Genetic Optimization of the Volute of a Centrifugal Compressor

Authors

Martin Heinrich - Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg
Rüdiger Schwarze - Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg

Abstract

A numerical optimization of a volute housing is performed to identify important geometric parameters and find an optimal volute geometry. For this purpose, an automated tool for the geometry generation of a volute housing is employed. The numerical model is validated using a centrifugal compressor of a turbocharger for light commercial vehicles and passenger cars. Validation results show a good accuracy of the numerical model compared to test bench measurements. A single-objective genetic algorithm is used for the optimization of the volute housing with the average isentropic efficiency as objective function. Several different typical shapes are used as initial conditions. Four different operating points are simulated for each geometry at a design speed of 100,000 min-1. The results reveal that a volute with an inlet eccentricity of 0.85 offers a superior compressor efficiency compared to tangential and symmetrical volute inlet conditions.