Effects of Swirl Distortion on a Centrifugal Compressor at Off-Design Operating Conditions

What is it about?

The effects of inlet swirl distortion on a centrifugal compressor designed for prewhirl is assessed experimentally. The axial velocity distribution at the inlet of the compressor and the swirl profile had a dominant effect on compressor performance. Total pressure distortion was minimal in this test campaign and had little to no effect on local incidence. A method of reconstructing the circumferential average incidence is presented to better estimate the effects of distortion on compressor incidence and, therefore, performance.

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