Centrifugal Compressor Silencer Partition Plates Impact Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Centrifugal compressors face issues where impeller fractures or falls, leading to potential scattering of the inlet casing, which can result in a gap formation and further scattering of the impeller, causing operational failures.
Innovation Solution
A centrifugal compressor design featuring a scroll section with radially disposed partition plates and a flange section with clamp members and fastening bolts, which absorb impact and prevent scattering by plastic deformation and energy absorption, ensuring the compressor's structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the inlet casing is protected from impeller impact, then the reliability of the compressor is improved, but the structure becomes more complex and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by providing a silencer casing that surrounds the inlet casing and contains partition plates. When the impeller fractures or falls, the scattered parts are contained within the silencer casing and absorbed by the partition plates, preventing damage to the inlet casing and avoiding gaps that would compromise reliability. This protective structure is built in advance to handle potential impeller failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The silencer casing and partition plates serve as intermediary structures between the impeller and the inlet casing. When impeller parts scatter, they first interact with the partition plates and are contained within the silencer casing, which mediates the impact and prevents direct contact with the inlet casing, thereby protecting the critical components without requiring direct reinforcement of the inlet casing itself.
2Reliability
If the inlet casing is made more robust to prevent scattering, then the operational safety is improved, but the weight and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the protective function into separate components: the silencer casing as the outer containment structure and partition plates as internal barriers. This segmentation allows the inlet casing to remain lightweight while the protective function is distributed to dedicated components (silencer casing and partition plates) that are optimized for containment and absorption, rather than making the inlet casing itself heavier and more robust.
3Reliability
If partition plates are added to contain scattered impeller parts, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The partition plates serve multiple functions: they contain scattered impeller parts, absorb impact energy, and maintain the structural integrity of the silencer casing. By providing this one component with multiple functions, the patent improves reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the partition plates replace the need for multiple separate protective mechanisms.
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 design effectively suppresses the scattering of impeller parts and inlet casing, maintaining the compressor's functionality and preventing gap formation, thereby enhancing reliability and operational safety.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of partition plates 14 each having a predetermined length in the direction of the axial line X are radially disposed about the axial line X on an upstream side in the air circulation direction with respect to the intake 11a
Implementation Method 2
absorb impact and prevent scattering by plastic deformation and energy absorption
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
There is provided a centrifugal compressor (10) including: an impeller (11) that is mounted on a rotor shaft (30), and compresses air flowing in from an intake (11a), and then discharges the compressed air from a discharge port (11b); an air inlet casing (12) that houses the impeller (11); a scroll section (13) which is disposed on an outer peripheral side with respect to the air inlet casing (12), and into which the compressed air discharged from the discharge port (11b) flows; a plurality of partition plates (14) provided on an upstream side in an air circulation direction with respect to the intake (11a), and each having a predetermined length in a direction of an axial line of the rotor shaft (30); and a silencer (15) having a silencer casing (15a) for housing the plurality of partition plates, wherein the plurality of partition plates (14) are radially disposed about the axial line (X), and each are a rolled steel material having a plate thickness of 4 mm or more and 9 mm or less.