Centrifugal Compressor Axial Thrust Control via Regulator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional centrifugal compressors face issues with axial thrust forces leading to reduced performance, durability, and increased vibrations due to friction and heat generation, which necessitate additional support structures and cooling systems to manage the increased axial thrust forces and temperature.
Innovation Solution
The centrifugal compressor incorporates a regulator to control axial thrust forces by selectively communicating the space adjacent to the impeller's surface with the outside, minimizing pressure differences and friction, and includes a thrust cooling flow path to manage heat and maintain a stable air gap, enhancing durability and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the impeller rotates at high speed to compress fluid, then compression performance is improved, but axial thrust force increases causing friction and heat generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful axial thrust force from the system by introducing a regulator that communicates the space adjacent to the impeller's other surface with the outside, allowing the thrust force to be discharged rather than accumulated, thereby resolving the contradiction between high-speed compression performance and axial thrust force generation
Solution Approach 2:
The regulator acts as an intermediary component between the impeller space and the outside environment, controlling the discharge of axial thrust force and enabling the impeller to rotate at high speed without excessive thrust force accumulation, thus mediating between compression performance and thrust force
2Power
If axial thrust force is increased to improve compression, then fluid ejection capability is enhanced, but friction between impeller and shroud increases reducing durability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful axial thrust force into a beneficial controlled discharge mechanism. By using the regulator to selectively communicate the impeller space with the outside, the previously harmful thrust force becomes a controllable parameter that can be discharged at appropriate times, improving both ejection capability and durability
Solution Approach 2:
The regulator changes the pressure parameter in the space adjacent to the impeller's other surface by selectively communicating it with the outside, thereby controlling the axial thrust force parameter to prevent excessive friction while maintaining adequate ejection capability
3Reliability
If additional support structures are added to manage axial thrust force, then bearing support performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The regulator serves multiple functions: it controls axial thrust force, manages pressure distribution, and supports bearing performance, all within a single component. This multi-functionality improves bearing support performance without increasing device complexity through additional specialized support structures
4Temperature
If cooling systems are added to manage heat from axial thrust force, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The regulator enables the system to self-regulate temperature by controlling the discharge of axial thrust force and associated heat. The same component that manages thrust force also facilitates heat management through pressure control, eliminating the need for separate cooling systems
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 effectively reduces axial thrust forces, minimizes friction and vibrations, and improves durability by maintaining a stable air gap and controlling temperature, allowing for efficient operation and high-speed rotation without the need for additional support structures or blow-off valves.
Implementation Method 1
the pressure at the one surface 21 of the impeller 20 is lower than that at the other surface 22 opposite to the one surface 21... an axial thrust force is applied to the other surface 22 of the impeller 20 in the arrow direction by the pressure difference
Implementation Method 2
the ejected fluid is introduced into a thrust cooling flow path formed in a thrust bearing disk 190
Implementation Method 3
the fluid in contact with the one surface 21 is accelerated to be centrifugally compressed and ejected in a radial direction
Implementation Method 4
a dynamic pressure due to an air flow is formed in a space between the foils and the rotary shaft 11... the rotary shaft 11 can be rotated without friction with the foils
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a centrifugal compressor having improved operation performance to improve durability. The centrifugal compressor includes an impeller connected to a rotary shaft and configured to radially eject a fluid suctioned in an axial direction upon rotation thereof; a shroud configured to cover front and rear sides of the impeller and having a suction port formed to face one surface of the impeller at a center of one side thereof; a volute chamber formed at an outer periphery of the shroud in a circumferential direction thereof and configured to guide the fluid ejected by the impeller to an ejection port; and a regulator installed at one side of the shroud and configured to selectively communicate a space formed at the other surface of the impeller with the outside.