In order to establish the design methodology of an ultra micro centrifugal compressor, which is the most important component of an ultra micro gas turbine unit, a 10 times size of the final target compressor (impeller outer diameter 40 mm, corrected rotational speed 220,000 r/min) was designed. The problems to be solved for downsizing were examined and a 2-dimensional impeller was chosen as the first model due to its productivity. The conventional 1D prediction method and CFD were used. The prototyped compressor was tested by using cold air at the reduced speed of 110,000 r/min. Following to the 10 times model, a 5 times size of the final target model having fully 3-dimensional shape (impeller outer diameter 20ram, corrected rotational speed 500,000 r/min) was designed and tested by using hot gas at the reduced speed of 250,000 r/rain.

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In order to investigate the design method for a micro centrifugal compressor, which is the most important component of an ultra micro gas turbine, an impeller having the outer diameter of 20mm was designed, manufactured and tested. The designed rotational speed is 500,000 rpm and the impeller has a fully 3-dimensional shape. The impeller was rotated at 250,000 rpm in the present study. The experimental results of the tested compressor with the vaned and the vaneless diffusers were compared. It was found that the vaned diffuser attained the higher flow rate than the vaneless diffuser at the maximum pressure ratio. In addition the maximum pressure ratio was higher for the diffuser having a larger diffuser divergence angle at the high flow rate. These results were compared with those obtained by the prediction method used at the design stage.

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