Detection of aerodynamic instabilities in compressors is great importance for machine safety and efficiency. It a challenge due to their highly non-stationary non-linear character. In this study, method instability detection centrifugal compressor employing empirical mode decomposition (EMD) proposed. The has proven work well isolating highlighting features from non-stationary, noisy pressure s...

Compact aero-engines that use centrifugal compressors are in high demand due to their small size and cost-effectiveness. However, limited improvements the aerodynamic performance of impellers have led a greater focus on improving diffusers. This paper introduces novel vane conformal diffuser designed match an impeller with pressure ratio. The utilizes unique design method creates transitions fr...

This paper presents some of the results from a Master’s thesis research into the performance and operation of a centrifugal compressor at off-design operating conditions using advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques. ANSYS CFX is the CFD solver used in this blind study to evaluate the ability of modern CFD software to predict the performance of centrifugal compressors operating a...

Preliminary process design in 1997 for a new grass roots polymer unit in the Gulf Coast raised the possibility of using a single centrifugal pump instead of two reciprocating compressors to feed ethylene into the reactors. The objectives of this change were lower capital cost, energy consumption, and maintenance expense. Discussion of the possible application led finally to the design, manufact...

SUMMARY The aerodynamic design and experimental performance of a centrifugal compressor designed for a pressure ratio of 6.5 and a specific speed of 68 are described, The compressor consisted of a radially-vaned impeller and a transonic, vaned radial diffuser. At design speed a peak overall total-to-total isentropic efficiency of 0.746 was achieved at the maximum pressure ratio of 5.9, rising t...

Torsional vibration problems continue to occur in reciprocating engine and compressor installations. This is due in part to the fact that reciprocating equipment can produce significantly more torsional excitation than rotating machinery such as turbines, centrifugal compressors, and centrifugal pumps. The purpose of this tutorial is to raise awareness of torsional vibration problems that can o...

A novel aproach to active surge control is presented. A centrifugal compressor driven by an electrical motor is studied, and the drive itself is used for surge control, thus elliminating the need for additional actuators. It is shown that by using the rotational speed of the motor as control, previous unstable operating points to the left of the surge line can be made globally exponentially sta...

This paper describes a full-scale, flexible test vehicle designed and built by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to validate the aerodynamic and mechanical performance of large compressors for a variety of applications. This paper provides a description of the test vehicle as well as mechanical and aerodynamic performance data gathered during testing of the vehicle.

The derivation of a compressor characteristic, and the experimental validation of a dynamic model for a variable speed centrifugal compressor using this characteristic, are presented. The dynamic compressor model of Fink et al. is used, and a variable speed compressor characteristic is derived by the use of energy transfer and loss analysis. It is demonstrated that taking into account the losse...