Centrifugal Compressor Impeller Flow Splitter Segments

A fluid seal ring is introduced as an intermediary component between the open impeller and the shroud. This seal ring creates a barrier that reduces gas leakage from the high-pressure discharge side back to the suction side, thereby reducing leakage losses while maintaining the open impeller design's manufacturing advantages and geometry flexibility.

The fluid seal ring serves as a protective intermediary that maintains a controlled gap between the impeller and shroud. This prevents direct contact between components, reducing the risk of mechanical damage while allowing the open impeller design to retain its manufacturing simplicity and geometric adaptability.

The shroud structure is segmented into a fixed shroud and a movable fluid seal ring. The fixed shroud provides the structural framework for vibration resistance, while the separate fluid seal ring can be independently optimized and replaced. This segmentation allows the system to achieve vibration resistance without the full manufacturing complexity of a completely integrated shrouded impeller.

The fluid seal ring acts as a mediator that decouples the relationship between vane thickness and leakage. By providing a sealing barrier near the shroud, the system can use thinner, more efficient vane structures without suffering excessive leakage losses, as the seal ring compensates for the increased clearance associated with thinner vanes.