Where does air enter a centrifugal compressor?

Where does air enter a centrifugal compressor?

• A. At the outer periphery
• B. From the bottom
• C. From the top
• D. At the center of the compressor

Answer: (D)

Air must enter a centrifugal compressor at the center of the impeller (the eye). This type of compressor is a radial-flow machine: air is drawn axially into the center, then the impeller blades fling it outward, increasing velocity. Entering at the center allows the flow to be uniformly accelerated by the blades and sets up the diffuser to efficiently convert that kinetic energy into pressure. If air entered from the outer edge or top/bottom, the flow wouldn’t be properly accelerated and the efficiency and performance would suffer.

Air must enter a centrifugal compressor at the center of the impeller (the eye). This type of compressor is a radial-flow machine: air is drawn axially into the center, then the impeller blades fling it outward, increasing velocity. Entering at the center allows the flow to be uniformly accelerated by the blades and sets up the diffuser to efficiently convert that kinetic energy into pressure. If air entered from the outer edge or top/bottom, the flow wouldn’t be properly accelerated and the efficiency and performance would suffer.