Which statement best describes an advantage of the centrifugal-flow compressor?

Which statement best describes an advantage of the centrifugal-flow compressor?

• A. It uses axial flow within the stage
• B. It has lower weight per horsepower
• C. It provides the most uniform flow
• D. It achieves a high pressure rise per stage

Answer: (D)

A centrifugal-flow compressor shines because each stage can produce a relatively large pressure increase by turning kinetic energy into pressure energy through diffusion. The air enters the impeller axially, is accelerated outward by the impeller (radial flow), and then the diffuser slows it down and converts that velocity into pressure. This design lets a single stage deliver a high pressure ratio, so you need fewer stages overall, giving a compact, robust compressor. The statement about axial flow within the stage isn’t accurate because the critical flow path in a centrifugal stage is radial outward from the impeller, not axial through the stage. Weight per horsepower isn’t the defining advantage; while the unit can be compact, the key benefit is the high pressure rise per stage. And uniform flow is not the main distinguishing advantage—flow uniformity depends on diffuser design and overall architecture, whereas the standout feature of centrifugal stages is the sizable pressure gain per stage.

A centrifugal-flow compressor shines because each stage can produce a relatively large pressure increase by turning kinetic energy into pressure energy through diffusion. The air enters the impeller axially, is accelerated outward by the impeller (radial flow), and then the diffuser slows it down and converts that velocity into pressure. This design lets a single stage deliver a high pressure ratio, so you need fewer stages overall, giving a compact, robust compressor.

The statement about axial flow within the stage isn’t accurate because the critical flow path in a centrifugal stage is radial outward from the impeller, not axial through the stage. Weight per horsepower isn’t the defining advantage; while the unit can be compact, the key benefit is the high pressure rise per stage. And uniform flow is not the main distinguishing advantage—flow uniformity depends on diffuser design and overall architecture, whereas the standout feature of centrifugal stages is the sizable pressure gain per stage.