Review of Centrifugal Compressor’s Application and Development

The paper historically describes the application and development of the centrifugal compressor from the very beginning of its introduction until today. It focuses on selected practical and theoretical examples that—to the author’s opinion—pushed the centrifugal’s standard from simple, low efficiency designs to its current high level status. The main events related with this development like the impact of the industrial revolution and the introduction of jet propulsion are pointed out. The implication of improved theoretical tools becoming available with raising computer capacity and the impetus of advanced measurement techniques on the centrifugal’s improvement are described. A considerable number of references offers the possibility to engross the thoughts.