Improvement of a Centrifugal Compressor Test Bench to Incorporate Variable Impeller-Inducer Bleed Air System as an Active Surge Control

Abstract

Centrifugal compressors are widely used throughout various industrial applications, including many safety-critical fields like aircraft engines. Thus, the enhancement of stable operational range is essential, which often requires active surge control methods. This includes state-of-the-art digital electronic measurement system to detect the onset of surge, which is a phenomenon that arises under extreme operational conditions and can lead to either negatively influenced behaviour or even the destruction of the compressor hardware in the case of uncontrolled conditions. Therefore, a strong emphasis must be given to observe impending surge and, if possible, to include an active system that can prevent undesired operational situations. Amongst many passive and active possibilities of surge control, Blade Load Distribution Control (BLDC) can be considered as a method, which creates acceptable influence on instabilities with a minor efficiency loss, consequently, could be applied as an active surge suppression system. The aim of this paper is to investigate feasible solutions on an existing centrifugal compressor test bench, which would enable to examine the theoretical solutions for blade load distribution control.