• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.5-11
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• 2011

This study investigated on details of flow characteristics in a vaneless diffuser of a compressor with 2-dimensional impeller at various flow rates. Experiment for a low speed compressor model in a water reservoir was performed to analyze the flow field in the vaneless diffuser and volute casing, which was done by PIV measurement. It was also focused on the periodic flow patterns occurring at low flow rate near unstable operating region of the compressor. At low flow rate condition, the flow visualization clearly shows that the flow energy from impeller is highly accumulated at the compressor exit by the blockage effect of a flow damper and consequently the reverse flow occurs in the diffuser.