APPENDIX "I"

PRESSURE RECOVERY DEVICES

1. General:
The energy of the fluid leaving the blade consists of kinetic energy
C2 P
and pressure energy (
+ ). Usually, any pump or blower is used to
2g
raise the fluid pressure, so the efficiency of the machine will be increased
as much as one could convert the kinetic energy to pressure energy. The
pressure recovery devices, as a general, consist of gradually expanded
passages, which provide a gradual deceleration to the fluid motion. As a
general, the ratio of the kinetic energy with reference to static pressure
energy is higher in forward curved impeller than backward. This process
of pressure recovery could be responsible of fairly high losses.

According to Bernoullis equation, if (1) denotes the condition at

the inlet of the diffuser and (2) denotes the condition at the exit of the
diffuser, so:
P = P2 P1 =

C12 (1 A12 / A22 )

2g

............................. (1)

where A1 and A2 are the inlet and exit areas, respectively. The efficiency
of the diffuser is defined as the ratio of the static pressure gain to the
kinetic energy.

d =

(P) actual
C12 (1 A12 / A22 )( / 2 g )

............................. (2)

231

Fig. 1 Diffuser. (a) Boundary-layer increase in diffuser. (b) and (c) Stall zones.
(d) Short vane dividers. (e) Boundary-layer absorption.
(f) Diffuser with standing vortices.

Figure 1 shows some different diffuser types. A larger angle of

divergence could lead to separation of flow from walls. The roughness of
the internal wall of the diffuser is an important factor in determining
losses as the creation and the development of boundary layer could be
accelerated by higher degree of roughness.
Figure 2 shows some results of experiments on the relation
between the angle of divergence , the diffuser length to width ratio, and
the efficiency of the diffuser. Since the losses are mostly connected with
the formation of boundary layers. Some particular behavior of boundary
layers will be discussed in this Appendix.

232

Fig. 2 Angle of divergence of diffusers versus l/D (at stall limits)

and recovery value . (Based on test result reported by Kline)

1.1 Calculation of Loss Coefficient:

Consider a straight cascade, as shown in Figure 3. The velocity
distribution at the trailing edge will be deformed due to the deceleration
of the flow adjacent to the blade, this will manifest by a depression right
on the trailing edge, this depression will gradually disappear with
increasing distance, this equalization process results in energy dissipation.

233

Fig. 3 Boundary layer effects at the exit of a cascade

This loss may be related to the boundary layer parameters. If W denotes

the relative velocity in the cascade channel, due to the formation of
boundary layer the velocity W1 in the core region will be higher than the
ideal W1 * . Denote the condition at the exit of the cascade by (1) and
further downstream in the diffuser by (2). The boundary layer at the
trailing edge is characterized by its displacement thickness:

d =

W1 W
dn
W
1

................................................. (3)

and momentum thickness:

m =

W W1 W
dn
W
1

W1 .

................................................ (4)

The through flow velocity C a can be found after the continuity as

follows:

1 t/2
C a = W cos 1 .dy
t t / 2

................................................ (5)

From equation (3) and substituting dn by cos 1 .dy and integrating

equation (5):

234

C a = W1 cos 1 1
t cos 1

.............................................. (6)

Consider the momentum balance between (1) and (2) in tangential

direction;
t/2

sin 1 cos 1 W 2 dy = C a C r t

............ (7)

t / 2

with
W 2 = W12 (WW1 W 2 ) W1 (W1 W )

.......................... (8)

Introducing the dimensionless displacement and momentum thickness;

=

d
t cos 1

, =

m
t cos 1

................................................. (9)

then

W1 cos 1 =

Ca
1

............................................... (10)

The physical meaning of equation (10) is that the through flow velocity is
increased by 1 /(1 ) . After equations (7), (8), (9), and (10), one can
write;

C a C r = W12 sin 1 cos 1 (1 ) .................................... (11)

or

W1 sin 1 = C r

1
....................................................... (12)
1

The physical meaning of equation (12) is that the flow velocity is

1
increased by
.
1
Apply now the momentum balance in X-direction between (1) and (2);

235

P2 P1

cos 2 1 t 2
2
=
W dy C a ................................. (13)

t
0

and similarly one can reach;

P2 P1

1
= C a2
1 ............................................ (13*)
2
(
)
1

Apply Bernoulli's equation between (1) and (2):

