To calculate the efficiency of a centrifugal compressor, it is sufficient to know the design parameters and similarity criteria: flow rate coefficient, loading factor, relative hub ratio, Mach number. The effect of the inlet nozzle and the diffuser type is also taken into account. The original simplified model was successfully used for calculation of compressors' candidates in computer programs of the Universal Modelling Method. Recently, the model has undergone significant revision and been remade. The modernized model is used in the program for primary design of centrifugal compressors. The authors verified the new model, comparing the calculated efficiency with the measured efficiency of several dozens of model stages 21CV family and low flow rate model stages. In total, calculations were carried out for more than thirty model stages. The range of design parameters of analysed model stages is quite wide: flow rate coefficient 0.00564 -0.0676; loading factor 0.384 -0.742; hub ratio 0.258 -0.466.