Polymer Compressor Wheel Curved Front Reinforcing Ribs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Compressor wheels for internal combustion engines and turbochargers face challenges with high mass due to metallic materials, leading to high drive torque and fatigue strength issues, especially at high speeds, while plastic alternatives lack sufficient strength and are prone to deformation and instability at high temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A compressor wheel design featuring a polymer material with a curved wheel front, a protruding wheel hub on the back, and reinforcing ribs that increase in distance from the outer circumference to the hub, providing uniform wall thickness and stability, along with a concentric ring for additional reinforcement, to absorb centrifugal forces and maintain structural integrity at high speeds and temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If metallic materials are used for compressor wheels, then high temperature and high speed operation is possible, but mass and drive torque increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters by using polymer materials instead of metals, and optimizes the geometric parameters through specific curvature designs and rib structures to achieve high-temperature operation with reduced mass
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite structural design combining polymer base material with reinforcing ribs and specific geometric features to achieve properties that neither material alone could provide, enabling high-temperature resistance with low mass
2Weight of moving object
If plastic materials are used to reduce mass, then drive torque decreases, but fatigue strength and stability at high speeds are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local reinforcement through ribs positioned at specific locations on the compressor wheel, providing enhanced strength where needed while maintaining low overall mass
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses curved surfaces and specific geometric shapes to distribute stresses more evenly throughout the polymer structure, improving fatigue resistance without adding mass
3Manufacturing precision
If uniform wall thickness is maintained in plastic compressor wheels, then manufacturing accuracy improves, but structural reinforcement becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wheel structure into segments separated by reinforcing ribs, allowing each segment to maintain uniform thickness for accurate manufacturing while the rib structures provide the necessary reinforcement
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 achieves stable and long-lasting operation at high speeds and temperatures, reducing deformation and maintaining efficiency with minimal gap currents, while avoiding manufacturing-related weaknesses and dimensional inaccuracies, thus enhancing the compressor wheel's fatigue strength and reducing the risk of collision with the housing.
Implementation Method 1
the very high bending stresses throughout the entire component caused by the centrifugal forces occurring at high speeds of up to 250,000 rpm
Implementation Method 2
the polymer cannot absorb the force evenly
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a compressor wheel for a high-speed compressor, said compressor wheel being made of a polymer material and comprising a wheel front face (6), a wheel rear face (11), and a wheel hub (3). The wheel front face (6) has a curvature, by means of which the distance between a plane running radially through the outer circumference (15) of the wheel front face (6) and the surface of the wheel front face (6) increases from the outer circumference (15) to the wheel hub (3), and guide vanes (7) are arranged on the wheel front face (6). The wheel hub (3) protrudes in an axial direction on the wheel front face (11), and reinforcing ribs (13) run from the wheel hub (3) to the outer circumference (15). The distance between a plane running radially through the outer circumference (15) of the wheel front face (11) and the terminating edge (19) of the reinforcing ribs (13) increases from the outer circumference (15) of the wheel rear face (11) to the wheel hub (3). The invention further relates to a use of the compressor wheel.