Rotordynamic Force Prediction of Centrifugal Compressor Impellers Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

Author(s):  
J. Jeffrey Moore ◽  
David L. Ransom ◽  
Flavia Viana

The energy industry depends on centrifugal compressors to produce, process, reinject, and transport many different gases. Centrifugal compressors use one or more impellers to impart momentum to the flowing gas and, thereby, produce an increase in pressure through diffusion. As the operating pressure in a compressor increases, the fluid-rotor interaction at the seals and impellers become more important. Also, the new generation of megascale liquefied natural gas compressors is dependent on accurate assessment of these forces. The aerodynamic forces and cross-coupled stiffness from the impellers cannot be accurately predicted with traditional methods and must be estimated with semiempirical formulations. The result of these inaccuracies is a potential for compressor designs that can experience unexpected, dangerous, and damaging instabilities and subsynchronous vibrations. The current investigation is intended to advance the state of the art to achieve an improved, physics-based method of predicted aerodynamic destabilizing cross-coupling forces on centrifugal compressor impellers using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). CFD was employed in this study to predict the impeller-fluid interaction forces, which gives rise to the aerodynamic cross coupling. The procedure utilized in this study was developed by Moore and Palazzolo (2002, “Rotordynamic Force Prediction of Centrifugal Impeller Shroud Passages Using Computational Fluid Dynamic Techniques With Combined Primary Secondary Flow Model,” ASME J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power, 123, pp. 910–918), which applied the method to liquid pump impellers. Their results showed good correlation to test data. Unfortunately, no such data exist for centrifugal compressors. Therefore, in order to validate the present model, comparisons will be made to predict the instability of an industrial centrifugal compressor. A parametric CFD study is then presented leading to a new analytical expression for predicting the cross-coupled stiffness for centrifugal impellers.

Author(s):  
J. Jeffrey Moore ◽  
David L. Ransom ◽  
Flavia Viana

The energy industry depends on centrifugal compressors to produce, process, re-inject and transport many different gases. Centrifugal compressors use one or more impellers to impart momentum to the flowing gas and, thereby, produce an increase in pressure through diffusion. As the operating pressure in a compressor increases, the fluid-rotor interaction at the seals and impellers become more important. Also, the new generation of mega-scale Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) compressors is dependent on accurate assessment of these forces. The aerodynamic forces and cross-coupled stiffness from the impellers cannot be accurately predicted with traditional methods and must be estimated with semi-empirical formulations. The result of these inaccuracies is a potential for compressor designs that can experience unexpected, dangerous, and damaging instabilities and subsynchronous vibrations. The current investigation is intended to advance the state-of-the-art to achieve an improved, physics-based method of predicted aerodynamic destabilizing cross-coupling forces on centrifugal compressor impellers using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). CFD was employed in this study to predict the impeller-fluid interaction forces, which gives rise to the aerodynamic cross-coupling. The procedure utilized in this study was developed by Moore and Palazzolo [10], which applied the method to liquid pump impellers. Their results showed good correlation to test data. Unfortunately, no such data exists for centrifugal compressors. Therefore, in order to validate the present model, comparisons will be made to predict the instability of an industrial centrifugal compressor. A parametric CFD study is then presented leading to a new analytical expression for predicting the cross-coupled stiffness for centrifugal impellers.


2020 ◽  
Vol 220 ◽  
pp. 01082
Author(s):  
Yuri Kozhukhov ◽  
Serafima Tatchenkova ◽  
Sergey Kartashov ◽  
Vyacheslav Ivanov ◽  
Evgeniy Nikitin

This paper provides the results of the study of a spatial flow in a low-flow stage of a SVD-22 centrifugal compressor of computational fluid dynamics methods using the Ansys CFX 14.0 software package. Low flow stages are used as the last stages of multistage centrifugal compressors. Such multistage compressors are widely used in boosting compressor stations for natural gas, in chemical industries. The flow features in low-flow stages require independent research. This is due to the fact that the developed techniques for designing centrifugal compressor stages are created for medium-flow and high-flow stages and do not apply to low-flow stages. Generally at manufacturing new centrifugal compressors, it is impossible to make a control measurement of the parameters of the working process inside the flow path elements. Computational fluid dynamics methods are widely used to overcome this difficulties. However verification and validation of CFD methods are necessary for accurate modeling of the workflow. All calculations were conducted on one of the SPbPU clusters. Parameters of one cluster node: AMD Opteron 280 2 cores, 8GB RAM. The calculations were conducted using 4 nodes (HP MPI Distributed Parallel startup type) with their full load by parallelizing processes on each node.


