Geared Compressor Layout for Intermediate Gear Vibration Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Geared compressors experience destabilizing vibration in intermediate gears due to uneven loads and sizes of impellers connected to driven gears, leading to instability and vibration issues.
Innovation Solution
The compressor design includes a specific configuration where the drive axis is positioned below the intermediate and driven axes, with the first impeller having a larger outer diameter than subsequent impellers, and an offset angle between the drive and intermediate gears to maintain a stable eccentric state, reducing transmission torque and suppressing vibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If two intermediate gears mesh with the drive gear at positions separated from each other, then the compression sections can be arranged with different impeller sizes, but the intermediate gear becomes unstable and experiences destabilizing vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetric positioning of the drive axis relative to the intermediate gear axes. Specifically, the drive axis is offset from the horizontal line connecting the intermediate gear axes, creating an asymmetric load distribution that stabilizes the intermediate gears while allowing different impeller sizes on either side of the compressor.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the upward load and weight of the intermediate gear are balanced, then the structure appears stable, but the intermediate gear becomes unstable at high rotation speeds due to balanced pressure loads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the asymmetric drive axis positioning to create a counterbalancing effect. The offset position creates unequal pressure loads on the intermediate gear that act as a stabilizing counterweight effect, preventing the gear from becoming unstable during high-speed rotation even when the vertical loads are balanced.
3Productivity
If impellers of different sizes are used on driven gears, then compression efficiency can be optimized for different stages, but vibration of the intermediate gear becomes significant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the problem from a two-dimensional plane (horizontal arrangement of gears) to three-dimensional space by offsetting the drive axis vertically from the horizontal line connecting intermediate gear axes. This dimensional change allows different impeller sizes while maintaining intermediate gear stability through asymmetric load distribution.
Data Source
AI summary
A geared compressor includes a drive gear, a first intermediate gear, a second intermediate gear, a first impeller and a second impeller connected to a first driven gear, and a third impeller and a fourth impeller connected to a second driven gear. When viewed from an axial direction, a drive axis of the drive gear is disposed below a first intermediate axis of the first intermediate gear, a second intermediate axis of the second intermediate gear, a first driven axis of the first driven gear, and a second driven axis of the second driven gear in a vertical direction. The first impeller has a larger outer diameter than the second impeller, the third impeller, and the fourth impeller.