International Journal of Fluid Machinery and Systems

Korean Society for Fluid machinery (한국유체기계학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Flow Investigations in the Crossover System of a Centrifugal Compressor Stage

  • Reddy, K. Srinivasa (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aurora's Engineering College) ;
  • Murty, G.V. Ramana (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vasavi College of Engineering Hyderabad) ;
  • Dasgupta, A. (Turbomachinery Laboratory, Corporate R&D Division Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited) ;
  • Sharma, K.V. (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Pahang)
  • Received : 2009.06.24
  • Accepted : 2009.10.26
  • Published : 2010.03.01
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

The performance of the crossover system of a centrifugal compressor stage consisting of static components of $180^{\circ}$ U-bend, return channel vanes and exit ducting with a $90^{\circ}$ bend is investigated. This study is confined to the assessment of performance of the crossover system by varying the shape of the return channel vanes. For this purpose two different types of Return Channel Vanes (RCV1 and RCV2) were experimentally investigated. The performance of the crossover system is discussed in terms of total pressure loss coefficient, static pressure recovery coefficient and vane surface pressure distribution. The experimentation was carried out on a test setup in which static swirl vanes were used to simulate the flow at the exit of an actual centrifugal compressor impeller with a design flow coefficient of 0.053. The swirl vanes are connected to a mechanism with which the flow angle at the inlet of U-bend could be altered. The measurements were taken at five different operating conditions varying from 70% to 120% of design flow rate. On an overall assessment RCV1 is found to give better performance in comparison to RCV2 for different U-bend inlet flow angles. The performance of RCV2 was verified using numerical studies with the help of a CFD Code. Three dimensional sector models were used for simulating the flow through the crossover system. The turbulence was predicted with standard k-$\varepsilon$, 2-equation model. The iso-Mach contour plots on different planes and development of secondary flows were visualized through this study.

Keywords

References

  1. Simon, H., and Rothstein, E., 1983, “On the Development of Return Passages of Multistage Centrifugal Compressors,” ASME Fluids Engineering Division, Vol. 3, Return Passages of Multistage Turbo machinery, pp. 1-11.
  2. Inoue, Y., and Koizumi, T., 1983, “Experimental Study on Flow Patterns and Losses in Return Passages for Centrifugal Compressor,” ASME Fluids Engineering Division, Vol. 3, Return Passages of Multistage Turbo machinery, pp. 13-21.
  3. Lenke, L.J., and Simon, H., 2000, Aerodynamic Analysis of Return Channels of Multi-Stage Centrifugal Compressors,” ASME PID-Vol. 5, Challenges and Goals in Industrial and Pipeline Compressors, pp. 117-126
  4. Arpad Veress., and Vanden Braembussche, R., 2004, “Inverse Design and Optimization of a Return Channel for a Multistage Centrifugal Compressor,” ASME Journal of Fluids Engineering, Vol. 126, pp. 799-806. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1792258
  5. Oh, J M., Engeda, A., and Chung, M K., 2005, “A Numerical Study of the U-turn Bend in Return Channel Systems for Multistage Centrifugal Compressors,” Proc. I Mech E Vol. 219, part C: J. Mechanical Engineering Science, pp. 749-756. https://doi.org/10.1243/095440605X31760
  6. Tomitaro Toyokura and Toshiaki Kanemoto and Moriaki Hatta, September 1986, “Studies on Circular cascades for Return Channels of Centrifugal Turbomachinery” 1st report-Inverse Method and Cascade Design, Bulletin of JSME, Vol. 29, No. 255, paper: 255-22.
  7. Tomitaro Toyokura and Toshiaki Kanemoto, September 1986, “Studies on Circular cascades for Return Channels of Centrifugal Turbomachinery” 2nd report-Flows and Performances of Cascades, Bulletin of JSME, Vol. 29, No. 255, paper: 255-23.
  8. T Ch Siva Reddy, GV Ramana Murty, MVSSSM Prasad, DN Reddy, “Theoretical and Experimental Studies on Low Solidity Vaned Diffusers of a Centrifugal Compressor Stage”, Proc. Of 30th National Conference on Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Power, December 11-13, 2003, NIT, Surathkal, India, pp. 621-628.
  9. James M Sorokes, Bradley R Hutchinson, “The Practical Applications of CFD in the Design of Industrial Centrifugal Compressors”, ASME PID-Vol. 5, Challenges and Goals in Industrial and Pipeline Compressors, pp. 47-54.