Performance Evaluation of Centrifugal Compressor Impellers Using Three-Dimensional Viscous Flow Calculations

1984 ◽  
Vol 106 (2) ◽  
pp. 475-481 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Moore ◽  
J. G. Moore ◽  
P. H. Timmis
Keyword(s):  
Viscous Flow ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Strong Influence ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Compression Process ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Low Specific Speed ◽  
Specific Speed

Calculations of three-dimensional viscous flow in the impeller of a centrifugal compressor are used as the basis of a study of the thermodynamics of the compression process. Flow in a high hub-tip ratio low specific speed impeller of approximately 3.4:1 pressure ratio is considered. Results are presented showing the work and loss production processes in the impeller. A strong influence of tip-leakage flow on the performance of this unshrouded wheel is found.

Effect of Recirculation Device on Performance of High Pressure Ratio Centrifugal Compressor

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hideaki Tamaki
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Flow Behavior ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Vortex ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Operating Range ◽  
High Pressure Ratio

Centrifugal compressors used for turbochargers need to achieve a wide operating range. A recirculation device, which consists of a bleed slot, an upstream slot and an annular cavity connecting both slots, is often applied to them. The author developed a high pressure ratio centrifugal compressor with pressure ratio 5.7 for a marine use turbocharger. In order to enhance operating range, a recirculation device was applied, the benefits of its application ensuring. This paper discusses how the recirculation device affects the flow field in the above transonic centrifugal compressor by using steady 3D calculations. It is reported that the interaction between shock and tip leakage vortex is one of the primary causes of stall inception in the impeller. Analysis of shock and tip leakage flow behavior leads to an understanding of the basic mechanism of the enhancement of operating range by the recirculation device. Hence this study focuses on the effect of the recirculation devices on the shock and tip leakage flow. Steady 3D calculations were performed and the effect of the recirculation device was clarified. The bleed slot of the recirculation device works in a similar way to circumferential grooves applied to axial compressors. It reduces the blade loading in the impeller tip region. And hence the velocity of tip leakage flow exiting the bleed slot becomes lower compared with that without the recirculation device. The flow through the bleed slot impinges on the tip leakage flow originated upstream and blocks the extension of the tip leakage flow. It also deflects the trajectory of the tip leakage vortex. In addition to these effects, the bleed slot removes the fluid near the casing. The shock moves downstream due to the reduction of the blockage. All these effects induced by the recirculation device are considered to lead to the suppression of the extension of blockage and to contribute to the enhancement of the compressor operating range.

Investigation of Interaction Between Tip Leakage Flow Generated by Unshrouded Impeller and Diffuser Internal Flow

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asuma Ichinose ◽  
Norio Kimura ◽  
Mamiko Yoshimura ◽  
Tomoyuki Hayashi ◽  
Kazuyoshi Miyagawa
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Distribution ◽  
Experimental Verification ◽  
Cfd Simulation ◽  
Internal Flow ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Impeller Blade ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Low Specific Speed ◽  
Specific Speed

Rocket turbo pumps and industrial pumps such as water feed pumps are required to work under high pressure conditions, therefore low specific speed pumps are needed in spite of high rotational speed. In recent years, unshrouded impellers were used because of easy manufacturing and cost reduction. However, when low specific speed unshrouded impellers are used in such conditions, complex tip leakage flow occur and decrease impeller performance. In addition, splitter blades are often used, the internal flow becomes even more complicated. Therefore, such the internal flow of the unshrouded impeller must be clarified. In this research, we have studied such a centrifugal pump, and we have analyzed the internal flow using experiments and CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations. The experimental verification was carried out by measuring the total pressure distribution on the outlet of the impeller and the diffuser. The unsteady static pressure distribution at the shroud side of the impeller was measured to confirm pump performance. We used two types of CFD simulation to evaluate the internal flow in detail. In the first CFD simulation, the unsteady internal flow of an impeller was evaluated by carrying out DES (Detached Eddy Simulation) with a periodic boundary condition that does not contain the diffuser. In the second CFD simulation, interaction between the impeller leakage flow and the diffuser internal flow was evaluated by DES with the whole impeller and diffuser. From the experimental verification and CFD simulation, it was confirmed that a large-scale vortex structure caused by the tip leakage flow and the secondary flow was observed in the impeller blade-to-blade. And the influence of the impeller leakage flow on the diffuser internal flow and the diffuser performance was evaluated. From the above studies, it was confirmed that the tip leakage flow has a large influence on the impeller internal flow and the diffuser performance.

