• Recap: Lecture 22, 21st October 2015,

1530-1655 hrs.
• Coriolis acceleration and its effect
• Slip factor and its effect
• Performance of centrifugal compressors
• Corrected mass flow and pressure ratio
characteristics
• Characteristics of forward leaning, straight
and backward leaning blades
• Rotating stall and surge
• Choking
• Inlet, impeller and diffuser passages
• Specific Speed
– Methodology originally developed for hydraulic
turbomachines
– A dimensional analysis will result in the following non-
dimensional groups

• Combine any pair of these expressions in such a

way as to eliminate the diameter.
 – Thus,

• In the case of a turbine the power specific

speed Nsp is more useful and is defined by

• Ns is non-dimensional when consistent

units are used for N, Q & H.
• U.S. Customary Units: H [ft], Q [gal/min], N
[rpm]
• Europe Customary Units: H [m], Q [m3/s],
N [rot/sec – Hz]
• Conversion ratios
N s / N s US  3.568  104
N s / N s  Eur  2
N s US / N s  Eur  17,180
Specific Speed Used to Determine Turbomachine Type
N  Q1/2
Ns 
 gH 
3/4
Variation of Efficiency with Ns for Various Pump Sizes

Low Ns
High Ns
Specific Speed – Pumps/ Compressors
Specific Speed - Turbines
http://www.barber-nichols.com/sites/default/files/wysiwyg/images/how_to_select_turbomachinery_for_your_application.pdf
http://www.barber-nichols.com/sites/default/files/wysiwyg/images/how_to_select_turbomachinery_for_your_application.pdf
Inducer inlet velocity triangles and pre-whirl
From: Prin. of operation and perf. estimation of centrifugal comps. --Boyce.
 Problem # 1
• At the inlet of a centrifugal compressor
eye, the relative Mach number is to be
limited to 0.97. The hub-tip radius ratio of
the inducer is 0.4. The eye tip diameter is
20 cm. If the inlet velocity is axial,
determine, (a) the maximum mass flow
rate for a rotational speed of 29160 rpm,
(b) the blade angle at the inducer tip for
this mass flow. The inlet conditions can be
taken as 101.3 kPa and 288 K.
 Problem # 1

U1
C1
rt V1 β1
rm
rh
 Solution: Problem # 1
The rotationalspeedat the inducer tip is
U1  πdN / 60  π  0.2  29160 / 60  305.36m / s
From the velocity traingle, we can see that
V1 C12  U12
M1rel  
γRT1 γRT1
T1  T01  C12 / 2c P  288  C12 / 2010
C12  U12
M1rel 
γR(288  C12 / 2010)
C 2
 305 .63 2
0.97 2  1

115718.4  0.2C12
Simplifyin g, C1  114.62m / s
 Solution: Problem # 1

T1  T01  C12 / 2c P  288  C12 / 2010  281.464K

γ /( γ  1)
P01  T01 
  
P1  T1 
Substituting, P1  93.48kPa
 ρ1  P1 / RT1  1.157kg / m3
π 2
Annulus area at the inlet, A 1  d (1  rh / rt )
4
A 1  0.0264m 2
 Solution: Problem # 1

Since the flow is axial,

Ca1  C1
 m  1 A1C1  1.157  0.0264 114.62  3.5kg / s
The blade inlet angle at the tip is
tan 1  U1 / C1
 1  69.42o
 Problem # 2

• A centrifugal compressor has a pressure

ratio of 4:1 with an isentropic efficiency of
80% when running at 15000 rpm and
inducing air at 293 K. Curved vanes at the
inlet give the air a pre-whirl of 25o to the
axial direction at all radii. The tip diameter
of the eye of the impeller is 250 mm. The
absolute velocity at inlet is 150 m/s and
the impeller diameter is 600 mm.
Calculate the slip factor.
 Problem # 2

C1 25 V1

Cw1 U1

Fixed inlet
guide vane

Inlet velocity triangle

 Solution: Problem # 2
Exit stagnationtemperature is
T02  T01 π c   2934 
( γ  1) / γ (1.4  1) / 1.4
 435.56K
Therefore the isentropic temperature rise,
ΔT0s  435.56  293  142.56K
The actual temperature rise, ΔT0  ΔT0s / η c
ΔT0  178.2K
Work done per unit mass is, w  c P ΔT0
w  1.005  178.2  179 kJ/kg
 Solution: Problem # 2

Peripheralvelocity at the tip of the eye,

U1  πdN / 60  π  0.25  15000 / 60  196.25m / s
C w1  C1 sin 25  63.4m / s
Peripheralvelocity at the tip of the impeller,
U2  πDN / 60  π  0.60  15000 / 60  471.2m / s
 Solution: Problem # 2

