Flow Measurements Behind the Inlet Guide Vane of a Centrifugal Compressor

In a centrifugal compressor adjustable inlet guide vanes (IGV) in front of the impeller are used to regulate the pressure ratio and the mass flow. The stationary measurement of the velocity profile in front of the impeller with different angles of the IGV displays shock losses at the inlet edge of blade of the impeller. In the partial-load region (e.g. partial-load efficiency) the radial distribution of the flow influences considerably the performance of the impeller. The tested compressor consists of an adjustable IGV with straight vanes, a shrouded impeller and a vaneless, parallel diffuser. In the first measurement location, behind the IGV, total pressure, static pressure and flow angle were measured with a 5-hole cylinder probe. In the second measurement location, in front of the impeller, the measurement of the total pressure was carried out with a Kiel probe and the flow angle with a Cobra probe accordingly the static wall pressure was measured. Taking into consideration the fundamental thermodynamical equations it was possible to determine the velocity profiles because of the measured distributions of the flow angle in these two measurement locations. For different angles of the IGV and with various mass flows the distributions of the deflection defect behind the IGV are described. Starting with the measured distributions of the flow in front of the impeller the flow angles at the impeller inlet are calculated and the distributions of the incidence angle at the impeller inlet are figured out.