DEBRE MARKOS UNIVERSITY

Institute of technology
School of Mechanical and Industrial
Engineering
Turbo-Machinery
MEng3201

Chapter 3
Centrifugal compressor blower and fans

Prepared by: Birlie Fekadu

Contents of the Chapter

 Introduction
 Performance
 Impeller design
 Diffuser design
 Introduction
 Power absorbing turbomachines used to handle compressible fluids
like air, gases etc., can be broadly classified into:
(i) Fans
(ii) Blowers and
(iii) Compressors.
 These machines produce the head (pressure) in the expense of
mechanical energy input. The pressure rise in centrifugal type
machines are purely due to the centrifugal effects.
 A fan usually consists of a single rotor with or without a stator. It
causes only a small pressure rise as low as a few centimeters of
water column. Generally it rises the pressure up to a maximum of
0.07 bar (70 cm WG). In the analysis of the fan, the fluid will be
treated as incompressible as the density change is very small due to
small pressure rise. Fans are used for air circulation in buildings, for
ventilation, in automobiles in front of engine for cooling purposes
etc.
  Blower may consists of one or more stages of compression with its
rotors mounted on a common shaft. The air is compressed in a
series of successive stages and is passed through a diffuser located
near the exit to recover the pressure energy from the large kinetic
energy. The overall pressure rise may be in the range of 1.5 to 2.5
bars. Blowers are used in ventilation, power station, workshops etc.
 Compressor is used to produce large pressure rise ranging from 2.5
to 10 bar or more. A single stage compressor can generally produce
a pressure rise up to 4 bar. Since the velocities of air flow are quite
high, the Mach number and compressibility effects may have to be
taken into account in evaluating the stage performance of a
compressor.
 In general the centrifugal compressor may be known as a fan,
blower, supercharger etc., depending on the need to be served.
Broadly speaking, fans are the low-pressure compressors; blowers
are the medium pressure compressors. It is therefore the analysis of
one, say centrifugal compressor, will also holds good to the other
machines like blower, fans.
 Classification of Compressors

 Positive displacement compressors increase the pressure of a gas or air by

reducing the volume.
 Dynamic compressors increase the air velocity by the rotational motion of
impeller or rotor, which is then converted to pressure at the outlet.
Classification of Dynamic Compressors
1. By the type of flow,
• Radial flow
• Axial flow

