To expand the stable operating range of compressors, understanding the mechanism of flow instability at low flow rates is necessary. In this paper, the mechanism of stall and surge in a centrifugal compressor with a variable vaned diffuser is experimentally investigated, where the diffuser blade setting angle can be adjusted. Many dynamic pressure transducers are mounted on the casing surface of the compressor. From the design condition to surge, dynamic pressure data is recorded throughout the gradual process. According to the signal developing status, the typical modes of compressor instability are defined in detail, such as stall, mild surge, and deep surge. A relatively high-frequency stall wave originates in the impeller and propagates to the diffuser, and finally stimulates a deep surge in the compressor. The compressor behavior during surge differs at different diffuser vane angles. When the diffuser vane angle is adjusted, both the unstable form and the core factor affecting the overall machine stability change. A specific indicator is proposed to measure the instability of each component in a compressor, which can be used to determine the best region for stability extension technologies, such as a holed casing treatment, in different compressor applications.
