Design and CFD simulation of centrifugal compressor for mini jet-turbine engine 200 N thrust

• Main Authors: Dinara, Sint Helent, Bramantya, Muhamad Agung
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aluminum; Boundary conditions; CAD; Centrifugal compressors; Centrifugal force; Combustion chambers; Computational fluid dynamics; Computer aided design; Diameters; Drag; Drag reduction; Finite element method; Flame propagation; Gas turbine engines; Impellers; Jet propulsion; Mass flow rate; Mathematical models; Mesh generation; Missile propulsion; Missile systems; Missiles; Performance prediction; Propulsion systems; Simulation; Weight reduction
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0073978

Compressor is one of main component in gas turbine engine. Small gas turbine engine for jet propulsion called mini jet-turbine engine. Propulsive gas turbine for aerial device absolutely requiring a light weight design. One stage centrifugal compressor is effectively applied in mini jet-turbine due to its light weight. The main purpose in this paper to have detail dimension drawing of new smaller compressor with Aluminum as material basis. The operating data of compressor is defined by University of Padova (Benini dan Giacometti, 2007) research which success in design and fabricate mini jet-turbine 200 N with outer diameter 216 mm. While new design has smaller outer diameter 126 mm or 58% size. Smaller frontal area is expected to reduce drag force since the mini jet-turbine will be integrated as propulsion system of missiles. The challenges in smaller frontal area is increasing of rotation speed. It will be limited by 460 m/s (Saravanamuttoo et al., 2017) as the maximum tangential speed of Aluminum against centrifugal force. Aluminum was selected due to its light weight, low cost and ease of fabrication. Another limitation is axial air speed goes into combustion chamber. It is recommend to be at range 30 - 60 m/s (Saravanamuttoo et al., 2017) to enable perfect flame propagation inside combustion chamber. AUTODESK INVENTOR was used to make geometrical modelling and ANSYS ICEM was used to generate mesh. Flow analysis carried out using ANSYS FLUENT for further CFD analysis. The simulations done by applying the wall, mass flow and pressure outlet boundary conditions. To have predicted performance curve of centrifugal compressor the simulation was done in different mass flow rates and speed. Two models to be compared are radial and backswept impeller model. Finally the predicted performance curves are obtained, operating point defined. The backswept model is preferred because it has several advantages over the radial model.