Abstract
The performance of two turbocharger impeller designs was evaluated experimentally. The compressor design requirement was for a pressure ratio of 3.6, with a peak pressure ratio of 4.3 at a maximum non-dimensional impeller speed of 1.66. Due to the stress-limited speed the impeller discharge blade backsweep had to be restricted and the application of prewhirl was considered from the outset as a means of extending the operating range. An impeller, designated A, was designed with 25° of prewhirl applied. A second impeller, designated B, was designed with zero prewhirl for comparison purposes, but was not manufactured. A third impeller, C, was manufactured, in place of impleller B, through the modification of an existing design. This experimental study includes the assessment of this third impeller together with impeller A.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.