Centrifugal Compressor Intermediate Suction Scroll
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Solution Overview
Problem
In centrifugal compressors with intermediate suction channels, maintaining equal total pressures between the intermediate suction channel and the return channel is challenging, leading to pressure imbalance and reduced compressor performance, while also requiring a compact design to minimize size and cost.
Innovation Solution
The compressor design includes an impeller with a return channel and an intermediate suction channel with an integrated inlet guide vane that matches the return vane, featuring a partitioning wall with a thinner thickness along the main shaft, allowing the suctioned fluid to merge with the main stream without disturbing its flow, and is shaped to fit within the casing's external diameter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the intermediate suction channel is connected to the return channel, then the suctioned fluid can be merged with the main stream, but the total pressure in the intermediate suction channel becomes different from the total pressure in the return channel, causing pressure imbalance and performance deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies equipotentiality by designing the intermediate suction channel with a scroll-shaped chamber that enables the suctioned fluid to be decelerated and pressurized before merging with the main stream. The integrated inlet guide vane with return vane structure ensures that the total pressure in the intermediate suction channel matches the total pressure in the return channel, creating equipressure conditions that prevent pressure imbalance and maintain optimal compressor performance.
2Volume of moving object
If the casing diameter is reduced to minimize size and cost, then the compressor becomes more compact, but it becomes difficult to accommodate the intermediate suction channel and maintain proper pressure balance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the nesting principle by integrating the inlet guide vane of the intermediate suction channel with the return vane structure. The intermediate suction channel is positioned and configured to nest within the existing compressor geometry, allowing the scroll-shaped chamber to be accommodated without increasing the overall casing diameter. This nested configuration enables pressure balance to be maintained while achieving a compact compressor design.
3Loss of energy
If the intermediate suction channel is designed with proper pressure balance, then operating efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the integrated inlet guide vane and partitioning wall structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining the inlet guide vane of the intermediate suction channel with the return vane structure into a single integrated component. This consolidation reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies manufacturing while maintaining the functional requirements for pressure balance. The merged structure eliminates the need for additional complex components, achieving operating efficiency improvement without excessive increase in device complexity.
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 maintains equal total pressures in the intermediate and return channels, enhancing operating efficiency, reducing compressor size, and minimizing costs by ensuring pressure balance and maintaining performance across compressor stages.
Implementation Method 1
an impeller (62) that is rotated about a main shaft (4), and a return channel (63) including a return vane (64) for guiding a main stream of a fluid to be compressed by the impeller (62) from an outer side of the main shaft (4) in a radial direction toward an inner side in the radial direction
Implementation Method 2
the main stream and the injected stream are merged after these streams are sufficiently decelerated by the return vanes, and the velocities and the directions of the streams in the merging section are matched
Data Source
AI summary
A centrifugal compressor includes an impeller, a return channel including a return vane for guiding a main stream of a fluid to be compressed by the impeller from an outer side of a main shaft of the impeller in a radial direction toward an inner side, stages of compressor units connected to a downstream side of the return channel and including a first bent channel for changing the main stream to a direction along the main shaft, and an intermediate suction channel connected to the return channel in at least one of the compressor units to merge a suctioned fluid to the main stream. The intermediate suction channel includes a chamber having a scroll shape and passing the suctioned fluid therethrough, and an inlet guide vane for guiding the suctioned fluid. The inlet guide vane is integrated with the return vane in the connected return channel.