Effects of Vaneiess Diffuser Geometry on Flow Instability in Centrifugal Compression Systems

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of vaneless diffuser radius ratio on the occurrence of self-excited flow oscillations in a centrifugal compression system. Analysis of the results indicated the successive occurrence of two types of diffuser rotating pressure patterns as the flow rate in the system was gradually decreased. The rotational speed of the latter pattern was higher than that of the initial pattern and both speeds varied inversely with diffuser radius ratio. The critical flow angle at which each pattern was first observed increased with diffuser radius ratio. However, for diffuser radius ratio equal to and larger than 1.75 the rate of change of the critical angle with radius ratio decreased significantly. The results also showed that the minimum diffuser radius ratio necessary for self excitation of each pattern were different. Occurrence of two rotating pressure patterns confirms analytical results presented in a previous investigation.