Experimental Study on Aero-Acoustic Characteristics of a Centrifugal Compressor and an Optimal Design for Noise Reduction

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyoung Ku Ha ◽  
Tae Bin Jeong ◽  
Shin Hyoung Kang
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Optimal Design ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Noise Level ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Noise Spectrum ◽  
Low Noise ◽  
Acoustic Characteristics ◽  
Design Point

A centrifugal compressor for fuel-cell vehicles, which makes compressed air and sends it to the fuel-cell stack, is investigated in this paper. It is the only part of revolution in the system, and it consumes most of the system power. Therefore, it is important to achieve low noise level as well as high efficiency. The operating line of this compressor is determined along the highest efficiency points and during the design-point operation the blade tone noise is the main contributor. It is widely known that the blade passing frequency (BPF) noise components is due to the circumferential flow fluctuations of the impeller. So the noise spectrum of this compressor needs to be examined closely. So, an experimental study is designed to investigate the aero-acoustic characteristics of a centrifugal compressor in detail. The existing system is modified to allow pressure measurements at the inlet and outlet of the impeller. Four microphone probes are also installed to determine the noise level in an isolated room. Tests are carried out to investigate the phenomena governing the tonal noise and the dominant noise source of the centrifugal compressor. With such information on noise, a design optimization process is carried out to determine a superior design point which will guarantee good performance and low noise level at the design point. The optimization is performed using the surrogate management framework with the simulated results obtained at sampled points. The final optimal design point and the comparison between the optimal designed compressor and the existing centrifugal compressor are described in the last section of this paper.

Experimental Investigations of Effects of Centrifugal Compressor Impeller Design on Noise Characteristics

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyoung-Ku Ha ◽  
Chang-ha Lee ◽  
Yong-sun Park ◽  
Shin-hyoung Kang ◽  
Chi-young Park ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Noise Level ◽  
Processing System ◽  
Design Procedure ◽  
Low Noise ◽  
Design Flow ◽  
Normal Operation ◽  
Efficient Operation ◽  
Noise Characteristics

The subject of this study is a centrifugal compressor for fuel-cell vehicles which produces compressed air and sends it to the cathode channels of a fuel-cell stack. It uses up a lot of electricity and it is the only component in the processing system that has a rotating part moving a high angular velocity. So, it is important to improve the centrifugal compressor in efficiency and noise respects. As demand for quiet and comfort of vehicles increases recently, it becomes more and more important for the compressor to achieve low noise level. But it is difficult to design a suitable compressor with a conventional design method, which was formulated to provide highly efficient operation at the design point without considering the noise. Actually, the noise of a compressor is hard to be considered in the early steps of the design procedure because of a lack of information. So, this study aims to describe noise characteristics of centrifugal compressors experimentally and to pull noise considerations into a design procedure of the centrifugal compressor. According to previous studies, a tonal component leads to overall noise of a compressor in normal operation and there is a close connection between the instability intensity and the circumferential flow fluctuations of an impeller. Therefore an experimental study was designed to check the aero-acoustic characteristics of the impeller. An existing compressor was modified to install pressure transducers at the inlet and outlet of the impeller. And two microphones were installed to measure noise signals of the compressor in a sealed room. Tests were carried out to investigate the phenomena governing the overall noise and the dominant noise source of the centrifugal compressor. Then pressure fluctuations, noise signals and spectra of them were examined closely. After that, several impellers varying exit blade angles and design flow coefficients were tested also. They were all designed to satisfy the same pressure performance at a design mass-flow rate. Then investigations into the noise characteristics were carried out to find out effects of the impeller design variables on them. The results show that a large value of a blade angle is good for efficiency and noise level of the compressor. It is expected to be an optimal value to improve noise characteristics in terms of the design flow coefficient. The experimental facility, conditions and the results were described in this paper minutely.

Experimental investigation on aero-acoustic characteristics of a centrifugal compressor for the fuel-cell vehicle

2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (11) ◽  
pp. 3287-3297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyoung-Ku Ha ◽  
Tae-Bin Jeong ◽  
Shin-Hyoung Kang ◽  
Hyoung-Jin Kim ◽  
Kwang-Min Won ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Investigation ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Fuel Cell Vehicle ◽  
Acoustic Characteristics

scholarly journals Research on the Current Situation and Development of Fuel Cell Powered Transportation

2021 ◽  
Vol 242 ◽  
pp. 02007
Author(s):  
Hao Su
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Low Noise ◽  
Maritime Industry ◽  
Fuel Cell System ◽  
Emission Level ◽  
New Type ◽  
Near Future

Traditional oil consumed transportation including vehicles and vessel produces green house gases, which is not environmentally-friendly. As a new type of energy-consumed unit, the fuel cell is popular due to its less emission level, high efficiency and low noise. This paper introduces the principle and characteristics of fuel cell, with further introduction to the application status of fuel cell system in the vehicle and maritime industry. Further aspects that need to be improved will be discussed and analyzed, in order to promote fuel cell system in transportation area in a large scale. It can be clearly seen that various factors (infrastructure, cost, durability, etc.) should be considered in the near future.

