Experimental Study on Aerodynamic Characteristics of
Centrifugal&nbsp;Compressor under Unsteady Inlet
Conditions

Vehicle Engine ›› 2026, Vol. 0 ›› Issue (4) : 22-32.

Experimental Study on Aerodynamic Characteristics of Centrifugal Compressor under Unsteady Inlet Conditions

WANG Yu,WEI Yi,LIU Biao,LI Fenghao,CHEN Hua

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Abstract

In practical application scenarios such as multi-stage compression, centrifugal compressors often face unsteady pulsating inlet flow induced by the upstream equipment, while the systematic research on the dynamic response of compressors under this condition is relatively scarce. Based on a self-developed experimental platform for centrifugal compressors under unsteady inlet conditions, a flow pulse generator with adjustable pulse frequency and amplitude was designed. For the operating condition of 40 000 r/min, a systematic experimental investigation on the aerodynamic characteristics of a centrifugal compressor was carried out under pulsating inlet conditions, and the influence of pulse frequency and amplitude on the compressor transient response and time-averaged performance were studied. The results show that the transient pressure ratio-flow characteristics of compressor under pulsating inlet conditions exhibit closed slender hysteresis loops. The pulse frequency mainly affects the shape and slope of loop, while the pulse amplitude determines the loop size, and the unsteadiness increases monotonically with the amplitude. In terms of time-averaged performance, pulsating inlet flow reduces the compressor pressure ratio under high flow conditions, and the higher the transient unsteadiness, the more pronounced the deterioration of time-averaged performance. Under low flow conditions, the time-averaged performance approaches the steady-state characteristics.

Key words

centrifugal compressor / pulsating inlet / unsteady / flow field / transient response / time-averaged performance

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WANG Yu, WEI Yi, LIU Biao, LI Fenghao, CHEN Hua. Experimental Study on Aerodynamic Characteristics of Centrifugal Compressor under Unsteady Inlet Conditions[J]. Vehicle Engine. 2026, 0(4): 22-32