Flow measurement in a transonic centrifugal impeller using a PIV

Laser velocimetries, such as LDV or laser-2-focus (L2F) velocimetry, have been widely used for a flow measurement in a high-speed rotating impeller. A particle image velocimetry (PIV) is one of the popular velocity measurement techniques for the ability to measure a velocity field. And a PIV offers an extensive velocity field in an extremely shorter measurement time-than the laser velocimetries. In the present experiment, a PIV was applied to a flow measurement in a transonic centrifugal impeller. A phase locked measurement technique every 20% blade pitch was performed to obtain a velocity field over one blade pitch of the inducer. The measured velocity field at the inducer of impeller clearly showed a shock wave generated on the suction surface of a blade. The validity of the present technique was also discussed.