Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Abstract:
This paper presents the optimization of centrifugal compressors. The purpose is to obtain optimal flow conditions in centrifugal compressors. The analysis is with respect to the effect of the degree of pre-whirl on the optimal inlet relative flow angle and hence the optimal mass flow rate achievable at various inlet relative Mach numbers for different values of the compressor inducer geometric parameter. A mass flow function incorporating all these parameters was developed and analyzed in a MATLAB environment to obtain the optimal inlet relative flow angle and the corresponding optimal mass flow rate at a given rotational speed of the compressor. The optimal inlet relative flow angle increases with the inlet relative Mach number at the given degree of pre-whirl, but decreases with an increase in the degree of pre-whirl at the given inlet relative Mach number. Also the optimal mass flow rates for computed values of the geometric parameter fall between those for two extreme allowable values of this parameter. The optimal rotational speed at a defined mass flow rate could be obtained from the analysis, and the results of this work will serve as guide for both design and operation of centrifugal compressors.

Keywords: centrifugal compressors, optimization, optimal mass flow rates, degree of pre-whirl, MATLAB.

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