Abstract: A method of starting up a turbine with a compressor have an inlet guide vane, a number of bleed valves, and a number of blades so as to limit the duration in a rotating stall window. The method may include starting rotation of the blades, increasing the speed of the rotation of the blades, closing one or more bleed valves so as to shift the rotating stall window to a higher rotational speed, partially opening the inlet guide vane to a position outside the rotating stall window, and opening the bleed valves while partially closing the inlet guide vane such that the number of blades pass through the rotating stall window.

Abstract: Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention relates to a variable guide vane for an axial flow compressor comprising: a first radially outer vane section; and a second radially inner vane section; the first and second vane sections angularly adjustable relative to each other about a longitudinal radial axis of the vane.

Abstract: A method of starting up a turbine with a compressor have an inlet guide vane, a number of bleed valves, and a number of blades so as to limit the duration in a rotating stall window. The method may include starting rotation of the blades, increasing the speed of the rotation of the blades, closing one or more bleed valves so as to shift the rotating stall window to a higher rotational speed, partially opening the inlet guide vane to a position outside the rotating stall window, and opening the bleed valves while partially closing the inlet guide vane such that the number of blades pass through the rotating stall window.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the health of a compressor including at least one sensor operatively coupled to measure the dynamic pressure of gases flowing through the compressor, a processing system coupled to at least one sensor, the processor system recording and processing the measurements made by at least one sensor. The apparatus further includes a comparator that compares the sensor measurements with predetermined baseline values, and a real-time controller coupled to the comparator, the controller initiating corrective actions to prevent a compressor surge if the sensor measurements deviate from the predetermined baseline values.

Abstract: The end wall of the compressor adjacent the stator vanes and compressor blades is configured so that the annular region between the vanes and blades is held at a constant area and that the flow path convergence of the stator is increased to compensate for the loss of convergence due to the reduction of convergence in the annular region between vanes and blades.

Abstract: A variable cycle gas turbine engine (10) includes a core unit (30) having a guide vane array (36), and a hybrid stage (38) with a rotor blade array (40) and a stator vane array (42). The engine is operable in at least two modes which channel different quantities of working medium air to the core unit, and each mode corresponds to a distinct thermodynamic cycle. The vanes (54) of the hybrid stage stator vane array are bivariable so that the leading segment (140) and trailing segment (146) of each vane are separately adjustable over a range of pitch angles. The bivariable character of the vanes ensures aerodynamic stability of the engine in each of its modes of operation.