SpringerLink
Log in

Real-Time Instability Detection of Centrifugal Compressors Based on Motor Speed Measurements

  • Published:
Journal of Thermal Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Flow instability in the centrifugal compressor should be detected and avoided for stable and safe operation. Due to the popularity of electric centrifugal compressors, instability detection could be achieved by measuring motor signals instead of traditional aerodynamic signals. In this paper, the feasibility of instability detection by motor signals (i.e. rotating speed and phase current) was studied experimentally. The physical structure and control method of the electric centrifugal compressor were discussed to reveal the potential of instability detection by motor signals. Dynamic pressure signals and motor signals measured during unsteady experiments were analyzed in the time domain and frequency domain. Characteristics of these signals were then compared under different operating conditions to indicate the feasibility of instability detection by motor signals. Finally, the ability of Short-Time Fourier Transform (STFT) of rotating speed signals in real-time instability detection was discussed. Results showed that the rotating speed signal is a good alternate for instability detection in spite of signal distortion, while the phase current signal can only detect surge due to the low resolution of the controller. Based on the variations of the amplitude and frequency of rotating speed signals, the real-time instability can be captured accurately by STFT with a window size of 0.5 s. Besides, the interference caused by the controller can be removed by STFT.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

b :

blade height/mm

I p :

effective value of phase current/A

J :

moment of inertia of the whole rotor/kg·m2

n :

rotating speed/r·min−1

r :

radius/m

T c :

aerodynamic torque/N·m

T e :

electromagnetic torque/N·m

t :

time/s

ω :

angular velocity/rad·s−1

ave:

time-averaged value

r:

relative value

CWT:

continuous wavelet transform

EMF:

electromagnetic force

FFT:

fast Fourier transform

HP:

high pressure

IPF:

impeller passing frequency

LP:

low pressure

MBPF:

main blade passing frequency

PMSM:

permanent magnet synchronous motor

PPF:

passage passing frequency

RI:

rotating instability

STFT:

short-time Fourier transform

References

  1. Zhang M., Zheng X., Criteria for the matching of inlet and outlet distortions in centrifugal compressors. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2018, 131: 933–946.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Galindo J., Gil A., Navarro R., Tari D., Analysis of the impact of the geometry on the performance of an automotive centrifugal compressor using CFD simulations. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2019, 148: 1324–1333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Sun J., Zuo Z., Liang Q., Zhou X., Guo W., Chen H., Theoretical and experimental study on effects of humidity on centrifugal compressor performance. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2020, 174: 115300.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Zhang Y., Xu S., Wan Y., Performance improvement of centrifugal compressors for fuel cell vehicles using the aerodynamic optimization and data mining methods. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2020, 45(19): 11276–11286.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Han J., Hwang J., Yu S., A simulation of automotive fuel cell system for oxygen starvation trends by compressor surge under load follow-up. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2019, 154: 251–262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Day I., Stall, surge, and 75 years of research. Journal of Turbomachinery, 2016, 138(75): 011001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. März J., Hah C., Neise W., An experimental and numerical investigation into the mechanisms of rotating instability. Turbo Expo: Power for Land, Sea, and Air: American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New Orleans, U.S.A., 2001, V001T03A84. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1115/2001-GT-0536.

  8. Pardowitz B., Tapken U., Sorge R., Thamsen P.U., Enghardt L., Rotating instability in an annular cascade: detailed analysis of the instationary flow phenomena. Journal of Turbomachinery, 2014, 136(6): 061017.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Paduano J.D., Greitzer E., Epstein A., Compression system stability and active control. Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics, 2001, 33: 491–517.

    Article  ADS  MATH  Google Scholar 

  10. Haynes J.M., Hendricks G.J., Epstein A.H., Active stabilization of rotating stall in a three-stage axial compressor. Journal of Turbomachinery, 1994, 116(2): 226–239.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Vo H.D., Tan C.S., Greitzer E.M., Criteria for spike initiated rotating stall. Journal of Turbomachinery, 2008, 130: 011023.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Tan C., Day I., Morris S., Wadia A., Spike-type compressor stall inception, detection, and control. Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics, 2010, 42: 275–300.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Sun Z., Zheng X., Kawakubo T., Experimental investigation of instability inducement and mechanism of centrifugal compressors with vaned diffuser. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2018, 133: 464–471.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Galindo J., Serrano J., Climent H., Tiseira A., Experiments and modelling of surge in small centrifugal compressor for automotive engines. Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, 2008, 32: 818–826.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. He X., Zheng X., Flow instability evolution in high pressure ratio centrifugal compressor with vaned diffuser. Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, 2018, 98: 719–730.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Ludwig G., Nenni J., A rotating stall control system for turbojet engines. Journal of Engineering for Power, 1979, 101: 305–313.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Shu M., Yang M., Zhang K., Deng K., Yang B., Martinez-Botas R., Experimental study on performance of centrifugal compressor exposed to pulsating backpressure. Aerospace Science and Technology, 2019, 95: 105450.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Sun Z., Zou W., Zheng X., Instability detection of centrifugal compressors by means of acoustic measurements. Aerospace Science and Technology, 2018, 82: 628–635.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Brandstetter C., Schiffer H.P., PIV measurements of the transient flow structure in the tip region of a transonic compressor near stability limit. Journal of Global Power and Propulsion Society, 2018, 1: 303–316.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Yang M., Zhang K., Shu M., Deng K., Experimental study on unsteady flow field in a centrifugal compressor at pulsating backpressure conditions. Aerospace Science and Technology, 2020, 106: 106168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Japikse D., Baines N.C., Introduction to turbomachinery, concepts ETI, Inc./Oxford University Press, United Kingdom, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Zheng X., Sun Z., Kawakubo T., Tamaki H., Experimental investigation of surge and stall in a turbocharger centrifugal compressor with a vaned diffuser. Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, 2017, 82: 493–506.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Greitzer E., Moore F., A theory of post-stall transients in axial compression systems: part II—application. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbine and Power, 1986, 108: 231–239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Chen H., Zhuge W., Zhang Y., Ma X., Tao L., Performance improvement of a centrifugal compressor for the fuel cell vehicle by tip leakage vortex control. Journal of Thermal Science, 2021, 30(6): 2099–2111.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. Zheng X., Liu A., Phenomenon and mechanism of two-regime-surge in a centrifugal compressor. Journal of Turbomachinery, 2015, 137(8): 081007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Greitzer E.M., Surge and rotating stall in axial flow compressors—Part I: Theoretical compression system model. Journal of Engineering for Power, 1976, 98: 190–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Li L., Cai H., Han H., Jiang Q., Ji H., Adaptive short-time Fourier transform and synchrosqueezing transform for non-stationary signal separation. Signal Processing, 2020, 166: 107231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Li C., Xu S., Hu Z., Experimental study of surge and rotating stall occurring in high-speed multistage axial compressor. Procedia Engineering, 2015, 99: 1548–1560.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2018YFB1501004).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University, Bei**g, 100084, China

    Haoxiang Chen, Weilin Zhuge, Yu** Qian & Yangjun Zhang

  2. Chongqing Jiang** Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, Chongqing, 402263, China

    Hongdan Liu

Authors
  1. Haoxiang Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Weilin Zhuge
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yu** Qian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yangjun Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Hongdan Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Weilin Zhuge or Yangjun Zhang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chen, H., Zhuge, W., Qian, Y. et al. Real-Time Instability Detection of Centrifugal Compressors Based on Motor Speed Measurements. J. Therm. Sci. 32, 310–329 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11630-022-1685-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11630-022-1685-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation