PEMP

RMD 2501

Centrifugal Compressors
Session delivered by:
Prof Q.H.
Prof.
Q H Nagpurwala

07

M.S. Ramaiah School of Advanced Studies

Session Objectives

PEMP
RMD 2501

This session is intended to introduce the following:

Basic aerothermodynamics of centrifugal compressors

Types of impellers
Euler turbine equation and velocity triangles
Centrifugal compressor performance
Stall and surge in centrifugal compressors
Vaneless and vaned diffusers

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M.S. Ramaiah School of Advanced Studies

Centrifugal Compressor

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M.S. Ramaiah School of Advanced Studies

PEMP
RMD 2501

Introduction

PEMP
RMD 2501

Turbomachines
T
b
hi
employing
l i centrifugal
t if
l effects
ff t for
f increasing
i
i fl
fluid
id
pressure have been in use for more than a century.

The earliest machines using this method were hydraulic pumps followed
later by ventilating fans and blowers.
A centrifugal

compressor was incorporated in the Whittle turbojet engine.

Axial
A i l

fl
flow compressors are more suitable
it bl ffor llarger engines
i
iin tterms off
smaller frontal area (and drag) and 3-4% higher efficiency for the same
duty than centrifugal compressors.

But for very small compressors with low flow rates, the efficiency of axial
compressors drops sharply, blading is small and difficult to make
accurately, and the centrifugal compressor is again preferable .

Many applications are found in small gas turbines for road vehicles and
commercial helicopters as well as bigger applications, e.g., diesel engine
turbochargers,
g , chemical p
plant p
processes,, factory
y workshop
p air supplies,
pp
,
large-scale air-conditioning plant, etc.
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M.S. Ramaiah School of Advanced Studies

PEMP
RMD 2501

Applications of Centrifugal Compressors

Axial compressor

Centrifugal
compressor used by
Si F
Sir
Frank
k Whi
Whittle
l in
i
his gas turbine
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The Turbomeca
Centrifugal Compressor
fitt d to
fitted
t the
th RTM322
engine

M.S. Ramaiah School of Advanced Studies

PEMP
RMD 2501

Applications of Centrifugal Compressors

Rolls Royce Goblin II engine using

centrifugal compressor

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Use of centrifugal compressor in

turbocharger

M.S. Ramaiah School of Advanced Studies

Axial-Centrifugal Compressor

PEMP
RMD 2501

Honeywell TPE331-10U / 11U turboprop engine

employing axial and
centrifugal compressor
stages

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M.S. Ramaiah School of Advanced Studies

Automotive Gas Turbine Engine

PEMP
RMD 2501

(A) Accessory drive, (B) Compressor, (C)

Right regenerator rotor, (D) Variable nozzle
unit, (E) Power turbine, (F) Reduction gear,
(G) Left regenerator rotor,
rotor (H) Gas
generator turbine, (I) Burner, (J) Fuel
Nozzle, (K) Igniter, (L) Starter-generator,
(M) Regenerator drive shaft, (N) Ignition
unit

Gas turbine engine of a

Chrysler car

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Multistage Centrifugal Compressor

PEMP
RMD 2501

Dresser-Rand Company Multistage Centrifugal

Compressor
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Return Channels in Multistage

C t if l Compressor
Centrifugal
C

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PEMP
RMD 2501

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Nomenclature
C
n
N
r
U
Ue
W, V

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Absolute velocity
Number of vanes
Rotational speed
Radius
Impeller speed at tip
Impeller
p
speed
p
at mean radius of eye
y
Relative velocity
Absolute flow angle
Relative flow angle
g
Slip factor
Power input factor
Angular velocity

suffixes
a
r
w, , u

Axial component, ambient

Radial component
Whirl component
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PEMP
RMD 2501

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Single Stage Centrifugal Compressor

(Splitter blade)

Inducer

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PEMP
RMD 2501

(Vaned diffuser)

Impeller eye

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Centrifugal Compressor

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RMD 2501

Vaneless
space

Centrifugal compressor stage and velocity diagrams at impeller entry and exit
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PEMP
RMD 2501

Radial Impeller with Diffuser Vanes

Splitter Blade

Main Blade

Diffuser Vane

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Types of Impellers

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PEMP
RMD 2501

One sided
Two sided
Shrouded
Unshrouded
Radial vanes
Backward swept vanes
Forwardd swept vanes