W12 P2 W22
............................................... (14)
EL = +

2
P1

with
W =
2
1

C a2

C r2 (1 )

(1 )2 (1 )2

W22 = C a2 + C r2
then equation (13*) becomes:

E L = C a2 + C r2 = W22 ..................................................... (14*)

Now introducing the total energy loss coefficient, Eq. (3.6):

EL

or
C a2 / 2
2 m
2
=
..................................................... (15)
=
cos 2 2 t cos 3 2

2. Diffuser Types:
A brief information will be presented concerning the three main
types of diffusers used in pumps, blowers, and compressors:
1. Vaneless Diffuser,
2. Vaned Diffuser,
3. Volute Type Diffuser.

236

2.1 Vaneless Diffuser

A vaneless diffuser is formed by two parallel circular surfaces as

shown in Figure 4. This kind of diffusers is usually used in single stage
blower. It has the advantage of a flatter efficiency curve, also the same
diffuser could be used for different impellers, no need to new design as in
the case of vaned diffuser. In the case of blowers and compressors, it has
lower surge limit, on the other hand, the peak efficiency of the blowers
with vaneless diffusers is about 3 to 4 points lower than with the vaned
diffusers.
The vaneless diffuser has been extensively treated early by Snootal,
Johnston, and Jansen. The stability limits of vaneless diffuser are strongly
dependent on diffuser radius ratio if the conditions at diffuser inlet are
such that low speed rotating stall patterns are generated in the diffuser. At
high speed rotating patterns, the stability is more affected by the coupling
conditions between the impeller and the diffuser than by the diffuser
radius ratio.

237

Fig. 4 Vaneless diffuser

Fig. 5 Velocity triangle at diffuser inlet

238

The flow in the vaneless diffuser is assumed to be twodimensional, incompressible, and inviscid. The equations governing the
flow, Figure 5, are:
1) Continuity equation:

(r.C a ) / r + C u / = 0

..................................... (16)

2) Equation of motion in the radial direction:

Ca

+ Ca

C a Cu C a Cu2
P
+

.
.......................... (17)
=
r
r
r
r

3) Equation of motion in the tangential direction:

Cu

+ Ca

Cu Cu Cu C a Cu
1 P
+
+
.
................. (18)
= .
r
r
r
r

The main dimensions of the vaneless diffuser are its outer diameter D4 ,
impeller diameter D2 , the distance between the two parallel walls b3 , and
the impeller width b2 . Following are the ratio between these dimensions:
D4 / D2 = 1.8 ,
b3 / b2 = 0.8
2.2 Vaned Diffuser:

For this type of diffusers, the pressure recovery process occurs in

vaned radial ring, Figure 6. To assure complete guidance of flow through
the diffuser a guide vane is used. The angle of guide vanes is equal to 2
or slightly lower (the absolute exit velocity angle).

239

Fig. 6 Vaned diffuser

From continuity equation, one could easily write:

Cu =

Cu 3 .r2
,
r

Cr =

C r 2 .r2
r

....... (19)

where Cu and C r are the tangential and the radial velocities of fluid,
respectively. Consequently:
tan =

C r Cr 2
=
= Const.
Cu Cu 3

..................................... (20)

Since the motion of fluid leaving the impeller is a logarithmic spiral, so

the form of the vane could be found from the following equation:

tan = ln (r / r ')

............................................ (21)

2
where Z is
Z
equal to number of blades. Z should not be equal to the number of
impeller blades.

where corresponds to the blade log spiral pitch. =

240

Fig. 7 Logarithmic spiral and its radius of curvature as guide blade inlet

The point B, Figure 7, should be previously calculated according to

equation (21) and radius of curvature = r ' / cos .
The passage width can easily calculated with AB = r r ' , a + s = (r r ' ).
2
a+s 1
r r r'
cos . For an approximation ln =
or
. tan =
.
Z
r ' cos
r'
r'
from which we can get:
2
..................................... (22)
sin = t sin
Z
then other point B. t is the blade pitch. A straight form of diffuser could
be used of angle from 10 to 16. To consider the blade thickness, one
can use the following formula to calculate 4 :
t3
s
,
tan 4 = tan 3
.. (23)
3 =
t3 3
sin 3
a + s = r'

2.3 Volute Type Diffuser

Many geometries exist, and the design procedure is applicable to

all of them.

