A Numerical Study of the Unsteady Interaction Effects on Diffuser Performance in a Centrifugal Compressor

2013 ◽  
Vol 136 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Anish ◽  
N. Sitaram ◽  
H. D. Kim
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Practical Importance ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Dominant Frequency ◽  
Vaned Diffuser ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
Unsteady Characteristics ◽  
Cfd Method ◽  
Physical Phenomena

Interaction between rotating impeller and stationary diffuser in a centrifugal compressor is of practical importance in evaluating system performance. The present study aims at investigating how the interaction influences the unsteady diffuser performance and understanding the physical phenomena in the centrifugal compressor. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method has been applied to predict the flow field in the compressor, which has a conventional vaned diffuser (VD) and a low solidity vaned diffuser (LSVD). The radial gaps between impeller and diffuser and different flow coefficients are varied. The results obtained show that the major parameter that influences the unsteady variation of diffuser performance is due to the circumferential variation of the flow angle at the diffuser vane leading edge. The physical phenomena behind the pressure recovery variation are identified as the unsteady vortex shedding and the associated energy losses. The vortex core region as well as the shedding of vortices from the diffuser vane are triggered by the variation in the diffuser vane loading, which in turn is influenced by the circumferential variation of the impeller wake region. There is little unsteady variation of flow angle in the span-wise direction. This indicates that the steady state performance characteristics are related to the span-wise variation of flow angle, while the unsteady characteristics are contributed by the circumferential variation of flow angle. At design conditions, dominant frequency components of pressure fluctuation are all periodic and at near stall, these are aperiodic.

Numerical Investigation of Diffuser Flow Field and Rotating Stall in a Centrifugal Compressor With Vaned Diffuser

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Zhao ◽  
Jiayi Zhao ◽  
Zhiheng Wang ◽  
Guang Xi
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Vaned Diffuser ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
Diffuser Flow ◽  
Flow Phenomena ◽  
Reversal Flow

The diffuser rotating stall in a centrifugal compressor with vaned diffuser is one of important unsteady flow phenomena, which limits the operating range of the compressor. In this paper, the unsteady CFD analysis on a low-speed centrifugal compressor has been performed to investigate the flow characteristic in the diffuser and the propagation of the diffuser rotating stall. The flow behaviors at the outlet of the impeller at design and off-design conditions are firstly investigated. It is found that a reversal flow, induced by the tip leakage flow, exists near the shroud at the impeller outlet and becomes serious with the mass flow rate reduced. Due to the span-wise variation of the flow angle at the diffuser inlet and the inversed pressure gradient in the passage, the leading-edge vortex (LEV) generates on the diffuser leading edge. The LEV then induces the secondary flow in the diffuser passage and then causes the hub-corner separation. Furthermore, the propagation of the diffuser rotating stall is presented in details. The suction-side separation near the hub induces the blockage in the passage. And the shedding vortex from the suction side moves toward the leading edge of the adjacent blade. When the vortex reaches to the leading edge of the adjacent blade, the incidence increase and a new separation occurs on the suction side. With the development of the new separation, the passage becomes blocked gradually and the upstream stalled passage recovers to a normal condition. The rotating stall propagates along the direction of the impeller rotation at about 4.5% of the impeller rotational speed.

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.

Effects of Diffuser Vane Geometries on Compressor Performance and Noise Characteristics in a Centrifugal Compressor

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yohei Morita ◽  
Nobumichi Fujisawa ◽  
Takashi Goto ◽  
Yutaka Ohta
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Noise Level ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Broadband Noise ◽  
Frequency Noise ◽  
Numerical Techniques ◽  
Vaned Diffuser ◽  
Noise Characteristics ◽  
Edge Vortex ◽  
Compressor Performance

The effects of the diffuser vane geometries on the compressor performance and noise characteristics of a centrifugal compressor equipped with vaned diffusers were investigated by experiments and numerical techniques. Because we were focusing attention on the geometries of the diffuser vane’s leading edge, diffuser vanes with various leading edge geometries were installed in a vaned diffuser. A tapered diffuser vane with the tapered portion near the leading edge of the diffuser’s hub-side could remarkably reduce both the discrete frequency noise level and broadband noise level. In particular, a hub-side tapered diffuser vane with a taper on only the hub-side could suppress the development of the leading edge vortex (LEV) near the shroud side of the diffuser vane and effectively enhanced the compressor performance.

