Internally-Cooled Compressor Diaphragm for Integrated Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multistage compressors require external intercoolers to maintain process fluid temperature, increasing size, complexity, and maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
An internally-cooled diaphragm for compressors that integrates a cooling pathway within the diaphragm structure, using stacked annular plates to absorb heat from the process fluid, reducing the need for external heat exchangers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If external intercoolers are used to maintain process fluid temperature, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling function is merged with the diaphragm structure itself. The diaphragm incorporates internal cooling channels that allow coolant to flow through, directly removing heat from the process fluid during compression. This integration eliminates the need for separate external intercoolers and associated piping, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling channels are nested within the diaphragm structure. The diaphragm contains internal passages that route coolant through the compression chamber, allowing heat exchange to occur within the existing component geometry. This nesting approach provides cooling functionality without adding external components or increasing overall device size.
2Temperature
If external intercoolers are used to maintain process fluid temperature, then temperature control is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the cooling function into the diaphragm structure, the number of separate components is reduced. This merging eliminates the need for manufacturing multiple discrete parts (external intercoolers, piping, mounting hardware) and reduces assembly operations, thereby lowering overall manufacturing cost while maintaining temperature control capability.
3Temperature
If external intercoolers are used to maintain process fluid temperature, then temperature control is improved, but maintenance cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of cooling channels within the diaphragm reduces the number of external components that require maintenance. With fewer separate parts (no external intercoolers or piping to service), the system has fewer potential failure points and requires less frequent maintenance intervention, thereby reducing maintenance costs while maintaining temperature control.
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 internally-cooled diaphragm effectively maintains process fluid temperature without external intercoolers, simplifying the compressor design and reducing overall costs and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling fluid is directed to and through the cooling pathway 140 of the internally-cooled diaphragm 102 to at least partially absorb the heat from the process fluid flowing through the fluid pathway 120
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
An internally-cooled diaphragm for an internally-cooled compressor is provided. The internally-cooled diaphragm may include an annular body configured to cool a process fluid flowing through a fluid pathway of the internally-cooled compressor. The annular body may define a return channel of the fluid pathway, and a cooling pathway in thermal communication with the fluid pathway. The return channel may be configured to at least partially diffuse and de-swirl the process fluid flowing therethrough, and the cooling pathway may be configured to receive a coolant to absorb heat from the process fluid flowing through the return channel.