Radial flow Axial flow

2. By the type of energy conversion,
• Volute casing
• Volute casing with guide vanes
3. By the method of drive,
• Gear drive
• Belt drive
Radial (Centrifugal) Compressors Component parts
i. inlet casing with the converging nozzle
ii. the impeller
iii. the diffuser and
iv. the outlet casing.
 The function of each components
 The inlet casing with the conversant nozzle is to accelerate the entering fluid to the
impeller inlet. The inlet nozzle accelerate the fluid from the initial condition (state
0 ) to the entry of the Inlet Guide Vanes (IGV) which direct the flow in the desired
direction at the inlet of the impeller (state 1).
 The impeller convert the supplied mechanical energy into fluid energy whereby
the fluid kinetic energy and the static pressure rises. An impeller is made of radial
blades which are brazed to the shroud. It can be made from a single piece
consisting of both the inducer and a largely radial portion.
 The inducer receives the flow between the hub and tip diameters (dh and dt ) of the
impeller eye and passes on to the radial portion of the impeller blades. The flow
approaching the impeller may be with or without swirl.
The inlet diameter of the impeller will be taken as the average of the
hub and tip diameter of the eye (i.e., D1 = (dh+dt )/2). The tip diameter
of the impeller is denoted by D2. since the centrifugal compressors
have to run at very high speeds, generally radial blades are used in the
impeller. The impeller rises the pressure of the fluid from state 1 to
state 2.
The diffuser receives the flow from the impeller through a vaneless
space and it rises the static pressure of the fluid further an account of
conversion of exit high kinetic energy to pressure energy. The diffuser
may be of vaneless type or diffuser vane type. The diffuser changes the
state of the fluid from 2 to 3.
The flow at the outer periphery of the diffuser is collected by a spiral
casing known as the volute, which discharges the flow in to the
delivery pipe.
 Variations of Pressure and Velocity
 As the fluid approaches the impeller, it is subjected to centrifugal effect thereby the
kinetic energy (velocity) and the pressure of the fluid both increases along the
radial direction.
 When the impeller discharges the fluid into the diffuser, the static pressure of the
fluid rises due to the deceleration of the flow. Therefore the velocity reduces and
the pressure still increases as shown in below. This is mainly due to the conversion
of kinetic energy into pressure energy of the fluid.
 Principle of operation
 Air enters the impeller eye through an accelerating nozzle. As the
fluid velocity increases in the nozzle, there will be a pressures
drop between the nozzle exit and the impeller inlet, and is
represented by the process 00-1.
 The air is then enters the impeller with a static pressure and
temperature p1and T1 respectively. Even though there is increase
of entropy due losses and the pressure drop in the accelerating
nozzle and the IGV, the stagnation enthalpy at the inlet of the
nozzle and the impeller inlet remains same (h00=h01) because of
no work transfer during this process.
 The energy transfer occurs only in the impeller blades. The
process 1-2 shows the actual compression process in the impeller
where the pressure of air increases from p1 to p2 due to the
centrifugal effect.
 The process 1-2' is the isentropic compression. The stagnation
pressure corresponding to the exit state of the impeller is p02 .
 The process 2-3 is the actual diffusion process in the diffusor where
the large kinetic energy of the fluid is converted into pressure
energy, thereby the static pressure rises further from p2 to p3 . The
diffusion process would have been taken place isentropically then
the process becomes 2-3'.
 The stagnation pressure at the exit of the diffuser is p03. The
stagnation enthalpy remains constant from state 2 to 3 (i.e., h02
=h03 )even though the stagnation pressure decreases progressively
(i.e., p02 > p03). This mainly due to the diffusion process is
incomplete and as well as irreversible. If the isentropic compression
would have been taken place from pressure p1 to delivery pressure
of the stage p3, the process would be 1-3' and in terms of stagnation
states the process is 01-03'.
 Entrance Velocity Triangle
The velocity triangle at the inlet of the impeller can be seen that the fluid enters the
inducer section axially with no whirl velocity when there is no IGV,
i.e.,V1=Vf1,Vu1=0, a1=900. This is the general case at the inlet for the maximum
energy transfer condition.
In the flow through axially straight inducer section in the presence of IGV’s, Due to
the presence the inlet guide vanes the fluid enters the inducer with a1so that it has
some swirl velocity Vu1 but the straight inducer blades made the relative velocity
axial, i.e., b1=900.
 Optimum Inlet Velocity at the Impeller Eye
The magnitude of relative velocity at the inlet of the impeller eye is very important
as the relative Mach number at the inlet is mainly depend on this velocity only. We
know that more the Mach number value more will be the compressibility effect and
hence it reduces the compressor efficiency. It is therefore necessary to keep the
relative velocity value as low as possible. There is a value of eye tip speed which
will give minimum relative velocity as can be seen below.
The eye root diameter can be as small as possible which will be decided by the size
of shaft and bearing arrangement. Then for the given flow Q the area of the eye flow
may be large, giving a low inlet velocity V1 and a high eye tip speed U1 or it may be
small, giving a large V1 and small U1. In these two extreme cases the relative
velocity Vr1 is high and hence the minimum value is exist in between these. An
expression for Vr1 can be obtained in terms of eye tip diameter dt using inlet velocity
triangle as follows.
 With the di, Q and N being fixed, differentiate the eqn. below with respect to dt
and equate to zero for getting the value of dt for minimum value of Vr1. Fig. below
shows the variation of relative velocity, hence the relative Mach number, with the
eye tip diameter.
 If there is no possibility to reduce the relative velocity further for a given machine,
the relative Mach number can be reduced further using the pre-whirl at the inlet
with the use of inlet guide vanes but the penalty will be the reduction in energy
transfer in the impeller.
 Thus this technique is usually used only in high pressure ratio compressor, where
the inlet relative Mach number exceeds unity and shock waves reduce the impeller
efficiency.
 Velocity Triangles at the Eye Hub and Tip
 In an ideal condition the fluid enters the eye section radially with no whirl
component. The velocity of flow remains constant from hub to tip of the eye. The
tangential velocities of the impeller at the hub (root) and the tip of the eye are
calculated based on the corresponding hub and tip diameters of the eye
respectively. Fig. below shows the inlet velocity triangles at the hub and tip of the
eye. The relative blade angle at the hub βh is slightly larger than that at the tip βt
as shown in Figure.
 Different Vane Shape
 The impellers may be classified depending on the exit angle β2 into (i) Backward
curved vanes, (ii) Radial blades. and (iii) Forward curved blades. The velocity
triangles are as shown in fig below. Backward curved blades are those which
make an angle less than 90 o ((β2 <90 o ) at the exit of the impeller with respect
to the tangential direction, radial blades will make an angle of 90 o (β2 = 90 o
)and the forward curved blades will make an angle more than 90o ((β2 >90 o )as
shown in Fig. below.
 In centrifugal compressors generally radial blades are used but the backward
curved vanes are also used more often in practice for special purposes. Forward
curved vanes are rarely used.
 Slip Factor
As shown in the figure, due to slip the actual fluid does not follow the blade shape.
Slip () is, therefore, defined as, '
Cw2

