Abstract
In many industries, reducing the size of the compression system represents a significant goal for designers. In fact, increasing the power density of the compressor actually means lowering production costs. The chief purpose of this study is to compare, in terms of aerodynamic performances, a centrifugal compressor consisting of an impeller and a volute, to an innovative concept based on the principle of two successive impellers and designed to work in counter-rotation. To simplify the experimental research in this study, the volute of the conventional compressor is maintained for the new design. The conventional impeller has been replaced by two successive impellers having the same meridian profile, and whose diameter of the rear impeller is identical to that of the conventional impeller. The impellers design of the counter-rotation stage was carried out granting to an approach proposed here. The numerical results underline the advantage of the innovative compressor, in terms of power density, compared to the conventional design. The numerical forecasts also agree significantly with the results of experimental tests got on a test bench exclusively designed for compressors. Experimental optimization of the rotational speed ratio of the two counter-rotating impellers has demonstrated the possibility of increasing the compression ratio and efficiency over a wide range of flow.
Highlights
Since the 20th century, counter-rotating turbomachines are used to improve performances with reducing the size and the weight
This paper presents experimental results of the performance comparison between a Counter-Rotating Centrifugal Compressor (CRCC) and a Single Impeller Centrifugal Compressor (SICC) to show the advantages of this innovative design
The pressure ratio is calculated by the ratio of the atmospheric pressure to the inlet pressure measured by FC322 manometer
Summary
Since the 20th century, counter-rotating turbomachines are used to improve performances with reducing the size and the weight. A counter-rotating turbomachinery consists of two impellers rotating in two opposite directions, with two different rotation speeds N1 and N2. This type of systems has been tested for axial-flow fans [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] and shows that it is possible to obtain a higher pressure rise, to improve the efficiency and to extend the operating range of mass flow rate. The point design of the compressor is determined by a mass flow rate m = 0.73kg/s, a pressure ratio equal to 1.31, and the impeller speed N=16000rpm.
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