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FLOW MEASUREMENTS BEHIND THE INLET GUIDE VANE
OF A CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSOR

L Kassens and M. Rautenberg

Institute of Turbomachinery
University of Hannover
Hannover, Germany

Abstract Symbol Units Meanines

In a centrifugal compressor adjustable inlet guide vanes (IGV) p [Pa] pressure, static
in front of the impeller are used to regulate the pressure ratio and r [m] radius
the mass flow. The stationary measurement of the velocity profile s [m] length of profile
in front of the impeller with different angles of the IGV displays t blade pitch
[-]

shock losses at the inlet edge of blade of the impeller. In the par- u [m/s] circumferential velocity
tial-load region (e.g. partial-load efficiency) the radial distribution
of the flow influences considerably the performance of the impel- a [0] absolute blade angle
ler. a [0] absolute flow angle
The tested compressor consists of an adjustable IGV with [°] relative blade angle
straight vanes, a shrouded impeller and a vaneless, parallel dif- [°] relative flow angle
fuser. In the first measurement location, behind the IGV, total S [0] incidence angle
pressure, static pressure and flow angle were measured with a 5- Si [-] inlet diameter ratio
hole cylinder probe. In the second measurement location, in front Act [0] deflection defect
of the impeller, the measurement of the total pressure was carried 11 [%] efficiency
out with a Kiel probe and the flow angle with a Cobra probe ac- v [-] hub-to-tip ratio
cordingly the static wall pressure was measured. a [-] pressure ratio
Taking into consideration the fundamental thermodynamical (P [0] angle in a segment (in peripheral direction)
equations it was possible to determine the velocity profiles because 0 [-] mass flow (flow coefficient)
of the measured distributions of the flow angle in these two mea-
surement locations. For different angles of the IGV and with vari- Subscripts
ous mass flows the distributions of the deflection defect behind the Symbol Meanines
IGV are described. Starting with the measured distributions of the 0 suction pipe, in front of the holder of the blast pipe
flow in front of the impeller the flow angles at the impeller inlet 1 impeller inlet
are calculated and the distributions of the incidence angle at the 2 impeller outlet
impeller inlet are figured out. 7 pressure pipe
a outer
Nomenclature ax axial
Symbol Units Meanings bez reference point for max. efficiency with 100% mass
b [m] width flow
c [m/s] absolute velocity IGV Inlet Guide Vane
coast [-] constant L measurement location behind the impeller
D [m] diameter s impeller blade
E [-] measurement location in front of the impeller s isentropic
I [m] length s static conditions
L [-] measurement location behind the Inlet Guide t, tot stagnation conditions
Vane u circumferential direction
z z-direction

Presented at the International Gas Turbine & Aeroengine Congress & Exhibition
Stockholm, Sweden — June 2-June 5, 1998
Introduction
5-hole cylinder probe
Matching of compressor performance to different operating con-
ditions is possible by means of e.g. adjustable inlet guide vanes scroll
(IGV), Balje (1981). Past investigations of centrifugal compressors
with an IGV and a diffuser clearly demonstrate the way in which
the latter alter the compressor performance map as reported by
Wallace et al. (1975), Whitfield et al. (1976), Simon et al. (1986), ml Fuser
Rodgers (1990), Harada (1996) and Rodgers (1996). In order to
assess the flow in an axial suction pipe of a centrifugal compressor