We know that powerinput is, w  U2C w 2  U1C w1

179  10 3  471.24  C w 2  196.35  63.4
or, C w 2  406.27m / s
Therefore,the slip factor is,
σ s  C w 2 / U2  0.862
 Problem # 3
2 kg/s of air at a stagnation temperature of
22°C enters the impeller of a centrifugal
compressor in the axial direction. The rotor,
which has 17 radial vanes, rotates at 15,000
rpm. The stagnation pressure ratio between
diffuser outlet and impeller inlet is 4.2 and total-
to-total efficiency is 83%. Determine the
impeller tip radius. Assume the air density at
impeller outlet is 2kg/m3 and the axial width at
entrance to the diffuser is 11mm, determine the
absolute Mach number at that point. Assume
that the slip factor σ = 1 - 2/N, where N is the
number of vanes.
 Problem # 3
The specific work requiredis
w c  U2 C w 2  U1C w1
Since C w1  0, w  U2 C w 2  σU22
Expressin g U2 in terms of efficiency and pressure ratio,
c p T01(π (cγ  1) / γ  1)
U22 
ση c  tt
σ  1  2 / N  1  2 / 17  0.8824
Substituting all other values, U2  452 m / s
Since, Ω  15000  2π / 60  1570 rad / s
Therefore, the impeller radius is
rt  U2 / Ω  0.288 m
 Problem # 3
Mach number, M2  C 2 / a2  C 2 / γRT 2
where, C 2  C w2 2  Cr22
Cr 2  m
 /(ρ 2 2πrtb 2 )  2 /( 2  2π  0.288  0.011)  50.3 m / s
C w 2  σU2  400 m / s
 C2  50.3 2  400 2  402.5 m / s
We know that h02  h01  w c  h01  σU22
or, h2  h01  σU22  12 C 22
or, T2  T01  (σU22  12 C 22 ) / c p
 394.5 K
Therefore, M2  402.5 / 1.4  287  394.5  1.01
 Problem # 4
A centrifugal compressor with backward leaning
blades develops a pressure ratio of 5:1 with an
isentropic efficiency of 83 percent. The
compressor runs at 15000 rpm. Inducers are
provided at the inlet of the compressor so that
air enters at an absolute velocity of 120 m/s.
The inlet stagnation temperature is 250 K and
the inlet air is given a pre-whirl 22o to the axial
direction at all radii. The mean diameter of the
eye of the impeller is 250 mm and the impeller
tip diameter is 600 mm. Determine the slip
factor and the relative Mach number at the
impeller tip.
 Problem # 4
U2

Inducer
C2 β2 V2 Ca

U1 Ω
α1
V1 C1

Fixed inlet
guide vane

Inlet velocity triangle Exit velocity triangle

 Solution: Problem # 4
T01  300 K
T02s  T01 π c 
( γ  1) / γ
 250 (5)0.4 / 1.4  395.95 K
ΔT0s  395.95  300  95.95 K
Actual temperature rise, ΔT0actual  ΔT0s / η c  95.95 / 0.83
 115.6 K
The specific work required, w c  c p ΔT0actual  1005  115.6
 116.186 kJ / kg
Given that C1  150 m / s,  C w1  C1 sin α1  150 sin 22
 56.2 m / s
 Lect-33

Solution: Problem # 4

U1  πdmN / 60  π  0.25  15000 / 60  196.3 m / s

and U2  πdtN / 60  π  0.6  15000 / 60  471.24 m / s
Since, w c  U2 C w 2  U1C w1
116.186  10 3  471.24  C w 2  196.3  56.2
 C w 2  269.96 m / s
The slip factor, σ  C w 2 / U2  269.96 / 471.24  0.573
 Problem # 4

U2
Inducer
C2 β2 V2 Ca

U1 Ω
α1
V1 C1

Fixed inlet
guide vane

Inlet velocity triangle Exit velocity triangle

 Solution: Problem # 4
From the impeller exit velocity triangle, assuming Ca  Cr
V2  Cr2  (U 2  Cw 2 ) 2  (C1 cos 1 ) 2  (U 2  Cw 2 ) 2
 222.9 m / s
M rel  V2 / RT2
T2  T02  C22 / 2c p
T02 s  T01
T02  T01   415.6 K
c
and C2  Cw2 2  Cr2  269.9 2  139.082  303.68 m / s
T2  365.61  303.682 / 2 1005  319.73 K
The relative Mach number at the impeller tip is
M rel  222.9 / (1.4  287  319.73)  0.62
 Exercise Problem # 1
• The design mass flow rate of a centrifugal
compressor is 7.5 kg/s with inlet stagnation
temperature of 300 K and pressure of 100
kPa. The compressor has straight radial
blades at the outlet. The blade angle at the
inducer inlet tip is 50o and the inlet hub-tip
ratio is 0.5. The impeller is designed to have
a relative Mach number of 0.9 at the inducer
inlet tip. If the tip speed is 450 m/s,
determine (a) the air density at inducer inlet,
(b) the inducer inlet diameter, (c) the rotor
rpm (d) the impeller outlet diameter.
• Ans: 0.988 kg/m3, 0.258 m, 17100 rpm,
0.502 m
 Exercise Problem # 2

