Analysis of Secondary Flows in Centrifugal Impellers

Secondary flows are undesirable in centrifugal compressors as they are a direct cause for flow (head) losses, create nonuniform meridional flow profiles, potentially induce flow separation/stall, and contribute to impeller flow slip; that is, secondary flows negatively affect the compressor performa...

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Main Authors: Klaus Brun, Rainer Kurz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2005-01-01
Series:International Journal of Rotating Machinery
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/IJRM.2005.45
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author Klaus Brun
Rainer Kurz
author_facet Klaus Brun
Rainer Kurz
author_sort Klaus Brun
collection DOAJ
description Secondary flows are undesirable in centrifugal compressors as they are a direct cause for flow (head) losses, create nonuniform meridional flow profiles, potentially induce flow separation/stall, and contribute to impeller flow slip; that is, secondary flows negatively affect the compressor performance. A model based on the vorticity equation for a rotating system was developed to determine the streamwise vorticity from the normal and binormal vorticity components (which are known from the meridional flow profile). Using the streamwise vorticity results and the small shear-large disturbance flow method, the onset, direction, and magnitude of circulatory secondary flows in a shrouded centrifugal impeller can be predicted. This model is also used to estimate head losses due to secondary flows in a centrifugal flow impeller. The described method can be employed early in the design process to develop impeller flow shapes that intrinsically reduce secondary flows rather than using disruptive elements such as splitter vanes to accomplish this task.
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spelling doaj-art-eafd1fc05cec444182d8ff93f78dff862025-02-03T01:31:09ZengWileyInternational Journal of Rotating Machinery1023-621X1542-30342005-01-0120051455210.1155/IJRM.2005.45Analysis of Secondary Flows in Centrifugal ImpellersKlaus Brun0Rainer Kurz1Mechanical and Fluids Engineering Department, Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Road, San Antonio 78238-5166, TX, USASolar Turbines Incorporated, 9330 Sky Park Court, San Diego 92123-5398, CA, USASecondary flows are undesirable in centrifugal compressors as they are a direct cause for flow (head) losses, create nonuniform meridional flow profiles, potentially induce flow separation/stall, and contribute to impeller flow slip; that is, secondary flows negatively affect the compressor performance. A model based on the vorticity equation for a rotating system was developed to determine the streamwise vorticity from the normal and binormal vorticity components (which are known from the meridional flow profile). Using the streamwise vorticity results and the small shear-large disturbance flow method, the onset, direction, and magnitude of circulatory secondary flows in a shrouded centrifugal impeller can be predicted. This model is also used to estimate head losses due to secondary flows in a centrifugal flow impeller. The described method can be employed early in the design process to develop impeller flow shapes that intrinsically reduce secondary flows rather than using disruptive elements such as splitter vanes to accomplish this task.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/IJRM.2005.45pumpscompressorssecondary flowsvorticity circulating flows.
spellingShingle Klaus Brun
Rainer Kurz
Analysis of Secondary Flows in Centrifugal Impellers
International Journal of Rotating Machinery
pumps
compressors
secondary flows
vorticity
circulating flows.
title Analysis of Secondary Flows in Centrifugal Impellers
title_full Analysis of Secondary Flows in Centrifugal Impellers
title_fullStr Analysis of Secondary Flows in Centrifugal Impellers
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of Secondary Flows in Centrifugal Impellers
title_short Analysis of Secondary Flows in Centrifugal Impellers
title_sort analysis of secondary flows in centrifugal impellers
topic pumps
compressors
secondary flows
vorticity
circulating flows.
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/IJRM.2005.45
work_keys_str_mv AT klausbrun analysisofsecondaryflowsincentrifugalimpellers
AT rainerkurz analysisofsecondaryflowsincentrifugalimpellers