Cw2
For radial vane impellers, a relation for slip is given by Stanitz,

where, n is the number of vanes.

Assume,  y 0.9 for n value 19 to 21.

 Energy Transfer (Pt)

From Euler’s equation, the energy transfer per unit mass flow rate is given by,

Pt
 Wc  considering velocity triangle (a)
m
Considering velocity triangle (c), Cw2 = U2 and with slip the theoretical energy transfer is
given by,

inlet outlet
 Energy Transfer (Pt)…

In a real fluid, some of the power supplied by the impeller is used in overcoming losses that
have a breaking effect on the air carried by the vanes. These include windage, disk friction, and
casing friction losses. To take into account these losses, a power input factor () , which is the
ratio of the actual to theoretical energy transfer, is introduced. This factor typically takes values
between 1.035 and 1.04. Thus the actual work done on the air becomes,

From Mollier Chart, the stagnation or total

temperature equivalent of work done on
the air is given by,
Energy Transfer (Pt)…

The compressor isentropic efficiency (c) is defined as,

T03’ = T03ss
Hence,

And,
Effect of impeller blade shape on performance

There are three types of blade shapes as shown in the figure.

a) Backward-curved blades (2<900):-

U 2 Cw 2
From Euler ' s equation, Pt 
g
U (U  Ca 2 cot  2 ) m
and , Pt  2 2 where, Ca 2 
g A
U 22 m U 2 cot  2
Hence, Pt  
g gA

From this equation one can observe that, as the mass flow rate increases energy or power
transfer decreases.
Effect of impeller blade shape on performance…

b) radial-curved blades (2 = 900):-

U 2 Cw2
From Euler ' s equation, Pt 
g
U (U  Ca 2 cot  2 ) m
and , Pt  2 2 where, Ca 2 
g A
U 22 m U 2 cot  2
Hence, Pt    cot  2  0
g gA
U 22
 Pt  is cons tan t
g

