Liquid Ring Compressor Housing Inner Wall Curvature Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid ring compressors have suboptimal efficiency due to their design, which affects their performance in fluid pumping and compression.

Innovation Solution

A liquid ring compressor with an annular housing and a rotatable impeller featuring a housing inner wall with specific curved sections and radii of curvature, optimizing the flow path for enhanced suction and compression, including an inlet and outlet device with strategically positioned outlet openings for improved fluid pressure and volume management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the housing inner wall has a simple circular shape with constant radius, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the suction volume and fluid pressure are insufficient leading to suboptimal efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveefficiencyVSAvoidhousing structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing inner wall is divided into multiple curved sections (first, second, third, fourth sections) with different radius of curvature characteristics. Each section serves a specific function: the first and third sections have constant radius equal to eccentricity, the second section has varying radius to increase suction volume, and the fourth section has varying radius to enhance fluid pressure. This segmentation allows optimization of different functional zones independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the housing inner wall have locally optimized geometric properties. The second section between inlet and eccentricity point has larger radius of curvature to expand suction volume, while the fourth section between eccentricity and outlet has smaller radius of curvature to increase fluid pressure. This local quality variation directly addresses the efficiency improvement goal without requiring complete redesign of the entire housing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If the outlet opening is positioned at the eccentricity point, then the compression process is optimized, but the fluid pressure and suction volume are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepumping capacityVSAvoidfluid pressure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The outlet opening is positioned not only at the eccentricity point in the radial dimension but also extended in the axial dimension. The outlet opening has a specific axial length that allows it to extend beyond the plane of the impeller blades. This dimensional extension creates a pressure buildup zone that enhances fluid pressure while maintaining the benefits of eccentricity-based compression timing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 design enhances fluid pressure at the outlet and increases the suction volume, leading to improved pumping capacity and efficiency by optimizing the flow path and pressure increase during the fluid compression process.

Implementation Method 1

an impeller (4), which is arranged inside the annular housing (2) and is mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation (4b) and in a direction of rotation (5)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

the volume of the liquid ring compressor in the area of the outlet opening is increasingly reduced in the direction of rotation, with the result that the fluid to be pumped by the liquid ring compressor experiences a pressure increase in the area of the outlet opening

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP2587065B1Liquid ring compressor
Publication Date: 2014.06.04 POMPETRAVAINI NSB AG
  • EP2587065B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2587065B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2587065B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The liquid ring compressor (1) has a ring housing (2) and a blade wheel (4) arranged inside the ring housing. The blade wheel has multiple blades that are mutually spaced in direction of rotation (5). The ring housing has an inner housing wall (3) that is oriented toward the blade wheel and that extends in the circumferential direction. The inner housing wall has three partial sections (3d,3e,3f), where the former and latter partial sections are curved with respect to an axis of rotation (4b). The latter partial section connects the former partial section to the third partial section. An outlet opening extends within a region between an eccentricity point (3h) and the third partial section in the direction of rotation.