EFFECT OF GOEMETERICAL PARAMETERS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF WIDE ANGLE

Diffusers are used in many fluid flow systems where a need exists for the flow deceleration or pressure enhancement. A wide angle diffuser has larger diffusion angle and area ratio than the common diffuser. Its main use is to restrict length of the diffusing passage for nearly equivalent pressure recovery enhancement. When the flow enters the diffuser inlet it faces an adverse pressure gradient that results in flow separation which causes degradation in the performance of a diffuser by decreasing the pressure rise capability and increasing the total pressure loss. Its performance depends on a complicated interaction between its flow and performance parameters. The present investigations aim at experimentally investigating the flow behavior within a wide angle diffuser to evaluate its performance. The effect of diffuser angle and area ratio of the diffuser has been investigated by testing two types of diffusers at five Reynolds numbers. Four diffusers of diffuser angle 5 0