Flow in the Inducer of a Centrifugal Compressor Measured With a Laser Velocimeter

1985 ◽  
Vol 107 (2) ◽  
pp. 534-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Hayami ◽  
Y. Senoo ◽  
H. Ueki

The flow field in the inducer of a high-pressure-ratio centrifugal compressor has been measured with a laser-2-focus velocimeter (L2FV) at two flow rates that were on each side of the apparent inducer-stall limit at 70 percent speed. The limit was determined based on the pressure pattern between inducer blades along the shroud. The measured time-mean velocity distribution is compared with the prediction based on an inviscid quasi-three-dimensional flow analysis and the viscous effects are clarified. Furthermore, the nature of flow unsteadiness is discussed on the basis of the L2FV data. Using the observed data it is concluded that the inducer works well even at the apparent inducer-stall condition.

Author(s):  
Seiichi Ibaraki ◽  
Tetsuya Matsuo ◽  
Hiroshi Kuma ◽  
Kunio Sumida ◽  
Toru Suita

High pressure ratio centrifugal compressors are applied to turbochargers and turboshaft engines because of their small dimensions, high efficiency and wide operating range. Such a high pressure ratio centrifugal compressor has a transonic inlet condition accompanied with a shock wave in the inducer portion. It is generally said that extra losses are generated by interaction of the shock wave and the boundary layers on the blade surface. To improve the performance of high pressure ratio centrifugal compressor it is necessary to understand the flow phenomena. Although some research works on transonic impeller flow have been published, some unknown flow physics are still remaining. The authors designed a transonic impeller, with an inlet Mach number is about 1.3, and conducted detailed flow measurements by using Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV). In the result the interaction between the shock wave and tip leakage vortex at the inducer and flow distortion at the downstream of inducer were observed. The interaction of the boundary layer and the shock wave was not observed. Also computational flow analysis were conducted and compared with experimental results.


1978 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Mishina ◽  
I. Gyobu

An experimental investigation concerning the optimum relative velocity distribution within impellers, the optimum diffusion ratio of vaned diffusers and the optimum circumferential area distribution, sectional shape of scrolls was carried out using high specific speed shrouded impellers with backward leaning blades. A performance design procedure based on loss analysis and quasi-three-dimensional flow analysis was also developed and modified by introducing experimental results. The design procedure was applied to a 7900-kw four-stage air compressor to demonstrate the usefulness. Field test results of the complete machine showed that the maximum isothermal efficiency was 75 percent with the pressure ratio of 5.96 and the flow rate of 29.3 m3/s.


2006 ◽  
Vol 129 (4) ◽  
pp. 686-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seiichi Ibaraki ◽  
Tetsuya Matsuo ◽  
Takao Yokoyama

Transonic centrifugal compressors are used with high-load turbochargers and turboshaft engines. These compressors usually have a vaned diffuser to increase the efficiency and the pressure ratio. To improve the performance of such a centrifugal compressor, it is required to optimize not only the impeller but also the diffuser. However the flow field of the diffuser is quite complex and unsteady because of the impeller located upstream. Although some research on vaned diffusers has been published, the diffuser flow is strongly dependent on the particular impeller exit flow, and some of the flow physics remain to be elucidated. In the research reported here, detailed flow measurements within a vaned diffuser were conducted using a particle image velocimetery (PIV). The vaned diffuser was designed with high subsonic inlet conditions marked by an inlet Mach number of 0.95 for the transonic compressor. As a result, a complex three-dimensional flow with distortion between the shroud and the hub was observed. Also, unsteady flow accompanying the inflow of the impeller wake was confirmed. Steady computational flow analysis was performed and compared with the experimental results.


2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Marconcini ◽  
Filippo Rubechini ◽  
Andrea Arnone ◽  
Seiichi Ibaraki

A three-dimensional Navier–Stokes solver is used to investigate the flow field of a high pressure ratio centrifugal compressor for turbocharger applications. Such a compressor consists of a double-splitter impeller followed by a vaned diffuser. Particular attention is focused on the analysis of the vaned diffuser, designed for high subsonic inlet conditions. The diffuser is characterized by a complex three-dimensional flow field and influenced by the unsteady interaction with the impeller. Detailed particle image velocimetry flow measurements within the diffuser are available for comparison purposes.


