Experimental Investigation on Rotating Stall in a Centrifugal Blower With Two and Four Stages and Vaneless Diffusers

The paper presents the results of an experimental investigation on a multistage centrifugal blower, during rotating stall. The test plant allows to change the turbomachine characteristics; in this research the blower has been tested in two different configurations: two-stage and four-stage, with vaneless diffusers.

The unsteady flow field inside the blower has been measured by means of hot-wire anemometers. Three single hot-wire probes have been utilised to measure the development of the rotating stall, while a crossed hot-wire probe has been utilised to obtain the instantaneous flow field behind the impellers.

The measurements have been done at different flow rate values, including stall inception.