressure loss; vortex structure.