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with an IGV it is necessary to investigate the flow conditions at
this location. Usable measured flow data are hardly available in
the literature for the inlet region of centrifugal compressors with
an IGV.
This paper deals with the experimental determination of the
flow behind an IGV. The flow field inside the IGV was not mea-
sured because the flow distribution behind the IGV was the topic
of these measurements. By means of a second plane of measure-
Fig.1 Test compressor with measurement location
ment in front of the impeller it was also possible to determine the
flow evolution and energy conversion processes between the IGV
and the impeller. Different mass flows between the surge line and
the choke margin in the centrifugal compressor performance map
were also considered in order to determine the effects of the flow
velocity in relation to the guide vanes.
Variable angular settings of the IGV (max. angle of the IGV is
60°) with large whirl changes generate complex flow processes.
The complexity of the flow results as an example from the vortici-
ties after the 60° angle of the IGV. CDF computations for this re-
gion with big IGV-angles are quite difficult if there are no suppor-
ting values from stationary flow measurements. The application of
similarity mechanics involving heuristics, on the other hand, offers
a more promising design concept for centrifugal compressors. Sta-
tionary flow measurements are necessary for both purposes.
As the impeller inlet flow is also a decisive factor governing the
efficiency of the overall compressor stage, conversion of the flow
distribution at the plane of measurement E in front of the impeller
is carried out in order to obtain the flow distribution in plane I at
the impeller inlet (see Fig. 1). This conversion is necessary due to
a change in the flow characteristics on moving towards the impel- Fig.2 Inlet Guide Vane
ler inlet, Kammer (1984). In order to compute the flow characteris-
tics at the impeller inlet, use is made of relationships based on
stream filament theory. Once the flow angle at the impeller inlet
has been determined it is then possible to compute the incidence
angle. The incidence angle provides information on the nature of ments. The inner wall marks the boundary of the vaneless circular
the flow entering the impeller i.e. whether the impeller inlet flow area in the middle of the IGV, which is blocked by a blast pipe se-
has positive or negative incidence and how the part-load and cured by a holder in front of the IGV.
The total and static pressures as well as the flow angles were
overload mass flows affect the impeller inlet flow.
recorded in the measurement plane L behind the IGV by means of
a 5-hole cylinder probe. The housing disc accommodating the
Test compressor probe traversing device as well as the outer profile of the intake
The experimental investigations were carried out at the Institute channel can be rotated in the peripheral direction. Owing to the
of Turbomachinery on a centrifugal compressor test rig supplied by restricted space available in the proximity of the impeller a 2-hole
the German Babcock-Borsig Company. Fig. I shows a meridional Cobra probe and a total pressure Kiel probe were used alternately
section of the test compressor drawn to scale. The IGV has 11 in the plane of measurement E in front of the impeller. The air
vanes and the impeller inlet flow is axial. flow at the impeller inlet is almost axial. The impeller is designed
The plane vanes are slightly profiled, likely as a NACA profile. with a front shroud and has 18 backswept blades. The hub-to-
The ratio of the maximum vane thickness to the corresponding shroud ratio v is 0.293, the inlet diameter ratio is 4; = 0.583, the
profile length is slightly above 0.1 and the pitch ratio t/s = 0.64. length ratio is 1,21D2 = 0.234 and the width ratio is b2/D2 = 0.065.
The IGV deployed in the tests is shown in Fig. 2. The outer profile The impeller with the vaneless diffuser is shown in Fig. 3. The
of the intake channel (ro = 0.99 m) narrows beyond the centerline impeller tip diameter is 0.252 m. The air is deflected radially in
of the IGV. Both the outer and inner walls of the intake channel the impeller and finally flows through a vaneless diffuser into the
are specially highlighted in the diagrams depicting flow measure- scroll.

Fig.3 Impeller with vaneless diffuser
IGV location measurement location L
a 30°
60, 0 CPL= 22.5°
PL= 16.5°
_ 0°
ZiGV = 0°
cpL = -16.5°
(1.1 to 5.7) * length of
profile
Fig.4 Different IGV angles
The angular settings of the IGV and the guide vane spacing are
shown in a scaled principal sketch of Fig. 4. The adjustment angles
of 0°, 30 °and 60 °are marked. A guide vane setting of -30° was
also included in order to examine the different behavior for co-
whirl and counterwhirl. The axial distance between the IGV and
the measurement plane L behind the IGV varies between 1.1 and
5.7 times the profile length of the IGV vane depending on whether
the profile length is referred to the outer radius or the inner radius.
If the IGV setting is in the axial direction, corresponding to a vane
angle of 0 ° one vane is located at the peripheral position p = 0°.
The first measurement plane L behind the IGV is located at an
axial distance of 1.3 times the inlet channel height and is thus at a
sufficient distance from the IGV to ensure a new steady-state
condition. Based on theoretical considerations and experimental
investigations reported in the literature e.g. by Schrader (1972)
and Horlock (1952, 1958), the radial compensation processes in
the flow downstream of the IGV have almost completely subsided
at the latter location. For this new steady-state condition it is again
3
9, = 22.5°
APL = 15° _16 5° - r1,, ... r,.,2
(PL = 7.5°. = 5.5° --
cP L = 0° (Pt = 0° —
Wc=-7.5°(PL=- 5.5 °-- —
(Pc=-15° 9L=
-16.5°
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outer wall blast pipe
(inner diameter
of suction pipe)
Fig.5 Measuring points
rP=
W=
rP=
axis of rotation of location of the
one IGV blade blast pipe holder
Fig.6 Measurement location
possible to apply the theory of simple radial equilibrium, which
presupposes constant total pressure and total temperature in the
radial direction.
The reference plane of measurement 0 is located in the suction
pipe in front of the blast pipe holder. The measurement plane 7,
which is necessary for computing the performance map data, is
located behind the scroll outlet in the pressure pipe. The discharge
is determined by means of an orifice plate, which is located in the
pressure pipe at a sufficient distance from the scroll outlet. Total
temperature probes and total pressure Kiel probes are installed in
the measurement planes 0 and 7 while the static pressure is mea-
sured through holes drilled in the wall.
The points of flow measurement in the measurement planes are
shown in Fig. 5. The angular separation between the + 16.5 ° and
-16.5° measurement radii approximately corresponds to the IGV
vane pitch. As the IGV has 11 vanes the IGV vane pitch is about
32.73 ° In later measurements the maximum possible adjustment
range of ±22. 5 °was exploited. Measurements were made at 7
 i1 1.00
QiGv°0U, 1wa mass now
o' 4.0
ate,-SM. 100% massflow