• A centrifugal compressor runs at 10000

rpm and delivers 600 m3/min of air at a
pressure of 4:1. The isentropic efficiency
of the compressor is 0.82. The outer
radius of the impeller is twice the inner
radius. The axial velocity is 60m/s. If the
ambient conditions are 1 bar and 293 K,
determine (a) the impeller diameter at
inlet and outlet (b) the power input (c) the
impeller and diffuser angles at inlet.
• Ans: 0.92, 0.461, 2044 kW, 13.9o, 7.1o
 Exercise Problem # 3
• 30 kg of air per second is compressed in a
centrifugal compressor at a rotational
speed of 15000 rpm. The air enters the
compressor axially. The compressor has a
tip radius of 30 cm. The air leaves the tip
with a relative velocity of 100 m/s at an
angle of 80o. Assuming an inlet stagnation
pressure and temperature of 1 bar and
300 K, respectively, find (a) the torque
required to drive the compressor, (b) the
power required (c) the compressor
delivery pressure
• Ans: 4085 Nm, 6.417 MW, 6.531 bar
 Exercise Problem # 4
A centrifugal compressor has an impeller tip
speed of 366 m/s. Determine the absolute
Mach number of the flow leaving the radial
vanes of the impeller when the radial
component of velocity at impeller exit is
30.5 m/s and the slip factor is 0.90. Given
that the flow area at impeller exit is 0.1m2
and the total-to-total efficiency of the
impeller is 90%, determine the mass flow
rate.

Ans: 0.875, 5.61 kg/s

 Radial turbines
• Development of radial flow turbines dates
back to 1830’s by Fourneyron, who
developed the radial outflow type turbine.
• Later on Francis and Boyden developed the
radial inflow type turbine.
• The inward-flow radial (IFR) turbine covers
tremendous ranges of power, rates of mass
flow and rotational speeds.
• IFR turbines are used in a variety of
applications ranging from hydroelectric
power plants to small gas turbines.
• Power output ranges from a few kW to several
MW
Radial turbine impellers

Francis turbine (hydraulic)

Ljungström steam turbine (1950s)
• tremendous increase in specific volume of steam, makes the radial-outflow
efficient
• A unique feature of the Ljungström turbine is that it does not have any stationary
blade rows.
• The two rows of blades comprising each of the stages rotate in opposite
directions so that they can both be regarded as rotors.
 Radial turbines

• There are two types of inward flow radial

turbines
• Cantilever turbine
• 90o IFR turbine
• Cantilever turbine
• Similar to the impulse type turbine
• Little change in relative velocity across the rotor
• Aerodynamically very similar to the axial impulse
turbine
• Can be designed in a similar manner as axial
turbines
 Radial turbines

1
Nozzle blades
2
Rotor blades
3

Flow

C2 V3
V2 Ca3

U2 U3

Cantilever turbine arrangement and velocity triangles

 Radial turbines

• 90o IFR turbine

• This turbine has a striking similarity with a
centrifugal compressor.
• The flow direction and blade motion are
reversed.
• The flow enters the turbine radially and exits the
turbine axially.
• Straight radial blades are generally preferred as
curved blades would incur additional stresses.
• The rotor or impeller ends with an exducer.
• Usually the flow exiting the rotor passes through
a diffuser to recover KE, which would otherwise
be wasted.
 Radial turbines

Volute/Scroll
1 Nozzle blades

2 Rotor blades

3 4 Flow
Diffuser

C2 α2 β3 V3
V2 Ca3

U2 U3

90o IFR turbine arrangement and velocity triangles

Thermodynamics of radial turbines

• We shall consider a 90o IFR turbine.

• Components include: nozzle, radial bladed
rotor and diffuser.
• We shall assume complete adiabatic
expansion in the turbine.
• Frictional processes cause the entropy to
increase in all the components.
• There is no change in stagnation
enthalpy/temperature across the nozzle and
the diffuser.
Thermodynamics of radial turbines

T P01 P02
01 02 P1
T01=T02
1 P2
02rel
V22
U 22 2c p
2 2 P03 P04
T03=T04 03 P4
2
4 P3 C 3
2c p
3
3s
3ss

s
T-s diagram for an IFR turbine