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Numerical Simulation of Flow through Vaneless Diffuser
Seralathan S1, Kannan M, Vinoth Kumar M2, Johnson Samuel S3, Hariram V4

1Seralathan S*, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
2Kannan M, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
3Vinoth Kumar M, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
3Johnson Samuel S, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
4Hariram V, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Manuscript received on September 16, 2019. | Revised Manuscript received on 24 September, 2019. | Manuscript published on October 10, 2019. | PP: 4165-4202 | Volume-8 Issue-12, October 2019. | Retrieval Number: L36711081219/2019©BEIESP | DOI: 10.35940/ijitee.L3671.1081219
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© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Abstract: Flow through vaneless diffuser in the centrifugal compressor stage is studied at varied flow conditions using finite volume method based commercial code, ANSYS CFX. The contour of static pressure, stagnation pressure, absolute velocity, as well as meridional velocity divulges the nature of flow that happens in the centrifugal compressor stage. Circumferential non-uniformity due “jet-wake” formation is seen at the impeller exit. These lead to mixing of fluid having varied energy levels which happens within the vaneless diffuser. Total pressure rises along the radius ratio and its distribution is higher near the shroud for all flow conditions. Absolute velocity reduces along radius ratio as area of the flow passage increase indicating diffusion. The meridional velocity is seen as non-uniform at Ф = 0.15 but, it is uniform at diffuser exit at Ф = 0.25.
Keywords: Vaneless Diffuser, Impeller, Stage, Centrifugal Compressor, CFD
Scope of the Article: Numerical Modelling of Structures