scholarly journals Dynamic Control of Centrifugal Compressor Surge Using Tailored Structures

1991 ◽  
Vol 113 (4) ◽  
pp. 710-722 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Gysling ◽  
J. Dugundji ◽  
E. M. Greitzer ◽  
A. H. Epstein

A new method for dynamic control of centrifugal compressor surge is presented. The approach taken is to suppress surge by modifying the compression system dynamic behavior using structural feedback. More specifically, one wall of a downstream volume, or plenum, is constructed so as to move in response to small perturbations in pressure. This structural motion provides a means for absorbing the unsteady energy perturbations produced by the compressor, thus extending the stable operating range of the compression system. In the paper, a lumped parameter analysis is carried out to define the coupled aerodynamic and structural system behavior and the potential for stabilization. First-of-a-kind experiments are then conducted to examine the conclusions of the analysis. As predicted by the model and demonstrated by experiment, a movable plenum wall lowered the mass flow at which surge occurred in a centrifugal compression system by roughly 25 percent for a range of operating conditions. In addition, because the tailored dynamics of the structure acts to suppress instabilities in their initial stages, this control was achievable with relatively little power being dissipated by the movable wall system, and with no noticeable decrease in steady-state performance. Although designed on the basis of linear system considerations, the structural control is shown to be capable of suppressing existing large-amplitude limit cycle surge oscillations.

Author(s):  
D. L. Gysling ◽  
J. Dugundji ◽  
E. M. Greitzer ◽  
A. H. Epstein

A new method for dynamic control of centrifugal compressor surge is presented. The approach taken is to suppress surge by modifying the compression system dynamic behavior using structural feedback. More specifically, one wall of a downstream volume, or plenum, is constructed so to move in response to small perturbations in pressure. This structural motion provides a means for absorbing the unsteady energy perturbations produced by the compressor, thus extending the stable operating range of the compression system. In the paper, a lumped parameter analysis is carried out to define the coupled aerodynamic and structural system behavior and the potential for stabilization. First-of-a-kind experiments are then carried out to examine the conclusions of the analysis. As predicted by the model and demonstrated with experiment, a moveable plenum wall lowered the mass flow at which surge occurred in a centrifugal compression system by roughly 25% for a large range of operating conditions. In addition, because the tailored dynamics of the structure acts to suppress instabilities in their initial stages, this control was achieved with relatively little power being dissipated by the moveable wall system, and with no noticeable decrease in steady state performance. Although designed on the basis of linear system considerations, the structural control is shown to be capable of suppressing existing large amplitude limit cycle surge oscillations.


1999 ◽  
Vol 121 (2) ◽  
pp. 312-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. L. Arnulfi ◽  
P. Giannattasio ◽  
C. Giusto ◽  
A. F. Massardo ◽  
D. Micheli ◽  
...  

This paper describes, from a theoretical point of view, the behavior of compression systems during surge and the effect of passive and active control devices on the instability limit of the system. A lumped parameter model is used to simulate the compression system described in Part I of this work (Arnulfi et al., 1999), based on an industrial multistage centrifugal compressor. A comparison with experimental results shows that the model is accurate enough to describe quantitatively all the features of the phenomenon. A movable wall control system is studied in order to suppress surge in the compressor. Passive and active control schemes are analyzed; they both address directly the dynamic behavior of the compression system to displace the surge line to lower flow rates. The influence of system, geometry and compressor speed is investigated: the optimum values of the control parameters and the corresponding increase in the extent of the stable operating range are presented in the paper.


Author(s):  
G. L. Arnulfi ◽  
P. Giannattasio ◽  
C. Giusto ◽  
A. F. Massardo ◽  
D. Micheli ◽  
...  

This paper reports an experimental investigation on centrifugal compressor surge. The compression system consists of a four-stage blower with vaned diffusers and a large plenum discharging into the atmosphere through a throttle valve. Measurements of unsteady pressure and flow rate in the plant, and of instantaneous velocity in the diffusers of the first and fourth compressor stage are performed during deep surge, at several valve settings and three different rotation speeds. Additional tests have been carried out on a different system configuration, i.e., without plenum, in order to obtain the steady-state compressor characteristics and to collect reference data on stall in surge-free conditions. In this configuration, a fully developed rotating stall was detected in the compressor diffusers, while during surge it affects only a limited part of the surge cycle. The goal of the present experimental work was to get a deeper insight into unstable operating conditions of multi-stage centrifugal compressors and to validate a theoretical model of the system instability to be used for the design of dynamic control systems.


1999 ◽  
Vol 121 (2) ◽  
pp. 305-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. L. Arnulfi ◽  
P. Giannattasio ◽  
C. Giusto ◽  
A. F. Massardo ◽  
D. Micheli ◽  
...  

This paper reports an experimental investigation on centrifugal compressor surge. The compression system consists of a four-stage blower with vaned diffusers and a large plenum discharging into the atmosphere through a throttle valve. Measurements of unsteady pressure and flow rate in the plant, and of instantaneous velocity in the diffusers of the first and fourth compressor stage, are performed during deep surge, at several valve settings and three different rotation speeds. Additional tests have been carried out on a different system configuration, i.e., without plenum, in order to obtain the steady-state compressor characteristics and to collect reference data on stall in surge-free conditions. In this configuration, a fully developed rotating stall was detected in the compressor diffusers, while during surge it affects only a limited part of the surge cycle. The goal of the present experimental work was to get a deeper insight into unstable operating conditions of multistage centrifugal compressors and to validate a theoretical model of the system instability to be used for the design of dynamic control systems.