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PEMP
RMD 2501

Types of Impellers

Back swept impeller

2 =< 900

Forward sweep
p
Radial exit

Radial exit impeller

2 => 900

2 = 900

Impeller with splitter blades

Shrouded impeller

V < U2

V = U2

Backward sweep

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Forward swept impeller

V > U2

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Ideal Performance of Impellers

PEMP
RMD 2501

Head flow characteristics for various

outlet blade angles
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PEMP
RMD 2501

Velocity Triangles

W2
2

2
U2

Outlet velocity triangle

1= 0

U1
W1

Cw1= 0

Inlet velocity triangle

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M.S. Ramaiah School of Advanced Studies

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Inlet Prewhirl

PEMP
RMD 2501

Prewhirl can be achieved by

fixing inlet guide vanes to the
compressor casing.
i
This

changes the inlet velocity

triangle.
triangle
The

work capacity of the

compressor decreases.
Wsp = U2Cw2 - U1Cw1

It is
i required
i d to
t properly
l design
d i
the inlet guide vanes in order to
minimise pressure loss.
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Pre-Swirl Guide Vanes

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PEMP
RMD 2501

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Impeller Intake Mach Numbers

PEMP
RMD 2501

Air enters axially towards the inducer and then flows through the
radial channel of the impeller.
Flow separation might occur on the suction surface (convex face)
off the
th curvedd partt off the
th impeller
i
ll vane.
There is possibility of shock waves in the inducer tip region for
high pressure ratio compressors.
At higher altitudes M will increase
as there is a decrease in T.
T

M =

V1
RT1

To reduce M, V must reduce.

Thi
This can be
b done
d
by
b introducing
i t d i
prewhirl at inducer inlet.

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M.S. Ramaiah School of Advanced Studies

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Specific Work

PEMP
RMD 2501

Specific work is given by Euler turbine equation

W&c = (Wc m& ) = (U 2Cw 2 U1Cw1 ) = (h02 h01 )

If the flow enters the impeller axially,
axially then 1= 0 and Cw1= 0,
0 and
the specific work is given by

W&c = (Wc m& ) = (U 2Cw 2 ) = (h02 h01 )

For impeller with radial exit, 2= 90 and Cw2= U2, hence specific
work

W&c = (Wc m& ) = U 22 = (h02 h01 )

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PEMP
RMD 2501

Compression Process on T-s Diagram

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Specific Work

PEMP
RMD 2501

Absolute velocity is given by,

by

Rothalpy,
Adding and subtracting U 2, this becomes

From the velocity triangle

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M.S. Ramaiah School of Advanced Studies

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Specific Work

PEMP
RMD 2501

Across the impeller

impeller, I1 = I2, hence

This expression provides the reason why the static enthalpy rise in a centrifugal
compressor is so large compared with a single-stage axial compressor.
The term
and the term

is the contribution from the diffusion of relative velocity

is the contribution from the centrifugal action caused by

th change
the
h
in
i radius.
di
For axial entry to the compressor,

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, and specific work

M.S. Ramaiah School of Advanced Studies

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Power Input Factor

PEMP
RMD 2501

Due to friction between the casing and the air carried around by
the vanes, and other losses which have a braking effect such as
di friction
disc
f i ti or windage,
i d
the
th applied
li d torque
t
andd therefore
th f
the
th
actual work input is greater than the theoretical value. To
account for this, a power input factor can be introduced, and
the specific work is given by

W&c = (Wc m& ) = (U 2Cw 2 U1Cw1 ) = (h02 h01 )

>1

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M.S. Ramaiah School of Advanced Studies

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PEMP
RMD 2501

Slip
Even under ideal (frictionless) conditions the
relative flow leaving the impeller does not
receive perfect guidance from the vanes and the
flow is said to slip. Hence, 2 > 2.
average
g relative
flow angle

The slip velocity is defined as

vane angle
Velocity triangle at
impeller exit

C C w

Cws = Cw' 2 Cw 2
Cw2
= ' <1
andd Sli
Slip Factor,
F t
Cw2
Cw2
For radial impeller, =
U2
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M.S. Ramaiah School of Advanced Studies

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Slip Factor Correlations

PEMP
RMD 2501

Stanitz correlation

Wiesner correlation

cos 2
s = 1
Z 0.7

Stodola correlation

and 2 is measured from radial direction.

