The Development of a Centrifugal Compressor Impeller

Abstract

An impeller is one of the key components of industrial centrifugal compressors and turbochargers. Aerodynamic and structure designs of the impeller are critical to the success of the whole compressor stages. The requirements for efficiency and operating range of industrial centrifugal compressors and turbochargers have been increased dramatically compared with the situation in the past. The efficiency of a newly developed, low-pressure-ratio centrifugal compressor has reached the possible level of the machine. However, the efficiency level of an intermediate- and high-pressure ratio machine still has gaps between the current state-of-the-art and possible level. The challenge for centrifugal compressor design is to keep the efficiency level at state-of-the-art and increase the compressor operating range. Increase of the compressor operating range without sacrificing compressor peak efficiency is difficult to achieve. The product globalization requires one product design, which can be used in all locations. In some counties, due to the technology differences, electricity frequency variations could be 10%. Turbocharger compressors work at different rotational speeds for the majority of the time. The compressor impeller rotating speeds change in certain ranges. The impeller rotating speed variation makes the impeller structure design more challenging. In this study, a full-3D impeller was designed to optimize impeller aerodynamic performance and structure characteristics.