scholarly journals A Prediction of 3-D Viscous Flow and Performance of the NASA Low-Speed Centrifugal Compressor

1990 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Moore ◽  
Joan G. Moore
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Present Calculation ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Flow Measurements ◽  
Low Speed ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Flow Mixing

A prediction of the three-dimensional turbulent flow in the NASA Low-Speed Centrifugal Compressor Impeller has been made. The calculation was made for the compressor design conditions with the specified uniform tip clearance gap. The predicted performance is significantly worse than that predicted in the NASA design study. This is explained by the high tip leakage flow in the present calculation and by the different model adopted for tip leakage flow mixing. The calculation gives an accumulation of high losses in the shroud/pressure-side quadrant near the exit of the impeller. It also predicts a region of meridional backflow near the shroud wall. Both of these flow features should be extensive enough in the NASA impeller to allow detailed flow measurements, leading to improved flow modelling. Recommendations are made for future flow studies in the NASA impeller.

Impeller-Diffuser Interaction in Centrifugal Compressor

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. K. P. Shum ◽  
C. S. Tan ◽  
N. A. Cumpsty
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Pressure Rise ◽  
Potential Effect ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Radial Gap

A study has been conducted, using an unsteady three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes simulation, to define the effect of impeller-diffuser interaction on the performance of a centrifugal compressor stage. The principal finding from the study was that the most influential aspect of this unsteady interaction was the effect on impeller tip leakage flow. In particular, the unsteadiness due to the upstream potential effect of the diffuser vanes led to larger viscous losses associated with the impeller tip leakage flow. The consequent changes at the impeller exit with increasing interaction were identified as reduced slip, reduced blockage, and increased loss. The first two were beneficial to pressure rise while the third one was detrimental. The magnitudes of the effects were examined using different impeller-diffuser spacings and it was shown that there was an optimal radial gap size for maximum impeller pressure rise. The physical mechanism was also determined: when the diffuser was placed closer to the impeller than the optimum, increased loss overcame the benefits of reduced slip and blockage. The findings provide a rigorous explanation for experimental observations made on centrifugal compressors. The success of a simple flow model in capturing the pressure rise trend indicated that although the changes in loss, blockage and slip were due largely to unsteadiness, the consequent impacts on performance were mainly one-dimensional. The influence of flow unsteadiness on diffuser performance was found to be less important than the upstream effect, by a factor of seven in terms of stage pressure rise in the present geometry. It is thus concluded that the beneficial effects of impeller-diffuser interaction on overall stage performance come mainly from the reduced blockage and reduced slip associated with the unsteady tip leakage flow in the impeller.

Design of a Centrifugal Compressor With Low Specific Speed for Automotive Fuel Cell

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinqian Zheng ◽  
Yangjun Zhang ◽  
Hong He ◽  
Zhiling Qiu
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Electric Motor ◽  
High Speed ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
System A ◽  
Automotive Fuel ◽  
Low Specific Speed ◽  
Specific Speed

Centrifugal compressors driven by electric motor are the promising type for fuel cell pressurization system. A low specific speed centrifugal compressor powered by an ordinary high-speed (about 25,000rpm) electric motor has been designed at Tsinghua University for automotive fuel cell engines. The experimental results indicate that the designed low specific speed centrifugal compressor has comparatively high efficiency and wide operating range. In the condition of designed speed (24,000rpm), the highest efficiency and pressure ratio of the centrifugal compressor is up to 70% and 1.6, respectively. The designed low specific speed centrifugal compressor can meet the requirement of air systems of automotive fuel cell engines preliminarily. Moreover, the low specific speed centrifugal compressor avoids difficulties of usage of ultra-high-speed electric motors (about 60,000rpm) in high specific speed compressor. Based on the preliminary results of this centrifugal compressor, a new low specific speed centrifugal compressor with higher performances is being developed.

