alt text Research Objectives


A Centrifugal Stage for Aerodynamic Research (CSTAR) compressor has been designed by Rolls-Royce and installed at Purdue to study its efficacy after the final stage of an axial compressor. In its current configuration, the facility allows for the exploration of a wide design space and provides experimental data to validate computational design tools. This compressor operates at a design speed of 22,500 rpm and has been instrumented to give a detailed understanding of the compressor performance.

Current research with the CSTAR compressor is funded by Rolls-Royce.


Current work:

Additive Manufacturing for Centrifugal Compressor Diffuser Design
  • Utilizing additive manufacturing to enable rapid testing of different centrifugal compressor diffuser designs
  • Embedded instrumentation for measurements in conventionally immeasurable locations (e.g., hub and vane passage)


alt text Specific Instrumentation Capabilities


Pressure taps along the shroud and rakes at the inducer, impeller exit, diffuser inlet and exit, and in the turn-to-axial duct provide information about how the pressure increases through the flow passage. Total temperature and total pressure rakes can give performance information about individual components as well as the entire stage. Removable diffuser cartridges can be further instrumented to study unsteady phenomena or impeller-diffuser interactions.

Laser Doppler Velocimetry
Windows over the impeller knee region and the vaneless-diffuser inlet region provide optical access. Data in these regions will enable further understanding into the complex flow aerodynamics and provide a unique data set to enhance computational models.

Capacitance Probes
Capacitance probes are used to monitor real-time hot running impeller tip clearances. This capability is instrumental for health monitoring to avoid any rubbing during high loading events. There also provide high-accuracy tip clearance data for the tip clearance effects investigation.

Instrumented Vane Cartridges Diffuser inlet total pressure and total temperature rakes are mounted along the span of four diffuser vane using instrumented vane cartridges. This provides unique information at the diffuser inlet to calculate individual component performance data.


Theses
  1. Coon, A.T., 2023, "Utilization of Additive Manufacturing in the Development of Stationary Diffusion Systems for Aeroengine Centrifugal Compressors," MS Thesis, School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University.

  2. Shapochka, M.Y., 2022, "Stability Enhancement in Aeroengine Centrifugal Compressors Using Diffuser Recirculation Channels," MS Thesis, School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University.

  3. Meier, M.A., 2022, "Unsteady Performance of an Aeroengine Centrifugal Compressor Vaned Diffuser at Off-Design Conditions," PhD Dissertation, School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University.

  4. Gooding, W.J., 2020, "Unsteady Diffuser Flow in an Aeroengine Centrifugal Compressor," PhD Dissertation, School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University.

  5. Adkins-Rieck, R., 2018, "Additive Manufacturing for Aerodynamic Diffuser Designs in a Centrifugal Compressor," MS Thesis, School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University.

  6. Methel, C. J., 2016, "An Experimental Comparison of Diffuser Designs in a Centrifugal Compressor," MS Thesis, School of Aeronautics and Astronauts, Purdue University.

  7. Dolan, M.P., 2015, "Establishing Repeatable Operation of a Centrifugal Compressor Research Facility for Aerodynamic Investigations," MS Thesis, School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University.

  8. Heckaman, B.A., 2014, "Design of Optical Access for the Application of Laser Doppler Velocimetry in a Low Specific Speed Centrifugal Compressor," MS Thesis, School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University.

  9. Miller, K.R., 2012, "Design of a Centrifugal Compressor Research Facility for Low Specific Speed Applications," MS Thesis, School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University.


High-Speed Compressor Research Laboratory, Purdue University