Flow in the inducer of a centrifugal compressor measured with a laser velocimeter

The flow field in the inducer of a high-pressure-ratio centrifugal compressor has been measured with a laser-2-focus velocimeter (L2FV) at two flow rates that were on each side of the apparent inducer-stall limit at 70 percent speed. The limit was determined based on the pressure pattern between inducer blades along the shroud. The measured time-mean velocity distribution is compared with the prediction based on an inviscid quasi-three-dimensional flow analysis and the viscous effects are clarified. Furthermore, the nature of flow unsteadiness is discussed on the basis of the L2FV data. Using the observed data it is concluded that the inducer works well even at the apparent inducer-stall condition.