Centrifugal Compressor Inlet Guide Vanes Flow Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Centrifugal compressors face issues with flow rate unbalance leading to stalling and surging due to uneven air distribution around the impeller, which reduces compression efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of inlet guide vanes with varying exit angles in different regions of the impeller to balance the flow rate distribution, where the exit angle of the first region is displaced towards the suction flow path compared to the second region, allowing for a more uniform flow direction and reduced turbulence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the suction flow path introduces fluid from the radial outer side toward the inner side in the entire circumferential direction, then the fluid can be efficiently introduced into the impeller, but unbalance occurs in the flow rate distribution of air in the circumferential direction of the impeller, leading to local stalling and reduced compression efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet guide vanes are configured with different exit angles in different circumferential regions. Specifically, the exit angle in the first circumferential region is set to be smaller than that in the second circumferential region, creating local variations in flow guidance to achieve overall flow balance
Solution Approach 2:
The inlet guide vanes exhibit asymmetric geometry where the exit angle varies circumferentially. This asymmetric configuration compensates for the natural flow imbalance that would otherwise occur in a symmetric radial flow path, preventing stalling in specific regions
2Device complexity
If inlet guide vanes with uniform exit angles are used, then the device structure is simple, but unbalance in flow rate distribution occurs, causing stalling and surging
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than using a completely complex variable geometry, the invention applies local quality by varying the exit angle only in specific circumferential regions while maintaining simplicity elsewhere. This targeted variation achieves flow balance without requiring complete structural complexity throughout the entire vane assembly
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 effectively balances the flow rate distribution, minimizing the occurrence of stalling and surging, thereby enhancing the compression efficiency of the centrifugal compressor.
Implementation Method 1
inlet guide vanes including a plurality of vanes disposed on one side of the impeller in an axial direction and provided at intervals in a circumferential direction with respect to the axis, the inlet guide vane being directed inward in the radial direction between adjacent vanes, and forming a guide flow path having an exit angle in the radial direction and guiding the fluid
Implementation Method 2
a centrifugal compressor includes an impeller provided on a rotary shaft, and a casing which defines a flow path with the impeller by covering the impeller from the outside. As a result, external fluid is suctioned into the casing by the rotation of the impeller, and pressure is applied to the fluid while flowing through the flow path
Data Source
AI summary
A centrifugal compressor includes an impeller that rotates about an axis; an inlet guide vane including a plurality of vanes disposed on an upstream side of the impeller and provided at intervals in a circumferential direction of the axis, the inlet guide vane being directed inward in the radial direction between adjacent vanes, and forming a guide flow path having an exit angle in the radial direction and guiding the fluid; and a suction flow path that introduces the fluid from a part in a circumferential direction into the inlet guide vane. The exit angle of the vane of the first region on the one side when viewed from the suction flow path in the inlet guide vane is displaced to the suction flow path side as compared to the exit angle of the vane of a second region on the opposite side of the one side.