Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Investigation of a centrifugal compressor and study of the area ratio and TIP clearance effects on performance

  • Published:
Journal of Thermal Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this research, the centrifugal compressor of a turbocharger is investigated experimentally and numerically.

Performance characteristics of the compressor were obtained experimentally by measurements of rotor speed and flow parameters at the inlet and outlet of the compressor. Three dimensional flow field in the impeller and diffuser was analyzed numerically using a full Navier-Stokes program with SST turbulence model. The performance characteristics of the compressor were obtained numerically, which were then compared with the experimental results. The comparison shows good agreement. Furthermore, the effect of area ratio and tip clearance on the performance parameters and flow field was studied numerically. The impeller area ratio was changed by cutting the impeller exit axial width from an initial value of 4.1 mm to a final value of 5.1 mm, resulting in an area ratio from 0.792 to 0.965. For the rotor with exit axial width of 4.6 mm, performance was investigated for tip clearance of 0.0, 0.5 and 1.0 mm. Results of this simulation at design point showed that the compressor pressure ratio peaked at an area ratio of 0.792 while the efficiency peaked at a higher value of area ratio of 0.878. Also the increment of the tip clearance from 0 to 1 mm resulted in 20 percent efficiency decrease.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Chen, H. Conner, W., 2002, “Turbocharger Compressor Development for Passenger Car Gasoline Engine Applications,” The 7th Conf. on Turbochargers and turbocharging, IMechE, London, pp. 13–22

    Google Scholar 

  2. Kouidri, S., and Asuaje, M., 2005, “Numerical Modelization of the Flow in Centrifugal Pump: Volute Influence in Velocity and Pressure Fields,” International Journal of Rotating Machinery, Vol. 3, pp. 244–255.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Paßrucker, H. and Van den Braembussche, R. A., May 2000, “Inverse Design of Centrifugal Impellers by Simultaneous Modification of Blade Shape and Meridional Contour,” in Proc.45th ASME International Gas Turbine and Aeroengine Congress and Exposition, Munich, Germany.

  4. Cravero, C., July 2002, “A Design Methodology for Radial Turbomachinery. Application to Turbines and Compressors,” in Proc. ASME Fluid Engineering Division Summer Meeting (FEDSM’ 02), Montreal, Quebec, Canada, paper FEDSM2002-31335.

  5. Sloteman, D. and Saad, A. and Cooper, P., May–June 2001, “Design of Custom Pump Hydraulics Using Traditional Methods,” in Proc. ASME Fluid Engineering Division Summer Meeting (FEDSM’01), New Orleans, LA, USA, paper FEDSM2002-18067.

  6. Goto, A. and Nohmi, M. and Sakurai, T., 2002, “Hydrodynamic Design System for Pumps Based on 3-D CAD, CFD, and Inverse Design Method,” Transactions ASME, Journal of Fluids Engineering, Vol. 124, no. 2, pp.329–335.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Gonzales, J., and Fernandez, J., 2002, “Numerical Simulation of the Dynamic Effects Due to Impeller-Volute Interaction in a Centrifugal Pump,” Transactions of ASME, Vol. 124, pp.348–355.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Gu, F., Engeda, A., Cave, M. and Di Liberti, L., 2001, “A Numerical Investigation on the Volute/Diffuser Interaction due to the Axial Distortion at the Impeller Exit,” Transactions of the ASME, Journal of Fluid Engineering, Vol. 123, no. 3, pp. 475–483.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Mugli, F., Holbein, P. and Dupont, P., May–June 2001, “CFD Calculation of a Mixed Flow Pump Characteristic from Shut-off to Maximum Flow,” in Proc. ASME Fluid Engineering Division Summer Meeting (FEDSM’01), New Orleans, LA, USA, paper FEDSM2001-18072.

  10. Cravero, C. and Marini, M., July 2002, “Modeling of Incompressible Three-Dimensional Flow in Rotating Turbomachinery Passages,” in Proc. ASME Fluids Engineering Division Summer Meeting (FEDSM’02), Montreal, Quebec, Canada, paper FEDSM2002-31177.

  11. Schumann, L. F and Clark, D. A., 1987, “Effect of Area Ratio on the Performance of a 5.5:1 Pressure Ratio Centrifugal Impeller,” Transactions of the ASME, Vol. 109, pp.10–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Tamm, A., Gugau, M. and Stoffel, B. 2002, “Experimental and 3-D Numerical Analysis of the Flow Field in Turbomachines, Part 1,” International Congress on Quality Assessment of Numerical Simulation in Engineering, University of Conception, Chile.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Menter, F. R., Kuntz, M., and Langtry, R. 2033, “Ten Years of Experience with the SST Turbulence Model,” In K. Hanjalic, Y. Nagano, and M. Tummers, editors, Turbulence, Heat and Mass Transfer 4, pp. 625–632, Begell House Inc. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Lam, J.K.W., Robert, Q.D.H. and MacDonnell, G., 2002, “Flow Modeling of a Turbocharger Turbine under Pulsating Flow,” The 7th Conf. on Turbocharger and Turbocharging, London, pp. 181–197.

  15. Ferziger, J.H. and Peric, M., 1996, “Computational Methods for Fluid Dynamics,” Springer, Berlin, Germany.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  16. BS-1042, “Method of Measurement of Fluid Flow in Closed Conduits,” British Standards, 1981.

  17. Chapman, K.S., Kuiper, D.G. and Keshavarz, A., 2004, “Field Turbocharger Compressor Performance Enhancement by Minor Flow Modification,” GMRC Gas Machinery Conf., New Mexico, October 4–6.

  18. Cumpsty, N. A., 1999, “Compressor Aerodynamics,” Longman Scientific, University of Cambridge.

  19. Stanitz, J. D., 1952, “Some Theoretical Aerodynamic Investigations of Impellers in Radial and Mixed-Flow Centrifugal Compressors,” Trans. ASME 74: 473–497.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Watson N. and Janota M.S., 1982, “Turbocharging the Internal Combustion Engine“, Macmillan, London, Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Eckardt, D., 1976, “Detailed Flow Investigations Within a High Speed Centrifugal Compressor Impeller,” Transactions ASME, pp. 390–402.

  22. Reunanen, A., 2001, “Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Different Volutes in a Centrifugal Compressor,” Ph.D thesis at Acta University of Technology in Finland. ISSN 1456-4491.

  23. Cheng, X. and Michael, M., 2005, “Development and Design of a Centrifugal Compressor Volute,” International Journal of Rotating Machinery, Vol. 3, pp. 190–196.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical Engineering, Center of Excellence in Energy Conversion, Sharif University of Technology, PO Box:11365-8639, Tehran, Iran

    Mahdi Nili-Ahmadabadi, Ali Hajilouy-Benisi & Mohammad Durali

  2. Aerospace Engineering Department, Emam Hossein University, Tehran, Iran

    Farhad Ghadak

Authors
  1. Mahdi Nili-Ahmadabadi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ali Hajilouy-Benisi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mohammad Durali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Farhad Ghadak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nili-Ahmadabadi, M., Hajilouy-Benisi, A., Durali, M. et al. Investigation of a centrifugal compressor and study of the area ratio and TIP clearance effects on performance. J. Therm. Sci. 17, 314–323 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11630-008-0314-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11630-008-0314-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation