A Distinction Between Different Types of Stall in a Centrifugal Compressor Stage

1986 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Ka¨mmer ◽  
M. Rautenberg
Keyword(s):  
Energy Transfer ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Compressor Stage ◽  
Vaneless Diffuser ◽  
Pressure Transducers ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Probe Measurements

The flow at the stall line of a centrifugal compressor with vaneless diffuser was investigated at different speeds. A distinction between three kinds of stall phenomena could be made. One type of stall with regurgitation of fluid at the impeller inlet was of a nonperiodic character, whereas two different types of periodic stall appeared at higher speeds. The rotating nature of these two types of stall was verified from a comparison of signals of peripherally spaced pressure transducers. The low-frequency rotating stall exhibited features of diffuser generated stall and a lobe number of three was measured. From a detailed investigation of the high-frequency rotating stall, which included unsteady probe measurements upstream and downstream of the impeller, it can be shown that this type of rotating stall is generated in the impeller by a periodic breakdown of energy transfer from the rotor to the flow. This conclusion is supported by the distribution of shroud static pressures.

The Influence of a Diffuser Width on the Unsteady Performance of a Centrifugal Compressor Stage

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abraham Engeda
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Time Domain ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Compressor Stage ◽  
Relative Speed ◽  
Vaneless Diffuser ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor Stage ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Unsteady Performance

An experimental investigation was conducted to determine the effect of the vaneless diffuser width on the unsteady flow performance of a centrifugal compressor stage. Two compressor configurations with different vaneless diffuser width were investigated at four different impeller speeds and compared in the frequency and time domain. Only one diffuser rotating stall but different types of impeller rotating stalls were detected. The experiments show that the diffuser has a strong influence on the flow in the impeller including in areas way upstream. Analysis of the results indicated: • With increasing diffuser width the onset of impeller rotating stall was shifted to lower flow rates. • With increasing diffuser width the frequencies of the rotating stalls decreased. • There is a common tendency in most of the experiments to lower numbers of rotating cells with increasing relative speed. The impeller rotating stalls can be subdivided in a slow pattern with a relative speed to the impeller of 0.21 to 0.29 and a fast pattern with a relative speed of 0.50 to 0.56. This occurrence of two rotating pressure patterns confirms analytical results presented in previous investigations.

scholarly journals Comparative Rotating Stall and Surge Characteristic of a Centrifugal Compressor With Three Different Types of Diffusers

1997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abraham Engeda
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Straight Channel ◽  
Vaneless Diffuser ◽  
Curved Channel ◽  
Vaned Diffuser ◽  
Channel Geometry ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Specific Geometry ◽  
Tip Radius

The diffuser system of a centrifugal compressor comes basically in two general categories either as vaneless or vaned diffuser. Vaned diffusers can further be subdivided into two depending on channel geometry as straight channel or curved channel, or depending on solidity. Three different diffuser types: a vaneless, conventional vaned and a low solidity vaned were tested in the present study. All diffusers were tested downstream of the same impeller. All the diffusers had the same diffuser exit radius to impeller tip radius ratio. The influence of each type of diffuser on the performance and stall characteristics of the inducer and impeller as a whole was studied. In addition, diffuser stall characteristics of each type diffuser were also studied. The type of diffuser had no significant effect on inducer and impeller stall. The inducer was more stable with the conventional vaned diffuser configuration. Rotating Stall was detected with the vaneless diffuser configuration at the onset of surge. Four stall cells rotated in the same direction as the impeller at 122 Hz. Numerous works have been documented on rotating stall and surge for centrifugal compressors. Prediction of the inception of rotating stall and surge for a specific geometry and operation is not yet fully possible. Therefore, experimental results and correlations are still of great importance.

Stall Inception Behavior in a Centrifugal Compressor

1994 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Chen ◽  
H. Hasemann ◽  
Li Shi ◽  
M. Rautenberg
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Reverse Flow ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Time Range ◽  
Stall Inception ◽  
Pressure Transducers ◽  
Axial Compressors ◽  
The Third ◽  
Speed Range

