The stable operating range of a centrifugal compressor stage of an engine turbocharger is limited at low mass flow rates by aerodynamic instabilities which can lead to the onset of rotating stall or surge. There have been many techniques employed to increase the stable operating range of centrifugal compressor stages. The literature demonstrates that there are various possibilities for adding special treatments to the nominal diffuser vane geometry, or including injection or bleed flows to modify the diffuser flow field in order to influence diffuser stability. One such treatment is the porous throat diffuser (PTD). Although the benefits of this technique have been proven in the existing literature, a comprehensive understanding of how this technique operates is not yet available. This paper uses experimental measurements from a high pressure ratio (PR) compressor stage to acquire a sound understanding of the flow features within the vaned diffuser which affect the stability of the overall compression system and investigate the stabilizing mechanism of the porous throat diffuser. The nonuniform circumferential pressure imposed by the asymmetric volute is experimentally and numerically examined to understand if this provides a preferential location for stall inception in the diffuser. The following hypothesis is confirmed: linking of the diffuser throats via the side cavity equalizes the diffuser throat pressure, thus creating a more homogeneous circumferential pressure distribution, which delays stall inception to lower flow rates. The results of the porous throat diffuser configuration are compared to a standard vaned diffuser compressor stage in terms of overall compressor performance parameters, circumferential pressure nonuniformity at various locations through the compressor stage and diffuser subcomponent analysis. The diffuser inlet region was found to be the element most influenced by the porous throat diffuser, and the stability limit is mainly governed by this element.
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January 2018
Research-Article
An Investigation of the Stability Enhancement of a Centrifugal Compressor Stage Using a Porous Throat Diffuser
Lee Galloway,
Lee Galloway
School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
Queen's University Belfast,
Belfast BT9 5AH, UK
e-mail: lgalloway04@qub.ac.uk
Queen's University Belfast,
Belfast BT9 5AH, UK
e-mail: lgalloway04@qub.ac.uk
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Stephen Spence,
Stephen Spence
School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
Queen's University Belfast,
Belfast BT9 5AH, UK
Queen's University Belfast,
Belfast BT9 5AH, UK
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Sung In Kim,
Sung In Kim
School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
Queen's University Belfast,
Belfast BT9 5AH, UK
Queen's University Belfast,
Belfast BT9 5AH, UK
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Daniel Rusch,
Daniel Rusch
ABB Turbo Systems Ltd.,
Baden 5401, Switzerland
Baden 5401, Switzerland
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Klemens Vogel,
Klemens Vogel
ABB Turbo Systems Ltd.,
Baden 5401, Switzerland
Baden 5401, Switzerland
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René Hunziker
René Hunziker
ABB Turbo Systems Ltd.,
Baden 5401, Switzerland
Baden 5401, Switzerland
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Lee Galloway
School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
Queen's University Belfast,
Belfast BT9 5AH, UK
e-mail: lgalloway04@qub.ac.uk
Queen's University Belfast,
Belfast BT9 5AH, UK
e-mail: lgalloway04@qub.ac.uk
Stephen Spence
School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
Queen's University Belfast,
Belfast BT9 5AH, UK
Queen's University Belfast,
Belfast BT9 5AH, UK
Sung In Kim
School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
Queen's University Belfast,
Belfast BT9 5AH, UK
Queen's University Belfast,
Belfast BT9 5AH, UK
Daniel Rusch
ABB Turbo Systems Ltd.,
Baden 5401, Switzerland
Baden 5401, Switzerland
Klemens Vogel
ABB Turbo Systems Ltd.,
Baden 5401, Switzerland
Baden 5401, Switzerland
René Hunziker
ABB Turbo Systems Ltd.,
Baden 5401, Switzerland
Baden 5401, Switzerland
1Corresponding author.
Manuscript received September 12, 2017; final manuscript received October 3, 2017; published online October 31, 2017. Editor: Kenneth Hall.
J. Turbomach. Jan 2018, 140(1): 011008 (12 pages)
Published Online: October 31, 2017
Article history
Received:
September 12, 2017
Revised:
October 3, 2017
Citation
Galloway, L., Spence, S., In Kim, S., Rusch, D., Vogel, K., and Hunziker, R. (October 31, 2017). "An Investigation of the Stability Enhancement of a Centrifugal Compressor Stage Using a Porous Throat Diffuser." ASME. J. Turbomach. January 2018; 140(1): 011008. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4038181
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