Centrifugal Compressor Resonance Avoidance via Bearing Beam

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Centrifugal compressors face resonance issues due to natural frequency alignment with 50-60 Hz during operation, which existing designs struggle to avoid or mitigate effectively, leading to vibration transmission and reduced service life.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a bearing beam and damping pads between the compressor head, motor, cooler, and chassis to isolate vibrations, preventing resonance by decoupling the drive chain from the chassis and external vibrations, and allowing for a broader power section motor adaptation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the compressor head and motor are rigidly connected to the cooler and chassis, then structural stability is improved, but resonance occurs due to natural frequency alignment with 50-60 Hz operation frequency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidresonance avoidance
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a bearing beam as an intermediary component between the compressor head/motor and the cooler/chassis. This bearing beam acts as a mediator that decouples the drive chain from the fixed structure, allowing vibration isolation while maintaining structural support. The bearing beam with damping pads creates a flexible connection that prevents direct transmission of resonant vibrations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the bearing support function from the rigid chassis structure by introducing a separate bearing beam. This separation allows the drive chain (compressor head and motor) to be isolated from the chassis, enabling independent vibration control and resonance avoidance while maintaining operational stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If damping pads are added between the support frame and bearing beam, then vibration isolation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration isolationVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs damping pads as flexible elements between rigid components. These damping pads function as flexible interfaces that absorb and dissipate vibration energy while maintaining the structural connection. The use of flexible damping materials allows vibration isolation without requiring complex mechanical isolation systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Duration of action of stationary object

If a bearing beam with damping pads is introduced, then resonance is avoided and service life is extended, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice lifeVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the compressor structure into distinct functional modules: the drive chain (compressor head and motor), the bearing beam with damping pads, and the fixed structure (cooler and chassis). This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and assembled independently, simplifying the overall manufacturing process despite the increased number of components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

The solution effectively isolates vibrations, preventing resonance and extending the service life of the centrifugal compressor by decoupling the drive chain from the chassis and external vibrations, ensuring the natural frequency avoids the problematic 50-60 Hz range.

Implementation Method 1

a first damping pad is provided between the support frame and the bearing beam. The first damping pad is fixedly connected to the support frame and the bearing beam, respectively

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3453883B1Centrifugal compressor
Publication Date: 2020.10.14 ATLAS COPCO AIRPOWER NV
  • EP3453883B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3453883B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The utility model discloses a centrifugal compressor, comprising a compressor head, a motor, a cooler, a support frame, a bearing beam and a chassis. The cooler and the support frame are fixedly mounted on the chassis. The bearing beam is disposed above the cooler and the support frame. The support frame supports the bearing beam. The compressor head and the motor are disposed above the bearing beam. The compressor head and the motor are fixedly mounted on the bearing beam. The centrifugal compressor of the present utility model avoids resonance problem and prolongs the service life of the complete machine.