Compressor characteristic

Compressor characteristic is the curve to show the behaviour of fluid, like change in pressure, temperature, entropy, flow rate
etc. as it passes through a Dynamic compressor at different compressor speeds. The function of a compressor is to increase the
pressure of a fluid passing through it, so that the exit pressure is higher than the inlet pressure. Due to this property, compressors
are used in a wide range of machines, such as refrigerators, cars, jet engines and industrial processes. These curves are plotted
between various parameters and some are as follows

Contents
Pressure ratio vs. Non-dimensional flow rate[1][2][3]
Pressure rise vs. Flow rate[3]
Loading coefficient/Pressure coefficient vs. Flow coefficient[3]
Theoretical characteristic curve
Actual characteristic curve[8][9]

Surging[10][11]
Surge process
Surge cycle
Surge point
Surge line
Surge control line
Surge margin
Stalling
Other compressor phenomena
Choke/Stonewall point
Choke line
Constant efficiency lines
Maximum allowable speed
Minimum required speed
References

Pressure ratio vs. Non-dimensional flow rate[1][2][3]

Performance of a compressor is usually specified by curves of delivery pressure against mass flow rate for various fixed values of
rotational speed and inlet temperature. These performance characteristic curves are usually plotted with dimensionless variables.
For this, we start with implicit functional relationships for all the variables as [3]

[3][4][5]

Where

= characteristic linear dimension of the compressor

= rotational speed
 = mass flow rate

and = stagnation pressure at compressor inlet and outlet

and = stagnation temperature at compressor inlet and outlet

= characteristics gas constant

By making use of π-theorem, we obtain the non-dimensional groups (π terms) as [3]

, , ,

When we are concerned with the performance of a machine of fixed size compressing a specified gas and D may be omitted from
the groups and we can write

[3]

Though the terms and are truly not

dimensionless, they are referred as 'non-dimensional mass flow'

and 'non-dimensional rotational speed' for practical purpose. The

stagnation pressure ratio is plotted against in the

form of family of curves, each curve of a family being drawn for

fixed values of as shown in Figure 1.

Pressure rise vs. Flow rate[3]

The plot between pressure rise and flow rate is same as pressure
ratio vs. mass flow rate with a small difference as in here we take Figure 1. Pressure ratio vs.Non-dimensional mass
pressure difference between inlet and outlet of the compressor flow
instead of their ratio.

Loading coefficient/Pressure coefficient vs. Flow coefficient[3]

First we have to know about the loading, pressure and flow coefficient which are as follow-

Loading coefficient

Pressure coefficient =

So we can see that

Where

= impeller tip speed

= head

and also

Flow coefficient

So assuming a function to relate Loading coefficient and the Flow coefficient

A compressor gives its best performance while operating at its design point but it is also expected to operate away from the
design point. Therefore, knowledge about its behavior at off-design operation is also necessary. The quantity
can be assumed constant in a wide range of incidence. This is justified in view of small variations in the air angles at the rotor and
stator exits. Therefore, writing

Where

= blade peripheral velocity

and are absolute air velocity at the

rotor inlet and outlet

and are relative velocity at rotor inlet

and outlet Figure 2. Velocity triangle for compressor Stator and Rotor

= absolute air velocity at the stator outlet

and are the angles shown in the following Figure 2.

If the design values are identified by the superscript

At off-design conditions [3]

This equation also gives the off-design characteristic of an axial-flow compressor. The figure shown below depicts theoretical
characteristic curves for some values of the constant . For positive values of , the curves are falling, while for negative values
rising characteristics are obtained.

Theoretical characteristic curve

Theoretical characteristic curve of the compressor is the plot to show behavior of
the fluid without considering losses due to shock and friction[6][7] as it passes
through the compressor at different constant speeds. The curve as shown in Figure 3.
is plotted between pressure coefficient and flow coefficient for different values
of as shown in fig. From fig. It is clear that as the flow coefficient increases the
pressure gained per unit mass flow rate of the fluid decreases and due to this
pressure coefficient at higher mass flow rate will be low.