5 0 3,5
a
^3 3 1^ io
E 3.0
1.0 0.98
^^ o 'm` d
0 2,5
S v
a
2.0
0.96
0.9 1,5
0. S 0,2 0,4 0.6 0,8
2.5
1 balion

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a 0.94 -.--tar
- .-•.11,o
0,8 S -t- 3,5• S 2.0
r- 0•
U
0.0 0,5 1.0 1,5 2,0 -U- 5,5'
0.92 -x- 11,0•
1,0 0
-a- 16.5• 8 is
0 oo«ISy,roa^
IGV-anple S a4ee peswn S 1
0' • -30'
C
0 0.90 1,0
0.9 -•- o• 0.2 0,4 0,6 0,8 0.2 0,4 0,6 0,8
'a-- 30• 70
--m-- 60•
U
u 0
0
^ 0,8 C 0
C

0,0 0.5 1.0 1,5 2,0
mess flow raSo m/m, m
Fig. 7 Compressor test performance map
positions in the peripheral direction and at 12 positions in the ra-
dial direction. The definition sketch shown in Fig. 6 indicates the
position of flow measurements relative to the pressure pipe. The
figure also shows the 3 struts of the blast pipe holder.
Experimental results
The performance map for the centrifugal compressor at u2 =
225 rn/s is shown in Fig. 7. The relative total pressure ratio
as well as the relative isentropic efficiency ratio
are plotted in the figure as a function of the relative mass flow
ratio 0 /. The reference point is specified as the maximum
isentropic efficiency at u2 = 225 m/s and the corresponding total
pressure ratio for the same mass flow. The mass flow is expressed
as a percentage, whereby the mass flow at the maximum isentropic
efficiency is defined as the 100% mass flow. The performance
curves correspond to the different IGV vane angles of -30°, 00,
30 °and 60 ° The points in the performance map marked by a circle
indicate the points at which the flow was measured. These points
correspond to mass flows of about 50%, 70%, 100%, 130% and
180%. The results of flow measurements for the example of a 600
IGV vane setting are first presented for the performance map
reference point corresponding to "100% mass flow". The radial
distributions of the total and static pressure measured with a 5-
hole cylinder probe in the measurement plane L behind the IGV as
well as the computed absolute velocities for peripheral angles of
-16.5° to +16.5° are plotted in Fig. 8. The measurement radii are
referred to the inner radius ro of the suction pipe. The outer wall of
the flow channel in the measurement plane L behind the IGV is
located at a radius ratio r/ro of 0.8, and the inner wall at a radius
ratio of 0.17. The inner wall signifies that the vaneless circular
area in the middle of the IGV is blocked by a blast pipe. The
maximum radius ratio of 0.8 in this plane of measurement illus-
trates the convergence of the flow-cross section behind the IGV.
0 j
a
0
0
C 50
0.2 0.4 0.8 0.8 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8
fadius rado rno radius moo the
Fig. 8 Total and static pressure, Fig. 9 Velocity components and
absolute velocity behind flow angle behind IGV
IGV for 60° IGV-angle for 60' IGV-angle
and 100% mass flow and 100% mass flow
The flow velocities relative to the corresponding axial flow velo-
city c,o in the suction pipe are also presented and clearly indicate
an increase in the flow velocity due to the convergence of the
cross-section.
A pronounced change in the total and static pressure in the ra-
dial direction is clearly evident in the upper part of Fig. 8. Espe-
cially noticeable is the large decrease in the total pressure from
about the middle of the intake channel towards the inner wall. At
the last probe position close to the inner wall the total pressure
behind the IGV is only 96% of the total pressure in the suction
pipe reference plane in front of the IGV. The static pressure drops
uniformly from the outer wall towards the inner wall. The decrease
is more pronounced from about the middle of the flow channel
towards the inner wall.
The absolute velocities shown in the lower part of Fig. 8 are de-
termined from the pressures plotted in the upper part of the figure
at the corresponding constant total temperature by performing ther-
modynamic and gasdynamic computations. The velocity increases
from 2.5 times the reference velocity at the outer wall to 4 times
the reference velocity at the inner wall. On approaching the inner
wall the absolute velocity averaged over the peripheral positions
remains almost constant. The measured flow angles are plotted in
the lower part of Fig. 9. Behind the IGV the flow overspins in the
middle of the intake channel to 65': whereas the flow angle falls to
about 55° towards the channel walls. Overspinning of the flow
angle is due to convergence of the cross-section. This phenomenon
is known from the literature and has been reported e.g. by Iserland
(1958).
The tangential and axial components of the velocity are again
referred to the inlet velocity in front of the IGV. The tangential

