Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Turbomachinery plays an important role in the efficiency of power generation and combustion processes used in the automotive and aerospace industries. The potential for fulfilling future energy needs has been identified in both civilian and military applications, for example micro gas turbines (MGTs) used in unmanned aireial vehicles (UAVs). The goal of this thesis was to build a performance testing facility for small-scale centrifugal compressors, for use in MGTs. The objectives of this study were mainly achieved through experimental work. In addition to the experimental work, numerical simulations using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software were performed to substantiate the experimental results. The project methodology followed the process whereby a compressor performance map is constructed from experimental data and compared to map obtained from theoretical data. The test facility consists of a turbocharger fitted with an experimental compressor section. The turbocharger turbine is driven by unheated compressed air. Sensors, data acquisition and ancillary equipment required to perform performance test measurements, were obtained and installed on the test facility. Performance curves at three different rotational speeds were successfully obtained for the experimental compressor. When compared to the CFD results there was good qualitative agreement, although deviations in the results increased with rotational speed. In addition a second impeller design was tested which correlated well with the theoretical data. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Turbomasjinerie speel 'n belangrike rol in die doeltre endheid van kragop-
wekking en verbrandingsprosesse wat in die motor- en lugvaartbedryf gebruik
word. Die potensiaal om in toekomstige energiebehoeftes te voorsien is in
beide burgerlike en militêre toepassings uitgewys, byvoorbeeld mikrogastur-
bines (MGT's) wat in onbemande vliegtuie (OLV's) gebruik word. Die doel
met hierdie tesis was om 'n prestasietoetsfasiliteit vir kleinskaalse sentrifu-
gale kompressors te bou wat in MGT's gebruik kan word. Die doelstellings
van hierdie studie is hoofsaaklik deur eksperimentele werk behaal. Daarbe-
newens is numeriese simulasies met gebruikmaking van sagteware vir bereke-
ningsvloeidinamika (BVD) gedoen om die eksperimentele resultate te staaf.
Die projekmetodologie volg die proses om 'n kompressorprestasiekaart uit eks-
perimentele data op te stel en dit te vergelyk met 'n kaart wat uit teoretiese
data bekom is. Die toetsfasiliteit bestaan uit 'n turboaanjaer wat met 'n
eksperimentele kompressordeel toegerus is. Die turboaanjaer se turbine word
deur onverhitte druklug aangedryf. Sensors, dataverwerwing en bykomstige
toerusting, wat benodig is om prestasietoetsmetings mee te doen, is bekom
en op die toetsfasiliteit geïnstalleer. Prestasiekrommes is vervolgens by drie
verskillende omwentelingsnelhede suksesvol met die eksperimentele kompres-
sor bekom. In vergelyking met die BVD-resultate was daar goeie kwalitatiewe
ooreenstemming, ofskoon afwykings in die resultate vergroot het namate die
omwentelingspoed toegeneem het. Daarby is 'n tweede stuwerontwerp getoets
wat goed met die teoretiese resultate korreleer.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/86250 |
| Date | 04 1900 |
| Creators | Struwig, Daniel Johannes |
| Contributors | Van Der Spuy, S. J., Von Backstrom, T. W., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xvi, 124 p. : ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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