Angular velocity stepping and methods of use in turbomachinery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbomachines face significant energy losses and operational constraints due to their reliance on converging or diverging flow passages, which lead to velocity-dependent energy losses and flow-pressure coupling, limiting their efficiency and flexibility in handling varying fluid flow rates.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a new architecture that uses radial-flow impellers and fluid vortices to transition fluid between different rotational speeds, eliminating the need for converging or diverging flow passages and allowing for significant pressure changes without high fluid shearing rates, thereby reducing energy losses and enhancing operational flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If converging or diverging flow passages are used to generate pressure changes, then pressure rise or drop can be achieved, but velocity-dependent energy losses increase and operational flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the converging or diverging flow passages from the turbomachine architecture. By removing these passages that cause velocity-dependent energy losses, the invention allows pressure changes to be achieved through alternative means (radial-flow impellers and fluid vortices) without the harmful velocity changes associated with traditional flow passage designs
Solution Approach 2:
The invention substitutes the mechanical pressure generation mechanism (converging/diverging flow passages) with a rotational mechanism (radial-flow impellers and fluid vortices). Instead of using geometric flow passage changes to generate pressure, the system uses rotational kinetic energy transfer, replacing the mechanical flow passage system with a rotational field-based system
2Stress or pressure
If converging or diverging flow passages are used, then pressure control is possible, but operational flexibility and adaptability to varying flow rates are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic rotational speed control of radial-flow impellers and fluid vortices to achieve pressure control. Instead of fixed geometric flow passages, the system uses dynamically adjustable rotational speeds to control pressure while maintaining flexibility to adapt to varying flow rates. The rotational speed can be independently controlled to match different operational requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the control parameter from geometric flow passage configuration to rotational speed. By varying the rotational speed of impellers and fluid vortices, the system can control pressure output while maintaining operational flexibility. This parameter change allows the same physical structure to adapt to different flow rates and pressure requirements
3Power
If high rotational speeds are used to produce substantial centripetal pressure change, then pressure generation efficiency improves, but fluid shearing rates and energy losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces fluid vortices as intermediary elements between radial-flow impellers. These vortices mediate the energy transfer by allowing gradual angular velocity transitions, reducing direct fluid shearing. The vortex acts as a buffer that transforms the high-speed rotational energy into pressure changes through controlled radial flow, rather than direct high-shearing contact
4Stress or pressure
If traditional turbomachine architecture with alternating rotating and stationary blade sets is used, then pressure changes can be generated, but device complexity and flow-pressure coupling increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of rotating and stationary blade sets into a single rotating system with radial-flow impellers and fluid vortices. By eliminating the alternating stationary components, the invention reduces device complexity while maintaining pressure generation capability. The entire pressure generation process occurs within rotating components, simplifying the overall architecture
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach results in significantly higher isentropic efficiencies and a broader operational envelope, enabling turbomachines to handle varying fluid flow rates and pressures more effectively, reducing energy losses and improving overall performance.
Implementation Method 1
Each impeller directs working fluid into a radial flow through an axisymmetric set of substantially radial blades, which requires torque exchange and therefore power exchange between impeller and fluid
Implementation Method 2
Each bladeless annular volume directs working fluid flow in a radial direction through a vortex of substantially uniform fluid angular momentum, which transitions the fluid's rotational speed from that of an upstream impeller to that of a faster or slower downstream impeller
Implementation Method 3
This architecture offers significantly higher isentropic efficiencies and a dramatically expanded operational envelope, relative to existing technologies
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an improved architecture for rotary kinetic fluid motors and pumps, in which working fluid gains or loses pressure by flowing through an alternating sequence of radial-flow impellers and radial-flow fluid vortices, the impellers and fluid vortices all rotating around a single axis and in a common direction at staggered speeds, each vortex being the product of rotating fluid that is flowing radially through a bladeless annular volume.