Centrifugal Compressor Vane Adjustment Without Disassembly

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional centrifugal compressors require time-consuming and expensive adjustments to achieve optimized performance at off-design operating conditions, necessitating disassembly and manual adjustments of stationary components like inlet, diffuser, and return vanes.

Innovation Solution

A centrifugal compressor performance adjustment system that includes actuator pods and annular actuation members to pivotally couple with inlet, diffuser, and return vanes, allowing for adjustments without disassembly, using actuator rods and translation rods to rotate annular vane actuation members and change vane angles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional adjustment methods are used to optimize compressor performance at off-design operating conditions, then performance optimization is achieved, but the process requires disassembly, fabrication of new components, and manual adjustments which are very time-consuming and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompressor performance optimizationVSAvoidadjustment time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the previously stationary vanes (inlet guide vanes, diffuser vanes, return channel vanes) adjustable and movable. The vane adjustment mechanism allows these components to change their angular positions dynamically, enabling performance optimization for different operating conditions without requiring physical disassembly or fabrication of new components. This transforms the static compressor into a dynamically adjustable system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements self-service through the automated vane adjustment mechanism that can be controlled without manual intervention. The system includes actuators and control systems that automatically adjust the vane angles based on desired operating conditions, eliminating the need for manual disassembly, component fabrication, and manual adjustment operations that characterized conventional methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If conventional adjustment methods are used to optimize compressor performance at off-design operating conditions, then performance optimization is achieved, but the process requires disassembly and fabrication of new components which are very expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompressor performance optimizationVSAvoidadjustment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the previously stationary vanes (inlet guide vanes, diffuser vanes, return channel vanes) adjustable and movable. The vane adjustment mechanism allows these components to change their angular positions dynamically, enabling performance optimization for different operating conditions without requiring physical disassembly or fabrication of new components. This transforms the static compressor into a dynamically adjustable system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements self-service through the automated vane adjustment mechanism that can be controlled without manual intervention. The system includes actuators and control systems that automatically adjust the vane angles based on desired operating conditions, eliminating the need for manual disassembly, component fabrication, and manual adjustment operations that characterized conventional methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If stationary vane components are used in the compressor, then the compressor structure is simple, but the compressor cannot be adjusted for different operating conditions without disassembly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompressor structureVSAvoidoperating condition adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the previously stationary vanes (inlet guide vanes, diffuser vanes, return channel vanes) adjustable and movable. The vane adjustment mechanism allows these components to change their angular positions dynamically, enabling performance optimization for different operating conditions without requiring physical disassembly or fabrication of new components. This transforms the static compressor into a dynamically adjustable system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements universality by designing a multi-functional adjustment system that can optimize the compressor for multiple different operating conditions. The adjustable vane mechanism allows the same compressor hardware to serve multiple performance requirements, making the system versatile across different operating scenarios without needing separate specialized components for each condition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2510244B1Compressor performance adjustment system

Publication Date: 2021.01.27 DRESSER RAND CO

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AI summary

A compressor performance adjustment system includes a compressor chassis defining an inlet passageway, a diffuser passageway coupled to the inlet passageway, and a return passageway extending from the diffuser passageway. At least one inlet vane is located in the inlet passageway. At least one diffuser vane is located in the diffuser passageway. At least one return vane is moveably coupled to the compressor chassis and located in the return passageway. Via a system of rods and actuators, the return vanes may be adjusted without disassembling the compressor chassis in order to adjust the flow incident on compressor components and adjust the performance of a compressor.