2

potential vortex
r i r•c.=const
C„
\ solid body vortex
Fig.10 c -distribution for potential and solid body vortex
5
= 60°, 100% mass now
:-J
m remnants of an indentation in the wake of the IGV; a precise inter-
a,
0(
m pretation is not possible, however. On the one hand, large losses
a occur here in the inner half of the channel, whilst on the other
s hand, radial velocity components within the IGV and subsequently
g (up to the plane of measurement) have affected the flow pattern,
a,
8 The corresponding flow measurements in the second plane of
1
a -1E
0,2 0,4 0,6 0.8
radius ratio
Fig.11 3D-graph of total and static pressure behind inlet
guide vanes for 60° IGV-angle, 100% mass flow
components shown in the upper part of Fig. 9 increase slightly over
the inner third portion of the intake channel. The tangential com-
ponents attain a value of about 3.5 times the axial velocity in front
of the IGV and fall to about 2.1 times this value towards the outer
wall. The axial velocity components are plotted in the middle part
of Fig. 9. These rise to about 2.3 times the reference value towards
the inner wall, otherwise fluctuating about a value of 1.7 times the
axial velocity in front of the IGV.
In this subregion of the outer half of the intake channel it is pos-
sible to apply the theory of simple radial equilibrium, as the total
pressure remains relatively constant. The c„ behavior in the outer
half of the channel approximately corresponds to a potential vor-
tex. For the potential and the solid body vortex the shape of the
curve of the tangential components of the velocity is illustrated in a
principal sketch in Fig. 10. According to the theory of simple
radial equilibrium this is accompanied by a constant axial velocity
for the potential vortex similar to the measured c z distribution in
the outer region. Also the slower rise of the measured static pres-
sure in the outer region corresponds with theoretical behavior of a
potential vortex in comparison to a solid body vortex. Due to the
very high total pressure losses in the inner half of the intake chan-
nel, however, the theory of simple radial equilibrium cannot be
applied in the inner region for describing the theoretical distribu-
tions. According to the theory of simple radial equilibrium the c Z
component must decrease from the inside to the outside for the
solid body vortex similar to the measured distribution (until at-
taining the constant value necessary for the potential vortex), but
the measured flow angles in Fig. 9 are contrary to the theoretical
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flow angles.
As may be seen in the upper part of Fig. 8 the total pressure
curves in the inner half of the intake channel appear to be some-
what erratic. In the 3-D representation of the curves given in Fig.
11, however, an oblique indentation is noticeable in the middle of
the large pressure decreases occurring in the inner half of the
intake channel. This runs from the inner wall at a peripheral angle
of -16.5 ° to about the middle of the channel at a peripheral angle
of +16.5°. The total pressure curves in the outer half of the chan-
nel exhibit a gentle wave in the peripheral direction.
This oblique indentation can only be the compressed and rotated
and radially varying IGV exit angles have also unevenly rotated the
flow field. In the case of the static pressure curves only small diffe-
rences are apparent between the peripheral angles of -16.5° to
+16.5°
measurement E in front of the impeller for the 60°IGV vane angle
are shown in Figs. 12 and 13. The figures are constructed in a
similar way to the previous ones for a 60° vane angle. The in-
creasing convergence of the cross-sectional area in the measure-
ment plane E in front of the impeller is indicated by the dotted line
representing the outer wall at a radius ratio of 0.73. Due to the
restricted installation space available for the probes and probe tra-
versing device in front of the impeller it was not possible to deploy
a multi-hole probe at this location. The flow angles and total pres-
sures of interest were therefore measured alternately with a 2-hole
Cobra probe and a total pressure Kiel probe. Only two values of
static pressure were measured in this plane of measurement at the
inner and outer walls, respectively. These measurements are indi-
cated by the large open circles on the inner and outer walls in the
upper part of Fig. 12. The intermediate values of static pressure
follow the "characteristic" curve for the measured static pressure
behind the IGV. The mean static pressure curve presented is es-
sentially based on the assumption of a linear pressure loss across
the intake channel between the two planes of measurement. This
computed static pressure is represented in the upper part of Fig. 12
as a continuous curve without measuring point symbols. The total
pressure drops to about 92% towards the inner wall and hence the
pressure loss is twice as large as the measured value behind the
IGV (decreasing to only 96% towards the inner wall).
The computed absolute velocities are shown in the lower part of
Fig. 12. The velocities are seen to decrease abruptly from the
middle of the channel towards the inner wall to about twice the
reference value. The velocity at the inner wall in the plane of
measurement behind the IGV, however, was twice as large, i.e. 4
times the reference value.
 -CU, IWA mass now O IOV '
31.00 4,0 7,5 10
1 1
1 1 U,
0 3.5 I IOOUpn 1 mass flow
C.
I 1 5.0 -130% ' --►-130 % Q
0 1W ^1 C
0 . 98 13 ;1 p -a-0. 1
-`100% 5 -'-100% 4'
6. 3,0 3 5.5• ;I i3
C c i - 70%
IC ml '. -'-16.0 mI 2.5
I
t
C Ic 51
i^ O1 2.5 Ic ^1 S -v- 50 % O
1 1 1- OI 1 I
0.86 O
C 0.0 0
O 2.0
1 1 1 ^

