An important stage in the design of a compressor is exact measurement of its performance.
Two measurement apparati complying with international standards (ISO 5389, ASME Compressor Power Code PTC10, ISO 5671, ISA 1932) has been built in the Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics at LUT.
With the apparatus on the right, it is possible to measure high-speed compressors accurately up to the electrical power of 500 kW and pressure ratio of four.
Both the inlet and the outlet cones are equipped with exact control valves (3A and 3B) to enable smooth measurement of low-pressure and high-pressure compressors.
The measured signals are saved with a measurement computer, which accepts each measurement point only when the temperatures and pressures are steady enough.
The measurement facility at High Speed Tech Oy Ltd factory is constructed in a similar way and the laboratory is responsible of updating the measurements programs. Thus the experiences and results at both measurement facilities can be effectively utilized.
The measurement stations have also been separately used to post-graduate research work in compressor diffuser and volute studies. The flow has been visualized and measured three dimensionally.