DIFFUSERS

Alessandro Corsini,
Giovanni Delibra & Lorenzo Tieghi

Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

Sapienza University of Rome, Italy

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Diffusers in Turbomachinery
 Diffusers

Robinson et al., 2012 www.enggcyclopedia.com

 Diffusers, equations

Diffusers are used to slow down the flow to convert its kinetic energy into pressure energy

From Hugoniot eqns:

• if the flow is subsonic the diffuser cross-section needs to increase to decrease the flow speed and
increase pressure

• if the flow is supersonic the diffuser cross-section needs to decrease to decrease the flow speed and
increase pressure
 Flow phenomena in Diffusers

Decelerating flows develop under the influence of an adverse pressure gradient

In this conditions the boundary layers undergo an anticipated laminar-to-turbulent transition if

compared to typical conditions in flat plates or nozzles
Circular section diffuser
Under adverse pressure gradients, boundary layers
thickness increases and in combination with the early
transitioning to turbulence contributes to increase the
aerodynamic losses

Rectangular section diffuser

 Flow phenomena in Diffusers

Decelerating flows develop under the influence of an adverse pressure gradient

In this conditions the boundary layers undergo an anticipated laminar-to-turbulent transition if

compared to typical conditions in flat plates or nozzles
Circular section diffuser
Under adverse pressure gradients, boundary layers
thickness increases and in combination with the early
transitioning to turbulence contributes to increase the
aerodynamic losses

As such, the flow departs from the ideal isentropic model Rectangular section diffuser
so much that it is not reliable to use a simplified inviscid fluid
behavior

Static pressure recovery is limited by the flow separation

on duct walls
 Flow phenomena in Diffusers

L
𝛼′

′′
𝛼 >𝛼 ′
 Flow phenomena in Diffusers

(°deg)

20 hi
𝜀 =0 °

𝛼
′′ 15 10 °

9
L
40 °
′ 90 °
𝛼 𝜀=
0 °

90 °
2
hout
L/hi or L/ri

𝜀
 Flow phenomena in Diffusers

Rectangular diffusers:

Circular diffusers:

Rem. Data refer to incompressible flows experiments

 Bladeless Diffusers (i)

Diffusers are used downstream of centrifugal compressor rotors or downstream of centripetal turbines
to slow down the flow and recover pressure according to Bernoulli equation:

To this aim, diffuser have an increasing cross-section (subsonic regimen) or decreasing cross-section
(supersonic regimen) that allows to slow down the fluid and thus increase its pressure.

The change in the cross-section results in the deceleration of the meridional component of velocity that
is responsible to keep the flow moving inside the device.

Please notice that you can slow down the flow, but to guarantee the design flow rate you need to have a
non-null meridional velocity component compatible with the passage area
 Bladed Diffusers (ii)

However there is another velocity component that can be decreased: the peripheral (swirl) velocity
component.

In most turbomachinery the swirl component of velocity downstream of a rotor is considered as a source
of losses (the fastest the flow, the higher the losses that increase as a function of ). The flow velocity can be
written as:

Unlike the meridional component, the swirl component normally does not play an active role(*) and thus it can
be completely nullified to recover pressure. However, to do so, a bladed diffuser is needed to deviate the flow
path and therefore the design and manufacturing costs of the device increase

(*) in some cases a small peripheral component can be exploited to control separation, or other boundary layer
development characteristics so it can’t be completely killed
 Bladed Diffusers (ii)

In particular bladed diffusers are used downstream of centrifugal compressor rotors.

In part they recover pressure by slowing down the flow as their increasing cross-section results in the decreasing
of meridional velocity component due to continuity equation, in part they kill the peripheral velocity component
with the shape of their blades.

Blades Bladed diffuser

Impeller (rotor)

Increasing (diffusing)
cross section of the
diffuser Sandrolini, 1996
 Bladed Diffusers (ii)

In particular bladed diffusers are used downstream of centrifugal compressor rotors.

In part they recover pressure by slowing down the flow as their increasing cross-section results in the
decreasing of meridional velocity component due to continuity equation, in part they kill the peripheral
velocity component with the shape of their blades.
Bladed diffuser
Blades

Impeller (rotor)
Not shown

Increasing (diffusing) Caputo, 1994

cross section of the
diffuser
 Diffusers in hydro-power plant, draft tube

Diffusers are also used downstream of some hydraulic

turbines. In this case diffuser are used to create at the turbine
discharge (=diffuser inlet) a depression with respect to the
discharge duct.

In this case the diffuser allow to recover a portion of the

water column corresponding to the kinetic energy at the
turbine outlet and thus to design a smaller turbine with
higher discharge velocity (this will be discussed when
dealing with hydraulic turbines)

It also allow to install the turbine above water level for

easier maintenance
Caputo, 1994
 Supersonic discharge

Supersonic flow regimen can occur in diffuser and in

this case the discharge section can be affected,
leading to mechanical problems downstream

Let’s say that in a convergent-divergent diffuser the

inflow pressure is and the flow is supersonic: from
Hugoniot eqns we know that moving downstream,
pressure increases and velocity decreases

Caputo, 1994
 Supersonic discharge

If the discharge pressure is in the trough section we

reach and the pressure follows the dashed line (V) in
the converging section of the duct and the solid line (II)
in the diverging section, where the flow is sub-sonic.

Caputo, 1994
 Supersonic discharge

If the discharge pressure is in the trough section we

reach and the pressure follows the dashed line (V) in
the converging section of the duct and the solid line (II)
in the diverging section, where the flow is sub-sonic.

Decreasing the discharge pressure (for example to ) the

pressure in the diverging section decreases downstream
of the trough and then recovers when the flow reaches
sub-sonic conditions (solid line IV)

Caputo, 1994
 Supersonic discharge

If the discharge pressure is in the trough section we

reach and the pressure follows the dashed line (V) in
the converging section of the duct and the solid line (II)
in the diverging section, where the flow is sub-sonic.

Decreasing the discharge pressure (for example to ) the

pressure in the diverging section decreases downstream
of the trough and then recovers when the flow reaches
sub-sonic conditions (solid line IV)

When discharge pressure gets to the design value the

Caputo, 1994
flow is supersonic in all the diffuser (in the trough
section with Ma=1.0)
 Supersonic discharge

For discharge pressure between and shockwaves

occur in the divergent section of the diffuser

For discharge pressures below the flow remains in

super-sonic conditions inside the diffuser.

Caputo, 1994
 Real diffusers

assumptions:
Real diffusers
 Losses in Diffusers
Δ h 𝐷= h3 𝑟 − h3 𝑑𝑙
𝐿
or 𝑐2 𝑃
𝐶𝑑∫ ⋅ 𝑑𝑙
~ 𝑝3 − 𝑝3 𝑟 0 2 𝐴
Δ h𝐷 ¿
𝜌3 𝐴 𝑖𝑛
𝐴 𝑜𝑢𝑡

Losses are modeled as friction-driven: proportional to a drag coefficient, 𝐿

kinetic energy and a shape factor:

Assuming :

the term in red, here called shape-factor, is purely geometry-dependent P

 Losses in Diffusers: shape factor

For circular cross-section diffusers:

For rectangular cross-section diffusers:

where b is the width of the diffuser and:

 Losses in Diffusers: drag coefficient

In a linear pipe:

where is the friction factor and the term in red is the shape coefficient

with:

• is determined by the boundary layer blockage i.e. the severity of adverse pressure gradient
• can be determined from Moody’s diagram as a function of Reynolds number
 Losses in Diffusers: friction factor