Actual characteristic curve[8][9] Figure 3.Off design compressor

Actual characteristic curve of the compressor is the modified version of the characteristic curve
theoretical characteristic curve. In this we take care of both shock and friction losses
as shown in the Figure 4. As seen in the figure the steepness of the curve increases at
higher mass flow rates because since there will be higher frictional losses at high
flow coefficient (Darcy’s friction law).

Surging[10][11]
Surging is the complete breakdown of steady flow in the compressor which occurs
at low flow rate. Surging takes place when compressor is operated off the design
point and it affects the whole machine and this is aerodynamically and mechanically
undesirable. It can damage the rotor bearings, rotor seals, compressor driver and Figure 4. Actual compressor
affect the whole cycle operation. It results in high temperature, high vibration and characteristic curve
leads to flow reversal.[3]

Surge process
Assuming the compressor operates at point A ( ) on the
characteristic curve (let at constant speed ) as shown in Figure
5. Now if the flow rate is reduced to by closing a control
valve on the delivery pipe, the static pressure upstream of the
valve is increased. This increased pressure ( ) is then matched
by the increased delivery pressure (at B) which is developed by
the compressor. Now further reducing the flow (to and ),
the increased pressures in the delivery pipe are again matched by
the compressor delivery pressures at C and S on the characteristic
curve.
Figure 5. Surging
On the characteristic curve at the flow rates below ṁS provides
lower pressure as seen in the fig. at D and E. But now the pipe
pressures due to further reduction of flow by valve (let at point D) will be higher than the pressure at D and E. This unbalance
between the pipe pressure and the compressor delivery pressure only exist for a very short time. This is because there is higher
pressure in the pipe than the gas pressure produced by the compressor and due to this reversing of the flow takes place and it
leads to a complete break-down of the normal steady flow from the compressor to the pipe.

Surge cycle
Due to flow reversal, pressure in the pipe falls and the compressor regains its normal stable operation (let at point B) delivering
the gas at higher flow rate ( ). But the control valve still corresponds to the flow rate . Due to this compressor’s operating
conditions will again return to D through points C and S. And due to lower compressor pressure, the pressure falls further to
and the entire phenomenon from point E to D repeats again and again and this cycle EBCSDE known as the surge cycle.

Surge point
Surge points are the peak points on the characteristic curves (as in Figure 5.) left of which the pressure generated by the
compressor is less than the pipe pressure and these points initiates the surge cycle. These points on the curves are shown in the
fig. by point S.[3]

Surge line
Surge line is the line which connects the surge points (S) on each characteristic curve corresponding to different constant speeds.
The stable range of operation for the compressor is on the right hand side of the surge line.

Surge control line

Surge control line is the line which works as the indicating line for the surge control mechanism so that surge can be prevented
in the system and proper steps can be taken. The line can vary for different surge control systems as it is up to the system to
decide the margin between operating point and the surge point. [12]

Surge margin
Surge margin is the indicator to show that how close is the system to the surge. It is different for the different surge control
system as they employ different surge control lines.[13] The basic surge margin can be defined as

Surge margin =

Where

= mass flow rate at surge control line at a particular constant speed

= mass flow rate at surge line at the same constant speed.

Stalling
Stalling is the separation of flow from the compressor blade
surface as shown in the Figure 6. At low flow rates the angle of
attack increases over the critical or maximum angle that the
aerodynamic profile can sustain, and due to this there occurs the
flow separation on the suction side of the blades which is known
as positive stalling. If the flow separation occurs on the pressure
side of the blade then it’s known as negative stalling and this
occurs due to negative attack angle. But generally positive
Figure 6. Stalling process
stalling is taken into consideration.
In the compressor at high pressure stages if there occurs a deviation from design point (at which compressor is designed to
operate) the angle of attack exceeds its stalling value and stall cells (which are the regions where fluid starts to whirl at a
particular location and doesn't move forward) to form at hub and tip of the blade. The size of these cells increases with decreasing
flow rate. If the flow rate is further reduced these cells grow larger and it affects the whole blade height and this causes significant
drop in the delivery pressure and at very low flow rate, flow reversal takes place which is known as surge. It also results in drop
in stage efficiency of the compressor and its delivery pressure.[14]

