Abstract
Turbocharging reciprocating engines is a viable solution in order to meet the new regulations for emissions and fuel efficiency in part because turbochargers allow to use smaller, more efficient engines (downsizing) while maintaining power. A major challenge is to match the flow range of a dynamic turbomachine (the centrifugal compressor in the turbocharger) with a positive displacement pump (the engine) as the flow range of the latter is typically higher. The operating range of the compressor is thus of prime interest. At low mass flow rate (MFR), the compressor range is limited by the occurrence of surge. To control and improve it, numerous and varied methods have been used. Yet, an automotive application requires that the solution remains relatively simple and preferably passive. A common feature that has been demonstrated to improve the surge line is the use of flow recirculation in the inducer region through a circumferential bleed slot around the shroud, also called “ported shroud”, similar to what has been developed for axial compressors in the past. The compressor studied here features such a device. In order to better understand the effect of the recirculation slot on the compressor functioning, flow measurements were performed at the inlet using particle image velocimetry and the results were correlated with pressure measurements nearby. Measurements were taken on a compressor with and without recirculation and across the full range of normal operation and during surge using a phase-locking method to obtain average flow fields throughout the entire surge cycle. When the recirculation is blocked, it was found that strong backflow develops at low MFR perturbing the incoming flow and inducing significant preswirl. The slot eliminated most of the backflow in front of the inducer making the compressor operation more stable. The measurements performed during surge showed strong backflow occurring periodically during the outlet pressure drop and when the instantaneous MFR is near 0 or negative. The flow motion at the inlet is highly three dimensional as flow enters in the center of the inducer at all times, even when the instantaneous flow rate is negative, compared to the reversed flow observed in the entire inlet for surging axial compressors.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abdel-Hamid AN (1987) A new technique for stabilizing the flow and improving the performance of vaneless radial diffusers. J Turbomach 109:36–40
Abramian M, Howard JHG (1994) Experimental investigation of the steady and unsteady relative flow in a model centrifugal impeller passage. J Turbomach 116(2):269–279
Amann CA, Nordenson GE, Skellenger GD (1975) Casing modification for increasing the surge margin of a centrifugal compressor in an automotive turbine engine. J Eng Power 97(3):329–335
Andersen J, Lindström F, Westin F (2008) Surge definitions for radial compressors in automotive turbochargers. SAE Int J Engines 1(1):218
Aretakis N, Mathioudakis K, Kefalakis M, Papailiou K (2004) Turbocharger unstable operation diagnosis using vibroacoustic measurements. J Eng Gas Turbines Power 126:840–847
Bartolini G, Muntoni A, Pisano A, Usai E (2008) Compressor surge active control via throttle and CCV actuators. A second-order sliding-mode approach. In: International workshop on variable structure systems, pp 274–279. doi:10.1109/VSS.2008.4570720
Cukurel B, Lawless PB, Fleeter S (2010) Particle Image Velocimetry Investigation of a High Speed Centrifugal Compressor Diffuser: Spanwise and Loading Variations. J Turbomach 132(2):021010-1–021010-9
Dickmann HP, Szwedowicz J, Filsinger D, Roduner CH (2006) Unsteady flow in a turbocharger centrifugal compressor: three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics simulation and numerical and experimental analysis of impeller blade vibration. J Turbomach 128:455–465. doi:10.1115/1.2183317
Fink DA, Cumpsty N, Greitzer EM (1992) Surge dynamics in a free-spool centrifugal compressor system. J Turbomach 114:321–332
Fisher F (1988) Application of map width enhancement devices to turbocharger compressor stages. SAE Tech Paper 880794:19–27. doi:10.4271/880794
Galindo J, Serrano JR, Climent H, Tiseira A (2007) Experiments and modelling of surge in small centrifugal compressors for automotive engines. Exp Therm Fluid Sci 32:818–826
Gancedo M, Guillou E, Gutmark E (2014) Bleed slot benefits on turbocharger centrifugal compressor stability. ASME Turbo Expo GT2014-27185
Gancedo M, Guillou E, Gutmark E (2013) Experimental investigation of flow instability in a turbocharger ported shroud compressor. ASME Turbo Expo GT2013-95134
Gao C, Gu C, Wang T, Yang B (2009) Passive control of rotating stall in vaneless diffuser with radial grooves: detailed numerical study. In: Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2009