'V
0 1 1
a 1 1
O Cc 1.5
0.94 02 0.4 0.6 0,8

/TT
-5 I
I 52.5 C
Y 5,0
1 ^110fl 1
a d

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1 I
O 0,92 mW O 1 1
An
0 m 2.0 1 1 -7.5
1 1 02 0.4 0.6 0.8 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8
O -•- 5,5' t 1 1
C -+- 0• t
E 1 I ate,=W .
1 1
0,90 7.5 10
s 1.5 1 1
1 •^
a 1 I moos now
° 5,5't 1 1
-180%
i -^-- 16.5• t I 1
I 1 5.0 1
-130%
0,88 m 1,0 5 -'---100%
02 0.4 0.6 0. 4 m 0,2 0.4 0,6 0.8
a 2,5 1 -5- 70%
60 B
i 1 C
° 4 1 1
1 1 0,0 0
° 1 1
0 1 1
0
0 1 1

JITT*
I 1 -2.5
3 ; so 1 I
-5 1 1
1 1
i 1 1
O 1 1 -5,0 •

1 1 t50%
O 2 1
a I 1
75 4n
C 40 0,2 0,4 0.6 0,8 02 0.4 0,6 0,8
0.2 0.4 0,6 0.8 02 0.4
radl+s ratio nr
0,6
°
0.8 °
radius ratio r1r radius ratio 1*
radio ralb dr,

Fig.13 Velocity components and Fig.14 Deflection defect behind Fig.15 Deflection defect behind IGV
Fig.12 Total and static pressure
flow angle in front of IGV for 0° and 60° IGV-ang- for 30° and -30° IGV-angles
and abs. velocity in front
impeller for 60° IGV-angle les and different mass flows and different mass flows
of impeller for 60° IGV-angle
and 100% mass flow and 100% mass flow

