Compressor Impeller

Centrifugal compressors, sometimes called radial compressors, are a sub-class of dynamic axisymmetric work-absorbing turbomachinery.

They achieve pressure rise by adding energy to the continuous flow of fluid through the rotor/impeller. The following equation shows this specific energy input. A substantial portion of this energy is kinetic which is converted to increased potential energy/static pressure by slowing the flow through a diffuser. The static pressure rise in the impeller may roughly equal the rise in the diffuser.

Components of a simple centrifugal compressor

A simple centrifugal compressor stage has four components (listed in order of throughflow): inlet, impeller/rotor, diffuser, and collector.^[1] Figure 1.1 shows each of the components of the flow path, with the flow (working gas) entering the centrifugal impeller axially from left to right. This turboshaft (or turboprop) impeller is rotating counter-clockwise when looking downstream into the compressor. The flow will pass through the compressors from left to right.

Inlet

The simplest inlet to a centrifugal compressor is typically a simple pipe. Depending upon its use/application inlets can be very complex. They may include other components such as an inlet throttle valve, a shrouded port, an annular duct (see Figure 1.1), a bifurcated duct, stationary guide vanes/airfoils used to straight or swirl flow (see Figure 1.1), movable guide vanes (used to vary pre-swirl adjustably). Compressor inlets often include instrumentation to measure pressure and temperature in order to control compressor performance.

Centrifugal impeller

The identifying component of a centrifugal compressor stage is the centrifugal impeller rotor. Impellers are designed in many configurations including "open" (visible blades), "covered or shrouded", "with splitters" (every other inducer removed), and "w/o splitters" (all full blades). Figures 0.1, 1.2.1, and 1.3 show three different open full inducer rotors with alternating full blades/vanes and shorter length splitter blades/vanes. Generally, the accepted mathematical nomenclature refers to the leading edge of the impeller with subscript 1. Correspondingly, the trailing edge of the impeller is referred to as subscript 2.

As working-gas/flow passes through the impeller from stations 1 to 2, the kinetic and potential energy increase. This is identical to an axial compressor with the exception that the gases can reach higher energy levels through the impeller's increasing radius. In many modern high-efficiency centrifugal compressors the gas exiting the impeller is traveling near the speed of sound.

Most modern high-efficiency impellers use "backsweep" in the blade shape.

Diffuser

The next component, downstream of the impeller within a simple centrifugal compressor may the diffuser. The diffuser converts the flow's kinetic energy (high velocity) into increased potential energy (static pressure) by gradually slowing (diffusing) the gas velocity. Diffusers can be vaneless, vaned, or an alternating combination. High-efficiency vaned diffusers are also designed over a wide range of solidities from less than 1 to over 4. Hybrid versions of vaned diffusers include wedge , channel, and pipe diffusers. Some turbochargers have no diffuser.

Collector

The collector of a centrifugal compressor can take many shapes and forms.   When the diffuser discharges into a large empty circumferentially (constant area) chamber, the collector may be termed a Plenum. When the diffuser discharges into a device that looks somewhat like a snail shell, bull's horn, or a French horn, the collector is likely to be termed a volute or scroll.

When the diffuser discharges into an annular bend the collector may be referred to as a combustor inlet (as used in jet engines or gas turbines) or a return-channel (as used in an online multi-stage compressor). As the name implies, a collector's purpose is to gather the flow from the diffuser discharge annulus and deliver this flow downstream into whatever component the application requires. The collector or discharge pipe may also contain valves and instrumentation to control the compressor. In some applications, collectors will diffuse flow (converting kinetic energy to static pressure) far less efficiently than a diffuser.