Flow dynamics characteristics of cleaning aircraft engine compressor blades using air-water mist flow

The deposition of dust particles on the surface of compressor blades can degrade the performance and reliability of aircraft engines. On-wing engine cleaning is an effective method to restore engine efficiency. In this study, we incorporate the slip velocity of the liquid phase into the mixed-phase momentum and continuity equations to establish a gas–liquid two-phase transport equation. We conduct a numerical investigation of the on-wing cleaning flow field of the blades, analyzing the effects of different idle rotational speeds and water flow rates on the velocity distribution of the gas–liquid two-phase flow field. In addition, we compare and analyze the variations in velocity and shear force at different blade heights. The results indicate that the velocity of the gas–liquid two-phase flow field increases with the idle rotational speed. The increase in water flow has a minimal impact on the flow field velocity, with only a slight decrease observed at the trailing edge of the blades. The flow field velocity at 95% blade height is significantly higher than that at 5% blade height. Furthermore, as the water mass flow rate increases, the viscosity of the gas–liquid mixture also increases, leading to a positive correlation between the blade surface shear force and the viscosity of the gas–liquid mixture.