Abstract

During the development of a centrifugal compressor stage, different challenges arise if the focus is not only on the best efficiency, so critical nowadays.

Time-to-market is also critical and once a new product is created, sales support and the improvements feasible during the product’s life are also subject to time constraints. Computational time has been reduced significantly compared to the past due to latest algorithms and information technology. Carefully analyzing the available tools it is possible to combine them to optimize the process flow and use them in an “unconventional” way. Optimization tools, and specifically response surface methods (RSM), can be adapted very well in the design process to provide information around the design of a compressor stage.

This article will cover two of the possible optimization uses: the search of optimum performance and data generation.