In studying the stall inception process, while most results were reported for axial compressors, the present paper investigates the stall inception behavior typified in a centrifugal compressor. The test was conducted with a radially-bladed impeller and in a speed range of 8000–14000 rpm. Extensive pressure transducers were used to study the frequency characteristics of emerging stall waves. As a result, stall precursors were detected, all with clear mode seen from frequency analysis, but very much different by the behavior of their onset, existence and development. The first type, called the stable-amplitude precursor, exists in a time range of about 20–90 impeller revolutions, with unpredictable and different frequencies from the fully developed stall. Such perturbation, once appeared, may grow to the full stall straightly, or may appear for several times intermittently before finally reaching the full stall, thus acting as a pre-precursor in the whole stall inception process. The second type is the progressive-amplitude precursor when the perturbation emerges as long as 270 impeller revolutions prior to and progressively develops into the full amplitude stall with no change of frequency during this process. The third type, which has been detected for the rotating stall with evident reverse flow symptom, is the precursive pressure increase accompanied with the stable- or progressive-amplitude perturbation, before the full stall establishes. The inception process is also examined for surge during the test of the same compressor, in which the existence of rotating stall in front of every surge cycle and the low frequency precursive wave before surge cycles is demonstrated. Finally, the blade passage frequencies for precursor pressure signals are further analysed to address the monitoring strategy during stall inception process.

scholarly journals An Experimental Investigation of Rotating Stall Flow in a Centrifugal Compressor

1982 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Kämmer ◽  
M. Rautenberg
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Reverse Flow ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Vaneless Diffuser ◽  
Flow Distortion ◽  
Inlet Velocity ◽  
Pressure Transducers ◽  
Compressor Impeller ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Compressor Map

The flow through a centrifugal compressor impeller and a vaneless diffuser was investigated using unsteady pressure transducers and stationary probes when the compressor operated in the rotating stall region of the compressor map. The inlet velocity profile of the impeller was measured with traversing probes and was found to be significantly different from the profiles measured in an unthrottled condition. A zone of reverse flow was detected close to the suction duct wall as well as a strong swirl induced by the impeller. Circumferentially and meridionally spaced transducers made it possible to determine the stall frequency and the number of stall cells. The amplitude of the flow distortion as a function of meridional position was calculated from meridionally spaced transducers.

Distinction Between Different Types of Impeller and Diffuser Rotating Stall in a Centrifugal Compressor With Vaneless Diffuser

1984 ◽  
Vol 106 (2) ◽  
pp. 468-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Frigne ◽  
R. Van Den Braembussche
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Experimental Investigation ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Rotating Flow ◽  
Hot Wire ◽  
Vaneless Diffuser ◽  
Velocity Fluctuations ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Induced Velocity

This paper describes the results of an experimental investigation of the sub-synchronous rotating flow patterns in a centrifugal compressor with vaneless diffuser. Several compressor configurations have been examined by means of hot wire anemometry, Fourier analysis allowed one to distinguish between the different modes of unstable operation. For both impeller and diffuser rotating stall, comparison is made between the amplitude, frequency, and periodicity of the induced velocity fluctuations. The results are further cross-checked with other experimental data.

Effect of the Exit System on the Performance of a Low Specific Speed Industrial Centrifugal Compressor Stage

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Luc Di Liberti
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Cfd Analysis ◽  
Compressor Stage ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor Stage ◽  
Surge Margin ◽  
Low Specific Speed ◽  
Specific Speed

A low specific speed stage was tested with two different size volutes and a return vane system. The stage was instrumented with pressure probes at various locations, including the inlet and discharge flanges, diffuser inlet, diffuser exit, and return vane inlet. Cobra probes were positioned at the diffuser inlet and the return vane inlet for the return vane configuration to measure the flow angles. High frequency transducers were installed in the diffuser. This paper presents the test results showing the effect of two different volute sizes and of the return vane system on surge margin, rotating stall onset, and overall rotor and stage performance. Rotating stall criteria are reviewed, since this stage was previously tested with a different diffuser pinch. The performance is compared with some CFD analysis.

