The Design and Performance of Two-Dimensional, Curved Diffusers: Part I—Exposition of Method and Part II—Experiment, Evaluation of Method, and Conclusions

A procedure for the design of two-dimensional, curved diffusers is developed and evaluated through comparisons with flow regime and performance data. As input to the method, the inner and outer-wall potential-flow pressure distributions are specified as combinations of straight-wall diffuser pressure distributions. The diffuser shape is calculated using the method of Stanitz. In Part II criteria are established for choosing desirable inner and outer-wall pressure distributions. These criteria are based on systematic performance and flow regime tests carried out on curved diffusers with inner-wall length to throat width ratios between 4 and 10, area ratios between 1.5 and 2.1, and turning angles between 30 and 90 deg. The procedure yields diffusers of higher performance than circular-arc center-line diffusers.