Numerical simulation of impeller-volute interaction on a centrifugal turbomachinery

임펠러-볼류트 유동간섭이 원심형 터보기계의 성능에 미치는 영향에 관한 수치해석적 연구

In general, an impeller of centrifugal turbomachinery is designed at isolated condition without considering the presence of a volute, but when the impeller is operating with its volute, the performance of impeller can be different. This is largely caused by the interaction between the impeller and volute flow fields. The magnitude of distortion is increased as the operating point is away from the design point and, as a result, the interaction between the impeller and volute is stronger. In the present calculation, the flow through the impeller is simulated using coarse grids. The flow within the impeller and the volute is naturally unsteady, but the flow is assumed to be steady across the interface between the volute and impeller flow fields. Under the assumption of steady three-dimensional incompressible turbulent flow, the time averaged N-S equations involving standard k-$\epsilon$ turbulent model was solved by the F.V.M. The calculation results are compared with the experimental results obtained for an industrial fan by Sakai etc. and the Hood agreement is demonstrated. And the effects of the impeller-volute interaction are studied.