Effects of Non-Axisymmetric Volute on Rotating Stall in the Vaneless Diffuser of a Centrifugal Compressor

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zitian Niu ◽  
Zhenzhong Sun ◽  
Baotong Wang ◽  
Xinqian Zheng
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Stability Boundary ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Evolution Process ◽  
Vaneless Diffuser ◽  
Unstable Flow ◽  
Centrifugal Compressors ◽  
Specific Location

Abstract Rotating stall is an important unstable flow phenomenon that leads to performance degradation and limits the stability boundary in centrifugal compressors. The volute is one of the sources to induce the non-axisymmetric flow in a centrifugal compressor, which has an important effect on the performance of compressors. However, the influence of volute on rotating stall is not clear. Therefore, the effects of volute on rotating stall by experimental and numerical simulation have been explored in this paper. It’s shown that one rotating stall cell generates in a specific location and disappears in another specific location of the vaneless diffuser as a result of the distorted flow field caused by the volute. Also, the cells cannot stably rotate in a whole circle. The frequency related to rotating stall captured in the experiment is 43.9% of the impeller passing frequency (IPF), while it is 44.7% of IPF captured by three-dimensional unsteady numerical simulation, which proves the accuracy of the numerical method in this study. The numerical simulation further reveals that the stall cell initialized in a specific location can be split into several cells during the evolution process. The reason for this is that the blockage in the vaneless diffuser induced by rotating stall is weakened by the mainstream from the impeller exit to make one initialized cell disperse into several ones. The volute has an important influence on the generation and evolution process of the rotating stall cells of compressors. By optimizing volute geometry to reduce the distortion of the flow field, it is expected that rotating stall can be weakened or suppressed, which is helpful to widen the operating range of centrifugal compressors.

Stall Inception in a High Speed Centrifugal Compressor During Speed Transients

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fangyuan Lou ◽  
John C. Fabian ◽  
Nicole L. Key
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Flow Instability ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Fast Response ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Transient Performance ◽  
Stall Inception ◽  
Pressure Transducers

The inception and evolution of rotating stall in a high-speed centrifugal compressor are characterized during speed transients. Experiments were performed in the Single Stage Centrifugal Compressor (SSCC) facility at Purdue University and include speed transients from sub-idle to full speed at different throttle settings while collecting transient performance data. Results show a substantial difference in the compressor transient performance for accelerations versus decelerations. This difference is associated with the heat transfer between the flow and the hardware. The heat transfer from the hardware to the flow during the decelerations locates the compressor operating condition closer to the surge line and results in a significant reduction in surge margin during decelerations. Additionally, data were acquired from fast-response pressure transducers along the impeller shroud, in the vaneless space, and along the diffuser passages. Two different patterns of flow instabilities, including mild surge and short-length-scale rotating stall, are observed during the decelerations. The instability starts with a small pressure perturbation at the impeller leading edge and quickly develops into a single-lobe rotating stall burst. The stall cell propagates in the direction opposite of impeller rotation at approximately one third of the rotor speed. The rotating stall bursts are observed in both the impeller and diffuser, with the largest magnitudes near the diffuser throat. Furthermore, the flow instability develops into a continuous high frequency stall and remains in the fully developed stall condition.

Investigation on Effect of Curvilinear Element Blades on Centrifugal Impeller Performance

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiyotaka Hiradate ◽  
Hiromi Kobayashi ◽  
Takahiro Nishioka
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Performance Test ◽  
Design Guidelines ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Flow Coefficient ◽  
Numerical Calculations ◽  
Centrifugal Impeller ◽  
Compressor Stage ◽  
Vaneless Diffuser ◽  
Compressor Impeller

This study experimentally and numerically investigates the effect of application of curvilinear element blades to fully-shrouded centrifugal compressor impeller on the performance of centrifugal compressor stage. Design suction flow coefficient of compressor stage investigated in this study is 0.125. The design guidelines for the curvilinear element blades which had been previously developed was applied to line element blades of a reference conventional impeller and a new centrifugal compressor impeller with curvilinear element blades was designed. Numerical calculations and performance tests of two centrifugal compressor stages with the conventional impeller and the new one were conducted to investigate the effectiveness of application of the curvilinear element blades and compare the inner flowfield in details. Despite 0.5% deterioration of the impeller efficiency, it was confirmed from the performance test results that the compressor stage with the new impeller achieved 1.7% higher stage efficiency at the design point than that with the conventional one. Moreover, it was confirmed that the compressor stage with the new impeller achieved almost the same off-design performance as that of the conventional stage. From results of the numerical calculations and the experiments, it is considered that this efficiency improvement of the new stage was achieved by suppression of the secondary flows in the impeller due to application of negative tangential lean. The suppression of the secondary flows in the impeller achieved uniformalized flow distribution at the impeller outlet and increased the static pressure recovery coefficient in the vaneless diffuser. As a result, it is thought that the total pressure loss was reduced downstream of the vaneless diffuser outlet in the new stage.

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