What type of compressor is used in a turbine engine where the airflow is essentially linear and the compressor consists of multiple stages of rotors and stators?

• A. Axial flow compressor
• B. Centrifugal compressor
• C. Diaphragm compressor
• D. Radial flow compressor

Answer: (A)

The situation describes an axial flow compressor. Air moves along the engine’s axis, and each stage uses rotating blades (rotors) to add energy and stationary blades (stators) to redirect the flow and convert velocity into pressure, preparing it for the next stage. Because the flow stays essentially linear, many stages can be stacked to achieve a high overall pressure rise without turning the air off the axis.

Centrifugal, or radial, compressors turn the flow outward and typically rely on one or two stages with a curved, radial path rather than multiple axial stages, so the flow doesn’t remain along a straight line through many stages. Diaphragm compressors aren’t used as the main engine compressor in turbomachinery, and radial flow compressors refer to the centrifugal type with a radial path. Thus the description fits the axial flow compressor.