Experimental Study of the Effect of the Tip Clearance to the Diffuser Flow Field and Stage Performance of a Centrifugal Compressor

Abstract

The effect of tip clearance to the centrifugal compressor diffuser flow fields and stage overall performance are studied experimentally. The relative tip clearance (tip clearance divided by the impeller exit blade height) is increased by shimming the shroud side casing of a high-speed variable speed driven industrial centrifugal compressor. Four different relative tip clearances are studied: 0.027, 0.053, 0.082, and 0.106. The stage efficiency and pressure ratios are measured, as well as the diffuser flow fields. The diffuser flow fields are measured both at the diffuser inlet and outlet. The total pressure and flow angle are measured with a cobra probe, and the total pressure and temperature with three Kiel probes. Static pressures are measured adjacent to the probe measurements. As expected, increasing the tip clearance leads to lower stage efficiency and pressure ratios. The decrement in the efficiency due to the increasing of the tip clearance is higher with higher mass flows, and at lower rotational speeds. Increasing tip clearance increases the size of the secondary flow region present at the impeller outlet near the shroud.