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Study of hub slotting and low-solidity combined treatment of diffuser vanes on stability of a centrifugal compressor

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Abstract

It is expected that a narrower stable operating range and higher aerodynamic efficiency can be simultaneously obtained in a centrifugal compressor with a vane diffuser. How to expand the stable operating range has become an important and critical point in the study of centrifugal compressors. In the paper, the combination treatment of a hub side slotting and low solidity of diffuser vanes of a centrifugal compressor was implemented. Through steady-state and transient computational fluid dynamics (CFD) work, the influence of this newly proposed diffuser treatment method on the stable operating range and efficiency of the compressor was investigated. The results show that the low-solidity vane diffuser with hub side slotting treatment can improve the flow stability of the diffuser channel near the surge state and expand the choke boundary of the compressor. It may also recover some of the efficiency loss due to the switching to the low diffuser solidity. The mechanisms of these effects were analyzed, and the results show that in the case of reduced mass flow, the hub slot sucks in the stagnant fluid in the shroud region from the pressure side of the diffuser and transports it back to the suction side of the diffuser, forcing the fluid there to move upward toward the shroud, thereby improving the flow of the diffuser and avoiding the stall of the diffuser shroud.

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Abbreviations

D 1 :

Diameter of impeller inlet

D 2 :

Diameter of impeller outlet

D 3 :

Diameter of vane diffuser inlet

D 4 :

Diameter of vane diffuser outlet

d1 :

Lower diameter of hub slot

d2 :

Upper diameter of hub slot

h:

Height of slot

H:

Height of diffuser vanes

k :

Adiabatic exponent

m :

Mass flow rate

m c :

Mass flow rate of choke point

m i :

Mass flow rate of inlet

m o :

Mass flow rate of outlet

m s :

Mass flow rate of surge point

N :

Number of diffuser vane

P 0i :

Total pressure of inlet

P 0e :

Total pressure of outlet

S :

Solidity

T 0i :

Total temperature of inlet

T 0e :

Total temperature of outlet

α 1 :

Blade angle of impeller inlet at tip section

α 2 :

Blade angle of vane diffuser inlet

β 1 :

Blade angle of impeller outlet

β 2 :

Blade angle of vane diffuser outlet

γ :

Installation angle of diffuser vane

δ :

Total pressure loss coefficient

η :

Adiabatic efficiency

μ :

Mass flow range

π :

Total pressure ratio

CFD:

Computational fluids dynamics

LS:

Low solidity

Ori:

Original

OS:

Open slot

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Acknowledgements

The experimental work was conducted by Kangyue Technology Co. Ltd., which is gratefully acknowledged by the authors. We also would like to express our gratitude to EditSprings (https://www.editsprings.com/) for the expert linguistic services provided.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical-Electronic and Vehicle Engineering, Weifang University, Weifang, 261061, China

    Chao Ma

  2. Kangyue Technology (Shandong) Co. Ltd, Shouguang, 262718, China

    Wenjiao Li & Jianjian Zhang

  3. School of Mechanical Engineering, Dalian Jiaotong University, Dalian, 116028, China

    Wenjiao Li

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  1. Chao Ma
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  2. Wenjiao Li
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  3. Jianjian Zhang
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Correspondence to Chao Ma.

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Technical Editor: Monica Carvalho.

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Ma, C., Li, W. & Zhang, J. Study of hub slotting and low-solidity combined treatment of diffuser vanes on stability of a centrifugal compressor. J Braz. Soc. Mech. Sci. Eng. 43, 340 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-021-03066-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-021-03066-6

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