241

2.3.1 Parallel Walls:

The governing equation of motion is the free vortex

C u .r = Const.

...................................................... (24)

and the continuity equation:

C r .2 rb = C ro .2 ro bo

..................................... (25)

where b is the width of the impeller at any radius r, bo is the diffuser

width at entry, and C r is the radial velocity. o denotes the condition at
inlet, Figure 8.
Thus we have;
Cr = Cro

ro
r

.................................................................. (26)

Fig. 8 Spiral space with parallel side walls

should be constant throughout the diffuser.

i.e.

tan =

C r C ro
=
= Const.
Cu Cuo

.................................. (27)

The equation of the logarithmic spiral as defined before;

242

tan = tan o =

ln

d r C ro
=
rd Cuo

C
r
= . ro = . tan o
ro
C uo

.................................. (28)

.............................. (29)

The above equation is the outside boundary curve for the volute. For the
outline curvature, the following equation could be used;
R=

r
cos

.............................................. (30)

The last solution is for constant width diffuser. In some cases, bo does not
equal b. This would result in an additional factor bo / b , resulted from the
continuity equation as follows:
C r = C ro

ro bo
rb

....................................................... (31)

and thus, the equation of the spiral becomes:

ln

b
r
= . tan o . o
ro
b

............................. (32)

2.3.2 Tapering Side Walls:

This type is shown in Figure 9. The principle as before could be applied

and;
Cr =

C ro ro bo
[bo + 2 (r ro ) tan ] r

............................. (33)

and;
tan =

C ro bo
Cr
dr
=
=
C u r d C uo [bo + 2 (r ro ) tan ]

................ (34)

The solution to this differential equation is given by:

243

=
and;

1
tan o

r
ro
ro r

1
2
tan

ln
2
1
tan

r
bo
bo ro
o

= f (r )

...... (35)

..................................... (36)

Fig. 9 Tapering side wall diffuser

The equation consists of a logarithmic and a linear term, the former

disappears for;
1 2

ro
tan = 0
bo

............................................... (37)

which means:
bo
2 ro
is usually from 8 to 15.
tan =

2.3.3 Rectangular Cross Section:

This type consists of gradually increasing rectangles, Figure 10. Thus, the
area expands in axial and radial directions. We can put h/b = Const. At
C r
position x, C u = uo o . Thus, we can consider a deviation from the line
ro + x

244

C u .r = Const. with the angle , the volume (/360) V flows through the
section b h, thus:

o
360

Cuo ro h
dx
+
r
x
c
o
o

V =

.............................................. (38)

which gives the equation

360 Cuo ro h
h
ln 1 +
Vc
ro

..................................... (39)

Fig. 10 Rectangular cross section diffuser

245

REFERENCES Appendix I
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

7.
8.
9.

10.

246

ABDEL-HAMID, A.N., Analysis of Rotating Stall in Vaneless Diffusers

of Centrifugal Compressors, ASME PAPER 80-GT-184.
CSANADY, G.T., Theory of Turbomachines, McGraw-Hill, 1964.
DEAN, R.C., The Fluid Dynamic Design of Advanced Centrifugal
Compressors, Creare Technical Notes, TN-185, July 1974.
ECK, B., Fans: Design and Operation of Centrifugal, Axial Flow and
Cross-Flow Fans, Pergamon Press, 1973.
JANSEN, W., Rotating Stall in Radial Vaneless Diffusers, ASME
Journal of Basic Engineering, Vol. 86, December 1964, pp. 750 758.
JOHNSTON, J.P., and DEAN, R.C., Losses in Vaneless Diffusers of
Centrifugal Compressors and Pumps: Analysis, Experiments, and Design,
Journal of Engineering for Power, Trans. ASME, Series A, Vol. 88, No. 1,
January 1966, pp. 49 62.
KOVATS, A., Theory and Design of Steam and Gas Turbines, McGrawHill, 1954.
RAYAN, M.A., and YANG, T.T., An Investigation of Vane- Island
Diffusers at High Spiral, ASME Paper 80-GT-148, March 1980.
RUNSTADLER, P.W., and DEAN, R.C., Straight Channel Diffusers
Performance at High Inlet Mach Numbers, Journal of Basic Engineering,
Trans. ASME, September 1969, pp. 397 422.
SCHLICHTING, H., Boundary Layer Theory, McGraw-Hill, 1964.