Influence of Inlet Flow Conditions and Geometries of Centrifugal Vaneless Diffusers on Critical Flow Angle for Reverse Flow

The authors’ preceding analysis on centrifugal vaneless diffusers is used to examine the influences of diffuser geometries and of flow inlet conditions on the critical flow angle for reverse flow, and the results are presented in graphs. The diffuser width to radius ratio, the inlet Mach number, and the distortion of the inlet velocity distribution have significant influences on the critical flow angle, while the Reynolds number and the boundary layer thickness at the inlet have minor influences.