From this equation one can observe that, as the

energy or power transfer remains constant.
c) Forward-curved blades (2 > 900):-
U 2 Cw 2
From Euler ' s equation, Pt 
g
U (U  Ca 2 cot  2 ) m
and , Pt  2 2 where, Ca 2 
g A
U 22 m U 2 cot  2
Hence, Pt  
g gA
As the mass flow rate increases energy or power transfer also increases.
Effect of impeller blade shape on performance…
In the case of backward-curved blades or vanes, the maximum efficiency occurs in the region
of maximum power. If the flow rate increases beyond the design point, the power starts to
decrease. This keeps the motor to operate safely and this characteristics is called “self-limiting
characteristics”. Whereas in the case of radial and forward-curved blades or vanes, as the flow
rate increases the power also tend to increase even beyond the design point. This is not only
make the operation costly but also damage the motor. But, designers may sometimes prefer
these two types of shapes to get some performance advantage as compared to backward-curved
blades.
Compressibility effects
If the relative velocity of a compressible fluid reaches the
speed of sound in the fluid, separation of flow causes
excessive pressure losses and cyclic loading on the impeller
due to eddy or shock wave formation. It is, therefore,
necessary to control the Mach number at a certain points in
the flow to mitigate the problem. The Mach number at the
impeller inlet must be less than unity. This is possible by
reducing the relative velocity at inlet by introducing a guide
vane as shown in the figure.
inlet
Compressibility effects…
Actually, reducing the relative velocity at inlet causes the tangential velocity of the absolute
velocity to increase. This in turn decreases the work capacity of the compressor.
Mach number in the diffuser
The absolute velocity of the fluid becomes a maximum at the tip of the impeller. Assuming a
perfect gas, the Mach number at the impeller exit M2 can be written as:

However, it has been found that as long as the radial velocity component (Cr2) is subsonic,
Mach number greater than unity can be used at the impeller tip without loss of efficiency.
High Mach number at the inlet causes high stagnation pressure. This leads to a variation of
static pressure and is transmitted upstream in a radial direction through the vaneless space.
The end result will be exerting a cyclic type of load on the impeller. This in turn lead to early
fatigue and failure on the impeller.
Characteristics of a Radial Compressor
The performance of compressible flow machines usually be described in terms of the groups of
variables derived in dimensional analysis.
These variables are dependent on other variables such as the condition of pressure and
temperature at the compressor inlet and physical properties of working fluid. To study the
performance of a compressor completely, it is necessary to plot
against the mass flow parameter for a fixed speed intervals of .

The figure below shows the theoretical characteristics of a Centrifugal Compressor.

Consider a valve is placed in the delivery line of a
compressor running at constant speed. Suppose at
the beginning the valve is fully closed. The
pressure ratio then will have some value as
indicated by point A. This pressure ratio is
available from vanes moving the air about in the
impeller. The pressure head so developed is called
“shut off” head.
Characteristics of a Radial Compressor…
Now, suppose that the valve is opened and air
flow begins. The diffuser contributes to the
pressure rise. The pressure ratio increases and the
maximum pressure occurs at point B. But the
compressor efficiency at this pressure ratio will be
below the maximum efficiency. Point C indicates
the further increase in mass flow, but the pressure
is dropped slightly from the maximum possible
value. This is the design mass flow rate pressure
ratio as efficiency is maximum.

Further increase in mass flow will decrease the pressure ratio until point D. This point
indicates that the pressure rise is zero. At this point all the power absorbed is used to
overcome the internal friction and thus the compression efficiency is zero. However, the
actual curve is different from this ideal curve shown in the figure due to chocking, surging
and stall.
Characteristics of a Radial Compressor…
Choking:- When the velocity of fluid in a passage reaches the speed of sound at any cross-
section, then the air ceases to flow and the process is called chocking. Choking may occur at
the inlet, at the impeller or at the diffuser.

Surging:- The phenomenon of a momentary increase in the delivery pressure resulting in

unsteady, periodic and reversal flow through the compressor is called surging. Surging may
lead to failure of the compressor parts.

