Abstract: A compressor airfoil in a gas turbine engine is presented. Opposed pressure and suction sides are joined together at chordally opposite leading and trailing edges. The pressure and suction sides extend in a span direction from a root to a tip of the airfoil. A leading edge sweep angle is defined relative to a tangent to the airfoil and flow velocity vector at a point on the leading edge. A leading edge dihedral angle is defined relative to the tangent to the airfoil and a vertical at the point on the leading edge. A ratio of the leading edge sweep angle to the leading edge dihedral angle being smaller than 1. A method of forming such airfoil is also presented.

Abstract: A compressor rotor airfoil in a gas turbine engine is presented. Opposed pressure and suction sides are joined together at chordally opposite leading and trailing edges. The pressure and suction sides extend in a span direction from a root to a tip. A leading edge dihedral angle is defined at a point on the leading edge between a tangent to the airfoil and a vertical. The leading edge dihedral angle has a span-wise distribution. The distribution has at least one inflection point. A method of reducing a rub angle between a compressor rotor blade and a casing surrounding the blade is also presented.

Abstract: A centrifugal compressor having at least a diffuser is disclosed. The diffuser has an annular diffuser body having circumferentially spaced apart diffuser passages defining fluid paths through the diffuser body. The diffuser also has a plurality of diffusion members mounted to the annular diffuser body. Each diffusion member has a member inlet in fluid communication with a diffuser passage and a member outlet. Each diffusion member defines an aerodynamic throat disposed between the member inlet and the member outlet. The diffuser also has a fluid injection assembly with multiple injection conduits. Each injection conduit extends between a conduit inlet configured to receive a flow of compressible fluid from a supply and a conduit outlet communicating with a corresponding diffusion member downstream of the aerodynamic throat. The compressible fluid is injected through the conduit outlet into the diffusion members.

Abstract: The centrifugal compressor described includes an impeller shroud which encloses the impeller and has a curved shroud surface that extends between an inducer portion and an exducer portion. The compressor includes one or more circumferential grooves in the shroud body within the exducer portion. Each groove has opposed wall segments spaced apart therefrom. The wall segments are inclined at a nonzero groove angle relative to a normal of the shroud surface in a direction opposite the fluid flow path along the shroud surface.

Abstract: A compressor for a gas turbine engine with variable inlet guide vanes each defining an airfoil portion twisted such that at each location of the airfoil portion along the pivot axis, an angle is defined between a respective chord extending between the leading and trailing edges and a same reference plane containing the pivot axis and extending radially with respect to the compressor. The angle, which is measured along a direction of rotation of the rotor, varies from a minimum value near the hub side wall to a maximum value near the shroud side wall. A method of reducing vortex whistle in a radial inlet of a compressor is also provided.

Abstract: A compressor for a gas turbine engine having a bleed air recirculation system includes a plurality of bleed holes extending through the shroud at a first axial location thereon substantially adjacent the blade tips. The bleed holes have a closed outer perimeter along their complete length. An annular bleed cavity surrounds the shroud and is in communication with outlet openings of the bleed holes. The bleed holes provide communication between said main gas flow passage and the bleed cavity. The bleed cavity includes exit passages having outlets disposed in said shroud at a second axial location which is upstream of both the first axial location and the leading edge of the blades of the rotor. Bleed air is passively bled from the main gas flow passage via the bleed holes, recirculated through the bleed cavity and re-injected back into the main gas flow passage at the second axial location.

Abstract: A rotor for a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of radially extending blades, each having a remote blade tip defining an outer tip surface, and a leading edge defined between opposed pressure and suction side airfoil surfaces. A shroud circumferentially surrounds the rotor, and a radial distance between an inner surface of the shroud and the outer tip surface of the blades defines a radial tip clearance gap therebetween. The tip of each of the blades has a pressure side edge formed at the intersection between the outer tip surface and the pressure side airfoil surface, and a suction side edge formed at the intersection between the outer tip surface and the pressure side airfoil surface. The suction side edge has a larger radius of curvature than the pressure side edge, thereby reducing the amount of tip leakage flow through the radial tip clearance gap.

Abstract: A compressor for a gas turbine engine with variable inlet guide vanes each defining an airfoil portion twisted such that at each location of the airfoil portion along the pivot axis, an angle is defined between a respective chord extending between the leading and trailing edges and a same reference plane containing the pivot axis and extending radially with respect to the compressor. The angle, which is measured along a direction of rotation of the rotor, varies from a minimum value near the hub side wall to a maximum value near the shroud side wall. A method of reducing vortex whistle in a radial inlet of a compressor is also provided.

Abstract: A compressor shroud has a continuous slot defined in a gaspath side surface thereof for communicating through the body of the shroud. Spaced-apart structural bridges span a rear portion of the slot in the shroud to maintain structural rigidity of the shroud. The method of forming the continuous slot is also described.

Abstract: A compressor shroud has a continuous slot defined in a gaspath side surface thereof for communicating through the body of the shroud. Spaced-apart structural bridges span a rear portion of the slot in the shroud to maintain structural rigidity of the shroud. The method of forming the continuous slot is also described.