Quasi-3D Inverse Design of a Vaned 90-Degree Bent Diffuser for the Exit of a Centrifugal Compressor Impeller

In the present study, the performance of a centrifugal compressor is improved by replacing the combination of vaned radial diffuser and axisymmetric vaneless 90-degree bend by a vaned 90-degree bent diffuser. It controls the outlet flow angle and reduces the overall diameter of the compressor. The optimum number of guide vanes inside the 90-degree bent diffuser is obtained using 3-D numerical simulation. Indeed, changing flow direction simultaneous with decreasing flow velocity through the 90-degree bent diffuser will increase the possibility of secondary flow and separation. Here, the meridional plane of the 90-degree bent diffuser is modified to reduce secondary flow and separation. Geometry modification process integrates Ball-Spine inverse design method as the shape modification algorithm and a quasi-3D analysis code as the flow solver. The current quasi-3D flow solver is in fact a 3-D flow solver that solves viscous flow between two virtual guide vanes located at a very close distance with free slip condition over them. In other words, in the current quasi-3D analysis, stream surfaces are the same as the virtual guide vanes and no slip condition is just applied on the hub and shroud. Shape modification process is carried out by improving the current hub and shroud pressure distribution and applying it to the inverse design algorithm. Spines directions are specified in a way that geometry would change only in the meriodional plane and guide vanes angle remain unchanged in the blade to blade plane through the geometry modification process. Having modified the meridional plane, the new vaned 90-degree bent diffuser is examined by the 3-D flow solver. Results show not only the secondary flow is reduced in the new 90-degree bent diffuser, but also its efficiency increases up to 2%. On the other hand, the overall diameter of the compressor decreases about 24%.