The corresponding measured flow angles are presented in the intake channel. For all mass flow ratios the deflection defect in-
lower part of Fig. 13. The angles in the measurement plane in front creases to over +5 °towards both channel walls.
of the impeller attain maximum values of 500 compared with the The deflection defect for a 30 °vane angle is shown in the upper
maximum of 650 behind the IGV. The angles remain constant at part of Fig. 15. Towards the outer wall the large positive flow
about 50' in the inner half of the channel and fall to as much as deflection defect attains a value of over 5°, which almost corres-
40 °towards the outer wall. ponds to the large deflection defect for the largest vane angle of
The curves of the axial velocity components plotted in the midd- 600, Towards the inner wall the deflection defect attains a value of
le part of Fig. 13 are almost the inverse of the axial velocity com- approximately -2 °, except at the last probe position where it ap-
ponent curves behind the IGV. In the plane of measurement in proaches a value of 0°. The deflection defect in the middle of the
front of the impeller the axial component falls from twice the intake channel lies between 0 °and -3°.
reference value in the middle of the intake channel to 1.3 times the The deflection defect for the IGV vane angle of -30 ° is plotted
reference value towards the inner wall. in the lower part of Fig. 15. As the plane vanes are symmetrical,
The c„ distribution in front of the impeller, as shown in the up- the deflection defect for the negative vane angle is almost a mirror
per part of Fig. 13, indicates a potential vortex in the outer part of image of that for the positive vane angle. The flow angle for the
the intake channel and a solid body vortex in the inner half of the vane angle of -30° overspins in the middle of the intake channel by
channel with an almost linear variation towards the channel axis. as much as 4°. Overspinning is again due to the convergence of
As may be seen in the compressor performance map, flow mea- the flow cross-section. This more or less provides "plausible fac-
surements were not only performed for a 600 IGV vane angle and tual proof' that the flow probe was correctly installed because
100% mass flow but also at many other operating points, all of opposed overspin flow angles were measured for the opposed vane
which cannot be presented here. Only condensed evaluations are angle of +300. The largest negative deflection defect occurs in this
thus presented in the following such as e.g. the deflection defect of case at the outer wall and approximately corresponds to the abso-
the flow in the measurement plane L behind the IGV. The flow lute values for the 300 and 60° vane settings. In the middle of the
deflection defect da is defined as the difference between the IGV intake channel the deflection defect again lies between 20 and 4°.
vane angle arcv and the measured flow angle aL (da = arcv - aL). The deflection defect reduces to 00 towards the inner wall, i.e. the
The deflection defects for the 0 °IGV vane angle at flow rates of flow angle at this position is almost identical to the vane setting.
50% 70%, 100% and 130% are presented in the upper part of Fig. In overall terms the deflection defect curves are hardly affected by
14. The deflection defect lies between -2° and -6° for the different changes in the mass flow.
mass flow ratios. The deflection defects for the largest IGV vane The incidence angles at the impeller inlet for IGV vane settings
angle of 600 are plotted in the lower part of Fig. 14. The flow de- of 0 ° 60°, 30 °and -30 ° are plotted in Figs. 16 and 17. The inci-
flection defect again lies between -3° and -6° in the middle of the

0.
angle of over -30 ° is attained in the middle of the intake channel.
25 The incidence angles for a 30° IGV vane setting at different
20 mass flow ratios are plotted in the upper part of Fig. 17. According
,5
H^ r. to the incidence angle curves the best efficiency at this IGV vane
^ h setting must correspond to a mass flow of between 70% and 100%.
0 10 This is clearly evident in the compressor performance map. At a
I • g mass flow of 100% the incidence angle in the inner region is about
^,
I
5
o
nwssfiow .s
—+— 50 x
r ^m I
-0.S°, corresponding to small negative incidence. In view of the
` —F- 70 % :°
fact that the least mass flows through this part of the cross-section,

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-5 however, the outer region is more decisive. Above a radius ratio of
0.5 the incidence angle increases from 0 ° to at least 6 ° towards the
-10
0,3 0.4 0.5 0,6 0,7 0,8 0,3 0,4 0.5 0,6 0.7 0,8 outer wall. In the part-load region, i.e. at mass flows of 50% and
a = 60• 70%, the negative incidence angles increase with decreasing mass
30
flow. The curve at a mass flow of 130% is more pronounced than
20
1 50 % that at 100% mass flow. This mass flow is located in the overload
region, and as in the case of the 60 1 IGV vane angle, the incidence
' 10 angle now lies in the negative incidence region.