Author(s):  
Loren Garrison ◽  
Nate Cooper

Centrifugal compressor flow fields from computational fluid dynamics analyses are inherently difficult to visualize and quantify due to their highly three-dimensional nature. In the following paper, techniques for advanced visualization and post-processing of centrifugal compressor computational fluid dynamics flow fields are described. Numerical flow field visualization was performed using turbomachinery-based cutting plane surfaces that are based on meridional, spanwise, and pitchwise coordinates to aid in the identification and understanding of the development of flow field structures in the main gas path of centrifugal impellers. The turbomachinery-based cutting plane tools are also used to quantify bulk area averaged and mass averaged quantities as well as circumferentially averaged spanwise and meridional profiles within the main gas path of the centrifugal impeller. Examples of how these tools were used to help identify flow structures and quantify flow properties in a centrifugal impeller are presented. In addition, results of a new procedure to calculate two-dimensional blockage for centrifugal impeller applications are discussed. The new blockage calculation methodology combined with the meridional cutting plane tools are used to quantify the blockage development throughout an entire centrifugal impeller from inlet plane to exit plane.


Author(s):  
Xu Yu-dong ◽  
Li Cong ◽  
Lv Qiong-ying ◽  
Zhang Xin-ming ◽  
Mu Guo-zhen

In order to study the effect of the trailing edge sweep angle of the centrifugal impeller on the aerodynamic performance of the centrifugal compressor, 6 groups of centrifugal impellers with different bending angles and 5 groups of different inclination angles were designed to achieve different impeller blade trailing edge angle. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method was used to simulate and analyze the flow field of centrifugal compressors with different blade shapes under design conditions. The research results show that for transonic micro centrifugal compressors, changing the blade trailing edge sweep angle can improve the compressor’s isentropic efficiency and pressure ratio. The pressure ratio of the compressor shows a trend of increasing first and then decreasing with the increase of the blade bending angle. When the blade bending angle is 45°, the pressure ratio of the centrifugal compressor reaches a maximum of 1.69, and the isentropic efficiency is 67.3%. But changing the inclination angle of the blade trailing edge has little effect on the isentropic efficiency and pressure ratio. The sweep angle of blade trailing edge is an effective method to improve its isentropic efficiency and pressure ratio. This analysis method provides a reference for the rational selection of the blade trailing edge angle, and provides a reference for the design of micro centrifugal compressors under high Reynolds numbers.


Membranes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 111
Author(s):  
Alexander J. Charlton ◽  
Boyue Lian ◽  
Gaetan Blandin ◽  
Greg Leslie ◽  
Pierre Le-Clech

In an effort to improve performances of forward osmosis (FO) systems, several innovative draw spacers have been proposed. However, the small pressure generally applied on the feed side of the process is expected to result in the membrane bending towards the draw side, and in the gradual occlusion of the channel. This phenomenon potentially presents detrimental effects on process performance, including pressure drop and external concentration polarization (ECP) in the draw channel. A flat sheet FO system with a dot-spacer draw channel geometry was characterized to determine the degree of draw channel occlusion resulting from feed pressurization, and the resulting implications on flow performance. First, tensile testing was performed on the FO membrane to derive a Young’s modulus, used to assess the membrane stretching, and the resulting draw channel characteristics under a range of moderate feed pressures. Membrane apex reached up to 67% of the membrane channel height when transmembrane pressure (TMP) of 1.4 bar was applied. The new FO channels considerations were then processed by computational fluid dynamics model (computational fluid dynamics (CFD) by ANSYS Fluent v19.1) and validated against previously obtained experimental data. Further simulations were conducted to better assess velocity profiles, Reynolds number and shear rate. Reynolds number on the membrane surface (draw side) increased by 20% and shear rate increased by 90% when occlusion changed from 0 to 70%, impacting concentration polarisation (CP) on the membrane surface and therefore FO performance. This paper shows that FO draw channel occlusion is expected to have a significant impact on fluid hydrodynamics when the membrane is not appropriately supported in the draw side.


2005 ◽  
Vol 127 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Horlock ◽  
J. D. Denton

In the early development of gas turbines, many empirical design rules were used; for example in obtaining fluid deflection using the deviation from blading angles, in the assumption of zero radial velocities (so-called radial equilibrium) and in expressions for clearance loss (the Lakshminarayana formulas). The validity of some of these rules, and the basic fluid mechanics behind them, is examined by use of modern ideas and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes. A current perspective of CFD in design is given, together with a view on future developments.


