Editing Centrifugal compressor (section)

== Pros and cons ==

;Pros
* Centrifugal compressors offer the advantages of simplicity of manufacturing and relatively low cost. This is due to requiring fewer stages to achieve the same pressure rise.
* Centrifugal compressors are used throughout industry because they have fewer rubbing parts, are relatively energy efficient, and give higher and non-[[Oscillation|oscillating]] constant [[airflow]] than a similarly sized [[reciprocating compressor]] or any other [[positive displacement pump]].
* Centrifugal compressors are mostly used as [[turbocharger]]s and in small [[gas turbine]] engines like in an APU ([[auxiliary power unit]]) and as main engine for smaller aircraft like [[helicopter]]s. A significant reason for this is that with current technology, the equivalent airflow [[axial compressor]] will be less efficient due primarily to a combination of rotor and variable stator tip-clearance losses.

;Cons
*Their main drawback is that they cannot achieve the high [[compression ratio]] of reciprocating compressors without multiple stages. There are few one-stage centrifugal compressors capable of pressure ratios over 10:1, due to stress considerations which severely limit the compressor's safety, durability and life expectancy.
*Centrifugal compressors are impractical, compared to axial compressors, for use in large [[gas turbine]]s and [[turbojet]] engines propelling large aircraft, due to the resulting weight and stress, and to the frontal area presented by the large diameter of the radial diffuser.