Investigation of Surge Phenomena in a Centrifugal Compressor by 3D-1D Coupling Approach

Abstract Critical instability, such as surge phenomena, can occur at low flow rates for a compressor system, leading to flow rate fluctuations and potential damage. To study this, traditional numerical analysis requires a comprehensive approach encompassing the compressor and its piping system. This demands extensive computational resources and time due to the complexity of capturing internal flow during surge, including separation and vortex generation. To overcome these limitations, this research proposes a computational strategy combining 3D and 1D analysis for enhanced efficiency and reduced computational demands, which employs 1D analysis for more straightforward flow regions like piping and 3D analysis for the more complex compressor section. This approach is facilitated using AMESim for 1D and STAR-CCM+ for 3D simulations, enabling seamless integration and data exchange between different dimensional analyses. The method improves computational efficiency and reasonably approximates surge phenomena compared to experimental data. The 3D and 1D coupled analysis closely aligns with experimental data, providing a viable and more effective alternative method for surge analysis in compressor systems. This methodology promises to streamline the study of compressor surge phenomena, providing a practical tool for engineers and researchers.