Experimental and Numerical Investigations on a Rotating Centrifugal Compressor

Author(s):  
Patricio Almeida ◽  
Claude Gibert ◽  
Xavier Leblanc ◽  
Jean-Philippe Ousty ◽  
Fabrice Thouverez

Controlling the dynamic behavior of turbomachines requires an experimental validation phase to ensure their safety. The application of two experimental techniques to measure the modal properties of a rotating centrifugal compressor impeller is described in this paper. The impeller was tested in a vacuum chamber with excitation provided by piezoelectric actuators mounted on the rear side of the impeller disk. The most common technique used to measure the dynamic behavior of a rotating structure is based on strain gauges and a telemetry system or a slip ring for signal transmission. Nevertheless, in some cases this method is an intrusive technique that could introduce damping and blade mistiming, and it can also be time consuming to prepare. Strain gauge measurement has been compared to measurements performed under the same conditions by Scanning Laser Doppler Vibrometer associated with a derotator optical system, which allows measurement at fixed points on a rotating part. This work focuses on the study of the dynamic behavior of a centrifugal compressor impeller in view to preparing stator contact interaction tests requiring precise characterization of frequencies and nodal diameters and of the influence of rotation speed and other possible parameters. The advantages and disadvantages of the two methods used have been assessed for this particular application. A correlation between the experiments and the numerical simulations using the finite element method is provided.

Author(s):  
P. Almeida ◽  
C. Gibert ◽  
F. Thouverez ◽  
X. Leblanc ◽  
J.-P. Ousty

In turbomachinery, one way to improve aerodynamic performance and reduce fuel consumption consists of minimizing the clearance between rotor and casing. Yet the probability of contact is increased and this may lead in some specific conditions to a large and even unstable excitation on the impeller and stator. To achieve better understanding of the dynamic behavior occurring during the blade-to-casing contact, many numerical studies have been conducted but only a few experiments have been reported in the literature thus far. The interaction experiment reported in this paper involves a low-pressure, rotating centrifugal compressor and its casing tested in a vacuum chamber. Contact is initiated by introducing a gap near zero, and certain events with significant dynamic levels are observed during the run-up. Measurements are performed using strain gauges on both the rotating and stationary parts and a Scanning Laser Doppler Vibrometer on the stator. This research focuses on an analysis of the recorded data. Time series data are also analyzed by means of standard signal processing and a full spectrum analysis in order to identify the direction of traveling wave propagation on the two structures as well as nodal diameters and frequencies. The dynamic response of structures is accompanied by variations in other physical parameters such as temperature, static deformed shapes, speed and torque. A wearing pattern is evaluated following the contact experiments. The spectral content of response is dominated by frequency modes excited by engine orders as well as by sidebands due to inherent system non-linearity.


2014 ◽  
Vol 137 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Almeida ◽  
C. Gibert ◽  
F. Thouverez ◽  
X. Leblanc ◽  
J.-P. Ousty

In turbomachinery, one way to improve aerodynamic performance and reduce fuel consumption consists of minimizing the clearance between rotor and casing. Yet, the probability of contact is increased and this may lead in some specific conditions to a large and even unstable excitation on the impeller and stator. To achieve better understanding of the dynamic behavior occurring during the blade-to-casing contact, many numerical studies have been conducted but only a few experiments have been reported in the literature thus far. The interaction experiment reported in this paper involves a low-pressure, rotating centrifugal compressor and its casing tested in a vacuum chamber. Contact is initiated by introducing a gap near zero, and certain events with significant dynamic levels are observed during the run-up. Measurements are performed using strain gauges on both the rotating and stationary parts and a scanning laser Doppler vibrometer on the stator. This research focuses on an analysis of the recorded data. Time series data are also analyzed by means of standard signal processing and a full spectrum analysis in order to identify the direction of traveling wave propagation on the two structures as well as nodal diameters and frequencies. The dynamic response of structures is accompanied by variations in other physical parameters such as temperature, static deformed shapes, speed, and torque. A wearing pattern is evaluated following the contact experiments. The spectral content of response is dominated by frequency modes excited by rotating speed harmonics as well as by sidebands due to inherent system nonlinearity.


Author(s):  
Leandro Oliveira Salviano ◽  
Elóy Esteves Gasparin ◽  
Vitor Cesar N. Mattos ◽  
Bruno Barbizan ◽  
Fábio Saltara ◽  
...  

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (14) ◽  
pp. 4292
Author(s):  
Kirill Kabalyk ◽  
Andrzej Jaeschke ◽  
Grzegorz Liśkiewicz ◽  
Michał Kulak ◽  
Tomasz Szydłowski ◽  
...  

The article describes an assessment of possible changes in constant fatigue life of a medium flow-coefficient centrifugal compressor impeller subject to operation at close-to-surge point. Some aspects of duct acoustics are additionally analyzed. The experimental measurements at partial load are presented and are primarily used for validation of unidirectionally coupled fluid-structural numerical model. The model is based on unsteady finite-volume fluid-flow simulations and on finite-element transient structural analysis. The validation is followed by the model implementation to replicate the industry-scale loads with reasonably higher rotational speed and suction pressure. The approach demonstrates satisfactory accuracy in prediction of stage performance and unsteady flow field in vaneless diffuser. The latter is deduced from signal analysis relying on continuous wavelet transformations. On the other hand, it is found that the aerodynamic incidence losses at close-to-surge point are underpredicted. The structural simulation generates considerable amounts of numerical noise, which has to be separated prior to evaluation of fluid-induced dynamic strain. The main source of disturbance is defined as a stationary region of static pressure drop caused by flow contraction at volute tongue and leading to first engine-order excitation in rotating frame of reference. Eventually, it is concluded that the amplitude of excitation is too low to lead to any additional fatigue.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norman Ernst Kienzle ◽  
Duc Huy Marco Hoang ◽  
Markus Waesker ◽  
Bjoern Buelten ◽  
Francesca di Mare ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
V. Ramamurti ◽  
D. A. Subramani ◽  
K. Sridhara

Abstract Stress analysis and determination of eigen pairs of a typical turbocharger compressor impeller have been carried out using the concept of cyclic symmetry. A simplified model treating the blade and the hub as isolated elements has also been attempted. The limitations of the simplified model have been brought out. The results of the finite element model using the cyclic symmetric approach have been discussed.


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