Stall:- The phenomenon of a reduction in mass flow rate through the blade passage at higher
angle of incidence is known as stall. This phenomenon may lead to surging.
 Actual Characteristics of Centrifugal Compressor
The actual performance characteristics show trends other than ideal due to the
various losses in the flow passage. The types of losses that are commonly occurring
in the compressor are: (i) Frictional losses due the flow over the blade surface (also
called skin friction) which is proportional to the Vf2 and hence proportional to m·2
(ii) Incidence losses due the improper incidence of fluid at the entry which is also
called turning losses. The actual performance characteristic trends will be different
than the ideal due to these losses in the flow passage. An account of these losses, the
expected pressure rise reduces at any given flow rate. Fig below shows the actual
characteristic of a radial bladed centrifugal machine.
Actual head produced can therefore be obtained by deducting these losses from
ideal (Euler’s) head
Energy transfer by the impeller to the fluid (air)
A radial compressor is a dynamic type compressor and it works on the principle of
forced vortex flow. When a certain mass of fluid is rotated by an external torque,
the rise in pressure head of liquid takes place. The rise in pressure head ( Hp ) at
any point of the rotating liquid is proportional to the square of tangential velocity (
v ) of the liquid at that point.

v2  2 r 2
The pressure head ( H p )  
2g 2g

Thus at the outlet of the impeller where

radius is more, the rise in pressure is more
and the liquid will be discharged at the
outlet with a high pressure head.
 Energy transfer by the impeller to the fluid (air)…

In case of radial (centrifugal) compressors, work is done by the impeller on the

fluid (air). The expression for work done by the impeller on the air is obtained
by drawing velocity triangle at inlet and outlet of the impeller in a similar way
as for a centrifugal pump.

Velocity diagram
Energy transfer by the impeller to the fluid (air)…

As shown in the velocity diagram, the angle between v and u is called  and
the angle between w and u is called . The difference between the absolute
velocity v and the relative velocity w is also illustrated.

Inlet

outlet

Velocity diagrams
 Ideal Head Equation
The equation which forms the basis of pump, compressor and blower design is
based on the following assumptions:
• The fluid leaves the impeller passages tangentially to the vane surfaces or
there is a complete guidance of the fluid at the outlet and the fluid is
assumed to be frictionless, non-turbulent, etc.
• The impeller passages are completely filled with actively flowing fluid at all
times.
• The velocities of the fluid at similar points on all the flow lines are the same.
The ideal total head developed by the impeller based on these assumptions is
called “Euler head” and designated by “HE” and is given by,
H E  H i1  H i 2  H d
Where, H i1 is the pressure head in the impeller due to centrifugal force.
H i 2 is the pressure head in the impeller due to change in relative velocity.
H d is the pressure head in the diffuser due to change in absolute velocity.

Note:-The deviation of actual conditions from these assumptions will be

considered later.
The Pressure Head in the impeller due to centrifugal force (Hi1)

Consider a closed container filled with fluid (air), as shown in the figure, is
rotated at constant speed about its axis. The motion is transmitted to the fluid
by its viscosity until the angular velocity  of the fluid is the same as that of
the container.

To determine the pressure distribution

within the fluid, consider a very small fluid
element having a width b, thickness dR and
circumferential length Rd rotating with an
angular velocity . The centrifugal force
acting on the particle is,
dF  dm R  2 Where, dm   b Rd dR
Hence, dF   b R 2  2 d dR
The pressure increment due to this force
between R and R+dR is,
dF  b R 2  2 d dR
dp     R  2 dR
dA b Rd  Rotating container filled with fluid
The Pressure Head in the impeller due to centrifugal force (Hi1)…

Integrating between the radii R1 and R2

gives the total pressure,

 R22  R12 
p2  p1     2
 and , R 2 2  u 2
 2 
p2  p1 u22  u12 p  p1
Hence,  but , 2  H p 2  H p1
g 2g g
u22  u12
H p 2  H p1  H i1 
2g

Rotating container filled with fluid

The Pressure Head in the impeller due to change in relative velocity (Hi2)

