Issues of gas dynamic characteristics modeling: a study on a centrifugal compressor model stage

Abstract

The paper presents the results of CFD-calculations of a centrifugal compressor stage with a high-pressure 3D impeller and a vaneless diffuser. The stage was designed by Prof. A. M. Simonov in the Problem Laboratory of Compressor LPI according to the following design parameters: flow rate coefficient 0.080, loading factor 0.74, and the relative Mach number 0.78. Two design grids were used: 2.4 and 4.4 million cells for the sector with one blade. The entire stage was calculated with a sparser grid. Special “Stage” interface conditions are used to interface the gas-dynamic parameters at the boundary regions. The SST turbulence model was used in the calculations. The results of efficiency characteristics and work coefficient comparison showed the following: in design flow rate all three variants of the calculation overstate the loading factor by 14.3%; the calculated characteristics of polytrophic work coefficient in the staging of 360 degrees are closest to the experimental characteristics, but the absolute value is greater than 12% at a flow rate coefficient of 0.085; the maximum calculated efficiency of a stage (the circle of 360 degrees) is almost equal to the measured maximum efficiency.