Numerical Study on Control of Sunroof Buffeting

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Vijaykumar ◽  
S. Poonkodi ◽  
A.T. Sriram
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Study ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Dominant Frequency ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Navier Stokes Equation ◽  
Ansys Fluent ◽  
Flow Modification ◽  
Numerical Result ◽  
Modification Technique ◽  
Commercial Solver

Sunroof has become one of the essential features of a luxury car, and it provides natural air circulation and good illumination into the car. But the primary problem associated with it is the buffeting noise which causes discomfort to the passengers. Though adequate studies were carried out on sunroof buffeting, efficient control techniques are needed to be developed from fundamental mechanism. To reduce the buffeting noise, flow modifications at the entrance of the sunroof is considered in this study. The internal portion of the car with sunroof is simplified into a shear driven open cavity, and two-dimensional numerical simulations are carried out using commercial solver, ANSYS Fluent. Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equation is used with the realizable k-? turbulence model. The unsteady numerical result obtained in this study is validated with the available experimental results for the dominant frequency. The prediction is good agreement with experiment. Flow modification technique is proposed to control the sunroof buffeting by implementing geometric modifications. A hump has been placed near the leading edge of the cavity which resulted in significant reduction of pressure oscillations. Parametric studies have been performed by varying the height of hump and the distance of hump from the leading edge. There is no prominent difference when the height of the hump is varied. As the distance of the hump from the leading edge is reduced, the sound pressure level decreases.

Some Studies on Low Solidity Vaned Diffusers of a Centrifugal Compressor Stage

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Ch. Siva Reddy ◽  
G. V. Ramana Murty ◽  
Prasad Mukkavilli ◽  
D. N. Reddy
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Static Pressure ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Pressure Recovery ◽  
Compressor Stage ◽  
Recovery Coefficient ◽  
Vaned Diffuser ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor Stage ◽  
Pressure Recovery Coefficient

Numerical simulation of impeller and low solidity vaned diffuser (LSD) of a centrifugal compressor stage is performed individually using CFX- BladeGen and BladeGenPlus codes. The tip mach number for the chosen study was 0.35. The same configuration was used for experimental investigation for a comparative study. The LSD vane is formed using standard NACA profile with marginal modification at trailing edge. The performance parameters obtained form numerical studies at the exit of impeller and the diffuser have been compared with the corresponding experimental data. These parameters are pressure ratio, polytropic efficiency and flow angle at the impeller exit where as the parameters those have been compared at the exit of diffuser are the static pressure recovery coefficient and the exit flow angle. In addition, the numerical prediction of the blade loading in terms of blade surface pressure distribution on LSD vane has been compared with the corresponding experimental results. Static pressure recovery coefficient and flow angle at diffuser exit is seen to match closely at higher flows. The difference at lower flows could be due to the effect of interaction between impeller and diffuser combinations, as the numerical analysis was done separately for impeller and diffuser and the effect of impeller diffuser interaction was not considered.

A Numerical Study on Performances of Centrifugal Compressor Stages With Different Radial Gaps

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Sato ◽  
L. He
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Stokes Equations ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Centrifugal Impeller ◽  
Vaned Diffuser ◽  
Navier Stokes Equations ◽  
Performance Predictions ◽  
Radial Gap

A numerical study of 3D unsteady flows in centrifugal compressor stages solving the Navier-Stokes equations is presented. The emphasis is on the effect of the radial gap between blade rows on the aerodynamic performance. In the numerical tests, Krain’s centrifugal impeller was combined with a DCA (Double Circular Arc) type radial vaned diffuser. The compressor stages with three settings of radial gap ranging from 5 to 15 percent of the impeller trailing edge radius are configured and unsteady flow simulations are carried out to compare the time-averaged efficiencies. The performance predictions show that the efficiency is deteriorated if the radial gap between blade rows is reduced with intensified blade row interaction, which is in contradiction to the general trend for axial compressor stages. In the centrifugal compressors tested, wake chopping by diffuser vanes, which usually benefits efficiency in axial compressor stages, causes unfavourable wake compression through the diffuser passages to deteriorate the efficiency.