t
0
C
o
-10
-20
a0
0,3 0,4 0,5 0.6 0,7 0,8 0.3 0,4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0,8
radius rado rho
Fig.16 Incidence angles at impel- Fig.17 Incidence angles at impeller
ler inlet for 0 and 60' IGV- inlet for 30' and -30' IGV-
angles, different mass flows angles, different mass flows
dence angle at the impeller inlet is determined by computation.
Conversion of the flow velocities and flow angles is based on the
energy equation, the continuity equation and the conservation of
momentum equation. The change in state between the measure-
ment plane E in front of the impeller and plane 1 at the impeller
inlet is assumed to be adiabatic without additional total pressure
losses. The incidence angle 6 is defined as the difference between
the blade angle fir and the relative flow angle X31 at the inlet edge
of the impeller blade (6=/3s- flu).
The incidence angles corresponding to an IGV vane angle of 0°
are plotted in the upper part of Fig. 16 for mass flows of 50%,
70%, 100% and 130%. At a mass flow of 100% the incidence
angle in the outer region is about 7° and rises continuously towards
the inner wall to a value of approx. 8°. The operating point corres-
ponding to a mass flow of 100% has the best efficiency in the
compressor performance map. The flow enters the impeller with
positive incidence of about 7° At smaller mass flows the flow
enters the impeller with increasing angles of incidence. At the
largest mass flow the incidence angle is negative and hence the
impeller inlet flow has negative incidence.
The incidence angles for the 60° IGV vane angle are shown in
the lower part of Fig. 16. The best efficiency in the performance
map is obtained for a mass flow of 70% combined with an IGV
vane angle of 60°. The incidence angle along the outer wall at this
mass flow is about 6° and reduces to approx. 1° in the middle of
the intake channel. In overall terms the incidence angle is larger at
the smaller mass flow. At larger mass flows the impeller inlet flow
is largely characterized by negative incidence, which increases
with increasing mass flows. At the largest mass flow an incidence
The incidence angles for the -30 ° IGV vane setting are plotted
in the lower part of Fig. 17. According to the incidence angles in
the positive incidence region, the best efficiency must correspond
closely to a mass flow of 130%; this agrees approximately with the
respective point in the compressor performance map. The inci-
dence angle curves exhibit a maximum at a radius ratio of about
0.5. The incidence angle at a mass flow of 130% increases from a
radio ra60 rh,
value of 2.5* in the proximity of the outer wall to 6.5 at a radius
1
ratio of 0.5, and finally decreases towards the inner wall to a value
of 5°. Each of the curves behave similarly in the part-load region;
the impeller inlet flow is characterized by positive incidence. The
incidence angle is found to increase with decreasing mass flow. In
overall terms the incidence angle is negative in the overload region
at a mass flow of 180%. The impeller inlet flow in this case has
negative incidence.
Broadly speaking, it is found that the impeller inlet flow in the
part-load region of the compressor performance map enters the
impeller at a smaller flow angle than the blade angle, thus result-
ing in positive incidence. The further the operating point lies to the
left in the part-load region of the compressor performance map, the
more pronounced is the positive incidence of the impeller inlet
flow. If the incidence angle is located in the region of positive inci-
dence at about 5° the best efficiencies are attained in the compres-
sor performance map (Fig. 7) for each of the IGV vane settings. In
the overload region of the compressor performance map the impel-
ler inlet flow angle is larger than the blade angle, thereby resulting
in negative incidence.
Concluding remarks
The flow fields in the axial suction pipe of a centrifugal com-
pressor were determined experimentally in 2 planes of measure-
ment behind an IGV. Four different IGV vane angles were investi-
gated. The tests were also carried out for different mass flows in
order to determine the influence of flow velocity. The first plane of
measurement was located at a distance of 1.3 times the intake
channel height from the IGV. In accordance with theoretical con-
siderations and experimental results this is the point at which
radial compensation processes downstream of the IGV have more
or less subsided. The theory of the simple radial equilibrium could
be applied in radial sections, when the curve of the total pressure
was nearly constant. The total temperature has been held constant
in the radial direction. In both planes of measurement the total
pressure decreases sharply towards the inner wall in the inner half

