Impeller Shroud Assembly With Spring-Loaded Gap Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotary devices face challenges in curbing the expansion of gaps between the radially-outermost part of an impeller and a shroud, leading to efficiency decreases.
Innovation Solution
A rotary device configuration featuring a shroud piece discrete from the housing body, pressed by an elastic body such as a disc spring, which maintains contact with the vanes to prevent gap expansion and thermal deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the shroud is integrated with the housing body as a single piece, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the ability to curb gap expansion between the impeller and shroud deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The shroud is divided into a shroud piece that is discrete from the housing body. This segmentation allows the shroud piece to be independently positioned and pressed by the elastic body, enabling effective gap control while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through separate component fabrication and assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
An elastic body is introduced as an intermediary element between the housing body and the shroud piece. This intermediary provides continuous pressing force to maintain the shroud piece's position, effectively curbing gap expansion while allowing for thermal deformation accommodation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the shroud is fixed rigidly to the housing body, then structural stability is improved, but the ability to accommodate thermal deformation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the housing body and shroud piece is made dynamic through the elastic body. The elastic body provides continuous pressing force while allowing relative movement and deformation, enabling the shroud piece to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction without compromising structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic body's pressing force parameter is utilized to maintain optimal contact between the shroud piece and impeller while accommodating changes in thermal state. The elastic deformation of the spring allows the system to adapt to temperature variations without losing structural integrity.
3Reliability
If a discrete shroud piece is used with elastic body pressing, then gap expansion control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic body, particularly when implemented as a disc spring or similar flexible element, provides the necessary pressing force through its elastic deformation. This flexible element simplifies the overall structure compared to rigid mechanical pressing systems while effectively controlling gap expansion between the impeller and shroud.
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 configuration effectively curbs gap expansion and thermal deformation, maintaining efficiency by pressing the shroud piece and vanes against the housing, thereby reducing fluid leakage and local distortion.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic body that is arranged between the housing body and the shroud piece and that presses the shroud piece and the vanes toward the surface
Implementation Method 2
The elastic body may include a disc spring that is arranged around a central axis of the impeller
Data Source
AI summary
A rotary device includes an impeller, a plurality of vanes that is located radially outside the impeller and that is arranged along a circumferential direction, a housing body that encloses the impeller, a shroud piece that is discrete from the housing body, the shroud piece including at least a part of a shroud that faces blade surfaces of the impeller and being in contact with or fixed to at least a part of each of the plurality of vanes, a surface that faces the shroud piece across the plurality of vanes, and an elastic body that is arranged between the housing body and the shroud piece and that presses the shroud piece and the plurality of vanes toward the surface.