Numerical investigation of deep surge in a centrifugal compressor with vaned diffuser and large plenum

Abstract

As the flow rate decreases from stable point to surge point, the complex unsteady flow phenomenon of surge occurs in a centrifugal compressor, which has a significant influence on vast aspects of a compressor. To advance deep understanding of the feature of the deep surge phenomenon, the RANS/URANS numerical simulation is conducted on a centrifugal compressor with a large plenum to analyze the detailed internal flow field in the compressor together with the macroscopic characteristics of the deep surge cycle. The anticlockwise limit cycle obtained from the simulation is firstly analyzed to show the transient characteristics of the stage. Then the variation of blade torque and axial force is presented to show the transient feature in surge cycle together with the proposed prediction of blade torque versus mass flow rate. Meanwhile, there exist different characteristics of the pressure fluctuation along the streamwise direction of the impeller blade, especially the large variation of blade loading near the trailing edge. And the fluctuation of flow field can respectively suppress or promote the hub-corner separation at the process of acceleration or deceleration region, affecting the development of diffuser stall in the surge cycle. The detailed analysis can be helpful to develop the surge model of lumped parameters and determine the effect of surge on impeller blades or downstream components.