Impeller of a compressor, compressor, and use thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to an impeller (10) of a compressor, specifically a radial compressor or diagonal compressor, wherein the impeller (10) has impeller blades (16) which are impinged in the axial direction and from which the flow exits in the radial direction or diagonal direction. The impeller (10) has a hub body (11) which is made of a metal material. The impeller (10) also has an upper shell (13) which is made of a plastic material, wherein the impeller blades (16), which are also made of a plastic material, are connected to the upper shell (13), and wherein the upper shell (13) is connected to the hub body (11). The impeller (10) also has a lower shell (14) which is also made of a plastic material, wherein the lower shell (14) is connected to the hub body (11) and to the upper shell (13).

Description

[0001] 1 / 14 PB06259

[0002] Everllence SE

[0003] compressor impeller, compressor and its use

[0004] The invention relates to an impeller of a compressor. Furthermore, the invention relates to a compressor and its use.

[0005] Thermal turbomachinery is generally divided into compressors on the one hand and steam and gas turbines on the other. Turbomachinery is also referred to as turbomachinery. Compressors are generally classified as axial compressors, radial compressors, and diagonal compressors. Furthermore, axial, radial, and diagonal compressors are further subdivided into single-stage and multi-stage compressors. The present invention relates to a compressor, specifically a radial or diagonal compressor. A compressor has stator-side components such as a casing and rotor-side components such as an impeller. The impeller is coupled to a rotor shaft and has blades.

[0006] To compress light gases, such as hydrogen or helium, a compressor, specifically its impeller, must operate at a high peripheral speed to achieve efficient compression. Existing radial and diagonal compressors have metallic impellers and are therefore only partially suitable for the high peripheral speeds required for compressing light gases.

[0007] There is a need for an impeller that can operate at high peripheral speeds. Furthermore, there is a need for a compressor with such an impeller in order to efficiently compress lighter gases in particular.

[0008] 21.08.2025 2 / 14 PB06259

[0009] Based on this, the present invention aims to provide a novel impeller for a compressor and a compressor with such an impeller. This objective is achieved by an impeller according to claim 1 and a compressor according to claim 9. The use of the compressor according to the invention is defined in claim 12.

[0010] The impeller according to the invention has a hub body made of a metal material. The impeller according to the invention further has an upper shell made of a plastic material, wherein the impeller blades, which are also made of a plastic material, are connected to the upper shell, and wherein the upper shell is connected to the hub body. The impeller according to the invention further has a lower shell, which is also made of a plastic material, wherein the lower shell is connected to the hub body and the upper shell.

[0011] The impeller according to the invention can be operated at high circumferential speeds and is therefore preferably used in a compressor for compressing light gases, such as hydrogen, helium, natural gas, ammonia, neon, or a mixture containing at least one of these gases. The impeller according to the invention comprises a hub body made of a metal material, as well as an upper and lower shell, each made of a plastic material, preferably a fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP). The lower and upper shells are connected to the hub body, and the impeller blades, also made of a plastic material, preferably a fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP), are connected to the upper shell. Such an impeller is lightweight and has a low overhang mass.It can therefore be operated at high peripheral speeds without risk of damage. The impeller is particularly suitable for use in compressors designed for compressing lighter gases.

[0012] 21.08.2025 3 / 14 PB06259

[0013] Preferably, the upper shell is connected to the hub body by at least a form-fit connection. The lower shell is connected to the hub body and the upper shell, preferably by bonding, or alternatively by frictional connection. This connection between the upper shell and the hub body is particularly preferred to provide a wheel that is lightweight, has high strength, and can therefore be operated at high circumferential speeds.

[0014] Preferably, the impeller further comprises a central shell, which is also made of a plastic material, wherein the central shell is connected to the hub body and the upper shell and is arranged axially between the upper shell and the lower shell. This embodiment, in which the impeller according to the invention further comprises the central shell, which, like the upper and lower shells, is made of a plastic material, preferably a fiber-reinforced plastic composite (FRP), is particularly preferred. The stiffness of the impeller can be further increased by means of the central shell without a significant increase in the weight of the impeller, so that it can be operated at high circumferential speeds.

[0015] Preferably, the middle shell is bonded to the hub body and the upper shell by means of an adhesive bond. This connection of the middle shell to the hub body and upper shell is particularly preferred. Alternatively, the connection is force-fit.

[0016] Preferably, the impeller according to the invention has a flow-inlet edge protection body for the impeller blades, which is made of a metal material and is connected to the impeller blades and the hub body. The flow-inlet edge protection body protects the flow-inlet edges of the impeller blades, which are made of a plastic material, preferably a fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP), from damage. This is preferred in order to increase the service life of the impeller.

[0017] 21.08.2025 4 / 14 PB06259

[0018] Preferably, the flow inlet edge protective body is bonded to the impeller blades and the hub body by means of an adhesive bond. This connection of the flow inlet edge protective body to the impeller blades and the hub body is particularly preferred. Alternatively, the connection can be positive-locking or force-locking.

[0019] Fiber-reinforced plastic composites (FRP) are also referred to as fiber composite materials or FRP materials.