: friction factor

from: wikipedia.org
 Losses in Diffusers

𝐿 ~
𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙 → 𝜁 ¿ Φ𝐷
h𝑖𝑛

𝐿 𝐴 𝑜𝑢𝑡
=8 → <1.5 𝛼 < 3 °
h𝑖𝑛 𝐴𝑖𝑛

𝐿 𝐴 𝑜𝑢𝑡
= 12→ < 2.4 𝛼< 3.5 °
h𝑖𝑛 𝐴 𝑖𝑛

−3
𝐶 𝑑 10
 Diffuser efficiency

A simple definition of diffuser efficiency is not possible, as in different scenarios it is required to re-define
efficiency according to the effect the designer wants and the corresponding definition of “losses”.
 Diffuser efficiency

A simple definition of diffuser efficiency is not possible, as in different scenarios it is required to re-define
efficiency according to the effect the designer wants and the corresponding definition of “losses”.

If we assume as the velocity at the diffuser inflow, we can define the diffuser efficiency as:

where and are velocity and pressure at the diffuser discharge, the exponent of the polytropic corresponding
to the real transformation of the flow.
 Diffuser efficiency

The previous expression does not account for reheat work. To include it we need to modify the expression as:

Moreover, it is possible that not all the kinetic energy at the inflow is available (i.e. the flow can’t be stopped).

In this case the two previous expressions must be modified accordingly.

 ROTATING DIFFUSERS IN TURBOMACHINERY

Alessandro Corsini,
Giovanni Delibra, Lorenzo Tieghi, Francesco Aldo Tucci

Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

Sapienza University of Rome, Italy

Thursday, February 29, 2024

 Introduction

Turbulent flows in rotating channels are of obvious engineering interest with applications associated with
rotating devices:

• Turbines

• Pumps

• Compressors

It is crucial to study the effects of rotation on deceleration ducts typical of turbomachinery.

The need for this study lies in the fact that the performance of the turbomachines can be largely affected by
the rotation of the system.
 Effects of Rotation

In the analysis of fluid machinery behavior, it is often advantageous to view the fluid from a coordinate
system fixed to the rotating parts. This allows to work with fluid motions which are steady, but the rotating
system is not inertial.

In an inertial coordinate system, the acceleration on a particle of mass m is directly related to the vector sum
of the forces: F=ma.

In a non-inertial frame of reference, two fictitious forces must be considered:

• Coriolis force

• Centrifugal force

These forces can enhance or decrease the turbulent activity within the boundary layer.
 Rotation effects on boundary layer mixing and stability

The mechanism that leads to the mixing process in turbulent boundary and shear layers can be described by
examining the forces on a particle that is displaced from its initial position in a rotating 2-dimensional parallel
shear flow [1].

If the relative vorticity, caused by the action of Coriolis force 2 on the particles, and the background rotation have
opposite senses the effects of rotation are destabilizing. If the relative vorticity and the background rotation have
the same sense the effects of rotation are stabilizing.

For turbulent boundary layers, the mechanism described

can be regarded as either damping or encouraging
motions that already exist in a direction normal to the wall.

Coriolis forces on a particle in a rotating flow: (a) destabilizing effects; (b) stabilizing
effects.
[1] Tritton, D. J. "Stabilization and destabilization of turbulent shear flow
in a rotating fluid." Journal of Fluid Mechanics 241 (1992): 503-523.
 Non-dimensional parameter: Rossby Number

When the effects of rotation become dominant, fluid motions exhibit properties quite different from those with no
rotation.

To define this regime it is necessary to develop a measure of the importance of rotation in each situation.

The quantity that gives a measure of the ratio between inertia force and the Coriolis force, is known ad Rossby
Number:

If the rotation effect dominates.

 CFD

Turbulent flows are studied through computational fluid dynamics (CFD).

CFD is a tool for modeling turbulent flows within predefined volumes. The smaller the approximations the more
accurate the results (model of real flows).

Turbulence consists of hierarchy of eddies described by the Navier-Stokes Equations which are non-linear partial
differential equations that do not admit a general analytical solution, but only particular solutions obtained under
suitable simplifying hypotheses.

Velocity and pressure profiles in a centrifugal pump.

