Inlet Guide Vane for a Gas Compressor

Abstract

An inlet guide vane for a compressor is provided. The inlet guide vane is adjustable to modify gas flow properties in the compressor, wherein electroactive polymers are arranged in the inlet guide vane such that the shape of the inlet guide vane is adjusted in a specified manner upon applying a voltage to the inlet guide vane.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is the US National Stage of International Application No. PCT / EP2009 / 050368, filed Jan. 14, 2009 and claims the benefit thereof. The International Application claims the benefits of European Patent Office application No. 08001433.5 EP filed Jan. 25, 2008. All of the applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.FIELD OF INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to an inlet guide vane for a gas compressor, the vane being adjustable to modify gas flow properties in the compressor, as well as a compressor, turbocharger, and gas turbine therefor.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0003]In order to dynamically change the gas flow properties of the gas inlet of a compressor, it is known to use inlet guide vanes that can be turned so that the vanes are provided with a variable stagger or camber. U.S. Pat. No. 3,442,493 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,511 show vanes consisiting of two movable parts of fixed form.[0004]In such implem...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable inlet guide vane that provides for improved reliability and reduced mechanical wear, as well as a compressor, turbocharger, and gas turbine therefor.

[0017]When voltage is applied to the EAPs in the vane, the EAPs change their shape such that the vane bends and, consequently, changes its stagger and / or camber. EAPs can be activated directly by applying the respective level of voltage, and thus avoids the use of heating elements, further simplifying electronic control of the vane properties.

[0018]The use of EAPs allows for a great variety of configurations in which the shaping element or elements is included in the vane. EAPs can be laminated to a vane substrate, or can be finely distributed in a vane material. EAPs can further be included as capsular elements, laid or knitted fibres. Voltage can be supplied to the EAPs by electric leads, or by using electrically conductive vane materials.

[0020]Consequently, the present invention allows to reduce the amount of mechanical parts needed for vane shape variation to a minimum, while providing for immediate electronic controllability, and thus significantly enhances the reliability of operation and simplifies its practical application in compressors.

[0025]This also allows to cover the layer with a flexible coating layer at least one longitudinal side of the vane. By doing so, the shape-setting element is protected against external influence and mechanical wear. Further, the surface properties can be optimized for the application in the vane, for instance in turbochargers. Flexible coating layers may thus comprise a flexible metal layer and / or a flexible polymer layer. In embodiments where the flexible coating layer comprises a layer of sound absorbent material, the vane may unite shape flexibility with noise reduction.

Problems solved by technology

However, such arrangements require a number of moving parts, such as the actuators, rings, and linkage, which are subject to mechanical stress, wear, and environmental interferences, thus making such systems particularly vulnerable to mechanical failure.

While this solution reduces the amount of mechanical moving parts, the acting elements are still exposed to wear by environmental stress, and the embedded heating elements provide for an additional source of error.

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