[0020] Preferred embodiments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims and the following description. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, without being limited thereto. The drawing shows:

[0021] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a compressor impeller;

[0022] Fig. 2 a perspective view of a flow inlet edge-

[0023] Protective body of the wheel of Fig. 1;

[0024] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a partial cross-section through the impeller of Fig. 1;

[0025] Fig. 4 shows the cross-section of Fig. 3 without the flow inlet edge protective body;

[0026] Fig. 5 shows a further partial cross-section through the impeller of Fig. 1;

[0027] Fig. 6 shows the cross-section of Fig. 5 without the flow inlet edge guard, without impeller blades; and without hub body,

[0028] Fig. 7 shows a section of the upper shell of Fig. 7 together with a running blade;

[0029] 21.08.2025 5 / 14 PB06259

[0030] Fig. 8 shows the upper shell of the impeller of Fig. 1;

[0031] Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a running blade from behind,

[0032] Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of a running blade from the front.

[0033] The invention relates to an impeller 10 of a compressor, namely a radial compressor or a diagonal compressor. Furthermore, the invention relates to a compressor, namely a radial compressor or a diagonal compressor, with an impeller 10, and to the use of such a radial compressor or a diagonal compressor.

[0034] In a radial compressor or diagonal compressor, the flow of the process gas to be compressed to the impeller occurs in axial direction A, while the outflow of the process gas compressed at the same impeller occurs in radial direction R or diagonally or obliquely to the radial direction R.

[0035] The impeller 10 has a hub body 11. The hub body 11 is made of a metal material and serves to connect the impeller 10 to a compressor shaft (not shown). The connection between the impeller 10 and the shaft (not shown) is made at an axial end of the shaft via a shaft-hub connection between the shaft and the hub body 11 of the impeller 10, this shaft-hub connection being provided in particular by a Hirth coupling 12.

[0036] It is also possible to use a different shaft-hub connection to connect the impeller 10 of the compressor to the shaft of the compressor (not shown) instead of a Hirth toothing 12, for example a shaft-hub connection based on keys.

[0037] 21.08.2025 6 / 14 PB06259

[0038] The impeller 10 further comprises an upper shell 13 and a lower shell 14 and, in the shown, preferred embodiment, preferably a middle shell 15 positioned in the axial direction A between the upper shell 13 and the lower shell 14.

[0039] The upper shell 13 consists of a plastic material, preferably a fiber-reinforced plastic composite (FRP). Likewise, the lower shell 14 consists of a plastic material, preferably a fiber-reinforced plastic composite (FRP). The preferably present middle shell 15 also consists of a plastic material, preferably a fiber-reinforced plastic composite (FRP).

[0040] The impeller 10 also has guide vanes 16. Several guide vanes 16 are distributed around its circumference. The guide vanes 16 are also made of a plastic material, preferably a fiber-reinforced plastic composite (FRP).

[0041] The guide vanes 16 are connected to the upper shell 13. The upper shell 13 is additionally connected to the hub body 11. The lower shell 14 is connected to the hub body 11 and to the upper shell 13; the preferably present middle shell 15 is connected to the hub body 11 and the upper shell 13, just like the lower shell 14.

[0042] The connection between the upper shell 13 made of the plastic material, preferably fiber-reinforced plastic composite (FRP), and the hub body 11 made of the metal material is achieved at least by positive locking and preferably additionally by material locking via adhesive bonding. Alternatively, a force-fit and / or positive locking connection is possible.

[0043] 21.08.2025 7 / 14 PB06259

[0044] For a positive-locking connection of the upper shell 13 with the hub body 11, it is preferably provided that the hub body 11, as can best be seen in Fig. 4, has teeth 17 distributed around its circumference at a flow-inlet-side end of the impeller 10, which is opposite the axial end of the impeller 10 having the Hirth toothing 12. These teeth engage positively in corresponding recesses 18 of the upper shell 13. In addition to this positive-locking connection, the upper shell 13 can preferably be bonded to the hub body 11 by means of an adhesive bond. Alternatively, a friction-locking and / or positive-locking connection is possible.

[0045] The lower shell 14 is bonded to the hub body 11 on one side and to the upper shell 13 on the other. Specifically, a radially inner section 14a of the lower shell 14 is bonded to the hub body 11, and a radially outer section 14b of the lower shell 14 is bonded to the upper shell 13. Alternatively, friction-fit and / or form-fit connections are possible.

[0046] The middle shell 15 is also bonded to the hub body 11 and the upper shell 13 via an adhesive bond. The middle shell 15 has a radially inner section 15a, which is bonded to both the hub body 11 and the upper shell 13. Furthermore, a radially outer section 15b of the middle shell 15 is bonded to the upper shell 13. Alternatively, friction-fit and / or form-fit connections are possible.

[0047] The connection of the rotor blades 16 to the upper shell 13 is also achieved via an adhesive bond. Projections 19 formed on the upper shell 13 serve to align the rotor blades 16 on the upper shell 13; these projections engage in a form-fitting manner with grooves 20 formed on the back side of the rotor blade 16.