Impeller–Diffuser Interaction in a Centrifugal Compressor

2000 ◽  
Vol 122 (4) ◽  
pp. 777-786 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. K. P. Shum ◽  
C. S. Tan ◽  
N. A. Cumpsty
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Pressure Rise ◽  
Potential Effect ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Radial Gap

A study has been conducted, using an unsteady three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes simulation, to define the effect of impeller–diffuser interaction on the performance of a centrifugal compressor stage. The principal finding from the study was that the most influential aspect of this unsteady interaction was the effect on impeller tip leakage flow. In particular, the unsteadiness due to the upstream potential effect of the diffuser vanes led to larger viscous losses associated with the impeller tip leakage flow. The consequent changes at the impeller exit with increasing interaction were identified as reduced slip, reduced blockage, and increased loss. The first two were beneficial to pressure rise, while the third was detrimental. The magnitudes of the effects were examined using different impeller–diffuser spacings and it was shown that there was an optimal radial gap size for maximum impeller pressure rise. The physical mechanism was also determined: When the diffuser was placed closer to the impeller than the optimum, increased loss overcame the benefits of reduced slip and blockage. The findings provide a rigorous explanation for experimental observations made on centrifugal compressors. The success of a simple flow model in capturing the pressure rise trend indicated that although the changes in loss, blockage, and slip were due largely to unsteadiness, the consequent impacts on performance were mainly one-dimensional. The influence of flow unsteadiness on diffuser performance was found to be less important than the upstream effect, by a factor of seven in terms of stage pressure rise in the present geometry. It is thus concluded that the beneficial effects of impeller–diffuser interaction on overall stage performance come mainly from the reduced blockage and reduced slip associated with the unsteady tip leakage flow in the impeller. [S0889-504X(00)01704-9]

Effect of Vaned Diffuser on a Modified Turbocharger Centrifugal Compressor Performance

2014 ◽  
Vol 663 ◽  
pp. 347-353
Author(s):  
Layth H. Jawad ◽  
Shahrir Abdullah ◽  
Zulkifli R. ◽  
Wan Mohd Faizal Wan Mahmood
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Aerodynamic Characteristics ◽  
Width Ratio ◽  
Outlet Section ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Vaned Diffuser ◽  
Minimum Width

A numerical study that was made in a three-dimensional flow, carried out in a modified centrifugal compressor, having vaned diffuser stage, used as an automotive turbo charger. In order to study the influence of vaned diffuser meridional outlet section with a different width ratio of the modified centrifugal compressor. Moreover, the performance of the centrifugal compressor was dependent on the proper matching between the compressor impeller along the vaned diffuser. The aerodynamic characteristics were compared under different meridional width ratio. In addition, the velocity vectors in diffuser flow passages, and the secondary flow in cross-section near the outlet of diffuser were analysed in detail under different meridional width ratio. Another aim of this research was to study and simulate the effect of vaned diffuser on the performance of a centrifugal compressor. The simulation was undertaken using commercial software so-called ANSYS CFX, to predict numerically the performance charachteristics. The results were generated from CFD and were analysed for better understanding of the fluid flow through centrifugal compressor stage and as a result of the minimum width ratio the flow in diffuser passage tends to be uniformity. Moreover, the backflow and vortex near the pressure surface disappear, and the vortex and detachment near the suction surface decrease. Conclusively, it was observed that the efficiency was increased and both the total pressure ratio and static pressure for minimum width ratio are increased.

