Analysis of the velocity diagrams of impellers of centrifugal compressor stages after the preliminary design

Abstract

Preliminary design is an important stape in the development of centrifugal compressors and compressor stages. Basically for this purpose, various recommendations on the choice of the flow path dimensions are applied. Researchers of the Research and Development Laboratory “Gas dynamics of turbomachines” prof. Yu.B. Galerkin and A.F. Rekstin analyzed and summarized the dimensions of flow paths of 124 impellers. On the basis of this analysis, formulas were proposed for choosing the flow path dimensions of the centrifugal compressor stages, which were included in the preliminary design program. The formulas used are designed for relative Mach number of 0.7 and isentropic coefficient of 1.4. The correct application of these formulas for other Mach numbers and isentropic coefficient required development of an appropriate approach and algorithm for adjusting the height of the impeller blades at the outlet. Calculations of gas-dynamic characteristics using the Universal Modeling Method showed the need for selecting a coefficient that takes into account the influence of viscosity to obtain the required pressure characteristics of the compressor stage. This problem was also solved in the program of preliminary design. To check the quality of preliminary design, the results were verified using a non-viscous quasi-three-dimensional calculation program. Three stages were designed for parameters different to those used for development of preliminary design formulas. Analysis of the velocity diagrams of the impeller blades and distribution of meridional velocities showed good results of the preliminary design.