Centrifugal Compressor Impeller Splitter Blade Vortex Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional centrifugal compressor impellers with splitter blades face inefficiencies due to interference from leakage vortices, leading to uneven flow distribution and increased losses, especially in open-type impellers with tip clearance, which complicates fluid flow and hinders high pressure ratio and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The impeller design minimizes the distance between the leading edge of the rear full blade and the front full blade, with the splitter blade's leading edge inclined 5 to 8 degrees towards the front full blade, placing it downstream of the leakage vortex line to avoid interference and maintain even flow distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the leading edge blade angle of the splitter blade is increased to make the throat areas equal, then the throat area equality is improved, but flow separation occurs and flow distribution becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different blade angles at different locations of the splitter blade. Specifically, the blade angle at the leading edge (α1) is set to 10-20 degrees, while the blade angle at the trailing edge (α2) is set to 5-15 degrees. This local differentiation allows the leading edge to effectively equalize throat areas while the trailing edge maintains stable flow distribution, preventing flow separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the blade angle parameters of the splitter blade from a uniform design to a differentiated design. By setting the leading edge blade angle (α1) to 10-20 degrees and the trailing edge blade angle (α2) to 5-15 degrees, the invention optimizes both throat area equality and flow distribution uniformity simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between these two parameters.
2Ease of manufacture
If the splitter blade geometry is formed by simply cutting off the upstream side of the full blade, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but leakage vortex interference occurs and efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different blade angles at different locations of the splitter blade. Specifically, the blade angle at the leading edge (α1) is set to 10-20 degrees, while the blade angle at the trailing edge (α2) is set to 5-15 degrees. This local differentiation allows the leading edge to effectively equalize throat areas while the trailing edge maintains stable flow distribution, preventing flow separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the blade angle parameters of the splitter blade from a uniform design to a differentiated design. By setting the leading edge blade angle (α1) to 10-20 degrees and the trailing edge blade angle (α2) to 5-15 degrees, the invention optimizes both throat area equality and flow distribution uniformity simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between these two parameters.
3Power
If the leading edge of the splitter blade is placed upstream, then the blade loading is improved, but interference with leakage vortex increases and flow separation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different blade angles at different locations of the splitter blade. Specifically, the blade angle at the leading edge (α1) is set to 10-20 degrees, while the blade angle at the trailing edge (α2) is set to 5-15 degrees. This local differentiation allows the leading edge to effectively equalize throat areas while the trailing edge maintains stable flow distribution, preventing flow separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the blade angle parameters of the splitter blade from a uniform design to a differentiated design. By setting the leading edge blade angle (α1) to 10-20 degrees and the trailing edge blade angle (α2) to 5-15 degrees, the invention optimizes both throat area equality and flow distribution uniformity simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between these two parameters.
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 effectively prevents leakage vortex interference, enhancing impeller efficiency and achieving a high pressure ratio by ensuring even flow rates and reducing losses.
Implementation Method 1
the leading edge of the splitter blade is placed in a fluid flow streaming along the flow passage the full blades, on the downstream side of a leakage vortex line formed to connect the middle location of the throat to the leading edge of the front side full blade
Implementation Method 2
the fluid is discharged toward the outside in the radial direction and obtains pressure increase via centrifugal force
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Providing an impeller of a centrifugal compressor wherein the interference of the leakage vortex flow generated at the tip end side of the full blade with the leading edge of the splitter blade can be evaded and the high pressure ratio and the enhanced efficiency can be achieved. An impeller wherein a throat SR is formed so that a distance from a leading edge 5a of a rear side full blade 5R located on the rear side of the rotation direction of the compressor to a front side full blade 5F adjacent to the rear side full blade 5R and located on the front side of the rotation direction is minimized, and the leading edge of the splitter blade is placed in a fluid flow streaming along the flow passage between the mutually adjacent full blades, on the downstream side of a leakage vortex line WL formed to connect the middle location P of the throat to the leading edge 7a of the front side full blade 7.