Boundary Layer Effects in the Turbulent Spiral Vortex Flow of a Compressible Fluid

Abstract

Because of the characteristically narrow impeller tip width in a proposed supersonic centrifugal compressor design, boundary layer effects in the vortex chamber are likely to be significant. The radial pressure gradient in the chambers sweeps retarded fluid towards the centre of curvature of the streamlines, thereby creating a ‘cross-flow’ in the boundary layer which is three-dimensional. Although the flow geometry has axial symmetry, the cross-flow is not independent of the streamwise flow. The momentum—integral method is adopted, together with assumptions concerning the velocity profiles; the energy equation is solved with the assumption of an adiabatic wall. Simultaneous solution of the free stream and boundary layer equations yields results emphasizing the critical dependence of the transverse deflection and growth of the boundary layer on the whirl component of the velocity. Separation cannot be predicted, but effects in the free stream can be estimated when the perturbations are small. Although the results are related to compressor performance, the method is generally applicable in situations where the idealizing assumption of spiral vortex flow is acceptable.