Consider the passage through the impeller at radius r having a cross-section da

as shown in the figure. Let the small element of area da moves a small distance
ds in time dt. Hence,
  dw 
dF  da dp  da  ds  
 dt 
and dividing all by da
ds ds
dp    dw but , w
dt dt
   w dw
Integrating the equation between inlet (1) and outlet (2),
2 2
p   dp     w dw
1 1

 w22  w12 
    
 2 
p w12  w22
 Hi2  
g 2g
The Pressure Head in the diffuser due to change in absolute velocity (Hd)
Inside the diffuser, the dynamic pressure or velocity head is converted into
static pressure head. The velocity in the discharge pipeline is almost the same
as the velocity in the suction pipe.
Consider a fluid element of area da moving through the diffuser vanes a
distance ds in time dt as shown in the figure.
  dv 
dF  da dp  da  ds  
 dt 
and dividing all by da
ds ds
dp    dv but , v
dt dt
   v dv
Integrating the equation between diffuser inlet (2) and outlet (1),
1 1
p   dp     v dv
2 2

 v12  v22 
  
 2 
 
p v22  v12
 Hd  
g 2g
 The Ideal Total Head (HE)
H E  H i1  H i 2  H d
u 22  u12 w12  w22 v22  v12
  
2g 2g 2g


u    
 u12  w12  w22  v22  v12
2
2 
2g
From the velocity diagram at inlet and outlet of the impeller ,
w12  u12  v12  2u1v1 cos 1
w22  u22  v22  2u2 v2 cos  2
Inserting these equations in the above equation,
u v cos  2  u1v1 cos 1 
HE  2 2
g
but , vu1  v1 cos 1 and vu 2  v2 cos  2

HE 
u2vu 2  u1vu1 
g
and for impeller having radial inlet (1  900 ),
u 2 vu 2
HE 
g
 The Ideal Power (P) and Torque (T)
P  m gH E
(u v  u v )
  Q g 2 u 2 1 u1 in W
g
 Q (u2 vu 2  u1vu1 )
 in kW
1000
 Q (u2 vu 2  u1vu1 )
 in HP
746

P
T

 Q (u2 vu 2  u1vu1 )


 Q  ( R2 vu 2  R1vu1 )


  Q ( R2 vu 2  R1vu1 ) in Nm
 Degree of Reaction (R)
Degree of reaction is the ratio of the static pressure head rise in the impeller (Hi1) to
the total head rise (HE).
H i1  Hi 2 H E  H d H
   1 d Hence,   1
vu22
HE HE HE 2u 2 vu 2
Substituting for H d and H E , vu 2
 1
v v
2 2
2u 2
  1 2 1
2u2 vu 2
For radial inlet , From the outlet velocity triangle ,
v
  900 ; vr1  v1 vu 2  u 2  r 2
tan  2
vr 1  vr 2
vr 2  v1
vr 2
From outlet velocity triangle, u2 
tan  2
v22  vr22  vu22  v12  vu22    1
2u 2
and , v22  v12  vu22 1 vr 2 
   1  
2 u 2 tan  2 
 1 vr 2 
   1  
2 u2 tan  2 

From this relation one can observe that,

a) For 2 = 900, the degree of reaction  = 2, as tan 2 = . This means that the
1

pressure generated by the impeller and diffuser will be the same.

b) For 2 having values between 00 and 900 , the degree of reaction is more than
half. This means is that the pressure generated by the impeller is more than in the
diffuser.
c) When the degree of reaction is one.
vr 2 vr 2
 1 or  tan  2
u2 tan  2 u2

u2 vu 2 u2  v 
Then, H E    u 2  r 2 
g g tan  2 
Substituting the value of tan  2 ,
u2  v u 
HE   u2  r 2 2   0
g vr 2 
Thus, for   1, the ideal total head ( H E ) is zero.
Degree of Reaction ()…
d) When  = 0, there is no static pressure change in the impeller. The energy
transfer is entirely due to the change of absolute velocity in the diffuser.
In other words, the impeller has equi-pressure blades or impulse blades.
Machines having such an impeller is known as an impulse machines. The
blades of impulse impellers are forward curved and the blades of reaction
impellers are backward curved as shown in the figure. In order to
generate more pressure in the impeller, the angle 2 should be nearly
zero. For the same discharge reaction machines have larger outlet
impeller diameter or high rotational speed than impulse machines.
 Performance
Typical compressor characteristics are shown in Figure below. Qualitatively, their
shape is similar to those of the centrifugal pump, but the sharp fall of the constant-
speed curves at higher mass flows is due to choking in some component of the
machine. At low flows operation is limited by the phenomenon of surge. Thus, smooth
operation occurs on the compressor map at some point between the surge line and the
choke line.
The phenomenon of choking is that associated with the attainment of a Mach number
of unity. In the stationary passages of the inlet or diffuser, the Mach number is based
on the absolute velocity V. Thus for a Mach number of unity, the absolute velocity
equals the acoustic speed a, calculated from

