To enhance the power density of proton exchange membrane fuel cells, a high air supply pressure must be maintained at the cathode of the stack. Ultra-high-speed single-stage centrifugal compressors were commonly employed, but this approach was associated with issues of motor overheating and lower efficiency. Two-stage pressurization can reduce the motor speed, but it has the problem of excessive surge flow. Taking a specific two-stage centrifugal compressor for an 80 kW fuel cell as the research object, a collaborative numerical simulation model of the high-pressure stage and low-pressure stage was established. The influence mechanisms of the relative outlet width of the impellers in each stage on the compressor’s flow stability were systematically analyzed, and a collaborative optimization design was conducted. The results indicate that adjusting the relative width of the low-pressure stage impeller outlet has a significant impact on the flow characteristics of the high-pressure stage. The phenomenon of flow instability first occurs in the high-pressure zone. Using a smaller relative width of the impeller outlet in the high-pressure stage compared to the low-pressure stage can effectively improve its flow characteristics and increase the compressor’s surge margin.
WEN Xin-yu, YANG Han-qian, CAO Sui-feng, HE Guang-qing, GUAN Qing-wu.
Influence of Relative Width of Impeller Outlet on Flow Field Stability of Two-stage Centrifugal Compressor[J].
Science Technology and Engineering, 2026, 26(5): 1972-1981 DOI:10.12404/j.issn.1671-1815.2502597
WangWen, ZhangHan, ZhangBo, et al. Remaining useful life prediction of vehicular fuel cells based on GWO-RBF neural network[J]. Science Technology and Engineering, 2025, 25(14): 5897-5904.
[3]
ZhaoY Y, LiuY X, LiuG B, et al. Air and hydrogen supply systems and equipment for PEM fuel cells: a review[J]. International Journal of Green Energy, 2022, 19(4): 331-348.
ChenHaoxiang, ZhugeWeilin, ZhangYangjun, et al. Research on active control and stability expansion method of electric centrifugal compressor[J]. Journal of Engineering Thermophysics, 2021, 42(5): 1136-1149.
[6]
QinY Z, DuQ, FanM Z, et al. Study on the operating pressure effect on the performance of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell power system[J]. Energy Conversion and Management, 2017, 142: 357-65.
SunFeng, SuDandan, DongXiaoping, et al. Influence of cathode pressure on the output performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell[J]. Science Technology and Engineering, 2022, 22(7): 2741-2746.
[9]
YangH Q, LiT Y, WangR J, et al. Effect of interstage air-cooling on reducing power consumption of fuel cell two-stage centrifugal pressurization system[J]. Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, 2025, 70: 13.
[10]
WangH Y, YangD F, ZhuZ C, et al. Effect of interstage pipeline on the performance of two-stage centrifugal compressors for automotive hydrogen fuel cells[J]. Applied Sciences-Basel, 2023, 13(1): 13010503.
[11]
SunZ Z, ZhengX Q, TamakiH, et al. Flow instability suppression and deep surge delay by non-axisymmetric vaned diffuser in a centrifugal compressor[J]. Aerospace Science and Technology, 2019, 95: 105494.
ChenYingxiu, ZhengXinqian, HouAnping. The influence of shaft eccentricity on the surge boundary of centrifugal compressors[J]. Journal of Aerodynamics, 2023, 38(8): 2042-2048.
SunLichen, XiGuang, WuYaozu. Experimental and numerical simulation study on surge characteristics of high-speed centrifugal compressor[J]. Journal of Engineering Thermophysics, 2023, 44(6): 1519-1527.
ZhaoYang, XiGuang, ZhaoJiayi, et al. Numerical and experimental study on unsteady flow at the tip of centrifugal compressor blades under near stall conditions[J]. Journal of Engineering Thermophysics, 2023, 44(5): 1199-1208.
[18]
SunZ Z, WangB T, ZhengX Q, et al. Effect of bent inlet pipe on the flow instability behavior of centrifugal compressors[J]. Chinese Journal of Aeronautics, 2020, 33(8): 2099-2109.
[19]
MirzaeeS, ZhengX Q, LinY. Improvement in the stability of a turbocharger centrifugal compressor by tip leakage control[J]. Journal of Automobile Engineering, 2017, 231(5): 700-714.
[20]
SunZ Z, ZhengX Q, LinghuZ L, et al. Influence of volute design on flow field distortion and flow stability of turbocharger centrifugal compressors[J]. Journal of Automobile Engineering, 2019, 233(3): 484-494.
[21]
ChengJ X, ChenJ, XiangH. A surface parametric control and global optimization method for axial flow compressor blades[J]. Chinese Journal of Aeronautics, 2019, 32(7): 1618-1634.
[22]
HuangS, ChengJ X, YangC W, et al. Optimization design of a 2.5 stage highly loaded axial compressor with a Bezier surface modeling method[J]. Applied Sciences-Basel, 2020, 10(11): 20.