Detailed Simulations of a Three-Stage Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Axial Compressor with a Focus on the Shrouded Stator Cavities Flow

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

In this paper, a 3-stage supercritical CO2 axial compressor was simulated and the influences of cavity leakage flow were discussed. My suggestions about this article as bellows:

1. In the introduction, the axial compressor test rig was described too much, but the studies or analyses on the seal cavity leakage are not sufficient. Please improve it.

2. As for the seal teeth gap, 50 micrometers is too small although abradable materials were used. Is it actual condition?

3. The method validation is very important for the numerical studies, please give details in this paper. The test rig was described, but I can not find the comparisons between the calculated results and experimental data.

4. For figure 3, the symbols of “000” and “111” are not suitable in an academic paper.

5. I think the analysis on the flow fields in not sufficient. The descriptions on Figure 11 and Figure 12 should be refined. The interactions between the cavity leakage flow and the main flow such as the variations of cascade vortices structure and the boundary layer shapes should be further discussed.

6、What’s you innovative points in the thermal analysis model establishment? You need to show it in the summary and conclusion.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

1. The font marked in the picture is too small and it is difficult to read.

2. The screenshot of Figure 8 is not regular.

3. Section 4 discusses the setting of R/S Interfaces without giving the specific scheme for subsequent calculations, which is not connected with the following text.

4. Section 5 lists the Stage Performance and does not indicate whether it is experimental or calculated.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

The paper is devoted to CFD Simulation of Flow in a 3-Stage Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Axial Compressor with Shrouded Stator Cavities and can be published in the Processes journal after some corrections:

1. Clearly formulate the purpose of the study in the Introduction section.

2. Show the details of the grid of the compressor stages and the labyrinth seal. The grid model.

3. Were the performance parameters for possible configurations compared with the experimental data (Table 3)?

 

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

The manuscript has been improved, but I think for the method validation still should be added, or the validation reference should be added. 

In addition, I suggest the author mark the modified content in red colour.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

After revision, the paper may be published in the Processes journal.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,
We would like to express our sincere appreciation for your insightful evaluation and valuable suggestions. Your feedback has enabled us to identify areas that require further refinement, resulting in an improved and strengthened manuscript. Thank you for your time and valuable contribution.

Kind Regards,

Saugat Ghimire