Author(s):  
Gianmario L. Arnulfi ◽  
Pietro Giannattasio ◽  
Cristiana Giusto ◽  
Aristide F. Massardo ◽  
Diego Micheli ◽  
...  

This paper describes, from a theoretical point of view, the behaviour of compression systems during surge and the effect of passive and active control devices on the instability limit of the system. A lumped parameter model is used to simulate the compression system described in Part I of this work (Arnulfi et al., 1998), based on an industrial multistage centrifugal compressor. A comparison with experimental results shows that the model is accurate enough to describe quantitatively all the features of the phenomenon. A moveable wall control system is studied in order to suppress surge in the compressor. Passive and active control schemes are analysed; they both address directly the dynamic behaviour of the compression system to displace the surge line to lower flow rates. The influence of system geometry and compressor speed is investigated; the optimum values of the control parameters and the corresponding increase in the extent of the stable operating range are presented in the paper.


Author(s):  
Gianmario L. Arnulfi ◽  
Pietro Giannattasio ◽  
Diego Micheli ◽  
Piero Pinamonti

The present paper reports a numerical-experimental study on the dynamic behaviour of a compression system based on a multi-stage centrifugal blower and fitted with an innovative device for the dynamic suppression of surge instability. The control device is of passive type and is based on the aeroelastic coupling of the basic compression system with a hydraulic oscillator. The controlled system is modelled at first by using a non-linear lumped parameter approach. The simulated system dynamics within a wide range of operating conditions allows a parametric analysis to be performed and the optimal values of the control parameters to be singled out. Such optimal values are then used to design the hydraulic oscillator, which results in a technically feasible and very simple configuration. Finally, experimental tests are carried out on the compression plant with and without the passive control device, which demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control system in suppressing surge instabilities, at least within the limits predicted by the numerical simulation.


1995 ◽  
Vol 117 (3) ◽  
pp. 307-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Gysling ◽  
E. M. Greitzer

Dynamic control of rotating stall in an axial flow compressor has been implemented using aeromechanical feedback. The control strategy developed used an array of wall jets, upstream of a single-stage compressor, which were regulated by locally reacting reed valves. These reed valves responded to the small-amplitude flow-field pressure perturbations that precede rotating stall. The valve design was such that the combined system, compressor plus reed valve controller, was stable under operating conditions that had been unstable without feedback. A 10 percent decrease in the stalling flow coefficient was obtained using the control strategy, and the extension of stable flow range was achieved with no measurable change in the steady-state performance of the compression system. The experiments demonstrate the first use of aeromechanical feedback to extend the stable operating range of an axial flow compressor, and the first use of local feedback and dynamic compensation techniques to suppress rotating stall. The design of the experiment was based on a two-dimensional stall inception model, which incorporated the effect of the aeromechanical feedback. The physical mechanism for rotating stall in axial flow compressors was examined with focus on the role of dynamic feedback in stabilizing compression system instability. As predicted and experimentally demonstrated, the effectiveness of the aeromechanical control strategy depends on a set of nondimensional control parameters that determine the interaction of the control strategy and the rotating stall dynamics.


1976 ◽  
Vol 98 (2) ◽  
pp. 190-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. M. Greitzer

This paper reports a theoretical study of axial compressor surge. A nonlinear model is developed to predict the transient response of a compression system subsequent to a perturbation from steady operating conditions. It is found that for the system investigated there is an important nondimensional parameter on which this response depends. Whether this parameter is above or below a critical value determines which mode of compressor instability, rotating stall or surge, will be encountered at the stall line. For values above the critical, the system will exhibit the large amplitude oscillatory behavior characteristic of surge; while for values below the critical it will move toward operation in rotating stall, at a substantially reduced flow rate and pressure ratio. Numerical results are presented to show the motion of the compression system operating point during these two basic modes of instability, and a physical explanation is given for the mechanism associated with the generation of surge cycle oscillations.


2004 ◽  
Vol 126 (4) ◽  
pp. 501-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Kurz ◽  
R. C. White

The phenomenon of compressor surge and its prevention have drawn significant attention in the literature. An important aspect of surge avoidance lies in the design of the compressor station and, in particular, the piping upstream and downstream of the compressor. Most anti-surge systems are perfectly capable of avoiding surge during normal operating conditions. However, unplanned emergency shutdowns present a significant challenge, and surge avoidance in these cases depends to a large degree on the station layout. In this paper, data from a compressor that surged during an emergency shutdown are presented. The data are analyzed to determine the effects of surge and the rate of deceleration. A model to simulate shutdown events is developed and used to develop simpler rules that help with proper sizing of upstream and downstream piping systems, as well as the necessary control elements. The compression system is analyzed, thus verifying the model and the simplifications.


Author(s):  
R. Kurz ◽  
R. C. White

The phenomenon of compressor surge and its prevention have drawn significant attention in the literature. An important aspect of surge avoidance lies in the design of the compressor station and, in particular, the piping upstream and downstream of the compressor. Most anti-surge systems are perfectly capable of avoiding surge during normal operating conditions. However, unplanned emergency shutdowns present a significant challenge, and surge avoidance in these cases depends to a large degree on the station layout. In this paper, data from a compressor that surged during an emergency shutdown are presented. The data are analyzed to determine the effects of surge and the rate of deceleration. A model to simulate shutdown events is developed and used to develop simpler rules that help with proper sizing of upstream and downstream piping systems, as well as the necessary control elements. The compression system is analyzed, thus verifying the model and the simplifications.


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