Composite Impeller Structure for High-Speed Light Gas Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-stage radial or diagonal compressors with metallic construction are not suitable for high peripheral speeds required for efficiently compressing light gases like hydrogen or helium.
Innovation Solution
A multi-stage compressor design featuring impellers with curved inner and outer cover plates and twisted blades made of fiber-reinforced composite material, connected to a rotor shaft via various bonding and friction-fit connections, allowing high-strength and high-stiffness fiber configurations for high-speed operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If metallic construction is used in multi-stage radial or diagonal compressors, then structural strength is maintained, but the compressors cannot operate at high peripheral speeds required for efficient compression of light gases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by constructing impeller components (inner cover plate, outer cover plate, impeller blades) from fiber-reinforced composite materials rather than traditional metallic construction. This enables the compressor to operate at high peripheral speeds suitable for compressing light gases while maintaining structural integrity through the composite material's high strength-to-weight ratio and resistance to centrifugal forces.
2Ease of manufacture
If impeller components are designed as separate components (differential construction), then ease of manufacture is improved, but connection reliability must be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts individual impeller components (inner cover plate, outer cover plate, impeller blades) from a monolithic structure, allowing them to be manufactured separately using optimized processes for each component. This differential construction improves manufacturability while connection reliability is maintained through appropriate joining methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the separately manufactured impeller components through bonding connections between the inner cover plate, outer cover plate, and impeller blades. This combining process ensures reliable connection while preserving the manufacturing advantages of separate component production.
3Strength
If high-stiffness fibers are used in the connection area to the rotor shaft, then connection strength is improved, but overall impeller strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using high-stiffness fibers specifically in the connection area to the rotor shaft where maximum strength is required, while other areas of the impeller can utilize different fiber configurations optimized for their specific functional requirements. This localized approach ensures connection strength without unnecessarily compromising overall impeller performance.
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
Enables efficient compression of light gases at high peripheral speeds, suitable for gases such as hydrogen, helium, and their mixtures, with improved manufacturability and load-bearing capacity.
Implementation Method 1
compressors must be operated at high peripheral speeds to enable efficient compression
Implementation Method 2
The impeller blades, the inner cover plate and the outer cover plate are made of a fiber-reinforced composite material
Implementation Method 3
each impeller is connected to the rotor shaft at least via a friction-fit connection
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A multi-stage compressor (10), namely a multi-stage radial compressor or a multi-stage diagonal compressor, with a compressor rotor, wherein the compressor rotor has a rotor shaft (12) and several impellers (11) attached to the rotor shaft (12), axially directed into the airflow and radially or diagonally directed outwards, wherein each impeller (11) has a curved inner cover plate (14), a curved outer cover plate (15) and several curved impeller blades (16) arranged between the inner cover plate (14) and the outer cover plate (15), wherein the inner cover plate (14), the outer cover plate (15) and the impeller blades (16) are each made of a fiber composite material, and wherein the rotor shaft (12) extends through a recess (13) in the inner cover plate (14) of the respective impeller (11). Fig. 1