Unsteady Flow Characteristics in a Centrifugal Compressor

The geometry of the vortex shell significantly affects the non-axisymmetric flow in centrifugal compressors. This study explores the static pressure characteristics of the vortex shell through experimental data and numerical analysis using finite element software. Findings indicate that the vortex tongue region critically influences the cascade structure. At high flow rates (0.40 kg/s), flow field parameters at the blade and vortex shell inlets alter markedly near the tongue side. Conversely, at lower velocities (0.26 kg/s), flow distribution at the blade inlet becomes more uneven, and changes in the inflow angle are more pronounced. Additionally, blade pulsation intensifies at higher velocities, and the jet wake vortex exhibits structural variations at different velocities. High-pressure fluctuations are notably transmitted upwards through the vortex shell, with periodic fluctuations affecting the impeller load. These changes significantly impact the flow field under various operating conditions. © 2024 Yanzhao Li et al., published by Sciendo.