The effect of low-solidity vaned diffusers on the performance of a turbocharger compressor

Abstract

The design of low-solidity diffuser vanes and the effect on the performance of a turbocharger compressor is discussed. The effect of vane number and turning angle was investigated while maintaining a basic design with a solidity of 0.69 and a leading edge angle of 75°. This large leading edge angle was specifically chosen so that the vane would be aligned with the low flowrates close to surge. Tests were initially conducted with six, eight and ten vanes and a turning angle of 10°. Based on these results the ten-vane design was selected for further investigation with 15 and 20° of vane turning; this led to vane exit angles of 60 and 55° respectively. All results are compared with those obtained with the standard vaneless diffuser configuration and it was shown that all designs increased and shifted the peak pressure ratio to reduced flowrates. The peak efficiency was reduced relative to that obtained with the vaneless diffuser. Despite the low-solidity configuration none of the vane designs provided a broad operating range without the use of a variable geometry configuration. This was attributed to the selection of a large leading edge vane angle. :. © IMechE 1997.