 CFD

Modelling and Simulation approaches:

• Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS)

• Large Eddies Simulation (LES)

• Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes Equations (RANS)

Turbomachinery flow modeling lives in a constant compromise between accuracy and the computational
costs of numerical simulations.

Computational grids and sketches of instantaneous velocity profiles for DNS and LES,
and RANS. (Hanjalic, 2005).
 Background and Motivation

The aim of our work is to derive a wall function for rotating diffusing passages, through means of
machine learning.

Wall functions are universally exploited to replicate the physics of boundary layer where grid resolution does
not suffice.

Wall functions are derived by the observation of some canonical flows and are frequently applied in flows
where the ground assumptions cease to be true, such as rotating passages. In these flows, the mathematical
formulations of wall functions do not account for the distortion on the boundary layer due to the combined
action of centrifugal and Coriolis forces.
 Background and Motivation

In this work a multi-layer neural network (MLNN) is trained to provide a correction for the Turbulent Kinetic
Energy (T.K.E.) at the wall, effectively substituting the standard wall treatment.

A LES simulation of a rotating diffuser at a Rossby number equal to 0.41 is performed to build a high-fidelity
database.

The same simulation is carried out using a RANS approach to derive the T.K.E. values to be corrected by
MLNN.
 Test Case

The training datasets are generated through numerical simulations of a rotating radial diffuser.

Dimensions of the diffusing duct are similar to the test section of the experimental study performed by Moore [1].
With respect to those results, we have performed the simulation in kinematic similarity.

Table 1 – Domain Dimensions Table 2 – Operating Parameters

Length L 0.6096 m Volumetric Flow Rate Q 0.097 m3/s
Inlet Width WI 0.0762 m Inlet Velocity UI 16.72 m/s
Exit Width WE 0.2362 m Exit Velocity UE 5.39 m/s
Height H 0.0762 m Angular Velocity Ω 21.6 rad/s

Included angle α 15 deg Diffusion Factor DF 0.67

[1] Moore, J. "A Wake and an Eddy in a Rotating, Radial-Flow Passage—Part 1: Experimental Observations." (1973): 205-212.
 Numerical Methodology

Numerical simulations are carried out in OpenFOAM v-18.

LES simulation relies on dynamic one equation model from Kim and Menon [2] using PISO approach.

RANS simulation relies on the Launder-Sharma model [3] using the SIMPLE approach.

Boundary conditions remain the same between RANS and LES simulations, with the exception of obviously not
present in the latter.
able 3 – Boundary Conditions
Patch U p k  
Inlet mapped ZG mapped mapped mapped
Outlet ZG TP ZG ZG ZG
Wall NoSlip ZG kLowRe nutLowRe WF

Proper turbulent inlet conditions are generated by

means of a precursor squared duct.

[2] S. Menon, Kim, “High Reynolds number flow simulations using the localized dynamic subgrid-scale model”, 34th Aerospace Sciences Meeting, AIAA Paper
96-0425, Reno.
[3] Launder, B. E. and Sharma, B. I. (1974), "Application of the Energy-Dissipation Model of Turbulence to the Calculation of Flow Near a Spinning Disc", Letters
in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 131-138.
 Flow Description

One of the metrics which illustrates the most important peculiarity of the flow in a diffuser is the static pressure
recovery ().

In a rotating frame of reference, it can be computed by subtracting the centrifugal pressure field to the static
pressure:

The LES simulation follows the experimental data.

The delta between the two curves, which report the

coefficient for the suction side and the pressure side, remains
almost constant, especially close to the outlet of the
domain.

Static pressure recovery at mid-height of passage as a function of

the streamwise coordinate.
 Flow Description

A comparison using mean relative axial velocities for the different numerical approaches versus the experimental
values, shows a good correspondence between the LES approach and the experimental data from Moore.

LES approach (dashed red line) captures the effect of the rotational forces on the boundary layer, as evident in X =
0.4699. In contrast, the RANS approach (blue dotted line) is completely unaffected by the rotation.

Comparison between mean relative axial velocities at three different axial

distances from inlet.
Real diffusers