Centrifugal Compressor Impeller Cleaning via Axial Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing centrifugal compressor design with a single cleaning-liquid injection nozzle near the inlet struggles to distribute cleaning liquid evenly across the impeller surface, leading to inadequate cleaning of the entire surface.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a flow guide member with multiple injection holes along its length, which changes the fluid flow direction and disperses the cleaning liquid evenly across the impeller surface, ensuring thorough cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single cleaning-liquid injection nozzle is disposed near the inlet of the main casing, then the structure is simple, but the cleaning liquid cannot be distributed evenly over the entire region of the flow-path width
Solution Approach 1:
The single injection nozzle is divided into multiple injection nozzles (first, second, third, and fourth injection nozzles) positioned at different locations along the flow path. Each nozzle injects cleaning liquid at a specific position, ensuring comprehensive and uniform coverage of the impeller surface, thereby resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and cleaning distribution uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The injection nozzles are arranged not only in the radial direction but also in the axial direction, creating a three-dimensional injection pattern. This multi-dimensional arrangement ensures that cleaning liquid reaches all areas of the impeller surface effectively, including the tip surface, while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.
2Length of moving object
If the cleaning-liquid injection nozzle is disposed close to the impeller, then the injection distance is short, but the cleaning liquid cannot spread out sufficiently before reaching the impeller
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple injection nozzles are positioned at different distances from the impeller along the flow path. The first and second injection nozzles are positioned upstream to allow longer spread distance, while the third and fourth injection nozzles are positioned downstream. This segmented positioning ensures that cleaning liquid has sufficient distance to spread and distribute evenly across the impeller surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The first and second injection nozzles inject cleaning liquid upstream before the fluid reaches the impeller, allowing the cleaning liquid to mix and spread with the flowing fluid in advance. This preliminary injection ensures adequate distribution before the cleaning liquid reaches the impeller surface.
3Device complexity
If one cleaning-liquid injection nozzle is used, then the device is simple, but the entire surface of the impeller cannot be cleaned sufficiently and evenly
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is segmented into multiple injection nozzles (first, second, third, and fourth injection nozzles) positioned at different locations. Each nozzle targets specific areas of the impeller, ensuring complete coverage of the entire impeller surface including the tip surface, thereby improving cleaning reliability while maintaining reasonable device simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different injection nozzles are positioned to target different local areas of the impeller. The first and second injection nozzles address the main body of the impeller, while the third and fourth injection nozzles specifically target the tip surface. This localized approach ensures that each area of the impeller receives adequate cleaning attention.
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 ensures even distribution of cleaning liquid across the impeller surface, effectively cleaning the entire surface and reducing waste by minimizing adherence to the main casing inner walls.
Implementation Method 1
A flow guide member disposed inside the annular space and extending along the axial direction of the rotational shaft
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of injection holes disposed along the flow guide member and separated from one another along the axial direction of the rotational shaft
Data Source
AI summary
A centrifugal compressor includes: a rotational shaft; a main casing surrounding at least a part of the rotational shaft, the main casing having an inlet and an outlet separated from each other in an axial direction of the rotational shaft and an annular space surrounding a section of the rotational shaft at a side of the inlet and communicating with the inlet; at least one impeller disposed in a fixed state to the rotational shaft inside the main casing; a flow guide member disposed inside the annular space and extending along the axial direction of the rotational shaft; a plurality of injection holes disposed along the flow guide member and separated from one another along the axial direction of the rotational shaft; and a flow path which extends inside the annular space and through which a cleaning fluid to be supplied to the plurality of injection holes is capable of flowing.