User:Mkoronowski/Centrifugal compressor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Centrifugal compressors, sometimes referred to as radial compressors, are a sub-class of dynamic axisymmetric work-absorbing turbomachinery.[1]
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/Saturn_MD-120_cutaway.jpg/640px-Saturn_MD-120_cutaway.jpg)
In an idealized sense, the compressive dynamic turbo-machine achieves a pressure rise by adding kinetic energy/velocity to a continuous flow of fluid through the rotor or impeller. This kinetic energy is then converted to an increase in potential energy/static pressure by slowing the flow through a diffuser.
In other words, imagine a simple case where flow will enter a centrifugal compressor with virtually no swirl. As the flow continues to pass through the centrifugal impeller it picks up swirling velocity imparted by the spinning impeller. According to a form of Euler's fluid dynamics equation, known as the "Pump and turbine equation" the energy input to fluid is proportional to the the flow's local tangential velocity times the local impeller tangential velocity. In many cases the flow leaving centrifugal impeller is near or above 1000 ft./s or approximately 300 m/s. It is at this point, in the simple case, where the flow passes into the stationary diffuser for the purpose of converting this kinetic energy into potential energy.[1]