Fluctuation of Inducer Recirculation Stemming From Diffuser Stall in Centrifugal Turbomachinery Near Surge Condition

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuhiro Tsukamoto ◽  
Chisachi Kato
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Pressure Rise ◽  
Time History ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Centrifugal Impeller ◽  
Performance Curve ◽  
Positive Slope ◽  
Lower Flow ◽  
Suction Pipe ◽  
Lower Flow Rate

Abstract This work investigates the unsteady fluctuation of inducer recirculation stemming from the diffuser stall that occurs near the surge condition. Experiments and unsteady numerical simulation were utilized for the investigation. Inducer recirculation is known to occur near the surge occurrence flow rate, where the flow rate has a positive slope of the performance curve and the recirculation extends to the upstream of the impeller inlet when decreasing the flow rate more. However, few papers have investigated the unsteady phenomenon of the recirculation, even though the surge is what causes it. Clarifying the recirculation phenomenon is essential in terms of expanding the operation range to the lower flow rate for centrifugal turbomachinery. This was our motivation for investigating the unsteady oscillation phenomenon of the inducer recirculation. We investigated a single-stage centrifugal blower with the maximum pressure rise ratio of 1.2 and focused on the flow rates near surge occurrence. The blower was equipped with an open type centrifugal impeller, a vane-less diffuser, and a scroll casing. The blower performance and pressure time-history data were obtained by experiments. Unsteady simulations using large eddy simulation (LES) were conducted to investigate the flow field in the blower for each flow rate. The obtained performance curve showed that the positive slope of the pressure rise at the lower flow rate was due to the impeller stall and that the inducer recirculation extending upstream of the suction pipe near the slope of the curve was flat. LES analysis revealed that this inducer recirculation had two typical fluctuation peaks, one at 20% of the rotation frequency and the other at 95%. We also found that the stall cell at the impeller inlet propagated in the circumferential direction and swirled at almost the same frequency as the impeller rotation. In addition, the fluctuation at the diffuser derived from the diffuser rotating stall propagated to the suction pipe.

Impingement of liquid jets at atmospheric and elevated pressures: an observational study using paired water jets or water and methylcyclohexane jets

2010 ◽  
Vol 466 (2124) ◽  
pp. 3501-3526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naohiro Yasuda ◽  
Koji Yamamura ◽  
Yasuhiko H. Mori
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Jet Impingement ◽  
Normal Pressure ◽  
Liquid Jets ◽  
Immiscible Liquids ◽  
Lower Flow ◽  
Elevated Pressures ◽  
System Pressure ◽  
Sheet Breakup ◽  
Lower Flow Rate

We have observed the impingement of two cylindrical liquid jets of either the same liquid, water, or two mutually immiscible liquids, water and methylcyclohexane (MCH), in either air under normal pressure (0.101 MPa) or nitrogen gas under elevated pressures up to 4.0 MPa. The flow rates of the two jets were adjusted such that they had equal axial momentum. Irrespective of the system pressure, we distinguished two characteristic regimes: the lower flow-rate regime, in which the jet impingement formed a regularly shaped planar sheet, and a higher flow-rate regime, in which a wrinkled sheet repeated azimuthal breakup. The transition from the former to the latter regime occurred at a lower flow rate for the water–MCH impingement than for the water–water impingement. An increase in the system pressure tended to shrink the liquid sheets, to promote the transition to the sheet-breakup regime and to intensify the liquid atomization. The formation of water–MCH compound droplets by the water–MCH impingement was confirmed visually.

Study on the effect of pore-scale heterogeneity and flow rate during repetitive two-phase fluid flow in microfluidic porous media

2021 ◽  
pp. petgeo2020-062
Author(s):  
Jingtao Zhang ◽  
Haipeng Zhang ◽  
Donghee Lee ◽  
Sangjin Ryu ◽  
Seunghee Kim
Keyword(s):  
Porous Media ◽  
Fluid Flow ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Sweep Efficiency ◽  
Residual Saturation ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Lower Flow ◽  
Supplementary Material ◽  
Lower Flow Rate

Various energy recovery, storage, conversion, and environmental operations may involve repetitive fluid injection and, thus, cyclic drainage-imbibition processes. We conducted an experimental study for which polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based micromodels were fabricated with three different levels of pore-space heterogeneity (coefficient of variation, where COV = 0, 0.25, and 0.5) to represent consolidated and/or partially consolidated sandstones. A total of ten injection-withdrawal cycles were applied to each micromodel at two different flow rates (0.01 and 0.1 mL/min). The experimental results were analyzed in terms of flow morphology, sweep efficiency, residual saturation, the connection of fluids, and the pressure gradient. The pattern of the invasion and displacement of nonwetting fluid converged more readily in the homogeneous model (COV = 0) as the repetitive drainage-imbibition process continued. The overall sweep efficiency converged between 0.4 and 0.6 at all tested flow rates, regardless of different flow rates and COV in this study. In contrast, the effective sweep efficiency was observed to increase with higher COV at the lower flow rate, while that trend became the opposite at the higher flow rate. Similarly, the residual saturation of the nonwetting fluid was largest at COV = 0 for the lower flow rate, but it was the opposite for the higher flow rate case. However, the Minkowski functionals for the boundary length and connectedness of the nonwetting fluid remained quite constant during repetitive fluid flow. Implications of the study results for porous media-compressed air energy storage (PM-CAES) are discussed as a complementary analysis at the end of this manuscript.Supplementary material: Figures S1 and S2 https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5276814.Thematic collection: This article is part of the Energy Geoscience Series collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/energy-geoscience-series

scholarly journals Experimental Research on the Rotating Stall of a Pump Turbine in Pump Mode

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 2426
Author(s):  
Xue ◽  
Liu ◽  
Lu ◽  
Gao ◽  
Meng
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Experimental Research ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Guide Vane ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Positive Slope ◽  
Pump Mode ◽  
Pump Turbine ◽  
Pump Performance

The rotating stall is an unstable flow phenomenon of pump turbines in pump mode, which is of increasing concern to scientists and engineers working on pump turbines. However, at present, various studies are carried out based on CFD (computational fluid dynamics) simulation, while directly measured data and experimental research on flow fields are seldom reported. By utilizing PIV (particle image velocimetry) measuring equipment, the flow field within the guide vane zone of a low specific speed pump turbine in pump mode was measured. By measuring and analyzing the transient flow field, the evolutionary process of the rotating stall within the guide vane passages was determined. We found that for all three tested guide vane openings, regardless of whether the positive slope appeared or not, a pre-stall operating point was found for each opening in the process of decreasing the flow rate. The analysis of the loss within the flow field indicated that the dissipation-induced loss increased greatly after the rotating stall appeared. The pump performance curves at the three guide vane openings showed an inflection at the pre-stall point. When the flow rate is larger than that of the pre-stall point, the head of the pump turbine dramatically increases as the flow rate decreases. However, when the flow rate is smaller than the pre-stall point, such increases noticeably slows down.The research results showed that whether the positive slope on the pump performance curve occurred or not, instability caused by the rotating stall should be of great concern.

An Analytical and Experimental Assessment of a Diffuser Flow Phenomenon as a Precursor to Stall

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
James M. Sorokes ◽  
Jorge E. Pacheco ◽  
Clementine Vezier ◽  
Syed Fakhri
Keyword(s):  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Flow Coefficient ◽  
Centrifugal Impeller ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Vaneless Diffuser ◽  
Diffuser Flow ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Cfd ◽  
Cfd Analyses ◽  
Validation Testing ◽  
Lower Flow Rate

The paper describes an experimental and analytical study on the vaneless diffuser downstream of a high flow coefficient, high inlet relative Mach number centrifugal impeller. The diffuser flowfield exhibited a unique behavior in which the low momentum zone typically found along the shroud side of a centrifugal compressor diffuser suddenly shifted to the hub side of the diffuser just prior to the onset of diffuser rotating stall. The phenomenon was observed in the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses conducted as well as in the experimental data obtained during stage validation testing. A review of the analytical and test results suggested that the phenomenon was at least partially attributable to the level of diffusion in the vaneless diffuser. Modifications made to reduce the diffusion rate were shown by CFD analysis to move the onset of the unusual shift of low momentum flow to a much lower flow rate. The modifications also increased the efficiency of the overall stage by 1.2%.

