In this effort, 3D CFD simulations are carried out for real gas flow in a refrigeration centrifugal compressor. Both commercial and the in-house CFD codes are used for steady and unsteady simulations, respectively. The impact on the compressor performance with various volute designs and diffuser modifications are investigated with steady simulations and the analysis is focused on both the diffuser and the volute loss, in addition to the flow distortion at impeller exit. The influence of the tongue, scroll diffusion ratio, diffuser length, and cross sectional area distribution is examined to determine the impact on size and performance. The comparisons of total pressure loss, static pressure recovery, through flow velocity, and the secondary flow patterns for different volute designs show that the performance of the centrifugal compressor depends upon how well the scroll portion of the volute collects the flow from the impeller and achieves the required pressure rise with minimum flow losses in the overall diffusion process. Finally, the best design is selected based on compressor stage pressure rise and peak efficiency improvement. An unsteady simulation of the full wheel compressor stage was carried out to further examine the interaction of impeller, diffuser and the volute. The unsteady flow interactions are shown to have a major impact on the performance of the centrifugal stage.
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ASME Turbo Expo 2016: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition
June 13–17, 2016
Seoul, South Korea
Conference Sponsors:
- International Gas Turbine Institute
ISBN:
978-0-7918-4972-9
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Numerical Investigation of the Effect of Diffuser and Volute Design Parameters on the Performance of a Centrifugal Compressor Stage Available to Purchase
Lei Yu,
Lei Yu
United Technologies Research Center - China, Shanghai, China
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William T. Cousins,
William T. Cousins
United Technologies Research Center, East Hartford, CT
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Feng Shen,
Feng Shen
United Technologies Research Center - China, Shanghai, China
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Georgi Kalitzin,
Georgi Kalitzin
United Technologies Research Center, East Hartford, CT
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Vishnu Sishtla,
Vishnu Sishtla
UTC Climate, Controls & Security, Syracuse, NY
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Om Sharma
Om Sharma
United Technologies Research Center, East Hartford, CT
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Lei Yu
United Technologies Research Center - China, Shanghai, China
William T. Cousins
United Technologies Research Center, East Hartford, CT
Feng Shen
United Technologies Research Center - China, Shanghai, China
Georgi Kalitzin
United Technologies Research Center, East Hartford, CT
Vishnu Sishtla
UTC Climate, Controls & Security, Syracuse, NY
Om Sharma
United Technologies Research Center, East Hartford, CT
Paper No:
GT2016-57057, V02DT42A024; 11 pages
Published Online:
September 20, 2016
Citation
Yu, L, Cousins, WT, Shen, F, Kalitzin, G, Sishtla, V, & Sharma, O. "Numerical Investigation of the Effect of Diffuser and Volute Design Parameters on the Performance of a Centrifugal Compressor Stage." Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo 2016: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition. Volume 2D: Turbomachinery. Seoul, South Korea. June 13–17, 2016. V02DT42A024. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/GT2016-57057
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