The cross-sectional area of a centrifugal flow compressor in aircraft design is a crucial parameter that helps determine the size and geometry of the compressor. It can be calculated using the mass flow rate (ṁ) and the velocity of the fluid (V) at the inlet of the compressor. The formula for calculating the cross-sectional area (A) is as follows:
- A = Cross-sectional area of the compressor inlet (in square meters, m²)
- ṁ = Mass flow rate of the fluid (in kilograms per second, kg/s)
- ρ = Density of the fluid (in kilograms per cubic meter, kg/m³)
- V = Inlet air velocity (in meters per second, m/s)