Axial compressor and method of carrying out maintenance on the axial compressor

摘要

A maintenance-friendly axial compressor includes an outer casing formed by half-shells, an inner casing formed by a plurality of annular members carrying sectors of fixed guide vanes defining the stator stages of the compressor, and an annular housing disposed downstream from the inner casing in the region of the diffuser and capable of receiving the annular member corresponding to the downstream stage of the stator when the member is dismounted from the inner casing. Maintenance is carried out by removing the outer casing and dismounting, stage by stage from the downstream end towards the upstream end of the compressor, the annular members of the inner casing and the fixed guide vanes of the stator, the downstream annular member being pushed back into the annular housing and each subsequently dismounted annular member being temporarily secured to the previously demounted annular member as the maintenance progresses.