Gravdahl JT, Egeland O (1997) Compressor surge control using a close-coupled valve and backstepping. In: Proceedings of the American Control Conference Albuquerque, NM
Greitzer EM (1976) Surge and rotating stall in axial flow compressors-Part I: theoretical compression system model. J Eng Power 98(2):190–198
Guillou E, Gancedo M, Gutmark E, Mohamed A (2012) PIV investigation of the flow induced by a passive surge control method in a radial compressor. Exp Fluids 53(3):619–635
Guo Q, Chen H, Zhu X-C, Du Z-H, Zhao Y (2007) Numerical simulations of stall inside a centrifugal compressor. Proc IMechE Part A J Power Energy 221:683–693
Gysling DL, Dugundji J, Greitzer EM, Epstein AH (1991) Dynamic control of centrifugal compressor surge using tailored structures. J Turbomach 113(4):710–722
Hansen KE, Jørgensen P, Larsen PS (1981) Experimental and theoretical study of surge in a small centrifugal compressor. J Fluids Eng 103:391–395
Hunziker R, Dickmann H, Emmrich R (2001) Numerical and experimental investigation of a centrifugal compressor with an inducer casing bleed system. Proc Inst Mech Eng 215:783–791
Ibaraki S, Matsuo T, Yokoyama T (2007) Investigation of unsteady flow field in a vaned diffuser of a transonic centrifugal compressor. J Turbomach 129(4):686–693
Jungowski WM, Weiss MH, Price GR (1996) Pressure oscillations occurring in a centrifugal compressor system with and without passive and active surge control. J Turbomach 118:29–40
Kline SJ, McClintock FA (1953) Describing uncertainties in single-sample experiments. Mech Eng 75(1):3–8
Liu B, Yu X, Liu H, Jiang H, Yuan H, Xu Y (2006) Application of SPIV in turbomachinery. Exp Fluids 40:621–642
Miller RW (1989) Flow measurement engineering handbook, 2nd edn. McGraw-Hill, New York
Pinsley JE, Guenette GR, Epstein AH, Greitzer EM (1991) Active stabilization of centrifugal compressor surge. J Turbomach 113:723–732
Prasad AK (2011) Stereoscopic particle image velocimetry. Exp Fluids 29:103–116
Rodgers C (1991) Centrifugal compressor inlet guide vanes for increased surge margin. J Turbomach 113:696–702
Sorokes JM (1998) Rotating stall an overview of dresser-rand experience. Tech Rep Dresser-Rand, Olean, NY
Tamaki H (2012) Effect of recirculation device with counter swirl vane on performance of high pressure ratio centrifugal compressor. J Turbomach 134(051036–1):051036. doi:10.1115/1.4004820
Uchida H, Kashimoto A, Iwakiri Y (2006) Development of wide flow range compressor with variable inlet guide vane. Spec Issue Turbocharging Technol 41(3):9–14 (r&D Review of Toyota CRDL)
Voges M, Beversdorff M, Willert C, Krain H (2007) Application of particle image velocimetry to a transonic centrifugal compressor. Exp Fluids 43:371–384
Voges M, Schnell R, Willert C, Mnig R, Mller MW, Zscherp C (2011) Investigation of blade tip interaction with casing treatment in a transonic compressor—part I: particle image velocimetry. J Turbomach 133(1):011007. doi:10.1115/1.4000489
Wernet MP, Skoch MM, Bright GJ (2002) An investigation of surge in a high-speed centrifugal compressor using digital PIV. In: Tech Rep, Institution NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH
Wernet MP (2000) Application of DPIV to study both steady state and transient turbomachinery flows. Optics Laser Technol 32:497–525
Westerweel J (2000) Theoretical analysis of the measurement precision in particle image velocimetry. Exp Fluids 29:S3–S12
Williams JEF, Huang XY (1989) Active stabilization of compressor surge. J Fluid Mech 204:245–262
Yamaguchi S, Yamaguchi HI, Goto S, Nakao H, Nakamura F (2002) The development of effective casing treatment for turbocharger compressors. In: 7th International conference on turbochargers and turbocharging, Proceedings of IMechE, C602/016/2002
Yang M, Martinez-Botas R, Zhang Y, Zheng X, Tamaki H, Bamba T, Li Z (2011) Investigation of self-recycling-casing-treatment (SRCT) influence on stability of high pressure ratio centrifugal compressor with a volute. ASME Paper No. GT2011-45065 Turbo Expo 2011, pp 1857–1867
Yang M, Zheng X, Zhang Y, Bamba T, Tamaki H (2010) Stability improvement of high-pressure-ratio turbocharger centrifugal compressor by asymmetric flow control—part I: non-axisymmetric flow in centrifugal compressor. ASME Paper GT2010-22581
Zheng X, Zhang Y, Yang M, Bamba T, Tamaki H (2010) Stability improvement of high-pressure-ratio turbocharger centrifugal compressor by asymmetric flow control—part II: non-axisymmetric flow in centrifugal compressor. ASME Paper GT2010-22582
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gancedo, M., Gutmark, E. & Guillou, E. PIV measurements of the flow at the inlet of a turbocharger centrifugal compressor with recirculation casing treatment near the inducer. Exp Fluids 57, 16 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-015-2105-5
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-015-2105-5