Title: Effect of a rotor's aspect ratio and casing inlet/outlet geometry on the efficiency of a rotor-casing assembly

Authors: Bassam Abu-Hijleh, Jiyuan Tu, Aleksandar Subic

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan. ' School of Aerospace, Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, RMIT University, P.O. Box 71, Bundoora, Vic 3083, Australia. ' School of Aerospace, Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, RMIT University, P.O. Box 71, Bundoora, Vic 3083, Australia

Abstract: Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation was used to study the effect of modifying the inlet and outlet of an elliptical rotor-casing assembly at two different rotor aspect ratios. The simulations were carried at different inlet velocities and rotor angular speeds. The flow field results were used to ascertain the changes in the efficiency of the rotor-casing assembly. The focus was on inlet pressure, maximum velocity, and maximum turbulence values. Entropy calculations were also used to evaluate the impact of the different configurations on the overall thermodynamic efficiency of the rotor-casing assembly. The results show the use of fillets has several advantages, especially when using high aspect-ratio rotors at high rpm values.

Keywords: rotor aspect ratio; inlet-outlet geometry; CFD; entropy generation; superchargers; computational fluid dynamics; simulation; rotor casing assembly; inlet velocities; rotor angular speeds; inlet pressure; maximum velocity; maximum turbulence values; entropy; thermodynamic efficiency; thermodynamics; vehicle design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2008.021149

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2008 Vol.48 No.1/2, pp.1 - 22

Published online: 06 Nov 2008 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article