Numerical study of erosion due to online water washing in axial flow compressors

Recent year witnessed an increasing interest in online water washing technique since it allows to minimize compressor performance losses in the time interval between two off line washing. However, the washing capability and the related erosion risk depend on several parameters such as the injection duration , the d roplet size , the s pray angle , the water mass flow rate and the i nje ctor position s The influence of such parameters on the washing capability and erosion rate is analysed . Results are discussed with reference to number of impacts, wetted surface, capture efficiency, accumulated energy and erosion. The numerical simulation is performed with ANSYS Fluent in which a new water droplet erosion model , introduced in previous paper s, is here included as a User Defined Function . T he discussion provides useful information for prescribing the injector characteristics and the water washing procedure with the aim of minimizing the erosion risk.