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M.S. Ramaiah School of Advanced Studies

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Slip and Specific Work

PEMP
RMD 2501

Taking into account slip factor and power input factor,

W&c = (Wc m& ) = (U 2Cw 2 U1Cw1 ) = (h02 h01 )

and for radial impeller with axial inlet

W& = U 22
Temperature rise, T03 T01 =

p03 T
=
p01 T01
'
03

( 1)

U 22
cp

c (T03 T01 )
= 1 +

T
01

c U
= 1 +
c pT01

07

2
2

( 1)

( 1)

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PEMP
RMD 2501

Diffuser

In a centrifugal compressor, the flow leaving the impeller, passes through diffuser.

The

diffuser can be vaneless space, vaned or a combination of both.

The

function of the diffuser is to convert the exit kinetic energy

gy into pressure.
p

Diffuser being a static part,

the total conditions (pressure
and temperature)
p
) do not
change across it. But the
static pressure and
temperature increase with
consequent decrease in
absolute velocity.

Vaneless
diffuser
Vaned diffuser

In high
g stage
g pressure
p
ratio
compressors, the diffuser
leading edge region is critical
because of high Mach
numbers giving rise to
shocks and shock losses.
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M.S. Ramaiah School of Advanced Studies

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Types of Diffusers

Uniform thickness
curved vanes

Aerofoil shape
vanes

Uniform thickness
straight vanes

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PEMP
RMD 2501

Wedge shape
vanes

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Straight Wedge-Shaped Diffuser

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PEMP
RMD 2501

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Pipe Diffuser

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RMD 2501

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Diffuser Performance

PEMP
RMD 2501

Isentropic change in static enthalpy

Diffuser efficiency =
Actual change in static enthalpy

(
(

h2 s h1 1 / 2 C12 C22s
=
D =
h2 h1 1 / 2 C12 C22

)
)

T2 s T1 T1
=
T2 T1 T1
For the isentropic process 1-2s

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M.S. Ramaiah School of Advanced Studies

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Diffuser Performance

PEMP
RMD 2501

F constant
For
t t temperature
t
t
process 01-02
01 02
From the gas law
U
Upon
iintegrating
t
ti for
f the
th whole
h l process we gett
For the constant pressure process, 2s - 2,
Therefore
Equating these expressions for the entropy increase and using

Therefore

and
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PEMP
RMD 2501

Volute System

Vaneless
V
l
space

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Compressor Performance

PEMP
RMD 2501

Performance
P
f
characteristics
h
t i ti are plotted
l tt d as variation
i ti off totall pressure ratio
i and
d
isentropic efficiency versus corrected mass flow rate, m& T01 p01 for various
corrected speeds N T01 .

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M.S. Ramaiah School of Advanced Studies

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Stall and Surge

Stall /
surge line

Stable operating
point

Any stable operating point lies at the

intersection of the compressor and
throttle characteristics

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PEMP
RMD 2501

Instability (stall) occurs when the

slope of the throttle characteristic
becomes larger than that of the
compressor characteristic
h
t i ti

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PEMP
RMD 2501

Stall, Surge and Choke

Stall

Pressure
surface
Suction
surface

Design
point

Surge

Choke

Deflected flow
+i

Stall and Surge

At low flow rates at a given speed,
the reduction in axial velocity
causes the flow to enter the inducer
at large positive incipience resulting
in flow separation on the suction
surface leading to the phenomenon
of rotating stall.
Stall can also initiate at the diffuser
d to large
due
l
positive
i i incidence
i id
at
reduced flow rates.
07

Choking
At hi
highh flow
fl rates
t att a given
i
speed,
d the
th pressure
and density reduce, causing an increase in radial
velocity (continuity equation). The relative
velocityy also become high
g with negative
g
incidence at inducer and diffuser leading ends.
Finally, choking may occur owing to large flow
blockage due to separation on the pressure
surface or due to formation of shocks in the
inducer / diffuser passages.

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39

Session Summary

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PEMP
RMD 2501

The construction and components of centrifugal compressors

are explained.
l i d
Types of impellers and diffusers are introduced.
Concept of slip and prewhirl
prewhirl, and their effects on the specific
work output are discussed.
Performance characteristics, including the phenomenon of
choking and stall / surge, are discussed.
Performance analysis of diffusers is explained in detail.

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PEMP
RMD 2501

Thank you

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