Industrial centrifugal compressors have a very large field of applications in chemical, petrochemical and gas transport applications with an enormous variety of gases, pressure levels and suction volumes. This paper describes the special design features of this type of compressor and sheds light on a method of standardization to overcome the large diversity of machine types. It reviews the aerodynamic and thermodynamic aspects in the design of impellers and diffusers, discusses the importance of the stage matching and illuminates the effect of stage components on stability.
CameP. M.RobinsonC. J.Centrifugal compressor design. Proc. Instn Mech. Engrs, Part C, Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, 1999, 213(C2) (in press).
2.
TraupelW.Die Theorie der Strömung durch Radialmaschinen, 1962 (Verlag G. Braun, Karlsruhe).
3.
CumpstyN. A.Compressor Aerodynamics, 1989 (Longman Scientific and Technical).
4.
WhitfieldA.BainesN. C.Design of Radial Turbomachines, 1990 (Longman Scientific and Technical).
5.
CaseyM. V.MartyF.Centrifugal compressors—performance at design and off-design. Proceedings of the Institute of Refrigeration, London, Vol. 1985-86.
6.
DalbertP.CaseyM. V.SchurterE.Development, testing and performance prediction of radial stages for multistage industrial compressors. Trans. ASME, J. Turbomachinery, July 1988, 110, 283–292.
7.
CaseyM. V.The effects of Reynolds number on the efficiency of centrifugal compressor stages. Trans. ASME, J. Engng for Gas Turbines and Power, April 1985, 107, 541–548.
8.
RodgersC.A diffusion factor correlation for centrifugal impeller stalling. ASME paper 78-GT-61, 1978.
9.
HillP. G.MoonJ. M.Effect of Coriolis on the turbulent boundary layer in rotating machines. Report 69, MIT Gas Turbine Laboratory, 1962.
10.
CaseyM. V.Computational methods for preliminary design and geometry definition in turbomachinery. AGARD Lecture Series 195, Turbomachinery Design Using CFD, 1994.
11.
Compressors and exhausters. ASME Power Test Codes, PTC-10, 1965.
12.
Acceptance and performance test on dynamic and positive displacement compressors. VDI Compressor Regulations, VDI 2045, 1973.
13.
CaseyM. V.DalbertP.SchurterE.Radial compressor stages for low flow coefficients. Presented at 4th European Congress on Fluid Machinery for Oil, Petrochemical and Related Industries, The Hague, The Netherlands, IMechE paper C403/004.
14.
DawesW. N.Development of a 3D Navier Stokes solver for applications to all types of turbomachinery. ASME paper 88-GT-70, 1988.
