Similitude testing of compressor performance
A method for similitude testing of a turbomachine, the method comprising selecting a test gas having a molecular weight between 40 g/gmol and 150 g/gmol, a global warming potential (GWP) of less than 700, and a gas specific heat ratio of between 1 and 1.5; operating the turbomachine using the selected test gas; identifying at least one parameter while operating the turbomachine; establishing at least one test parameter associated with the at least one parameter; and comparing the at least one test parameter with a corresponding at least one specified parameter to determine whether the turbomachine has passed the similitude test.
1. A method for similitude testing of a turbomachine, the method comprising:
selecting a test gas having a molecular weight between 40 g/gmol and 150 g/gmol, a global warming potential (GWP) of less than 700, and a gas specific heat ratio of between 1 and 1.5;
operating the turbomachine using the selected test gas;
identifying at least one parameter while operating the turbomachine;
establishing at least one test parameter associated with the at least one parameter; and
comparing the at least one test parameter with a corresponding at least one specified parameter to determine whether the turbomachine has passed the similitude test.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the test gas further comprises selecting a test gas having a GWP between 150 and 700, the gas being non-flammable.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the test gas further comprises selecting a test gas having a GWP between 50 and 150.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the test gas further comprises selecting a test gas having a GWP between 0 and 50.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the test gas further comprises selecting a test gas having a gas specific heat ratio between 1.0 and 1.3.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the test gas further comprises selecting a test gas having a gas specific heat ratio between 1.1 and 1.25.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting said test gas further comprises selecting a test gas having a GWP of between 60 and 120.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the test gas further comprises:
selecting, as the test gas, a gas from the group consisting of HFC-245ca (also known as R-245 or by its chemical name 1,1,2,2,3-pentafluoropentane), HFO-1234yf (also known by its chemical name 2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoroprop-1-ene), HFO-1234ZE (also known by its chemical name trans-1,3,3,3-Tetrafluoroprop-1-ene) and DR-11.
9. A test system for a turbomachine, the system comprising:
at least one sensor configured to measure at least one parameter while operating the turbomachine;
a processor configured to calculate at least one test parameter associated with the at least one measured parameter and to compare the at least one calculated test parameter with a corresponding at least one specified parameter to determine whether the turbomachine has passed the similitude test, wherein the turbomachine is operated using a selected test gas, the selected test gas having a molecular weight between 40 g/gmol and 150 g/gmol, a global warming potential (GWP) of less than 700, and a gas specific heat ratio of between 1 and 1.5.
10. A turbomachine made using a similitude testing method, including:
selecting a test gas having a molecular weight between 40 g/gmol and 150 g/gmol, a global warming potential (GWP) of less than 700, and a gas specific heat ratio of between 1 and 1.5;
operating the turbomachine using the selected test gas;
detecting at least one parameter while operating the turbomachine;
establishing at least one test parameter associated with the at least one parameter; and
comparing the at least one test parameter with a corresponding at least one specified parameter to determine whether the turbomachine has passed the similitude test.