A uniform approach to solution on a conceptual level of the axial turbines and compressors design problems was successfully used at elaboration of the turbomachines flowpath integrated CAD system AxSTREAM.

Its essence is in the uniform storing and design data presentation, design problems nomenclature (including optimization analysis) and above all in the developed algorithms methodic similarity of the geometric, strength, aerodynamic analysis and solvers with reference to the axial turbomachines’ elements. The subject problems list associated with flowpaths aerodynamic consists of: multistage flowpath preliminary design, direct and inverse 1D analysis, 2D analysis, plane sections profiling and its flow calculation, airfoil design. If it was possible, authors tried to avoid the variety of mentioned approaches to solution in many respects induced by the historically existing features of turbine and compressor schools development rather than objective causes. In a number of procedures, approaches peculiar to compressor engineering were applied to a turbine calculations that was favorable for a turbine subsystem enhancement.

In the view of the end user the uniform approach facilitates mastering of the software advanced features; in the view of developers - further expansion of the system functionality, software flexibility, integrity, and support ensuring.

INTRODUCTION

In recent years methods of turbomachines flowpaths calculations were being greatly improved owing to widespread introducing of viscous flow 3D calculations (Denton, 1994 and ERCOFTAC, 1997). Nevertheless at present it is obvious for practical specialists that 3D methods utilization does not exclude the 1D and 2D calculations necessity especially at early stages of the design. The simplified methods thanks to its fast response, reliability, and sufficient admission of obtained results sometimes commensurable with 3D viscous

calculations (Moroz et al. 2005) can serve as a good base for multivariate, optimization, and multidisciplinary calculations (Moroz L., Govorushchenko, 2004).

There gained a rich variety of software for design and simplified axial turbines and compressors flowpath aerodynamic calculations in the turbomachinery field. However in view of the number of certain reasons these introducing to a design organization practice are highly difficult. The problem solution is in particularized software packages for turbomachines flowpaths conceptual design creation. It is appropriate to include the preliminary design, meanline and quasi axisymmetric flowpath verification calculations, automated profiling, and cascade flow calculation, at least stress and vibration characteristics approximate estimation procedures in the nomenclature of the special problems are solved in the context of similar products. The availability of centralized information storage, uniform interface for control of the design process, inputting and mapping data, optimization subsystem, user modules connection possibilities for losses estimation, working medium properties, etc. provides large conveniences for software users. It is extremely complicate to meet all these claims gathering the package from dissimilar, wrote at different times by different authors software components (of special note are the applied modules) that difficult to integrate, attend, improve, and adapt to specific customer requirements.

It should be pointed out that simplified methods of the flowpath aerodynamic calculation in distinction from the 3D problems are characterized by the wide variety and particular realization orientation. That is in many respects explained by the difference between compressor and turbine community, steam and gas turbines, axial and radial machines engineers, etc.

AxSTREAM software initially based on the long experience of the axial turbines design (steam turbines in general) (Boiko, Govorushchenko, 1989) including set of modules conceived and realized as a uniform system satisfying listed above requirements (Moroz et al., 2004). A “turbine” procedures