Experimental and numerical investigation of radial ow compressor volute shape effects in characteristics and circumferential pressure non-uniformity

In this article, the eects of volute cross section shape and centroid proleof a radial ow compressor volute were investigated. the performance characteristics ofa turbocharger compressor were obtained experimentally by measuring rotor speed andow parameters at the inlet and outlet of the compressor. the three-dimensional oweld model of the compressor was obtained numerically solving navier-stokes equationswith sst turbulence model. the compressor characteristic curves were plotted. for modelverication, the results were compared with experimental data, showing good agreement.modication of a volute was performed by introducing a shape factor for volute crosssection geometry. by varying this parameter, new external volutes were generated andmodeled while the original volute was intermediate volute. the eect of volute cross sectionshape on compressor pressure ratio and isentropic eciency at design rotational speed wereinvestigated. also pressure non-uniformity around compressor impeller was investigatedusing pressure taps around the impeller outlet to verify numerical results. this eectwas considered and reported for new cases using numerical results. the results show howthe shape and centroid prole of volute circumferential cross sections can inuence thecompressor characteristics and circumferential static pressure non-uniformity.