Why are centrifugal compressors generally not built with many stages in gas turbine engines?
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A
Because the risk of aerodynamic stall increases significantly with the number of stages.
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B
Because the radial flow design makes multi stage alignment and interconnection mechanically complex and bulky.
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C
Because centrifugal compressors cannot produce a high pressure ratio.
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D
Because it increases the damage in case of FOD
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A centrifugal compressor accelerates the air radially outward through an impeller, then converts the kinetic energy into pressure rise in a diffuser surrounding the impeller. This radial flow architecture means that the air enters in the centre and leaves at the periphery, and that the diameter of each stage must be significantly larger than the rotor itself.
To build a multi stage centrifugal compressor, the high pressure air leaving the periphery of the first stage must be turned back inward, channelled axially towards the centre of the second stage, and then accelerated radially again. This routing requires complex collector ducts, return channels and inter stage manifolds, which considerably increase the frontal area, the mass and the mechanical complexity of the engine.
Each stage is also limited in pressure ratio, and the cumulative losses through the return ducts further reduce the overall efficiency. Modern engines have therefore moved to axial compressors, which can be stacked in many compact stages with low individual pressure ratio but very high overall ratio.
Because the risk of aerodynamic stall increases significantly with the number of stages → INCORRECT. Centrifugal compressors are in fact less prone to aerodynamic stall than axial compressors, because the airflow benefits from the centrifugal effect and is less sensitive to small variations of incidence.
“Because the radial flow design makes multi stage alignment and interconnection mechanically complex and bulky.” → CORRECT. In a centrifugal compressor, the air enters axially and leaves radially, so connecting several stages requires return ducts and collector manifolds to bring the flow back to the centre of the next stage. This routing makes a multi stage centrifugal compressor heavy, bulky, mechanically complex and aerodynamically lossy, which is why designers prefer to limit the number of centrifugal stages and use axial compressors for high pressure ratio requirements.
“Because centrifugal compressors cannot produce a high pressure ratio.” → INCORRECT. A centrifugal stage can actually produce a higher pressure ratio per stage (typically 4 per stage) than a single axial stage (typically 1.2 to 1.5). The limitation is not the pressure ratio per stage, but the geometry and the practicality of stacking several radial stages in series.
Because it increases the damage in case of FOD → INCORRECT. Centrifugal compressors are generally MORE tolerant to FOD (Foreign Object Damage) than axial compressors, thanks to their robust impeller construction. FOD tolerance is a strength of centrifugal design, not a limitation.
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