Modeling Results of Gas-Dynamic Characteristics of Low and Medium Flow Rate Model Stages for an Industrial Centrifugal Compressor

The paper presents the results of CFD calculations of two model stages with 2D impellers. The results were compared with the experimental characteristics obtained at the LPI Problem Laboratory. The centrifugal stage of the 2D impeller 0028-056-0373 was calculated for three different Mach numbers, with and without the gaps in the labyrinth seals. Calculations for the sector with one blade were performed using the NUMECA software, those for the full 360-degree model — in the ANSYS CFX software package. CFD calculations in all the cases gave an unacceptably high overestimation of the loading factor compared to the experimental data. It was established that the calculated characteristics of the stage efficiency leant towards high flow rates compared to the measured values. A stage of the 2D impeller 0048-048-029 was calculated for one Mach number without taking into account the gap in the labyrinth seals and for the full 360-degree model. A study of semi-empirical parameters and coefficients included in the SST turbulence model implemented in the ANSYS CFX software was carried out. The calculations showed that their choice for solving this class of problems had little effect on the calculation results, thus it was not possible to influence the loading factor.

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