Centrifugal Compressor Cooling Oil Passage Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
In turbochargers, the high temperature of lubricating oil sprayed onto the seal plate of the centrifugal compressor reduces its cooling effectiveness, leading to inadequate cooling of compressed air, especially with increasing temperatures due to EGR and lean burn Miller cycles.
Innovation Solution
A centrifugal compressor design with a separate oil flow passage for cooling oil that bypasses the bearing member, allowing cooling oil to directly exchange heat with compressed air without passing through the bearing, thereby reducing its temperature and improving cooling performance, while also circulating lubricating oil to reduce mechanical losses and maintain efficient lubrication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lubricating oil is sprayed to the seal plate after lubricating the bearing, then the bearing is lubricated, but the temperature of the lubricating oil rises and cooling performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the oil flow passage into separate lubricating oil passage and cooling oil passage, segmenting the oil flow paths to enable independent temperature control for lubrication and cooling functions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the cooling oil passage from the bearing member, allowing cooling oil to flow independently without passing through the bearing, thus preventing temperature rise from bearing friction
2Reliability
If cooling oil flows through the bearing member, then the bearing is lubricated, but the cooling oil temperature rises and cooling effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the oil circulation system into distinct lubrication and cooling circuits, allowing optimized flow paths for each function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a separate cooling oil passage as an intermediary path that enables cooling oil to reach the seal plate without passing through the bearing, thus maintaining low temperature
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 configuration enhances the cooling performance of the centrifugal compressor by maintaining lower cooling oil temperatures for effective heat exchange and reduces mechanical losses through optimized lubrication, thus preventing increased air temperatures and improving engine efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling oil passage through which the oil flows as cooling oil for heat exchange with air compressed by the impeller
Implementation Method 2
a lubricating oil passage through which the oil flows as lubricating oil to be supplied to the bearing member
Data Source
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AI summary
A centrifugal compressor includes: a housing; an impeller rotatably disposed within the housing; a rotational shaft connected to the impeller; and a bearing member supporting the rotational shaft in the housing. An oil flow passage through which oil flows is formed in the housing. The oil flow passage includes a lubricating oil passage through which the oil flows as lubricating oil to be supplied to the bearing member, and a cooling oil passage through which the oil flows as cooling oil for heat exchange with a fluid compressed by the impeller. The cooling oil passage is configured so that the oil flows into the cooling oil passage as the cooling oil without passing through the bearing member.