Stall Evolution Mechanism of a Centrifugal Compressor with a Wide-Long Vaneless Diffuser

ZHANG Lei; KANG Jiacheng; LANG Jinhua; AN Guangyao; ZHANG Qian; WANG Longyao; WANG Qifang

doi:10.1007/s11630-024-1951-y

Journal of Thermal Science >

2024 , Vol. 33 >Issue 3: 899 - 913

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11630-024-1951-y

Stall Evolution Mechanism of a Centrifugal Compressor with a Wide-Long Vaneless Diffuser

ZHANG Lei ,
KANG Jiacheng ,
LANG Jinhua ,
AN Guangyao ,
ZHANG Qian ,
WANG Longyao ,
WANG Qifang

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1. Department of Power Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Baoding 071003, China
2. Hebei Key Laboratory of Low Carbon and High Efficiency Power Generation Technology, North China Electric Power University, Baoding 071003, China

Online published: 2024-04-30

Supported by

The authors would like to acknowledge the supports of National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 52076079), Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province (E2022502048, E2020502013), Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 2022MS085, 2023MS121), Post-graduate’s Innovation Fund Project of Hebei Province (No. CXZZSS2024162, No. CXZZBS2024165).

Copyright

Science Press, Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, CAS and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2024

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Abstract

The rotating stall mechanism is of high importance for the stability of centrifugal compressors and thermal power cycles. The majority of research concerning this topic has concentrated on the initial stall phase. However, the evolution of stall cells in wide-long diffusers has not been comprehensively studied. In this paper, the causes of rotating stall in the wide-long diffuser and the three-dimensional evolution mechanism of stall cells during the stall process were thoroughly analyzed. During the stall induction phase, an annulus vortex structure was found in the reverse-flow zone near the hub side of the diffuser outlet, which was the initial form of stall cells. The whole evolution process of stall cells was divided into three phases as the flow rate decreased. During the initial stall phase, the dynamic equilibrium was built under effects of the impeller wake and the adverse pressure gradient. As a result, the number of stall cells was kept at seven and the size of stall cells remained constant. During the transition phase, the flow in the diffuser became unstable. Stall cells extended to the impeller outlet, and the effect of the wake flow was strengthened significantly. Stall cells started integrating and separating regularly. As a result, the number and propagation speed of stall cells varied periodically at a constant mass flow rate. During the deep stall phase, the size of stall cells remained unchanged, and the number of stall cells kept at one. This study has important practical guidance and engineering value for the high-efficiency design and safe operation of centrifugal compressors.

Key words： centrifugal compressor; wide-long vaneless diffuser; stall evolution mechanism; wake flow

Cite this article

ZHANG Lei , KANG Jiacheng , LANG Jinhua , AN Guangyao , ZHANG Qian , WANG Longyao , WANG Qifang . Stall Evolution Mechanism of a Centrifugal Compressor with a Wide-Long Vaneless Diffuser[J]. Journal of Thermal Science, 2024 , 33(3) : 899 -913 . DOI: 10.1007/s11630-024-1951-y

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