Compressor Diffuser Stabilizer Ring for Secondary Flow Recirculation

Solution Overview

Problem

Centrifugal compressors experience significant efficiency losses due to the recirculation of secondary flow in the diffuser passage, which varies between 10% and 30% of the volume and causes a dramatic change in gas flow angles, leading to inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A centrifugal acceleration stabilizer ring is positioned at the exit of the impeller to align primary and secondary flow fields, reducing recirculation by accelerating fluid flow in the vaneless region of the diffuser passage and stabilizing the flow before it enters the diffuser vanes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a centrifugal compressor operates without flow stabilization, then the diffuser passage can be simpler in design, but significant efficiency losses occur due to recirculation of secondary flow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency lossesVSAvoiddiffuser passage design

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A stabilizer ring is introduced as an intermediary component between the impeller and diffuser vanes. This ring mediates the flow by generating centrifugal acceleration that stabilizes the secondary flow, preventing recirculation and reducing efficiency losses without requiring complex diffuser passage design modifications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The stabilizer ring changes the flow parameters by introducing centrifugal acceleration in the vaneless region. This parameter change stabilizes the fluid flow and reduces recirculation, thereby improving efficiency without complicating the overall diffuser structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the diffuser passage is designed to handle secondary flow recirculation, then structural simplicity is maintained, but gas flow angles change dramatically causing inefficiencies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompressor efficiencyVSAvoidgas flow angles

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizer ring performs preliminary action by stabilizing the secondary flow in the vaneless region before the flow enters the diffuser vanes. This preliminary stabilization prevents dramatic changes in gas flow angles and maintains compressor efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of energy

If no flow stabilization is implemented, then device complexity is reduced, but recirculation occupies 10-30% of diffuser passage volume causing efficiency losses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency lossesVSAvoidstabilizer ring addition

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A stabilizer ring is introduced as an intermediary component between the impeller and diffuser vanes. This ring mediates the flow by generating centrifugal acceleration that stabilizes the secondary flow, preventing recirculation and reducing efficiency losses without requiring complex diffuser passage design modifications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The stabilizer ring changes the flow parameters by introducing centrifugal acceleration in the vaneless region. This parameter change stabilizes the fluid flow and reduces recirculation, thereby improving efficiency without complicating the overall diffuser structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 centrifugal acceleration stabilizer ring significantly reduces efficiency losses by stabilizing the fluid flow, enhancing overall compressor performance and maintaining high diffusion values across the diffuser passage.

Implementation Method 1

A centrifugal acceleration stabilizer ring is positioned at the exit of the impeller to align primary and secondary flow fields, reducing recirculation by accelerating fluid flow in the vaneless region of the diffuser passage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentUS12480530B2Centrifugal acceleration stabilizer

Publication Date: 2025.11.25 INGERSOLL RAND IND US INC

AI summary

A dynamic compressor includes an impeller having impeller vanes disposed around a hub, a shroud, and a diffuser having a shroud surface adjacent to the shroud and a hub surface adjacent to the hub, wherein the diffuser is circumferentially disposed around the impeller. The diffuser includes a plurality of diffuser vanes extending from the hub surface to the shroud surface, each having a vane leading edge and a vane trailing edge. The diffuser includes a centrifugal acceleration stabilizer ring formed in the shroud surface located in a vaneless region defined between an impeller trailing edge and the vane leading edge. The centrifugal acceleration stabilizer ring stabilizes the flow of the fluid by changing the circumferentially-flowing high velocity fluid flow exiting the impeller into a radially-flowing high velocity fluid flow before entering the diffuser, improving the efficiency of the dynamic compressor.