
Axial compressors consist of rotating and stationary components known as blades and stators, respectively. A shaft drives a central drum retained by bearings, which has several annular pairs of blades and stators. Each pair has one blade (rotating) and one stator (stationary) and such a pair is also known as a stage (or axial stage). The blades accelerate the gas. Stators are attached to the compressor’s stationary tubular casing. The stators, also known as vanes, convert the increased rotational kinetic energy into static pressure through diffusion, redirecting the flow direction of the gas and preparing it for the rotor blades of the next stage. The cross-sectional area between the rotor drum and casing is reduced in the flow direction to maintain an optimal Mach number using variable geometry as the gas is compressed.