Centrifugal Compressor Housing Plate Projection for Reverse Flow Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Centrifugal compressors face efficiency decreases due to surging and pressure loss issues, particularly at low flow rates, where reverse flows occur, leading to instability and reduced performance.
Innovation Solution
A compressor housing design featuring a shroud surface with a plate-shaped projection protruding inward in the radial direction from the front-side inner peripheral surface, which is connected to the shroud surface and has an inclined front edge, effectively guiding and suppressing reverse flows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a plate-shaped projection is added to guide reverse flow inward, then reverse flow suppression improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor housing is segmented into functional zones: the front-side inner peripheral surface, the shroud surface, and the projection structure. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function - the projection acts as a flow guide while the shroud surface maintains structural integrity, resolving the contradiction by distributing complexity to specific segments rather than the entire housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The projection extends in the radial direction from the front-side inner peripheral surface toward the shroud surface, utilizing the radial dimension to intercept and redirect reverse flow. This dimensional approach allows flow control without adding axial or circumferential complexity, effectively suppressing reverse flow while maintaining housing simplicity.
2Loss of energy
If the projection has an inclined front edge, then pressure loss reduction improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The projection features an inclined front edge that creates a streamlined, curved surface for flow guidance. This curved geometry smoothly redirects reverse flow inward without creating sharp edges or discontinuities, reducing flow separation and pressure loss. The curvature design achieves energy efficiency while remaining manufacturable through standard forming processes.
3Reliability
If the projection connects to the shroud surface, then flow guidance effectiveness improves, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The projection is merged with the shroud surface, forming an integrated structure where the projection extends from the front-side inner peripheral surface and connects to the shroud surface. This merging allows the projection to effectively guide reverse flow inward along the shroud surface while maintaining housing structural integrity, achieving flow control without adding separate components.
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 compressor housing design effectively suppresses reverse flows and reduces pressure loss, thereby improving the efficiency of the centrifugal compressor across various operational flow rates, including low flow rates.
Implementation Method 1
the reverse flow is suppressed by guiding the reverse flow inward in the radial direction with a plate-shaped protruding portion to pressurize the air flowing to the impeller
Data Source
AI summary
A compressor includes: a shroud surface; a front-side inner peripheral surface formed on a front side of the shroud surface in the axial direction and disposed outward of a front end of the shroud surface in the radial direction; and at least one projection protruding from the front-side inner peripheral surface inward in the radial direction. A rear end of the at least one projection is configured to be connected to the front end of the shroud surface. The at least one projection is formed in a plate shape, and in a cross-sectional view along an axis of the impeller, has an inclined front edge extending obliquely to the axis of the impeller from a front end of the projection toward a rear side.