Centrifugal Compressor Movable Member Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
In centrifugal compressors, the movable member used to curb surging by blocking hot air flowing backward in the intake flow path experiences strength degradation due to high temperatures, leading to operational issues.
Innovation Solution
A centrifugal compressor design incorporating an annular heating medium flow path that supplies a heating medium between the accommodation chamber and the compressor impeller, preventing the movable member from overheating and ensuring normal operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a movable member is used to block hot air flowing backward in the intake flow path, then surging is curbed, but the movable member experiences strength degradation due to high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
A cooling medium flow path is introduced as an intermediary system between the heating medium and the movable member. The cooling medium flows through the flow path to remove heat from the movable member, preventing direct thermal damage while allowing the movable member to maintain its surge-blocking function. This mediator system resolves the contradiction by protecting the movable member's strength without compromising its ability to prevent surging.
2Reliability
If the movable member protrudes into the intake flow path to block hot air, then surging is curbed, but the movable member reaches high temperature and does not operate normally
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling medium flow path acts as a thermal mediator that protects the movable member from excessive heat while it performs its surge-blocking function. By introducing this intermediary cooling system, the movable member can maintain its mechanical properties and operational reliability even when positioned in the hot intake flow path.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling medium flow path is designed to cool the movable member before it can overheat and fail. The cooling system is pre-positioned and operational, providing continuous thermal protection to the movable member during its surge-blocking operation, ensuring it remains operable throughout the process.
3Ease of operation
If a cooling medium flow path is introduced to prevent overheating of the movable member, then the movable member can operate normally, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling medium flow path is merged with the existing heating medium flow path structure. Both flow paths are integrated into the housing, sharing common structural elements and spatial arrangement. This merging approach provides the necessary cooling function while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity by utilizing the existing structural framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure serves multiple functions: it contains both the heating medium flow path and the cooling medium flow path, and provides structural support for the movable member. By making the housing multi-functional, the design avoids adding separate complex structures, thereby reducing the overall increase in device complexity while still providing the necessary cooling capability.
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 solution allows the movable member to operate normally by maintaining its strength, effectively curbing surging and expanding the operational area of the compressor, even in cold regions where freezing might occur.
Implementation Method 1
a heating medium supplied from the outside of the housing flowing through the annular path, at least a part of the annular path being located between the accommodation chamber and a leading edge of the compressor impeller
Data Source
AI summary
A centrifugal compressor includes: a housing including an intake flow path; a compressor impeller arranged in the intake flow path; an accommodation chamber formed upstream of the compressor impeller in a flow of intake air in the housing; a movable member arranged in the accommodation chamber; and an annular path formed in the housing, the annular path being connected to an outside of the housing, a heating medium supplied from the outside of the housing flowing through the annular path, at least a part of the annular path being located between the accommodation chamber and a leading edge of the compressor impeller.