Author(s):  
Michele Marconcini ◽  
Filippo Rubechini ◽  
Andrea Arnone ◽  
Seiichi Ibaraki

A three-dimensional Navier-Stokes solver is used to investigate the flow field of a high pressure ratio centrifugal compressor for turbocharger applications. Such a compressor consists of a double-splitter impeller followed by a vaned diffuser. Particular attention is focused on the analysis of the vaned diffuser, designed for high subsonic inlet conditions. The diffuser is characterized by a complex three-dimensional flow field, and influenced by the unsteady interaction with the impeller. Detailed Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) flow measurements within the diffuser are available for comparison purposes.


1994 ◽  
Vol 116 (2) ◽  
pp. 280-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Zangeneh

A three-dimensional design method for the design of the blade geometry of centrifugal compressor impellers is presented. In this method the blade shape is computed for a specified circulation distribution, normal (or tangential) thickness distribution, and meridional geometry. As the blade shapes are computed by using an inviscid slip (or flow tangency) condition, the viscous effects are introduced indirectly by using a viscous/inviscid procedure. The three-dimensional Navier–Stokes solver developed by Dawes is used as the viscous method. Two different approaches are described for incorporating the viscous effects into the inviscid design method. One method is based on the introduction of an aerodynamic blockage distribution throughout the meridional geometry, while in the other approach a vorticity term directly related to the entropy gradients in the machine is introduced. The method is applied to redesign the blade geometry of Eckardt’s 30 deg backswept impeller as well as a generic high pressure ratio (transonic) impeller. The results indicate that the entropy gradient approach can fairly accurately represent the viscous effects in the machine.


Author(s):  
Jae Ho Choi ◽  
Ok Suck Sung ◽  
Seung-Bae Chen ◽  
Jin Shik Lim

An aerodynamic design, flow analysis and performance test of a pressure ratio 4:1 centrifugal compressor are presented in this paper. The compressor is made up of a centrifugal impeller, a two-stage diffuser consisted of radial and axial types. The impeller has a 45 degree backswept angle and the design running tip clearance is 5% of impeller exit height. Two types of diffusers are designed for this compressor. Three-dimensional numerical analysis is performed to analyze the flows in the impeller, diffuser and deswirler considering the impeller tip clearance. A test module and rig facilities for the compressor stage performance test are designed and fabricated. The overall compressor stage performances as well as the static pressure fields on the impeller and diffuser are measured. Two diffusers of wedge and airfoil types are tested with an impeller. The calculation and test results show the airfoil diffuser has the better aerodynamic characteristics than those of wedge diffuser in the studied models.


2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (2) ◽  
pp. 346-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seiichi Ibaraki ◽  
Tetsuya Matsuo ◽  
Hiroshi Kuma ◽  
Kunio Sumida ◽  
Toru Suita

High-pressure ratio centrifugal compressors are applied to turbochargers and turboshaft engines because of their small dimensions, high efficiency, and wide operating range. Such a high-pressure ratio centrifugal compressor has a transonic inlet condition accompanied with a shock wave in the inducer portion. It is generally said that extra losses are generated by interaction of the shock wave and the boundary layers on the blade surface. To improve the performance of high-pressure ratio centrifugal compressor, it is necessary to understand the flow phenomena. Although some research works on transonic impeller flow have been published, some unknown flow physics are still remaining. The authors designed a transonic impeller, with an inlet Mach number about 1.3, and conducted detailed flow measurements by using laser doppler velocimetry (LDV). In the result, the interaction between the shock wave and tip leakage vortex at the inducer and flow distortion at the downstream of inducer were observed. The interaction of the boundary layer and the shock wave was not observed. Also, computational flow analysis was conducted and compared with experimental results.


1992 ◽  
Vol 114 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Denton

The extension of a well-established three-dimensional flow calculation method to calculate the flow through multiple turbomachinery blade rows is described in this paper. To avoid calculating the unsteady flow, which is inherent in any machine containing both rotating and stationary blade rows, a mixing process is modeled at a calculating station between adjacent blade rows. The effects of this mixing on the flow within the blade rows may be minimized by using extrapolated boundary conditions at the mixing plane. Inviscid calculations are not realistic for multistage machines and so the method includes a range of options for the inclusion of viscous effects. At the simplest level such effects may be included by prescribing the spanwise variation of polytropic efficiency for each blade row. At the most sophisticated level viscous effects and machine performance can be predicted by using a thin shear layer approximation to the Navier–Stokes equations and an eddy viscosity turbulence model. For high-pressure-ratio compressors there is a strong tendency for the calculation to surge during the transient part of the flow. This is overcome by the use of a new technique, which enables the calculation to be run to a prescribed mass flow. Use of the method is illustrated by applying it to a multistage turbine of simple geometry, a two-stage low-speed experimental turbine, and two multistage axial compressors.


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