Design and Application of a Test Rig for Stationary Component Performance Measurement of Centrifugal Compressors

Zhao, K.; Liu, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Liu, X.; Shi, H.

doi:10.47176/jafm.18.4.2811

Design and Application of a Test Rig for Stationary Component Performance Measurement of Centrifugal Compressors

Document Type : Regular Article

Authors

¹ School of Energy and Power Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning, 116024, China

² Shenyang Blower Group Co., Ltd, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110869, China

10.47176/jafm.18.4.2811

Abstract

Experimental testing is an important method for studying centrifugal compressors. However, test rigs with rotating impellers are costly in terms of construction and operating expenses. To address this issue, this study introduces a stationary component performance test rig for centrifugal compressors using an existing wind tunnel. The rig comprises a blower to supply compressed air, a wind tunnel, and a test section of stationary centrifugal compressor model stage. Specially designed stationary guide vanes substitute the impeller to simulate the impeller outlet flow field. Flow field parameters are measured at the inlet and outlet of each model-scale stationary component using a five-hole probe. Measured results can be used to evaluate the performance of each stationary component. Comparison between measured data and CFD results reveals that the measurement results are in good agreement with CFD results. This validates the reliability of the built test rig and measurement. Afterwards an improved diffuser and return channel of the same centrifugal compressor model stage is tested. The experimental results show a 4% reduction in total pressure loss coefficient and a 1% increase in static pressure recovery coefficient compared to the original structure. These results align with the findings obtained on a rotating test rig, indicating the feasibility of the proposed stationary component aerodynamic performance test rig.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Compressible Flows

References

Aalburg, C., Sezal, I., Haigermoser, C., Simpson, A., Michelassi, V., & Sassanelli, G. (2011). Annular cascade for radial compressor development. Turbo Expo: Power for Land, Sea, and Air. https://doi.org/10.1115/GT2011-46834

Aalburg, C., Simpson, A., Schmitz, M., Michelassi, V., Evangelisti, S., Belardini, E., & Ballarini, V. (2008). Design and testing of multistage centrifugal compressors with small diffusion ratios. Turbo Expo: Power for Land, Sea, and Air. https://doi.org/10.1115/GT2008-51263

Dolle, B., Brillert, D., Dohmen, H., & Benra, F. K. (2019). Experimental and numerical investigation on the flow in a return channel of multistage centrifugal compressors. Turbo Expo: Power for Land, Sea, and Air. https://doi.org/10.1115/GT2019-90455

Ferrara, G., Ferrari, L., & Baldassarre, L. (2004). Low solidity vaned diffusers for rotating stall prevention: Experimental analysis of some design parameters. Turbo Expo: Power for Land, Sea, and Air. https://doi.org/10.1115/GT2004-54146

Gilarranz R, J. L., Lombardi, L. M., Keesler, J. E., Maier, W. C., Koch, J. M., & Sorokes, J. M. (2009). Actuation and control of a moveable geometry system for a full-scale, multi-stage centrifugal compressor test vehicle. Turbo Expo: Power for Land, Sea, and Air. https://doi.org/10.1115/GT2009-60310

Hildebrandt, A. (2011). Aerodynamic optimisation of a centrifugal compressor return channel and U-turn with genetic algorithms. Turbo Expo: Power for Land, Sea, and Air. https://doi.org/10.1115/GT2011-45076

Lenke, L., & Simon, H. (1999). Numerical investigations on the optimum design of return channels of multi-stage centrifugal compressors. Turbo Expo: Power for Land, Sea, and Air. https://doi.org/10.1115/99-GT-103

Li, S., Liu, Y., Li, H., & Omidi, M. J. A. S. (2021). Numerical study of the improvement in stability and performance by use of a partial vaned diffuser for a centrifugal compressor stage. Applied Sciences, 11(15), 6980. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11156980

Oh, J. M., Engeda, A., & Chung, M. K. (2005). A numerical study of the U-turn bend in return channel systems for multistage centrifugal compressors. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, 219(8), 749-756. https://doi.org/10.1243/095440605X31760

Rube, C., Rossbach, T., Wedeking, M., Grates, D., & Jeschke, P. (2016). Experimental and numerical investigation of the flow inside the return channel of a centrifugal process compressor. Journal of Turbomachinery, 138(10), 101006. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4032905

Seki, W., Ueda, K., Shirakata, Y., Fukushima, R., Mori, K., & Koga, J. (2006). New model turbo chiller, AART Series, contributes to the reduction of energy consumption under year-run operation. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Technical Review, 43, 1-5. https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=ed203b6a68be92df5e3000314c9a71b29797a159

Simpson, A., Aalburg, C., Schmitz, M. B., Pannekeet, R., Michelassi, V., & Larisch, F. (2014). Application of flow control in a novel sector test rig. Journal of Turbomachinery, 136(4), 041002. https://doi.org/10.1115/GT2009-60126

Simpson, A., Aalburg, C., Schmitz, M., Pannekeet, R., Larisch, F., & Michelassi, V. (2008). Design, validation and application of a radial cascade for centrifugal compressors. Turbo Expo: Power for Land, Sea, and Air. https://doi.org/10.1115/GT2008-51262

Sorokes, J. M. (2013). Range versus Efficiency-striking the proper balance. Proceedings of the 42nd Turbomachinery Symposium. https://doi.org/10.21423/R1BP89

Xi, G., Tian, Y., Guo, Y., Tang, Y., & Wang, Z. (2019). Experimental and numerical investigations on flow losses of a u-bend and return channel system for centrifugal compressor. Turbo Expo: Power for Land, Sea, and Air. https://doi.org/10.1115/GT2019-90559

Yagi, M., Nishioka, T., Kobayashi, H., Nishida, H., & Yamamoto, S. (2015). Effects of return channel with splitter vanes on performance of multistage centrifugal compressor. Turbo Expo: Power for Land, Sea, and Air. https://doi.org/10.1115/GT2015-42442

Zhao, P. F., Liu, Y., & Wang, X. F. (2017). Analysis of vortices and performance of different diffusers in a large mass flow coefficient centrifugal compressor. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy, 231(4), 253-273. https://doi.org/10.1177/0957650917701339