A numerical study of the U-turn bend in return channel systems for multistage centrifugal compressors

Abstract

A qualitative numerical study of the flow in the U-turn bend of return channel systems for multistage centrifugal compressors is presented. Calculations have been carried out using the flow analysis program FLUENT. The flow in the U-turn bend is highly three-dimensional and complex. The main cause for this is the circumferential variation of the velocity profile at the inlet of the bend. The circumferential variation of the velocity profile is an unavoidable result from the wake/jet flow at the exit of the impeller. In this article, first the effect of the wake/jet flow coming into the U-turn bend is studied. It is shown that the wake/jet flow develops to form the secondary flow in the U-turn bend. The secondary flow, with the high streamline curvature of the flow in the bend, makes the flow inside the bend highly complex. This complex flow is hard to predict with conventional turbulence models that have been developed on the basis of near homogeneity of flows. Comparing the present result with a study that successfully predicted the loss and flow behaviour in the bend, a discussion is presented on the turbulence and the turbulence models. Also, the loss mechanisms in the U-turn bend are discussed in detail.