Compressor map
 The temperature at this point is calculated from the total temperature To using the
relation
and setting M = 1. Thus

This Mach number is found near the cross section of minimum area, or throat (At ), so that we
can estimate the choking, or maximum, mass flow rate from

The pressure Pt at the throat area may be estimated by assuming an isentropic process from the
inlet of the stationary component to the throat area. Thus

The process of estimating choked flow rate in the impeller is the same except that relative
velocity is substituted for absolute velocity. When the relative Mach number W/a is set equal to
unity in the energy equation of the rotor, namely,

we obtain
Using the isentropic relation between pressure and temperature and substituting into the
continuity relation, the mass flow rate at the throat section of the impeller is given by

Thus, it is clear that mass flow for choking in stationary components, given by
equation above, is independent of impeller speed, but that mass flow for choking in
the impeller, given by above equation, actually increases with impeller speed. This is
indicated schematically in Figure above.
In the Figure above the point A represents a point of normal operation. An increase in
flow resistance in the connected external flow system results in a decrease in Vm2 at the
impeller exit and a corresponding increase in Vu2, which results in an increased head or
pressure increase. However, the surge phenomenon results when a further increase in
external resistance produces a decrease in impeller flow that tends to move the point
beyond C, where stall at some point in the impeller leads to change of direction of W2
and an accompanying decrease in the head (or pressure rise) in the impeller. A
temporary flow reversal in the impeller and the ensuing buildup to the original flow
condition is known as surging. Surging continues cyclically until the external
resistance is removed. It is an unstable and dangerous condition and must be avoided
by careful operational planning and system design.
 Impeller Design
 The impeller is usually designed with a number of unshrouded blades, given by
the Pfleiderer equation below, to receive the axially directed fluid (V1=Vm1 )and
deliver the fluid with a large tangential velocity component V u2’ , which is less
than the tip speed U2 , but it has the same sense or direction. The vanes are
usually curved near the rim of the impeller, so that β2 < 90°, but they are usually
bent near the leading edge to conform to the direction of the relative velocity W1
at the inlet

 The angle β1 varies over the leading edge, since V1 remains constant while U1 (and r)
varies. At the shroud diameter D1S of the impeller inlet, the relative velocity W1S and
the corresponding relative Mach number M R1S are highest. This is because the vane
speed U1 increases from hub to tip at the inlet plane, and the incoming absolute velocity
V1 is assumed to be uniform over the annulus. Referring to Figure, it is clear that W 1=
(V12+U12 )^1/2 hat the maximum value of W1 occurs at the shroud diameter. It is easily
shown for a fixed set of inlet operating conditions, i.e., N, M, Pot, and T o1, that the
relative Mach number has its minimum whereβ1S is approximately 32°.
it is seen that a choice of relative Mach number at the shroud of the inlet vane allows
the inlet design to proceed in the following manner. The acoustic speed a1 is
calculated from the inlet temperature. Next, W1 at the shroud is calculated from
The hub diameter can be found by applying the mass flow equation to the impeller
inlet; thus,

where the density is determined from the equation of state of a perfect gas, viz.,

and the static temperature is found from the total temperature using equation below,
and the static pressure is found using

