Abstract
Centrifugal compressors are key elements in turbochargers and small gas turbines, making their performance evaluation essential for system efficiency and energy savings. This paper outlines creating and validating a specialized experimental setup designed for in-depth research on centrifugal compressors. The setup allows for the study of various impeller and diffuser configurations, flow-field analysis using Particle Image Velocimetry, and the investigation of inlet distortions, among other future research topics. The paper details the approach used to build the setup and validates its functionality through a case study featuring a research compressor with a vaneless diffuser. A characteristic map generated using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is used as a benchmark for comparison with experimental data. Initial results show a strong correlation between the CFD and experimental data in terms of flow rate and pressure ratio, validating the setup’s effectiveness. The overall performance aligns with existing research, confirming the setup’s value as a reliable platform for future studies on centrifugal compressors.
