Experimental and numerical investigation of radial ow compressor volute shape effects in characteristics and circumferential pressure non-uniformity

In this article, the eects of volute cross section shape and centroid prole of a radial ow compressor volute were investigated. The performance characteristics of a turbocharger compressor were obtained experimentally by measuring rotor speed and ow parameters at the inlet and outlet of the compressor. The three-dimensional ow eld model of the compressor was obtained numerically solving Navier-Stokes equations with SST turbulence model. The compressor characteristic curves were plotted. For model verication, the results were compared with experimental data, showing good agreement. Modication of a volute was performed by introducing a shape factor for volute cross section geometry. By varying this parameter, new external volutes were generated and modeled while the original volute was intermediate volute. The eect of volute cross section shape on compressor pressure ratio and isentropic eciency at design rotational speed were investigated. Also pressure non-uniformity around compressor impeller was investigated using pressure taps around the impeller outlet to verify numerical results. This eect was considered and reported for new cases using numerical results. The results show how the shape and centroid prole of volute circumferential cross sections can in uence the compressor characteristics and circumferential static pressure non-uniformity.