Abstract
This study is concerned with effects of impeller blade thickness on performance of a turbo blower. This turbo blower is developed as an air supply system in 250 kW MCFC system. The turbo blower consists of an impeller, two vaneless diffusers, a vaned diffuser and a volute. The three dimensional, steady state numerical analysis is simultaneously conducted for the impeller, diffuser and volute to investigate the performance of total system. To consider the non-uniform condition in volute inlet due to volute tongue, full diffuser passages are included in the calculation. The results of numerical analysis are validated with experimental results of thin blade thickness. Total pressure ratio, efficiency, slip factor and blade loading are compared in two cases. The slip factor is different in two cases and the comparison of two cases shows a good performance in thin blade thickness in all aspects.