Referring to Figure above, the fluid angle at the hub is calculated from
where the vane speed at the hub is given by
To determine the impeller diameter, one should follow the procedure, viz., first, the
dimensional specific speed is calculated, and Table 3 is consulted to determine the
highest possible compressor efficiency and the corresponding dimensional specific
diameter. Next, the impeller diameter D2 is calculated from the specific diameter, the
tip speed U2 is determined from the impeller diameter and the energy transfer E is
calculated from the ideal energy transfer Ei and the compressor efficiency. The actual
tangential velocity component Vu2, is calculated from the energy transfer, and the
ideal tangential velocity component Vu2 is calculated from a slip coefficient of from
0.85 to 0.90. Finally, the selection of a flow coefficient in the range of 0.23 to 0.35
permits the calculation of the vane angle and the number of vanes.
 The compressor efficiency ηc , in addition to its use in equation below, can be
employed to estimate the impeller efficiency ηI . The ratio χ of impeller losses to
compressor losses can be estimated and lies between0.5 and 0.6. The definition of
impeller efficiency can be used to estimate Ti’. The latter total temperature
corresponds to the total pressure po2, calculated from

The static pressure p2 is then determined from

The static pressure p2 from above equation and the static temperature T2 determined from

are used to determine density ρ2 at the impeller exit. Finally, the axial width b2 of the
impeller passage at the periphery may be found from
Ranges of design parameters which are considered optimal by Ferguson (1963) and
Whitfield (1990) are presented in Table below. The recommended ranges should be
used by the designer to check calculated results for acceptability during or after the
design process.
 Diffuser Design
A vaneless diffuser, or empty space, between the leading edges of diffuser vanes and
the impeller tip allows some equalization of velocity and a reduction of the exit Mach
number. The vaneless portion, which may have a width as large as 6 percent of the
impeller diameter, also effects a rise in static pressure. As with the pump, angular
momentum rVu is conserved, and the fluid path is approximately a logarithmic spiral.
Diffuser vanes are set with the diffuser axes tangent to the spiral paths and with an
angle of divergence between them not exceeding 12°.
Since the addition of a vaned portion in the diffusion system results in a small-diameter casing,
vanes are preferred in instances where size limitations are imposed.
On the other hand, a completely vaneless diffuser is more efficient. If vanes are used, then their
number should generally be less than the number of impeller vanes to ensure uniformness of
flow and high diffuser efficiency in the range of flow coefficient Vm2 /U 2 recommended in the
previous section. The vaneless diffuser is situated between circles of radii r 2 and r 3. At any
radial position r the gas velocity V will have both tangential and radial components. The radial
component Vr is the same as the meridional component Vm . The mass flow rate at any r is given
by
For constant diffuser width b, the product ρrVm is constant, and the continuity
equation becomes
Since angular momentum is conserved in the vaneless space, we can write

where the primed subscript is used to indicate the actual value of tangential velocity component
at the impeller exit; however, in the vaneless space, the actual velocity is unprimed.
Typically, the flow leaving the impeller is supersonic, i.e., M2’ > 1, and flow leaving the
vaneless diffuser is subsonic, i.e., M3 < 1. The radial position at which M = 1 is denoted by r * ;
similarly, all other properties at the plane of sonic flow are denoted with a starred superscript,
e.g. ,ρ* , Vm, a * , T * , andα * . The absolute gas angleα is the angle between V and Vr , i.e.,
between the direction of the absolute velocity and the radial direction.
Since the radial velocity component can be written as
the continuity equation becomes
Similarly, the angular momentum equation is expressed as
Dividing the above consecutive equation by each other by, we obtain

Assuming an isentropic flow in the vaneless region, we find

For M=1 , equation above becomes

Substituting the above two equations to into the other yields

Substituting equation into above equations gives

The angle α* is evaluated by substitutingα =α 2‘ and

M = M2' into the above equation. Equation can be
rewritten as
 Substituting equations into other equations gives

The radial position r* can be found from the above equation by substituting r= r2 and
M=M2', which are known from impeller calculations. Finally, can be used to determine
α3 from a known M3 , and the equation can be used to calculate r3 for known values of
M 3 and α3.

A volute is designed by the same methods outlined in Chapter 2.The volute functions
to collect the diffuser's discharge around the 360° periphery and deliver it through a
single nozzle to the connecting gas piping system or to the inlet of the next
compressor stage.