The non-rotating axial-flow compressor airfoils in an aircraft gas turbine engine are called

The non-rotating axial-flow compressor airfoils in an aircraft gas turbine engine are called

• A. Stator vanes.
• B. Rotor blades.
• C. Diffusers.
• D. Nozzles.

Answer: (A)

In an axial-flow compressor, the airfoils come in rotating and stationary sets. The rotor blades rotate with the shaft and impart energy to the air, while the stationary blades between stages steer and straighten the flow. These fixed airfoils are called stator vanes. They don’t rotate; their job is to turn the flow from the swirl created by the rotor into a smooth axial direction and to set the flow angle for the next rotor stage, which helps improve the compressor’s efficiency and pressure rise. Diffusers and nozzles have different roles (diffusers slow and pressurize the flow, nozzles direct or accelerate it) and aren’t the airfoil set described here. So the non-rotating airfoils in the axial-flow compressor are stator vanes.

In an axial-flow compressor, the airfoils come in rotating and stationary sets. The rotor blades rotate with the shaft and impart energy to the air, while the stationary blades between stages steer and straighten the flow. These fixed airfoils are called stator vanes. They don’t rotate; their job is to turn the flow from the swirl created by the rotor into a smooth axial direction and to set the flow angle for the next rotor stage, which helps improve the compressor’s efficiency and pressure rise. Diffusers and nozzles have different roles (diffusers slow and pressurize the flow, nozzles direct or accelerate it) and aren’t the airfoil set described here. So the non-rotating airfoils in the axial-flow compressor are stator vanes.