Steady and Transient Computations of Interaction Effects in a Centrifugal Compressor With Different Types of Diffusers

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Anish ◽  
N. Sitaram
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Static Pressure ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Design Flow ◽  
Flow Coefficient ◽  
Pressure Recovery ◽  
Maximum Efficiency ◽  
Vaned Diffuser ◽  
Lower Flow ◽  
Transient Simulations

A computational study has been conducted to analyze the performance of a centrifugal compressor under various levels of impeller-diffuser interactions. The study has been conducted using a low solidity vaned diffuser (LSVD), a conventional vaned diffuser (VD) and a vaneless diffuser (VLD). The study is carried out using Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes simulations. A commercial software ANSYS CFX is used for this purpose. The intensity of interaction is varied by keeping the diffuser vane leading edge at three different radial locations. Frozen rotor and transient simulations are carried out at four different flow coefficients. At design flow coefficient maximum efficiency occurs when the leading edge is at R3 (ratio of radius of the diffuser leading edge to the impeller tip radius) = 1.10. At lower flow coefficient higher stage efficiency occurs when the diffuser vanes are kept at R3 = 1.15 and at higher flow coefficient R3 = 1.05 gives better efficiency. It is observed that at lower flow coefficients positive incidence causes separation of flow at the suction side of the diffuser vane. When the flow rate is above design point there is a negative incidence at the leading edge of the diffuser vane which causes separation of flow from the pressure side of the diffuser vane. Compressor stage performance as well as performance of individual components is calculated at different time steps. Large variations in the stage performances at off-design flow coefficients are observed. The static pressure recovery coefficient (Cp) value is found to be varying with the relative position of impeller and diffuser. It is observed that maximum Cp value occurred at time step where Ψloss value is lowest. From the transient simulations it has been found that the strength and location of impeller exit wake affect the diffuser vane loading which in turn influences the diffuser static pressure recovery.

scholarly journals Stall and leading-edge vortex in a centrifugal compressor with vaned diffuser

2015 ◽  
Vol 81 (829) ◽  
pp. 15-00194-15-00194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nobumichi FUJISAWA ◽  
Shotaro HARA ◽  
Yutaka OHTA
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Vaned Diffuser ◽  
Leading Edge Vortex ◽  
Edge Vortex

Investigation of an Inversely Designed Centrifugal Compressor Stage: Part 1 — Design and Numerical Verification

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Zangeneh ◽  
M. Schleer ◽  
F. Plo̸ger ◽  
S. S. Hong ◽  
C. Roduner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Design Method ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Inverse Design ◽  
Numerical Verification ◽  
Appreciable Effect ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
Compressor Impeller ◽  
Blade Geometry

In this paper the 3D inverse design code TURBOdesign-1 is applied to the design of the blade geometry of a centrifugal compressor impeller with splitter blades. In the design of conventional impellers the splitter blades normally have the same geometry as the full blades and are placed at mid-pitch location between the two full blades, which can usually result in a mis-match between the flow angle and blade angles at the splitter leading edge. In the inverse design method the splitter and full blade geometry is computed independently for a specified distribution of blade loading on the splitter and full blades. In this paper the basic design methodology is outlined and then the flow in the conventional and inverse designed impeller is compared in detail by using CFD code TASCflow. The CFD results confirm that the inverse design impeller has a more uniform exit flow, better control of tip leakage flow and higher efficiency than the conventional impeller. The results also show that the shape of the trailing edge geometry has a very appreciable effect on the impeller Euler head and this must be accurately modeled in all CFD computations to ensure closer match between CFD and experimental results. Detailed measurements are presented in part 2 of the paper.

Off-Design Flow Measurements in a Centrifugal Compressor Vaneless Diffuser

1995 ◽  
Vol 117 (4) ◽  
pp. 602-608 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Pinarbasi ◽  
M. W. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Design Flow ◽  
Vaneless Diffuser ◽  
Flow Measurements ◽  
Vaned Diffuser ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Study Results

Detailed measurements have been taken of the three-dimensional velocity field within the vaneless diffuser of a backswept low speed centrifugal compressor using hot-wire anemometry. A 16 percent below and an 11 percent above design flow rate were used in the present study. Results at both flow rates show how the blade wake mixes out more rapidly than the passage wake. Strong secondary flows inherited from the impeller at the higher flow rate delay the mixing out of the circumferential velocity variations, but at both flow rates these circumferential variations are negligible at the last measurement station. The measured tangential/radial flow angle is used to recommend optimum values for the vaneless space and vane angle for design of a vaned diffuser.

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