Other compressor phenomena

Following are some other characteristics of the compressor

Choke/Stonewall point
Choking is the condition which occurs in the compressor in which it operates at very high mass flow rate and flow through the
compressor can’t be further increased as mach number at some part of the compressor reach to unity i.e. to sonic velocity and the
flow is said to be choked. In compressor maximum volume flow rate is limited by cross-section at the inlet. This condition can be
seen in the right side of the Figure 5. in which constant speed lines descends steeply. The point on constant speed line at which
choking occurs is known as choke point or stonewall point. [15]

Choke line
Choke line is the line joining the choke points on different constant speed lines in the Figure 5. In simple words ,the operation on
right side of choke line is very inefficient, but is possible if the exit static pressure is low enough and blade instabilities such as
choke flutter are avoided.

Constant efficiency lines

Constant efficiency lines are the elliptical shaped curves in the compressor characteristic curve along which the efficiency of the
compressor remains constant.

Maximum allowable speed

This is the maximum speed at which compressor can work properly(shown as in Figure 5.) and beyond this speed limit
stresses and vibrations in the compressor crosses the prescribed limit and this can damage the compressor and to control this,
compressor's speed is lowered.

Minimum required speed

This is the minimum speed at which compressor should operate (shown as in Figure 5.) and below this limit compressor can't
increase the pressure of inlet fluid and goes into idle condition.

References
1. Klassen, H.A., `Performance of low pressure ratio centrifugal compressors with four diffuser designs`, NACA, TN
7237, March 1973.
2. Nahimo, T. Et al., `Effect of Reynolds number on performance characteristics of centrifugal compressors with
special reference to configurations of impellers`, ASME paper No.74-GT-59, 1974.
3. Yahya ,S.M, ”Turbine, Compressors & Fans”,4TH ED.McGraw Hill,2011.
 4. Horlock, J.H., Axial Flow Turbines, Kruger Publishing Co., 1973.
5. Horlock, J.H., Axial Flow Compressors, Kruger Publishing Co., 1973.
6. Ferguson, T.B., The Centrifugal Compressor Stage, Butterworth, London, 1963.
7. Whitfield, A. and Wallace, F.J., `Study of incidence loss models in radial and mixed flow turbomachinery`, Instn.
Mech. Engrs. Conference Publication, 3, paper No. C55/73, 1973.
8. Watanabi, I. and Sakai, T., `Effect of the cone angle of the impeller hub of the mixed flow compressor upon
performance characteristics`, SAE paper No. 996A, 1965.
9. Whitfield, A. and Wallace, F.J., `Performance prediction for automotive turbocharger compressors`, Proc. Instn.
Mech. Engrs. 1975.
10. Greitzer, E.M., `Surge and rotating stall in axial flow compressors`, ASME J. Eng. Power, Vol. 98. No. 2, April
1967.
11. Tsui, Chih-Ya et al., ` An experiment to improve the surge margin by use of cascade with splitter blades`, J. Eng.
Thermophys,, Vol. 1, no. 2, May 1980.
12. http://www.gmrc.org/documents/GMRCSurgeGuideline_000.pdf
13. Cumpsty, N. A. (1989). Compressor Aerodynamics. Longman.
14. Howell, A. R. (1942). The present basis of axial flow compressor design: Part 1, Cascade theory and
performance. ARC R and M. 2095.
15. http://www.turbodriven.com/en/turbofacts/designCompressor.aspx

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Compressor_characteristic&oldid=884438985"

This page was last edited on 21 February 2019, at 17:07 (UTC).

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using
this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia
Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.