Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T12:29:48.711Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Performance Enhancement of Centrifugal Compressors Utilizing Impeller Tip Injection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 April 2016

R. Taghavi-Zenouz ,
E. Solki  and
H. Afshari
R. Taghavi-Zenouz*
Affiliation:
School of Mechanical Engineering Iran University of Science and Technology Iran
E. Solki
Affiliation:
School of Mechanical Engineering Iran University of Science and Technology Iran
H. Afshari
Affiliation:
School of Mechanical Engineering Iran University of Science and Technology Iran
*
*Corresponding author ([email protected])
Get access

Abstract

Effects of air injection on a centrifugal compressor performance are studied numerically and results are presented in this paper. Flow field is simulated based on solution of the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations utilizing the well-known k-ε turbulence modeling. To find optimum arrangement of the air injectors, including their numbers, positions and setting angles and also their mass flow rates, 10 different cases were proposed in this investigation. Results of velocity and pressure fields and streamlines patterns on various blade-to-blade and streamwise planes provided necessary data for analyses and discussions. These results revealed that a proper air tip injection can weaken the tip leakage flow strength and alleviate the blockages to the main stream near the casing. Hence, this technique can be used to extend the stable operating range of the compressor and delay the probable stall commencement. In addition, compressor can produce higher pressure ratios in cases of proper injections in comparison to no-injection case. Optimum injection configuration improved the stall margin of the proposed compressor by nearly 15.8%. Numerical results for no-injection case were compared with those of the authors own experimental works carried out on a proper test rig, which showed close agreement.

Keywords

Centrifugal compressorStall margin improvementAir tip injectionTip leakage flow
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Mechanics , Volume 32 , Issue 4 , August 2016 , pp. 453 - 461
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Huang, W., Geng, S., Zhu, J. and Zhang, H., “Numerical Simulation of Rotating Stall in a Centrifugal Compressor with Vaned Diffuser,” Journal of Thermal Science, 16, pp. 115–120 (2007).Google Scholar
2. Schleer, M., Song, S. J. and Abhari, R., “Clearance Effects on the Onset of Instability in a Centrifugal Compressor,” Journal of Turbomachinery, 130, pp. 031002-1-11 (2008).Google Scholar
3. Bulot, N., Ottavy, X. and Trebinjac, I., “Unsteady Pressure Measurements in a High-Speed Centrifugal Compressor,” Journal of Thermal Science, 19, pp. 34–41 (2010).Google Scholar
4. Spakovszky, Z. S., “Backward Traveling Rotating Stall Waves in Centrifugal Compressors,” Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2002, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (2002).Google Scholar
5. Zhang, H. G., Chu, W. L. and Wu, Y. H., “Numerical Investigation of the Circumferential Grooved Casing Treatment as Well as Analyzing the Mechanism of Improve Stall Margin,” Proceedings of Fifth International Conference on Fluid Mechanics, Shanghai, China (2007).Google Scholar
6. Gao, P. and Zhang, S., “The Analysis of Tip Flow Field in a Centrifugal Compressor with Different Circumferential Grooves Casing Treatment,” Proceeding of 2010 International Conference on Computer and Communication Technologies in Agriculture Engineering, Chengdu, China (2010).Google Scholar
7. Yu, Q., Li, Q. and Li, L., “The Experimental Researches on Improving Operating Stability of a Single-Stage Transonic Fan,” ASME Turbo Expo 2002, Amsterdam, Netherlands (2002).Google Scholar
8. Hassan, A. S., “Stability of a Low-Speed Centrifugal Compressor with Casing Treatments,” Turbomachines: Aeroelasticity, Aeroacoustics and Unsteady Aerodynamics, TORUS Press, Moscow, pp. 406–420 (2006).Google Scholar
9. Xu, W., Wang, T. and Gu, C. G., “Performance of a Centrifugal Compressor with Holed Casing Treatment in the Large Flowrate Condition,” Science China Technology Science, 54, pp. 2483–2492 (2011).Google Scholar
10. Gao, P., Chu, W. L. and Wu, Y. H., “The Mechanism of Stall Margin Improvement in a Centrifugal Compressor with the Air Bleeding Circumferential Grooves Casing Treatment,” Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Fluid Mechanics, Shanghai, China (2007).Google Scholar
11. Xu, G., Zhang, H., Nie, C., Huang, W. and Chen, J., “Numerical Simulation of Stall Suppression by Micro Air Injection in a Low-Speed Axial Compressor,” Proceedings of the International Gas Turbine Congress, Tokyo, Japan (2003).Google Scholar
12. Lim, H., Bae, H. J., Lim, Y. C., Song, S. J., Kang, S. H. and Yang, S. S., “Injection Profile Effects on Low Speed Axial Compressor Stability Enhancement,” Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 25, pp. 1501–1507 (2011).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13. Lu, X., Chu, W., Zhu, J. and Tong, Z., “Numerical and Experimental Investigations of Steady Micro-Tip Injection on a Subsonic Axial-Flow Compressor Rotor,” International Journal of Rotating Machinery, 2006, pp. 1–11 (2006).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14. Nie, C., Tong, Z., Geng, S., Zhu, J. and Huang, W., “Experimental Investigations of Micro Air Injection to Control Rotating Stall,” Journal of Thermal Science, 16, pp. 1–6 (2007).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15. Skoch, G. J., “Experimental Investigation of Centrifugal Compressor Stabilization Techniques,” Journal of Turbomachinery, 125, pp. 704–713 (2003).Google Scholar
16. Stein, A., Niazi, S. and Sankar, L. N., “Computational Analysis of Centrifugal Compressor Surge Control Using Air Injection,” Journal of Aircraft, 38, pp. 513–520 (2001).Google Scholar
17. Hirano, T., Uchida, T. and Tsujita, H., “Control of Surge in Centrifugal Compressor by Using a Nozzle Injection System: Universality in Optimal Position of Injection Nozzle,” International Journal of Rotating Machinery, 2012, pp. 1–8 (2012).Google Scholar