| Abstract: | In part load span centrifugal compressors incline rotating stall in the impeller, which often causes transient pressure oscillations and surge. Operation in part load span with transient processes has to be avoided, because it can endanger the compressor and the plant by vibrations. Active devices like an upstream or downstream side channel stage can influence flow and unsteady gas pressure oscillations in centrifugal compressor stages and shift rotating stall to lower flow or entirely avoid it. This article shows experimental results for characteristic lines and unsteady gas pressure oscillations in centrifugal compressor stages, which where coupled with an downstream side channel stage. The enforced turbulent eddy flow with unsteady gas pressure oscillation in side channel stages diminishes unsteady gas pressure oscillation in the centrifugal compressor stage and limits pressure gradient as well as the maximum reachable value of gas pressure oscillation at rotating stall. |