Numerical Study of Rotating Stall in a Pump Vaned Diffuser

2002 ◽  
Vol 124 (2) ◽  
pp. 363-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takeshi Sano ◽  
Yoshiki Yoshida ◽  
Yoshinobu Tsujimoto ◽  
Yuki Nakamura ◽  
Tatsuhito Matsushima
Keyword(s):  
Turbulence Model ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Flow Instabilities ◽  
Negative Slope ◽  
Performance Curve ◽  
Vaned Diffuser ◽  
Commercial Code

This paper treats the flow instabilities in a vaned diffuser by using CFD. A commercial code with the standard κ-ε turbulence model was used for the present work. It was found that the flow instabilities in the vaned diffuser: i.e., rotating stall, alternate blade stall, and asymmetric stall, could be simulated by the present calculations. These instabilities were observed in a range with negative slope of the pressure performance curve of the diffuser. The rotating stall onset flow rate is larger for the case with larger clearance between the impeller and diffuser vanes.

Clarification of Performance Curve Instability Mechanism Using Large Eddy Simulation of Internal Flow of a Mixed-Flow Pump

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isao Hagiya ◽  
Chisachi Kato ◽  
Yoshinobu Yamade ◽  
Takahide Nagahara ◽  
Masashi Fukaya
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Performance Curve ◽  
Instability Mechanism ◽  
Positive Slope ◽  
Mixed Flow ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Direction Opposite ◽  
Flow Pump

We analyzed the internal flows of a test mixed-flow pump exhibiting performance curve instability at low flow rates by using LES to clarify the performance curve instability mechanism. The LES was conducted using the open source software FrontFlow/blue [1]. In particular, we investigated in detail the flows at the flow rates, where the head curve had a positive slope under low flow rate condition. We clarified that Euler’s head drop caused by a stall near the tip of the rotor-blades is a dominant factor at the instability of the test pump. At the bottom point of the positive slope of the head curve, stall regions covered all the rotor-blade passages on the tip side. The drop of the angular momentum in the impeller caused by the stall on the leading edge side exceeds the increment caused by the decrease in the flow rate on the trailing edge at the bottom point of the positive slope. At the middle point of the positive slope of the head curve we also found regions with low-velocities in some blade passages. Such regions, namely stall cells, rotated around the impeller for one revolution while the impeller rotated almost about 20 revolutions in the direction opposite to the impeller’s rotation. The region with low-velocity first appears at the trailing edge and expands toward the leading edge. The angle of attack of the neighbouring blade in the direction opposite to the rotation of the blade increases and that blade pitch begins to stall. When that blade pitch is fully stalled, it is no longer loaded and the positive pressure gradient in that blade pitch decreases. The blade pitch is most likely to accept the excess flow. It recovers from the stalled state.

Delay of Unsteady Flow in a Radial Diffuser

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saad A. Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Mass Flow ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Flow Instability ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Flow Coefficient ◽  
Width Ratio ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Lower Flow ◽  
Low Mass

The operation of centrifugal compressor systems is limited at low-mass flow rates by fluid flow instabilities leading to rotating stall or surge. These instabilities limit the flow range in which the compressor can operate. They also lower the performance and efficiency of the compressor. Experiments were conducted to investigate a model of radial vaneless diffuser at stall as well as stall-free operating conditions. The speed of the impeller was kept constant at 2000 RPM, while the mass flow rate was reduced gradually to scan the steady and unsteady operating conditions of the compressor. The flow rate through the compressor was gradually decreased until flow instability is initiated at the diffuser. The flow rate was further reduced to study the characteristics of rotating stall. These measurements were reported for diffuser diameter ratios, Do/Di, of 2.0 with diffuser width ratio, b/Di, of 0.055. At lower flow rates than the critical, the rotating stall pattern with one stall cell was dominant over the pattern with two cells. In addition, the instability in the diffuser was successfully delayed to a lower flow coefficient when rough surfaces were attached to one or both sides of the diffuser with the lowest values achieved by attaching the rough surface to the shroud. Results show that the roughness has no significant effect on stall cell characteristics.

NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF PUMP-TURBINES WITH DIFFERENT BLADES AT PUMP CONDITIONS

2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (02) ◽  
pp. 143-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
WEI LI ◽  
ZHONGYONG PAN ◽  
WEIDONG SHI
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Design Stage ◽  
Positive Slope ◽  
Back Flow ◽  
Unsteady Simulation ◽  
Steady Simulation ◽  
Flow Vortex ◽  
Low Flow Rate

The undesirable performance of a positive slope curve usually appears for pump-turbines running as pumps at a low flow rate. The inner flow feature of pump-turbines with 6- and 7-blades runner is studied by both steady and unsteady simulations at pump conditions. According to the steady simulation investigation, obviously back flow vortex is found in the runner passage at the low flow rate zone where the positive slope curve forms. The flow rate at which the instable flow pattern happens of 6-blades runner is smaller than that of 7-blades one. By the unsteady simulation, at the low flow rate zone similar to the steady calculations and the tested data, a rotating stall with four rotating cells can be viewed by significant dynamic post-processing, whose rotation speed is much slower than that of the runner. Therefore, the back flow vortex of steady simulation and rotating stall of unsteady simulation can be used to investigate the runner quality at design stage.

The Experimental Study of Matching Between Centrifugal Compressor Impellers and Vaneless Diffusers for Turbochargers

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hideaki Tamaki ◽  
Satoshi Yamaguchi
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Peak Pressure ◽  
Pressure Rise ◽  
Positive Slope ◽  
Vaneless Diffuser ◽  
Effective Measure ◽  
New Correlation ◽  
Design Changes ◽  
Physical Effects ◽  
The Stability

The operating range of centrifugal compressors for turbochargers using vaneless diffuser is considered from measurements of the separate pressure rise of the impeller and the diffuser. In some cases, the peak pressure rise of the stage corresponds to the peak pressure rise of the impeller (which is considered to correspond to inducer stall). From these measurements a new correlation for the onset of inducer stall is proposed. In other cases the stability of the vaneless diffuser (defined as positive slope of the pressure rise versus flow characteristic) determines the stability of the stage. A 1D analysis of the pressure rise versus flow rate in a vaneless diffuser captures the main physical effects due to friction and provides a guide to the effect of design changes for increasing the range. Subsequent tests confirm that reduction of diffuser height is the most effective measure for reducing the surge flow rate.

An Experimental Study of Stall Suppression and Associated Changes to the Flow Structures in the Tip Region of an Axial Low Speed Fan Rotor by Axial Casing Grooves

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huang Chen ◽  
Yuanchao Li ◽  
Subhra Shankha Koley ◽  
Nick Doeller ◽  
Joseph Katz
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Pressure Rise ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Flow Structures ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
Low Speed ◽  
Flow Characterization

The effects of axial casing grooves on the performance and flow structures in the tip region of an axial low speed fan rotor have been studied experimentally in the JHU refractive index-matched liquid facility. The four-per-passage semicircular grooves are skewed by 45° in the positive circumferential direction, and have a diameter of 65% of the rotor blade axial chord length. A third of the groove overlaps with the blade front, and the rest extends upstream. These grooves have a dramatic effect on the machine performance, reducing the stall flow rate by 40% compared to the same machine with a smooth endwall. However, they reduce the pressure rise at high flow rates. The flow characterization consists of qualitative visualizations of vortical structures using cavitation, as well as stereo-PIV (SPIV) measurements in several meridional and (z,θ) planes covering the tip region and interior of the casing grooves. The experiments are performed at a flow rate corresponding to pre-stall conditions for the untreated machine. They show that the flow into the downstream sides of the grooves and the outflow from their upstream sides vary periodically. The inflow peaks when the downstream end is aligned with the pressure side (PS) of the blade, and decreases, but does not vanish, when this end is located near the suction side (SS). These periodic variations have three primary effects: First, substantial fractions of the leakage flow and the tip leakage vortex (TLV) are entrained periodically into the groove. Consequently, in contrast to the untreated flow, The TLV remnants remain confined to the vicinity of the entrance to the groove, and the TLV strength diminishes starting from the mid-chord. Second, the grooves prevent the formation of large scale backflow vortices (BFVs), which are associated with the TLV, propagate from one blade passage to the next, and play a key role in the onset of rotating stall in the untreated fan. Third, the flow exiting from the grooves causes periodic variations of about 10° in the relative flow angle around the blade leading edge, presumably affecting the blade loading. The distributions of turbulent kinetic energy provide statistical evidence that in contrast to the untreated casing, very little turbulence originating from a previous TLV, including the BFVs, propagates from the PS to the SS of the blade. Hence, the TLV-related turbulence remain confined to the entrance to groove. Elevated, but lower turbulence is also generated as the outflow from the groove jets into the passage.

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