CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSOR

Centrifugal

Move away from the centre.

Centrifugal compressor

Compress fluid by using the principle of dynamic compression.

Fluid enters at the centre of the impeller i.e. impeller eye along its axis and exits along the circumference through the impeller vane tips.

Inlet guide vanes are installed before fluid entering the impeller which can be used for compressor control.

The part of the impeller which penetrates the inlet nozzle end is called the inducer. The inducer blades are angled towards the direction of rotation. In the centrifugal section of the impeller, fluid enters from the inducer and exit the impeller radially as mentioned above. The blades at the exit may be curved in a backward- or forward swept manner, away from or against the angle of rotation.         

Then the fluid flows into the diffuser, where the velocity is reduced in order to gain pressure. The diffuser channels are therefore usually diverging. Pressure increase also occurs due to redirection of flow.

Types of compressors

·         Single stage compressor

·         Multi stage compressor

Main components of centrifugal compressors

·         Impeller

·         Diffuser

·         Shaft

·         Gearbox (Gears and pinions)

·         Bearings

·         Seal housing.