Regenerative compressor machines: Overview of design parameters and factors affecting their efficiency (literature review)

Volodymyr Sitalo*, Serhiy Vanyeyev, Stanislav Meleychuk, Oleh Chekh, Danylo Nikolaienko

v.sitalo@kttf.sumdu.edu.ua

Received 19.12.2025, Revised 24.03.2026, Accepted 28.04.2026, Published 29.05.2026
Abstract

Increasing demands for energy efficiency in industrial equipment and the need to reduce operating costs highlight the relevance of research into regenerative compressors – a class of turbomachinery that combines the advantages of dynamic and positive-displacement machines and has significant potential for widespread industrial application. Study aimed to systematise and analyse current scientific research in the field of regenerative compressors and pumps to identify the key factors influencing their efficiency. The study was based on analysis and comparison of the results of experimental and numerical studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, as well as on the application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) as a modern digital tool for engineering analysis. Study established that the efficiency of regenerative compressors is determined by a combination of geometric and design parameters. The type and shape of the impeller, as well as the number and profile of the blades, influence the degree of pressure increase: the optimal number of blades lies within the range of 30-50, whilst blades of complex shape, despite their higher efficiency, complicate the manufacturing process. The dimensions and configuration of the working channel determine the intensity of circulation and the level of gas-dynamic losses – the height of the channel is a more decisive parameter than its cross-sectional area. The clearances in the flow path are critical: an increase in the axial and radial clearances from 0.15 mm to 0.2 mm leads to a reduction in performance of up to 50 %, which confirms the need to address them at design stage. CFD methods can be used to visualise complex spiral-like flow structures, identify sources of losses and optimise design solutions, thereby reducing costs of physical prototyping. The combination of analytical, experimental and CFD methods provides the basis for developing effective design approaches, which will ensure improved energy efficiency and expand the range of applications for these machines in industrial systems

Keywords:
regenerative compressor; regenerative pump; regenerative hypothesis; numerical modelling; Ansys SFX; design optimisation

Retrieved from Volume 24, No. 1, 2026

Pages 120–137

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Sitalo, V., Vanyeyev, S., Meleychuk, S., Chekh, O., & Nikolaienko, D. (2026). Regenerative compressor machines: Overview of design parameters and factors affecting their efficiency (literature review). Journal of Kryvyi Rih National University, 24(1), 120-137. https://doi.org/10.31721/2306-5451-2026-1-24-120-137
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