Which component diffuses the air within the compressor to slow it down?

Which component diffuses the air within the compressor to slow it down?

• A. Compressor stators.
• B. Turbine blades.
• C. Fuel nozzles.
• D. Intake ducts.

Answer: (A)

In an axial-flow compressor, the air is accelerated by the rotor blades and then slowed and pressurized by stationary diffuser vanes between stages. These vanes, called stators, act as a diffuser: they convert the air’s high velocity into higher static pressure while redirecting the flow into the next rotor stage for optimal performance. That’s why the diffusing function belongs to the stators. Turbine blades are part of the turbine section and extract energy from the gas flow, not slow it down in the compressor. Fuel nozzles inject fuel and don’t affect the air’s speed in the compressor, and intake ducts guide air into the compressor but don’t diffuse the flow within the compressor stages.

In an axial-flow compressor, the air is accelerated by the rotor blades and then slowed and pressurized by stationary diffuser vanes between stages. These vanes, called stators, act as a diffuser: they convert the air’s high velocity into higher static pressure while redirecting the flow into the next rotor stage for optimal performance.

That’s why the diffusing function belongs to the stators. Turbine blades are part of the turbine section and extract energy from the gas flow, not slow it down in the compressor. Fuel nozzles inject fuel and don’t affect the air’s speed in the compressor, and intake ducts guide air into the compressor but don’t diffuse the flow within the compressor stages.