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Experimental study of centrifugal compressor vaneless diffuser width

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Abstract

Seven different vaneless diffuser designs for a centrifugal compressor, varying only in diffuser width, were studied experimentally. The studied diffuser widths versus impeller exit width were 1.0, 0.903, 0.854, and 0.806. Three of the narrowed diffusers had the width reduced from the hub and shroud divided evenly, and the three others had the width reduced only from the shroud. The total and static pressures, the total temperature and the flow angles at the diffuser inlet and outlet were measured at the design rotational speed with three different mass flows. The impeller and diffuser performance was studied along with the axial distributions of flow angles and velocities in the diffuser. The results revealed that the pinch improved the compressor stage and impeller performance but deteriorated the diffuser performance. The pinch clearly decreased the secondary flow region present near the shroud. The pinch implemented in the shroud is more beneficial than pinch divided between the hub and the shroud. In order to obtain the beneficial effects of pinch, the pinch should be sufficient. However, excessive pinch deteriorates the compressor performance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Energy, Lappeenranta University of Technology, P.O. Box 20, FI-53851, Lappeenranta, Finland

    Ahti Jaatinen-Värri, Pekka Röyttä, Teemu Turunen-Saaresti & Aki Grönman

Authors
  1. Ahti Jaatinen-Värri
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  2. Pekka Röyttä
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  3. Teemu Turunen-Saaresti
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  4. Aki Grönman
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Correspondence to Ahti Jaatinen-Värri.

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Recommended by Associate Editor Byeong Rog Shin

Ahti Jaatinen-Värri currently works as a post-doctoral researcher at the Laboratory of Fluid Dynamics, in Lappeenranta University of Technology, Finland. He received his doctoral degree from Lapeenranta University of Technolgy in 2009, majoring in fluid dynamics and heat transefer. His main areas of intrest are internal flows in various high-speed turbomachinery, especially centrifugal compressor aerodynamics.

Pekka Röyttä, born 1981, in Tornio, Finland. Dr. Roytta obtained his M.Sc. and D.Sc. degrees from Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) in 2006 and 2009, respectively. Currently acting as a post-doctoral researcher of Academy of Finland at LUT. His research interests include CFD — especially large eddy simulations, multi-physics simulations, turbomachinery, and heat transfer.

Teemu Turunen-Saaresti eanred his M.Sc. in 2001 and D.Sc in 2004 from Lappeenranta University of Technology, Finland. He currently works as an Academy research Fellow and associate professor in the Laboratory of Fluid Dynamics in Lappeenrata University of Technology.

Aki Grönman is a post-doctoral researcher at the Laboratory of Fluid Dynamics, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Finland. He received his doctoral degree from Lappeenranta University of Technology in 2010 from fluid mechanics and heat transfer. His research has been concentrated in axial turbine and centrifugal compressor aerodynamics and design.

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Jaatinen-Värri, A., Röyttä, P., Turunen-Saaresti, T. et al. Experimental study of centrifugal compressor vaneless diffuser width. J Mech Sci Technol 27, 1011–1020 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-013-0122-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-013-0122-y

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