A Detailed Loss Analysis Methodology for Centrifugal Compressors

A deep understanding of loss mechanisms inside a turbomachine is crucial for the design and analysis work. By quantifying the various losses generated from different flow mechanisms, a targeted optimization can be carried out on the blading design. In this paper, an evaluation method for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations has been developed to quantify the loss generation based on entropy production in the flow field. A breakdown of losses caused by different mechanisms (such as skin friction, secondary flow, tip clearance vortex, and shock waves) is achieved by separating the flow field into different zones. Each zone is defined by the flow physics rather than by geometrical locations or empirical correlations, which makes the method a more general approach and applicable to different machine types. The method has been applied to both subsonic and transonic centrifugal compressors, where internal flow is complex due to the Coriolis acceleration and the curvature effect. An evaluation of loss decomposition is obtained at various operational conditions. The impact of design modification is also assessed by applying the same analysis to an optimized design.