Investigations on the Effect of Inclination Angle on the Aerodynamic Performance of a Two-Stage Centrifugal Compressor of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell System

Wenke Wang, Dengfeng Yang (), Li Guo, Rui Wu, Xiangyi Zhou, Qian Zhang, Qingyi Kong and Leon Hu
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Wenke Wang: School of Control Engineering, Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
Dengfeng Yang: School of Control Engineering, Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
Li Guo: School of Control Engineering, Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
Rui Wu: School of Control Engineering, Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
Xiangyi Zhou: School of Control Engineering, Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
Qian Zhang: School of Mechanical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
Qingyi Kong: Department of Rail Transit, Hebei Jiaotong Vocational and Technical College, Shijiazhuang 050035, China
Leon Hu: Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI 48124, USA

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 12, 1-20

Abstract: This study examines how leading-edge inclination angles affect a two-stage centrifugal compressor’s aerodynamic performance using numerical and experimental methods. Five impellers with varied inclination configurations were designed for both stages. The results show that negative inclination improves the pressure ratio and efficiency under near-choke conditions, with greater enhancements in the low-pressure stage. Positive inclination significantly boosts the pressure ratio and efficiency under near-stall conditions, particularly in the low-pressure stage. Negative inclinations optimize blade loading and choke flow capacity, while effectively reducing incidence angle deviations induced by interstage pipeline distortion and decreasing outlet pressure fluctuation amplitude in the high-pressure stage. Positive inclinations delay flow separation, suppress tip leakage vortices, and extend the stall margin.

Keywords: PEMFC; leading-edge inclination angle; load fluctuation; negative inclination angles; inlet distortion; aerodynamic performance; positive inclination; pressure fluctuation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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