Turbo Compressor Liquid Discharge Before Impeller Startup
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Solution Overview
Problem
In turbo compressors, the formation of a liquid pool at the bottom of the flow path can lead to excessive power load on the impeller during startup, causing fatigue breaking and degradation of compression performance due to liquid collisions with the impeller.
Innovation Solution
A fluid discharge device is integrated to remove liquid from the upstream side of the impeller before rotation, utilizing electromagnetic valves and a controller to control liquid discharge, and fluid discharge pipes positioned at the bottom of the flow path to prevent collisions, allowing for controlled liquid removal using differences in atmospheric pressure or height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the turbo compressor is started with liquid pooled in the flow path, then the compressor can begin operation, but the liquid collides against the impeller causing excessive power load and fatigue breaking
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid discharge device is activated before the impeller starts rotating to discharge pooled liquid from the flow path. This preliminary action removes the harmful liquid before the impeller begins operation, preventing liquid collision and excessive power load during startup, thereby protecting the impeller from fatigue breaking while enabling safe operation
2Reliability
If a fluid discharge device is added to remove liquid before the impeller, then impeller protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid discharge device utilizes the compressor's own operational states (pressure differences during startup and operation) to automatically discharge liquid without requiring external pumps or complex control systems. The device activates automatically when pressure conditions indicate liquid pooling, and the discharged liquid is returned to the evaporator, creating a self-regulating system that protects the impeller without significantly increasing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid discharge device serves multiple functions: it discharges pooled liquid to protect the impeller, utilizes pressure differences already present in the refrigeration cycle, and returns discharged liquid to the evaporator for reuse. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving reliable impeller protection
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
Prevents fatigue breaking of the impeller and maintains compression performance by ensuring no liquid collision during startup, allowing for low-cost implementation without the need for additional pumps.
Implementation Method 1
an electromagnetic valve connected to the fluid discharge pipe, and a controller which open and close the electromagnetic valve
Implementation Method 2
allowing for controlled liquid removal using differences in atmospheric pressure or height
Implementation Method 3
allowing for controlled liquid removal using differences in atmospheric pressure or height
Data Source
AI summary
A turbo compressor to suction and compress gas includes a housing including a flow passageway through which gas flows, an impeller disposed inside the flow passageway, the impeller providing suction for the gas by being rotationally driven, a liquid discharge port provided in the flow passageway on the upstream side of the impeller, the liquid discharge port discharging, from the flow passageway, any liquid produced as the gas liquefies when the turbo compressor is stopped, a liquid discharge pipe connected to the liquid discharge port, an electromagnetic valve connected to the liquid discharge pipe, and a controller configured to open the electromagnetic valve before the impeller is rotationally driven. A refrigerator includes the turbo compressor, wherein the turbo compressor compresses refrigerant gas.