A new method for performance map prediction of automotive turbocharger compressors with both vaneless and vaned diffusers

Journal article, 2021

A new approach to predict the performance maps of automotive turbocharger compressors is presented. Firstly, a polynomial equation is applied to fit the experimental data of flow coefficient ratios for the centrifugal compressors with both vaneless and vaned diffusers. Based on this equation, the choke and surge flow coefficients under different machine Mach numbers can be quickly predicted. Secondly, a physically based piecewise elliptic equation is used to define compressors’ characteristic curves in terms of efficiency ratio. By introducing the flow coefficient ratio into the efficiency correlation, the empirical coefficients in the piecewise elliptic equation are uniquely calibrated by the experimental data, forming a unified algebraic equation to match the efficiency maps of the compressors with both vaneless and vaned diffusers. Then, a new universal equation, which connects the work coefficient, the impeller outlet flow coefficient and the non-dimensional equivalent impeller outlet width, is derived by using classical aerothermodynamic method. The off-design pressure ratio is predicted based on the equivalent impeller outlet width with less knowledge of the compressor geometry and no empirical coefficients. Finally, three state-of-the-art turbocharger compressors (one with vaneless diffuser, two with vaned diffusers) are chosen to validate the proposed method, and the results show a satisfactory accuracy for the performance map prediction. This method can be used for the preliminary design of turbocharger compressors with both vaneless and vaned diffusers, or to assess the design feasibility and challenges of the given design specifications.