An analysis of the flow delivered by a spinning stage of a centrifugal compressor

The instrumentation and techniques used to characterize the flow at a single stage of an industrial compressor are described. Static pressure taps were inserted parietally and in the center cap of the inlet, and absolute pressure sensors were placed at various positions from the cap backward to the exit. Flow velocity and direction and temperature data were obtained with sensors at the inlet and exit. Time-of-flight laser anemometry provided characteristic flow velocity and direction data. The sampling rate yielded data of sufficient resolution to extract average quantities between individual blades. Comparisons of the velocity and pressure data with numerical predictions are providing a basis for increasing the accuracy of the numerical predictions.