Radial compressor stage

Abstract

A radial compressor stage includes: an impeller, rotatable relative to a stator, the impeller having multiple impeller blades on a rotor side; a diffuser positioned in a flow direction downstream of the impeller, the diffuser having multiple guide blades on the stator side; an impeller side gap formed between the impeller and the stator; and an intermediate flow channel extending between the impeller and the diffuser. A gap is formed between an outer edge of a downstream back side of the impeller and an opposite inner edge of the stator, the gap being sealed via a seal such that the seal seals the impeller side gap from the intermediate flow channel.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The invention relates to a radial compressor stage for a radial compressor.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]From DE 195 02 808 C2 the fundamental construction of a radial compressor having at least one radial compressor stage is known. Accordingly, it is disclosed in this prior art that the, or each, radial compressor stage of a radial compressor comprises an impeller rotating with respect to a stator, wherein the impeller comprises a hub and multiple impeller blades on the rotor side. Each impeller blade of the impeller comprises a flow inlet edge and a flow outlet edge, wherein between the flow inlet edge and the flow outlet edge of each impeller blade a suction side, a pressure side and an outer surface facing the stator extends, wherein the outer surface of the respective impeller blade borders the stator and serves for sealing relative to the stator. Such an impeller of a radial compressor, in which the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention relates to a method to reduce vibration excitation in a radial compressor by reducing the vibration of its impeller blades. In simple terms, the invention involves improving the coupling of the impeller to its intermediate flow channel. This can be done by addressing the alternating of two aspects according to the invention, which are designed to reduce such vibration.

Problems solved by technology

During the operation of a radial compressor, the radial compressor stages are exposed to mechanical excitations and oscillations, which can cause damage to the radial compressor stage, in particular to the impeller blades of the impeller of the radial compressor stage.

In particular, three-dimensional and unsteady flow phenomena are generated through the interaction of rotating and stationary components.

Up to now, no methods are known that can specifically counteract such asynchronous excitations in order to avoid a critical vibration excitation, in particular of the impeller blades of the impeller.

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