Date: May 19 - 23, 2025
Time: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm EDT
Course Fee: $3500 USD
Detailed understanding of the aerodynamic behavior and structural integrity of centrifugal compressors is essential to meet competitive market needs. The student will learn the basic phenomena occurring in inlets, impellers, diffusers, volutes, and return channels. The entire development and design process from 1D to 3D viscous methods is taught with live examples while stressing preliminary cycle work, velocity triangle optimization, blade loading considerations, viscous flow-field analysis, and structural analysis. Special emphasis is placed on surge, choke, design methodology, laboratory development, and model development. Students work a sample evaluation problem, and all lectures are given by internationally renowned authorities.
A major advance in understanding has been achieved in the Diffuser Consortium; the impact on stage distortion and possible effects on the design process will be discussed. Grooved covers (Patent no. 8,926,276 B2) and Super Diffusers will also be mentioned as part of the changing fabric of compressor design and performance.
Program Overview
Introduction to Centrifugal Compressors Impeller Flow Analysis
- Introduction to impeller flows
- Secondary flows
- Impeller modeling and design possibilities
- Impeller exit velocity profiles
- Loss analysis
Diffuser Design
- The role of the diffuser in compressor performance
- Vaneless diffusers
- Cascade (airfoil) diffusers
- Channel (wedge) diffusers
- Design applications and modeling
Stress and Vibration Analysis
- Causes of failure
- Blade and hub steady stresses
- Creep
- Fatigue failure
- Life estimation
Additional Stage Components
- The compressor inlet
- Volute
- Collector
- Return channel
Stability and Range
- Review of steady stall
- Rotating stall in centrifugal compressors
- Surge
- Range extension and variable geometry
Systematic Design and Optimization
- Design overview
- Design optimization strategies
- Design tools: meanline, blade generation, and CFD
Experimental Development
- The reasons for testing
- Designing a test program
- Compressor test facilities
- Power and efficiency measurement
- Instrumentation
Design Examples
A selection of centrifugal compressor design examples will be used to illustrate the various steps in the design process, including meanline design and analysis, impeller blade design, rapid loading and streamline curvature analysis, and CFD analysis.
What You Will Learn
This course provides a comprehensive survey of the design and analysis of centrifugal compressors. The objective of the course is to provide participants with:
- An overview and familiarization of the design and operation of the complete machine, and individual components of the machine
- A guide to the technology database that underpins and guides all design and analysis procedures
- A familiarization of the best design practices at all levels, from basic machine selection to the detailed aerodynamic and mechanical design of all components
- A guide to the different types of computer-based analysis tools available, and the applicability of each
- An exposure to state-of-the-art design practices
- An understanding of how to achieve the best compromises between efficiency, range, cost, life, and durability.
This course has been taught for more than 39 years, and many hundreds of engineers in the compressor industries have benefited from it. During that time it has been continuously revised to reflect the latest understanding and best practices, including examples of actual design practice. Special emphasis is placed on impeller and diffuser interaction and design as a result of recent investigations. A recent innovation is to include examples of actual design practice. Attendees will observe, discuss, and participate in real-time design examples guided by the instructors, taking specifications and developing compressor designs to the point where prototype machines can be manufactured and tested.
Schedule
Materials
The course materials have been developed over many years and are regularly reviewed to ensure that they are kept up to date. Course fee includes the textbook, Centrifugal Compressor Design and Performance, written by Dr. David Japikse. If you already have the book, let us know at registration and we will subtract the cost from your fee.
Lead Instructor
Dr. David Japikse
Dr. Japikse is the CEO and Founder of Concepts NREC, the world’s leading full-service turbomachinery design and development organization. Dr. Japikse received his B.S. in Engineering from Case Institute of Technology, his M.Sc. and Ph.D. Degrees in Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University and conducted post-doctoral research as a Fulbright Scholar/NSF Fellow at Technische Hochschule in Aachen, Germany. He has received extensive recognition for his work in the design of pumps, compressors, and turbines, as well as the development of design tools.
A recipient of the 2010 Henry R. Worthington Medal for eminent achievement in pumping machinery, as well as other prestigious awards, he is also an elected member of the National Academy of Engineering and the Vermont Academy of Science and Engineering. Dr. Japikse has also authored/edited ten books and written/presented 300+ reports on turbomachinery design and development.
Other guest lecturers will also present on specific topics throughout the week.
Registration fees are due at time of registration. Registering without payment does not reserve space. Enrollment priority will be given in the order of payment received. Registrants may cancel and receive a full refund if notice is received two weeks prior to the workshop start date. After that, payment may be applied toward other Concepts NREC Courses, Workshops, Events, or Publications.
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