Flow Structures in the Tip Region for a Transonic Compressor Rotor

2013 ◽  
Vol 135 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Du ◽  
Feng Lin ◽  
Jingyi Chen ◽  
Chaoqun Nie ◽  
Christoph Biela
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
Reference Frame ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Flow Structures ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Three Dimensional Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Leakage Flows ◽  
Tip Leakage Flows

Numerical simulations are carried out to investigate flow structures in the tip region for an axial transonic rotor, with careful comparisons with the experimental results. The calculated performance curve and two-dimensional (2D) flow structures observed at casing, such as the shock wave, the expansion wave around the leading edge, and the tip leakage flow at peak efficiency and near-stall points, are all captured by simulation results, which agree with the experimental data well. An in-depth analysis of three-dimensional flow structures reveals three features: (1) there exists an interface between the incoming main flow and the tip leakage flow, (2) in this rotor the tip leakage flows along the blade chord can be divided into at least two parts according to the blade loading distribution, and (3) each part plays a different role on the stall inception mechanism in the leakage flow dominated region. A model of three-dimensional flow structures of tip leakage flow is thus proposed accordingly. In the second half of this paper, the unsteady features of the tip leakage flows, which emerge at the operating points close to stall, are presented and validated with experiment observations. The numerical results in the rotor relative reference frame are first converted to the casing absolute reference frame before compared with the measurements in experiments. It is found that the main frequency components of simulation at absolute reference frame match well with those measured in the experiments. The mechanism of the unsteadiness and its significance to stability enhancement design are then discussed based on the details of the flow field obtained through numerical simulations.

Tip Leakage Flow Characteristics Downstream of an Axial Flow Fan

1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Puddu
Keyword(s):  
Vortex Flow ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Single Wire ◽  
Vortex System ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Stress Components ◽  
Computer Controlled

The three-dimensional viscous flow characteristics and the complex vortex system downstream of the rotor of an industrial exial fan have been determined by an experimental investigation using hot-wire anemometer. Single-wire slanted and straight type probes have been rotated about the probe axis using a computer controlled stepper motor. Measurements have been taken at four planes behind the blade trailing edge. The results show the characteristics of the relative flow as velocity components, secondary flow and kinetic energy defect. Turbulence intensity and Reynolds stress components in the leakage vortex area are also presented. The evolution of the leakage vortex flow during the decay process has also been evaluated in terms of dimension, position and intensity.

Effect of Recirculation Device With Counter Swirl Vane on Performance of High Pressure Ratio Centrifugal Compressor

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hideaki Tamaki
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Mach Number ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Negative Slope ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Recirculation Flow ◽  
Operating Range ◽  
High Pressure Ratio

Centrifugal compressors used for turbochargers need to achieve a wide operating range. The author has developed a high pressure ratio centrifugal compressor with pressure ratio 5.7 for a marine use turbocharger. In order to enhance operating range, two different types of recirculation devices were applied. One is a conventional recirculation device. The other is a new one. The conventional recirculation device consists of an upstream slot, bleed slot and the annular cavity which connects both slots. The new recirculation device has vanes installed in the cavity. These vanes were designed to provide recirculation flow with negative preswirl at the impeller inlet, a swirl counterwise to the impeller rotational direction. The benefits of the application of both of the recirculation devices were ensured. The new device in particular, shifted surge line to a lower flow rate compared to the conventional device. This paper discusses how the new recirculation device affects the flow field in the above transonic centrifugal compressor by using steady 3-D calculations. Since the conventional recirculation device injects the flow with positive preswirl at the impeller inlet, the major difference between the conventional and new recirculation device is the direction of preswirl that the recirculation flow brings to the impeller inlet. This study focuses on two effects which preswirl of the recirculation flow will generate. (1) Additional work transfer from impeller to fluid. (2) Increase or decrease of relative Mach number. Negative preswirl increases work transfer from the impeller to fluid as the flow rate reduces. It increases negative slope on pressure ratio characteristics. Hence the recirculation flow with negative preswirl will contribute to stability of the compressor. Negative preswirl also increases the relative Mach number at the impeller inlet. It moves shock downstream compared to the conventional recirculation device. It leads to the suppression of the extension of blockage due to the interaction of shock with tip leakage flow.

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