Effect of double splitter blades position in a centrifugal compressor impeller

Abstract

This paper reveals a novel design of centrifugal compressor impeller with multisplitter blades for performance improvement. In order to investigate the effects of the location of the splitter between two main blades, two sample impellers were designed, keeping all flow conditions and impeller definitions same as the experimentally validated impeller: (1) with big splitter close to suction surface of main blade and smaller splitter close to pressure surface; (2) with small splitter close to suction surface of main blade and big splitter close to pressure surface. Flow field in both the impellers is analyzed and compared with the original experimentally validated impeller. Total pressure ratio is increased with improved efficiency in multisplitter blade impellers with the addition of pair of big and small splitters blades. It was identified that small splitter close to the suction surface of the main blade and big splitter close to the pressure surface has more uniform flow, reduced separation, and better efficiency than the placement of big splitter close to the suction surface.