Theoretical evaluation of flow through centrifugal compressor stage

In this paper a three dimensional viscous flow field in a Centrifugal Impeller with backswept and lean has been numerically analyzed using a commercial code (FLUENT) to understand the physics of complex real flow phenomena. The study was taken to investigate the flow interaction13; between impeller and vane diffuser for three different setting angles. It was shown at design point the13; flow at the exit of the impeller is uniform and the classical jet wake pattern is absent. At the intermediate13; plane between impeller inlet and exit and within vane diffuser channel the flow behaves like a potential13; flow. The stage analysis carried out using mixing plane formulation for three diffuser settings provided13; the optimum diffuser setting angle for maximum stage efficiency