Impeller Blade with Reversible Backbone for Adaptive Profile
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing impellers for turbomachines, such as fans and pumps, lack adaptability to varying operating conditions, requiring multiple units for different media and directions, which increases complexity and reduces efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A blade design for radial flow impellers featuring a reversibly elastically deformable lamella with a backbone that allows for lateral-torsional buckling, enabling the blade to adjust its profile between flat, negative, and positive configurations, improving adaptability under different conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different fans or pumps are provided for conveying different media and/or in different conveying directions, then the adaptability to different operating conditions is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is designed with a movable backbone that can be dynamically adjusted between different positions (first position for air conveyance, second position for liquid conveyance). This dynamic reconfiguration allows a single blade to adapt its profile based on the conveyed medium, eliminating the need for multiple different fans or pumps while maintaining high adaptability to different operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade is designed as a universal component that can perform multiple functions by changing its configuration. Through the movable backbone mechanism, the same blade can convey both air and liquids, and can be oriented for different conveying directions. This multi-functionality replaces the need for multiple specialized fans or pumps, reducing device complexity while maintaining versatility.
2Ease of manufacture
If the blade profile is fixed, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the adaptability to different operating conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is segmented into two functional components: a fixed lamella portion that maintains manufacturing simplicity, and a movable backbone portion that enables adaptability. The backbone is divided into a first portion (fixed to the impeller) and a second portion (movable relative to the first), allowing the blade profile to be adjusted without complicating the overall manufacturing process. This segmentation preserves ease of manufacture while achieving adaptability.
3Strength
If the backbone is made very stiff to maintain structural integrity, then the strength is improved, but the reversibility of deformation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The backbone is designed with non-uniform stiffness distribution along its length. The first portion (fixed to the impeller) has higher stiffness to ensure structural integrity and proper mounting, while the second portion (movable portion) has lower stiffness to enable reversible deformation. This local differentiation of mechanical properties allows the backbone to simultaneously maintain strength where needed and provide adaptability where required, resolving the contradiction between stiffness and reversibility.
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 blade's adjustable profile enhances performance by allowing it to adapt to different operating conditions, improving efficiency and versatility in handling various media and flow directions, reducing the need for multiple units.
Implementation Method 1
moving the first end and the second end of the backbone towards each other causes a lateral-torsional buckling of the blade resulting in a modified profile of the blade
Implementation Method 2
the blade comprises a lamella, which lamella is at least partly reversibly elastically deformable
Implementation Method 3
the lateral deflection of the backbone causes a lateral deformation of the lamella and a flap motion of the lamella about an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a blade for an impeller, in particular for a radial flow impeller, comprising a lamella (20), which is at least partly reversibly elastically deformable, and a backbone (21) extending in a longitudinal direction (L), which backbone (21) is mounted to or formed integrally with a side (200, 201, 202, 203) of the lamella (20), wherein the backbone (21) has a first end (211) and a second end (212), which first end (211) and second end (212) are reversibly displaceable in the longitudinal direction (L) towards each other under a lateral deflection of the backbone (21), wherein the lamella (20) is configured such that the lateral deflection of the backbone (21) causes a lateral deformation of the lamella (20) and a flap motion of the lamella (20) about an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction (L).The invention further relates to impellers, in particular radial flow impellers, comprising several blades, and to turbomachines having an impeller, in particular axial or centrifugal fans or axial or centrifugal pumps. In addition, the invention relates to a household appliance comprising a turbomachine having an impeller.