A Hybrid System Based on a Personal Turbine (5 kW) and a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Stack: A Flexible and High Efficiency Energy Concept for the Distributed Power Market

2002 ◽  
Vol 124 (4) ◽  
pp. 850-857 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Magistri ◽  
P. Costamagna ◽  
A. F. Massardo ◽  
C. Rodgers ◽  
C. F. McDonald
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Solid Oxide Fuel Cell ◽  
Hybrid System ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Power Market ◽  
Solid Oxide ◽  
Oxide Fuel ◽  
Design Point ◽  
Design Performance ◽  
Energy Concept

In this paper a high efficiency and flexible hybrid system representing a new total energy concept for the distributed power market is presented. The hybrid system is composed of a very small size (5 kW) micro gas turbine (named personal turbine—PT) presented in a companion paper by the authors coupled to a small size solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack. The power of the whole system is 36 kW depending on the design parameters assumed for the stack. The design and off-design performance of the hybrid system have been obtained through the use of an appropriate modular code named “HS-SOFC” developed at the University of Genoa and described in detail in this paper. The results of the simulation are presented and discussed with particular regards to: choice of the hybrid system (HS) design point data, HS design point performance, off-design performance of PT and SOFC stack, and off-design performance of the whole HS. Some preliminary economic results are also included based on different fuel and capital cost scenarios and using the cost of electricity as the parameter for comparison between PT and HS.

An Optimization Method for Centrifugal Compressor Design Using the Surrogate Management Framework

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyoung Ku Ha ◽  
Shin Hyoung Kang
Keyword(s):  
Optimal Design ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Design Space ◽  
Optimization Method ◽  
Pattern Search ◽  
Flow Coefficient ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Centrifugal Compressors ◽  
Management Framework ◽  
Design Point

A variety of centrifugal compressors are used in various fields of industry these days. The design requirements are more complicated, and it is difficult to determine the optimal design point of a centrifugal compressor. The aim of this study was to propose an efficient optimization method for centrifugal compressors considering the impeller, the vaneless diffuser, and the overhung type volute. The optimization was performed using the surrogate management framework (SMF). The design parameters were the impeller exit radius, the exit blade angle, and the flow coefficient. Sample points in the design space were selected according to the Design of Experiments (DoE) theory. The CFD simulations were executed on the impeller and the diffuser at every sampled point. The volutes were described using a one-dimensional but reliable theory to reduce the simulation time. An approximation model based on the Kriging method was constructed using this dataset. Then, an optimal design point that minimized the objective function was determined in a substitute design space using the pattern search method because of its efficiency and rigorous convergence. The optimization process, underlying methods, and results are described in this paper.

scholarly journals Recent Progress in Solar-Induced Direct Biomass-to-Electricity Hybrid Fuel Cell Using Microalgae as Feedstocks

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kun-Tao Peng ◽  
Xiang Wang ◽  
Gong Peng ◽  
Lin Yu ◽  
Hong-Ye Li
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Noble Metals ◽  
Recent Progress ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Phosphomolybdic Acid ◽  
Low Noise ◽  
Stress Regulation ◽  
Biodiesel Feedstocks ◽  
Value Added Products

Microalgae, as potential biodiesel feedstocks, have been widely reported to accumulate oil via genetic engineering techniques, or environmental stress regulation. Recently, the utilization of fuel cell technology to convert biomass into electricity has attracted much more attention due to its high efficiency, low pollution, low noise by microalgae as feedstocks. Normally, platinum and analogous noble metals as catalysts have been already demonstrated although they still exist lots of shortcomings. This mini review presents an overview of various fuel cell technologies with phosphomolybdic acid as catalysts for sustainable energy by using microalgae. Trends from literatures demonstrate that algal-based fuel cells could efficiently generate electricity, and concurrently produce high value-added products. This critical review can provide guiding suggestions for future study of algal-based energy conversion by fuel cell techniques.

Optimization of the Aerodynamic and Aeroacoustic Characteristics of a Small Centrifugal Fan by Means of Inverse Design and Evolutionary Algorithms

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Eisenmenger ◽  
Stefan Frank ◽  
Paul Uwe Thamsen
Keyword(s):  
High Efficiency ◽  
Wide Frequency Range ◽  
Low Noise ◽  
Inverse Design ◽  
Centrifugal Fan ◽  
Test Rig ◽  
Design Code ◽  
Acoustic Characteristics ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Wide Operating

Abstract In this work, the inverse design code TURBOdesign 1 has been used in a direct approach to optimize both the aerodynamic and aeroacoustic properties of a small centrifugal fan with backward-curved blades. Two promising fan designs along with a reference fan have been investigated numerically using CFD and the results have been validated experimentally using a chamber test rig for the aerodynamics and the in-duct method for acoustics. A design aiming for good aerodynamic performance showed an increased efficiency in a wide operating range of about 5 to 10%. Another design aiming for low noise showed a numerically determined reduction in the overall sound radiation of 1 dB on average. This trend could not be reproduced in the experiments, instead the high efficiency design showed the best acoustic characteristics in a wide frequency range, which is why this is a subject of ongoing research.

