Similarities and differences concerning flow characteristics in centrifugal compressors of different size

Abstract

The aim of the present investigation is to explain the differences in the compressor map by analyzing the compressible flow in two compressor designs, i.e. a small passenger car design and a sportive car design. The two different compressor designs are assessed with steady state Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes simulations for several operating conditions. Similar flow features are observed near optimal efficiency operating conditions when the flow field parameters are scaled properly. The present investigation elucidates the reason for the different limiting shapes of the surge line for the two compressor maps at high speed lines.