[0048] 21.08.2025 8 / 14 PB06259

[0049] Between the upper shell 13 and the running blades 16, a core made of a fiber-reinforced plastic composite material (FRP) can be arranged within the grooves 20 of the running blades 16.

[0050] As already explained, the impeller 10 according to the invention consists at least of the hub body 11 made of the metal material, as well as the upper shell 13, the lower shell 14 and the impeller blades 16, each of which consists of a plastic material, preferably a fiber-reinforced plastic composite (FRP). Preferably, the impeller 10 also has the middle shell 15.

[0051] In the illustrated embodiment, the impeller 10 further comprises a flow entry edge protection body 21 for the impeller blades 16, which, like the hub body 11, is made of a metal material.

[0052] The flow inlet edge protection body 21 has a base body 22, via which it is connected to the hub body 11 and also to the upper shell 13, in particular by bonding. Several projections 23 extend radially outwards from this base body 22 of the flow inlet edge protection body 21, which ultimately protect the flow inlet edges of the impeller blades 16 from damage. These projections 23 have a recess 24 into which the flow inlet edges of the impeller blades 16 engage with corresponding projections 25 in order to align the flow inlet edge protection body 21 with the impeller blades 16 with high precision and to connect it to them.

[0053] The impeller 10 according to the invention has a low weight and high rigidity. It can be operated at high circumferential speeds without risk of damage. The impeller 10 according to the invention is used in particular in a compressor for the compression and / or transport of light gases, such as hydrogen gas.

[0054] 21.08.2025 9 / 14 PB06259

[0055] Helium gas, natural gas, ammonia, neon or a mixture with at least one of these gases.

[0056] Such a compressor has a shaft (not shown) wherein an impeller 10 according to the invention engages at least one end of the shaft, preferably via a Hirth coupling 12 between the impeller 10 and the compressor shaft. Alternatively, an impeller 10 can be attached to the shaft at each of its opposite axial ends.

[0057] 21.08.2025 10 / 14 PB06259

[0058] Reference list 0 Wheel 1 Hub body

[0059] 12 Hirth coupling

[0060] 13 Upper shell

[0061] 14 Lower shell

[0062] Section 14a

[0063] Section 14b

[0064] 15 Middle shell

[0065] Section 15a

[0066] Section 15b

[0067] 16 Running blade

[0068] 17 teeth

[0069] 18 Exclusion

[0070] 19 lead

[0071] 20 Nut

[0072] 21 Flow inlet edge protective bodies

[0073] 22 Basic shapes

[0074] 23 lead

[0075] 24 Exclusion

[0076] 25 lead

[0077] A Axial direction

[0078] R Radial direction

[0079] August 21, 2025

Claims

11 / 14 PB06259 Claims 1. Impeller (10) of a compressor, namely a radial compressor or diagonal compressor, wherein the impeller (10) has impeller blades (16) facing axially and facing radially or diagonally, characterized in that the impeller (10) has a hub body (11) made of a metal material, the impeller (10) has an upper shell (13) made of a plastic material, wherein the impeller blades (16), which are also made of a plastic material, are connected to the upper shell (13), and wherein the upper shell (13) is connected to the hub body (11), the impeller (10) further has a lower shell (14) also made of a plastic material, wherein the lower shell (14) is connected to the hub body (11) and the upper shell (13).

2. Wheel (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the upper shell (13) is connected to the hub body (1 1 ) at least in a form-fitting manner.

3. Impeller (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that, for the purpose of positive locking of the upper shell (13) with the hub body (1 1 ), the hub body (11 ) has teeth (17) at a flow-inlet-side end of the impeller (10) which engage in recesses (18) of the upper shell (13) which extends radially outside to the hub body (1 1 ). August 21, 2025 12 / 14 PB06259 4. Wheel (10) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the lower shell (14) is connected to the hub body (1 1 ) and the upper shell (13) by means of an adhesive bond.

5. Wheel (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it further comprises a middle shell (15) which is also made of a plastic material, wherein the middle shell (15) is connected to the hub body (11) and the upper shell (13) and is arranged in the axial direction between the upper shell (13) and the lower shell (14).

6. Wheel (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the middle shell (15) is connected to the hub body (11) and the upper shell (13) by means of an adhesive bond.

7. Impeller (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by a flow entry edge protection body (21 ) for the impeller blades (16), which is made of a metal material and is connected to the impeller blades (16) and the hub body (1 1 ).

8. Impeller (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that the flow entry edge protective body (21 ) is connected to the impeller blades (16) and the hub body (11) by means of an adhesive bond.

9. Compressor, with an impeller (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8. August 21, 2025 13 / 14 PB06259 10. Compressor according to claim 9 characterized in that it has a shaft on which the impeller (10) transmits the torque to the shaft at one end of the shaft via a Hirth toothing (12).

11. Compressor according to claim 10, characterized in that an impeller (10) is attached to the shaft at each of two opposite ends of the shaft via a Hirth toothing (12).

12. Use of a compressor according to claim 9, 10 or 11 for the compression and / or transport of hydrogen gas, helium gas, natural gas, ammonia, neon or a mixture with at least one of these gases. August 21, 2025

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