1990 ◽  
Vol 112 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhao Xiaolu ◽  
Qin Lisen

An aerodynamic design method, which is based on the Mean Stream Surface Method (MSSM), has been developed for designing centrifugal compressor impeller blades. As a component of a CAD system for centrifugal compressor, it is convenient to use the presented method for generating impeller blade geometry, taking care of manufacturing as well as aerodynamic aspects. The design procedure starts with an S2m indirect solution. Afterward from the specified S2m surface, by the use of Taylor series expansion, the blade geometry is generated by straight-line elements to meet the manufacturing requirements. Simultaneously, the fluid dynamic quantities across the blade passage can be determined directly. In terms of these results, the designer can revise the distribution of angular momentum along the shroud and hub, which are associated with blade loading, to get satisfactory velocities along the blade surfaces in order to avoid or delay flow separation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Evgenia Korsukova ◽  
Hervé Morvan

Abstract Due to the continuous reduction of engine sizes, efficient under-race lubrication becomes ever more crucial in order to provide sufficient amount of oil to various engine components. An oil scoop is a rotating component that captures oil from a jet, and axially redirects it to the bearing, providing under-race lubrication. Given the importance of lubrication in high-speed engine components, the efficiency study of under-race lubrication appliances receives rapidly growing demands from manufacturers and therefore is of great interest. This work provides description of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods that were found to be most accurate and efficient for a large parameter analysis of the scoop capture efficiencies. One of the main purposes of this paper is to demonstrate an optimal and validated computational approach to modeling under-race lubrication with a focus on oil capture efficiency. Second, to show which factors most influence the scoop capture efficiency. Additionally, simulations allow for the fluid behavior inside the scoop to be observed that cannot be visualized experimentally due to high speeds. An improved method of efficiency calculation is also presented and compared to existing methods (Cageao, P. P., Simmons, K., Prabhakar, A., and Chandra, B., 2019, “Assessment of the Oil Scoop Capture Efficiency in High Speed Rotors,” ASME J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power, 141(1), p. 012401; Korsukova, E., Kruisbrink, A., Morvan, H., Paleo Cageao, P., and Simmons, K., 2016, “Oil Scoop Simulation and Analysis Using CFD and SPH,” ASME Paper No. GT2016-57554.). Results of both two-dimensional (2D) and semi-three-dimensional (3D) simulations are provided. Both qualitative comparison of 2D with semi-3D simulations and quantitative comparison of 2D simulations with experiments (Cageao, P. P., Simmons, K., Prabhakar, A., and Chandra, B., 2019, “Assessment of the Oil Scoop Capture Efficiency in High Speed Rotors,” ASME J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power, 141(1), p. 012401) show consistency. Parameter study using 2D simulations is shown with variation of rotational scoop speed, jet angles, velocity ratio. Key results show that changes of the jet angle and velocity ratio can improve the scoop efficiency.


Author(s):  
Chang H. Oh ◽  
Eung S. Kim

Idaho National Laboratory (INL), under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is performing research and development that focuses on key phenomena important during potential scenarios that may occur in very high temperature reactors (VHTRs). Phenomena identification and ranking studies to date have ranked an air ingress event, following on the heels of a VHTR depressurization, as important with regard to core safety. Consequently, the development of advanced air-ingress-related models and verification and validation data are a very high priority. Following a loss of coolant and system depressurization incident, air will enter the core of the High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor through the break, possibly causing oxidation of the core and reflector graphite structure. Simple core and plant models indicate that, under certain circumstances, the oxidation may proceed at an elevated rate with additional heat generated from the oxidation reaction itself. Under postulated conditions of fluid flow and temperature, excessive degradation of lower plenum graphite can lead to a loss of structural support. Excessive oxidation of core graphite can also lead to a release of fission products into the confinement, which could be detrimental to reactor safety. Computational fluid dynamics models developed in this study will improve our understanding of this phenomenon. This paper presents two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) computational fluid dynamic (CFD) results for the quantitative assessment of the air ingress phenomena. A portion of the results from density-driven stratified flow in the inlet pipe will be compared with the experimental results.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Paul Kone ◽  
Xinyu Zhang ◽  
Yuying Yan ◽  
Guilin Hu ◽  
Goodarz Ahmadi

A review of published three-dimensional, computational fluid dynamics models for proton exchange membrane fuel cells that accounts for multiphase flow is presented. The models can be categorized as models for transport phenomena, geometry or operating condition effects, and thermal effects. The influences of heat and water management on the fuel cell performance have been repeatedly addressed, and these still remain two central issues in proton exchange membrane fuel cell technology. The strengths and weaknesses of the models, the modelling assumptions, and the model validation are discussed. The salient numerical features of the models are examined, and an overview of the most commonly used computational fluid dynamic codes for the numerical modelling of proton exchange membrane fuel cells is given. Comprehensive three-dimensional multiphase flow computational fluid dynamic models accounting for the major transport phenomena inside a complete cell have been developed. However, it has been noted that more research is required to develop models that include among other things, the detailed composition and structure of the catalyst layers, the effects of water droplets movement in the gas flow channels, the consideration of phase change in both the anode and the cathode sides of the fuel cell, and dissolved water transport.


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