Experimental and numerical investigations on the acoustic characteristics and unsteady behaviors of a centrifugal compressor for fuel cell vehicles

2020 ◽  
pp. 095440622094744
Author(s):  
Siyue Chen ◽  
Shuguang Zuo ◽  
Kaijun Wei
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Dynamic Mode Decomposition ◽  
Fuel Cell Vehicle ◽  
Dynamic Mode ◽  
Acoustic Characteristics ◽  
Surge Line

Compared to other air compressors, high-speed centrifugal compressors are considered a more suitable choice for a mid-to-high-power fuel cell system due to its high-pressure ratio. As the centrifugal compressor is the most intensive noise source in the fuel cell vehicle, its acoustic characteristics become a major concern in the passenger comfort experience. Unlike the turbocharger compressor, the centrifugal compressor in a fuel cell vehicle tends to operate at near-surge conditions, which leads to flow instabilities and increases the noise level. In this paper, the acoustic characteristics of a centrifugal compressor for a fuel cell vehicle were measured on a compressor test rig covering the full range of the compressor map. The experimental results show that the lowest sound pressure level at the compressor inlet occurs in the design operating area, while the highest level occurs near the mild-surge line. Experimental work was complemented by numerical simulations. Time-averaged flow fields were compared between the near-choke and mild-surge conditions and the detached eddy simulations (DES) were performed at mild-surge conditions. Sparsity-promoting dynamic mode decomposition (SPDMD) was employed as a post-processing method to extract the flow structures associated with corresponding noise features. It was observed that the rotating stall of the impeller inducer is the main cause of the narrow-band whoosh noise near the mild-surge line. The location, number, and speed of the stall cells were identified by SPDMD in rotational and stationary frames.

An investigation of a high-performance centrifugal compressor with a variable map width enhancement slot for proton exchange membrane fuel cell systems in commercial vehicle application

2020 ◽  
Vol 235 (1) ◽  
pp. 288-300
Author(s):  
Jianjiao Jin ◽  
Jianfeng Pan ◽  
Zhigang Lu ◽  
Qingrui Wu ◽  
Lizhong Xu
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Performance Test ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Surge Margin ◽  
Compressor Performance ◽  
Exchange Membrane

Maintaining required performance and rated power output of proton exchange membrane fuel cells while reducing fuel consumption demands and improving efficiencies at the largest parasitic work loss contributor, namely the air compressor. In this paper, we built a high-efficiency one-dimensional match model of centrifugal compressor for proton exchange membrane fuel cells first, which was based on the fuel cell air supply system and the optimal trim factor. And then a variable map width enhancement slot design adjusted by a closed ring was first introduced to extend the surge margin and keep high efficiency. Finally, the compressor with a variable map width enhancement slot was validated at a compressor performance rig and a fuel cell simulation system. The results from compressor performance test rig indicate that the compressor peak efficiency is as high as 77% and the surge margin is enhanced by about 28.1∼ 42.7 %. The simulation results of the fuel cell system indicate the maximum power consumption of the compressor and the H2 consumption of comprehensive adapted world transient vehicle cycle are reduced by nearly 1.6 kW and 4.86%, respectively, in comparison with the baseline screw compressor.

Design and Investigation on a Centrifugal Compressor for PEM Fuel Cell System

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bihuan Zong ◽  
Weilin Zhuge ◽  
Qiyu Ying ◽  
Haoxiang Chen ◽  
Yangjun Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Rotational Speed ◽  
Optimization Design ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Motor Speed ◽  
Loss Mechanism ◽  
Air Compressor

Abstract Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) is a very attractive power source to meet high efficiency and low emission. For mobility applications, PEMFC needs to have a larger power density and it can be achieved with an air compressor to intake more air for chemical reaction. Different from a turbocharger, the compressor for PEMFC is not driven by a turbine, but by an electric motor as well. Due the limitation of motor speed and compact system size, the air compressor must be in small size and operate with low rotational speed. In compressor aerodynamic study, low specific speed and small size is believed to have large loss and it needs to be further investigated and improved. In this paper, a centrifugal compressor combined with an air bearing is specially developed, with rotational speed as 120k RPM and pressure ratio as 3.5. The compressor impeller, diffuser and volute are designed by mean-line method followed by 3D detailed design. Computational fluid dynamics method is employed to predict compressor performance as well as analyze compressor internal flow field and loss mechanism. Simulation results indicate that major losses including leakage flow loss in impeller and loss in diffuser. As a result, corresponding optimization design method is proposed, the total-to-total aerodynamic efficiency of the redesigned compressor has increased 5% at design point.

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