Effect of Blade Parameters on Radial Turbine Rotor Aerodynamics

Abstract Radial turbines are widely used in turbochargers, small-scale power systems, and propulsion applications, where efficiency and compactness are critical. Improving rotor design is therefore essential to enhance overall turbine performance. This study investigates how blade angle distribution, thickness profile, and blade count influence the aerodynamic behavior of radial turbine rotors. A baseline rotor was taken as reference, and modified cases were generated by systematically varying each parameter. Performance was evaluated in terms of turbine efficiency and reduced mass flow rate. The results indicate that variations in blade geometry strongly affect turbine operation. For each parameter, the most efficient configuration was benchmarked against the reference rotor, and detailed flow analyses were conducted to identify the aerodynamic mechanisms responsible for the improvements. The findings highlight the importance of blade geometry in boosting radial turbine efficiency and offer practical guidelines for rotor optimization.