Investigation on Effect of Centrifugal Compressor Volute Cross-Section Shape on Performance and Flow Field

Abstract

In this article, the effects of volute cross section shape and centroid profile of a centrifugal compressor volute were investigated. The performance characteristics of a turbocharger compressor were obtained experimentally by measuring rotor speed and flow parameters at the inlet and outlet of the centrifugal compressor. The three dimensional flow field model of the compressor was obtained numerically solving Navier-Stokes equations with SST turbulence model. The compressor characteristic curves were plotted. For model verification, the results were compared with experimental data, showing good agreement. Modification of a volute was performed by introducing a shape factor for volute cross section geometry. By varying this parameter, new volutes were generated and modeled. The effect of volute cross section shape on compressor pressure ratio and efficiency at design rotational speed were investigated. Also pressure non-uniformity around compressor impeller for new cases was calculated and reported. The results showed how the cross section shape of the volute can influence the compressor characteristics and the non-uniformity of circumferential static pressure as well.