Abstract

A computer code predicting the flows through the centrifugal compressor with the radial vaneless diffuser was developed and applied to investigate the detailed flowfields, i.e., secondary flows and jet-wake type flow pattern in design and off-design conditions. Various parameters such as slip factors, aerodynamic blockages, entropy generation and two-zone modeling which are widely used in design and performance prediction, were discussed.A control volume method based on a general curvilinear coordinate system was used to solve the time-averaged Navier–Stokes equations and SIMPLER algorithm was used to solve the pressure linked continuity equation. The standard k-ε turbulence model was used to obtain the eddy viscosity. Performance of the code was verified using the measured data for the Eckardt impeller.