Inlet Guide Vane Geometry for Low-Pressure-Loss Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inlet guide vanes in turbo compressors face challenges in manufacturing precision due to curved surface formation difficulties and high pressure loss, especially when molded as cast products, leading to performance deterioration and increased manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
The inlet guide vane design features a tapered portion with approaching side surfaces and a parallel portion, allowing for precise machining and reduced pressure loss, enabling adjustment of suction volume and flow direction without disturbing fluid flow, while facilitating easy reference setting and cost-effective manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the vane body is formed with curved surfaces (aerofoil shape) to reduce pressure loss, then the pressure loss is reduced and flow is not disturbed, but it is difficult to manufacture with high precision due to casting limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the vane body from curved surfaces to planar surfaces. Specifically, the side surface on the positive pressure side and the side surface on the negative pressure side are both formed as planar surfaces, which can be precisely manufactured by casting while still achieving the function of guiding fluid flow and reducing pressure loss.
2Ease of operation
If the vane body is formed with curved surfaces (aerofoil shape), then the suction volume and flow direction can be adjusted without disturbing flow, but reference setting becomes difficult during shaft machining
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the surface geometry from curved to planar, making the side surfaces flat and easy to reference during machining operations. The planar surfaces provide stable reference planes for setting the shaft orientation while maintaining the ability to adjust suction volume and flow direction through rotation.
3Ease of manufacture
If the vane body is formed as a flat plate with constant thickness, then manufacturing is easy, but the flow of refrigerant is disturbed and pressure loss becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the thickness parameter of the vane body by forming it with non-constant thickness. The side surfaces are formed as planar surfaces that are not parallel to each other, creating a varying thickness profile that guides the fluid flow smoothly and reduces pressure loss while remaining manufacturable by casting.
Data Source
AI summary
An inlet guide vane is installed at a suction port into which a fluid is sucked by the rotation of an impeller so as to be rotatable about an axis, and is comprised of a rod-like shaft supported by an inner peripheral surface of the suction port so as to be rotatable about the axis, and a plate-like vane body connected to the shaft and provided so as to protrude from the inner peripheral surface of the suction port. The vane body includes a tapered portion formed such that both side surfaces approach each other toward an outer edge of the vane body in its width direction and an outer edge thereof at a tip in the direction of the axis, and a parallel portion arranged on the axis and formed such that both the side surfaces are parallel to each other along the direction of the axis.