axial-flow compressors use a series of fan-like rotating rotor blades to progressively compress the gasflow. stationary stator vanes, located downstream of each rotor, redirect the flow onto the next set of rotor blades. the area of the gas passage diminishes through the compressor to maintain a roughly constant axial mach number. axial-flow compressors are normally used in high flow applications, such as medium to large gas turbine engines. they are almost always multi-staged. beyond about 4:1 design pressure ratio, variable geometry is often used to improve operation.