7
 of the intake channel. The measured total pressure losses of up to
10% along the inner wall behind the IGV are quite significant for
the 60 ° IGV vane angle of particular interest. Several typical whirl
distributions such as e.g. the potential vortex were computed from
sample measurements in radial sections without such extreme total
pressure losses. Unsatisfactory agreement was nevertheless ob-
tained between the measured axial velocity distribution and the
axial velocity distribution theoretically required for simple radial
=
equilibrium (c = const for the potential vortex).
As the flow channel converges beyond the axis of rotation of the
Whitfield, A., F.J. Wallace and R.C. Atkey, 1976, „The Effect
of Variable Geometry on the Operating Range and Surge Margin
of a Centrifugal Compressor", ASME-Paper No. 76-GT-98.
Simon, H., T. Wallmann and T. Monk, 1986, „Improvements in
Performance Characteristics of Single-Stage and Multi-Stage
Centrifugal Compressors by Simultaneous Adjustments of Inlet
Guide Vanes and Diffuser Vanes", ASME-Paper No. 86-GT-127.
Rodgers, C., 1990, Centrifugal Compressor Inlet Guide Vanes
for Increased Surge Margin", ASME-Paper No. 90-GT-1 58.
Harada, H., 1996, „Study of a Surge-Free Centrifugal Compres-

Downloaded from http://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/GT/proceedings-pdf/GT1998/78620/V001T01A025/2410276/v001t01a025-98-gt-086.pdf by guest on 23 November 2020

IGV vanes the flow angles in the plane of measurement L behind sor with Automatically Variable Inlet and Diffuser Vanes",
the IGV are larger than the vane angle settings in some cases. At a ASME-Paper No. 96-GT-153.
radius ratio of approx. r/ro = 0.4 the deflection defect is larger Rodgers, C., 1996, „Development of a High Speed Centrifugal
than the specified value; the deflection defect reduces towards both Compressor", ASME-Paper No. 96-GT-353.
walls, being more pronounced towards the outer wall. The diffe- Kammer, N., 1984, ,Untersuchung der StrOmung durch eine
rent mass flows have no significant influence on the deflection Radialverdichterstufe im Bereich der Abl6segrenze", Dissertation,
defect Universitat Hannover.
The incidence angle is a measure of the Carrot incidence losses Schroder, H.-J., 1972, „Die Wirbelscheibenmethode in An-
at the impeller inlet. Compared with the compressor performance wendung auf die Auslegung axialer Turbomaschinen", Fortschr.-
map it was found that slight positive incidence is present at high Ber. VDI-Z., Reihe 7, Nr. 28, VDI-Verlag.
efficiencies. The further the operating point lies in the part-load Horlock, J.H., 1952, „Some Actuator Disc Theories for the Flow
region, the more pronounced is the positive incidence. If the ope- of Air through an Axial Turbomachine", Aeron. Res. Council
rating point lies in the overload region, however, the impeller inlet (ARC) R. & M., No. 3030, London.
flow has negative incidence. The total pressure losses and inci- Horlock, J.H., 1958, „Axial Flow Compressors. Fluid mechan-
dence angles in the plane of the impeller inlet are interrelated. The ics and Thermodynamics", London: Butterwoth & Co.
incidence angle attains a minimum at radius ratios at which the Iserland, K., 1958, ,Untersuchungen abet die Umlenkung eines
total pressure begins to fall. The more abruptly the total pressure freien Luftstraahls mit Hilfe von Drall", Promotionsarbeit, Eid-
falls, the more pronounced is the increase in the incidence angle. gen6ssische Technische Hochschule Zurich.
The present work should be interpreted as an initial attempt to
experimentally determine the characteristics of the axial inlet flow
to the impeller of a centrifugal compressor behind an IGV. Con-
trary to initial conjectures of a dependency between flow effects
and the velocity of the flow itself, it was not possible to identify
such a relationship. It appears more likely that instationary effects
originating from the impeller of the centrifugal compressor influ-
ence the flow field in the upstream direction.
Moreover, it may be possible to determine the parameters and
factors required for a loss model from the stationary flow investi-
gations. This represents a valuable contribution towards the esta-
blishment of a design concept based on heuristic similarity mecha-
nics. It likewise appears necessary to investigate the transient pro-
perties of the flow in front of the impeller in order to determine the
influence of the impeller itself on the upstream flow in terms of
instationary behavior.

Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank the German Babcock-Borsig Com-
pany for supplying the test centrifugal compressor and the German
Research Association (DFG) for their financial support. The
authors are also grateful to Dr. Ian Westwood (30938 Burgwedel,
Germany) for his meticulous translation of this paper.

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