The dynamics of surge in compression systems

In air-compression systems, instabilities occur during operation close to their peak pressure-rise capability. However, the peak efficiency of a compression system lies close to this region of instability. A surge is a violent mode of instability where there is total breakdown of flow in the system and pressure-rise capability is lost drastically. Generally, all compression systems operate with a margin defined as the ‘surge margin’, and, consequently, system operational efficiency is lower. It is of interest to study compression-system surge to understand its dynamics in order to operate compression systems close to the instability for achieving high efficiency safely without encountering surge. Unsteady pressure data from a compression system, captured during surge oscillations, reveal many aspects of flow physics and are analysed to understand the surge dynamics of the system. A set of controlled experiments was conducted with a simple desktop experimental test set-up and essential aspects of surge dynamics have been characterised.