Development and validation of a measurment procedure to determine the radiated sound power of a radial compressor

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Lars Enghardt; Professor Dr.-Ing. Peter Jeschke
• Subject Area: Hydraulic and Turbo Engines and Piston Engines ; Acoustics ; Fluid Mechanics
• Term: from 2015 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 258517910

The primary task of the present project is to develop a measurement system capable of determining most accurately the sound power emitted by a radial compressor into the connected flow discharge pipe considering a low sensor count. This measurement system will help future studies to investigate the influencing factors in the emitted tonal sound field and evaluate different approaches to reduce sound emissions.In contrary to the DIN EN ISO 5136 Method (the fan sound power levels are estimated in third octave bands) the measurement system developed here will have a higher accuracy in the determination of the tonal sound power components emitted by the radial compressor. Furthermore, a good estimation of the induct mode field at specific blade passing frequencies will be achieved. Opposed to high resolution measurements conducted by using traversal duct sections the measurement system at hand is based on an easy, robust and low cost design making it accessible for smaller research groups. The long term goal by providing the measurement system is to advance the research field of radial compressor acoustics and to reduce the noise emissions of stationary compressor facilities.The goal of the requested second project phase is the experimental proof of applicability of two measurement systems, which were developed and tested in a virtual environment in the first project phase. To do so, the measurement systems will be implemented at the radial compressor facility of the RWTH Aachen. A comparison of the experimental obtained tonal sound power of the applied project phase II and the numerical computed tonal sound power of project phase I will determine which of the both developed and implemented methods preform better, from which the final measurement system will be derived. Furthermore the numerical study and the development of the measurement methods are extended to the radial compressor considering a vaned diffusor.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants