Ported Compressor Impeller With Partial Sweep to Reduce Pressure Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines experience efficiency losses due to flow separation and pressure loss at the leading edge of impellers, particularly in radial compressors, which affects the overall performance of the compressor and downstream components.
Innovation Solution
A ported compressor with a partially swept leading edge is introduced, featuring an impeller blade design that extends in a streamwise direction from the leading edge to the trailing edge, with a sweep that reduces material at the tip, improving airflow management and reducing flow separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a radial compressor impeller uses a conventional leading edge design, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but flow separation occurs along the impeller leading edge causing pressure loss and reduced efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The leading edge of the impeller blade is designed with a curved profile that provides different geometric properties at different locations. The curvature radius varies along the span from hub to tip, creating locally optimized flow characteristics that prevent flow separation while maintaining overall structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The leading edge is designed with a curved, spherical-like profile instead of a sharp or flat edge. This curvature distributes the flow more evenly across the blade surface, reducing flow separation and pressure loss while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through established curving techniques
2Productivity
If the impeller blade has a fully swept leading edge design, then flow separation is reduced and efficiency is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and material requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of implementing a full sweep across the entire leading edge span, the invention applies a partial sweep that is sufficient to achieve the desired flow control and efficiency improvement. The curved leading edge profile is applied selectively in the regions where it provides the most benefit, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining productivity gains
Solution Approach 2:
The leading edge geometry is modified by changing the curvature radius parameter along the span. By adjusting this parameter to create a gradual curve rather than a sharp sweep, the design achieves improved flow characteristics and compressor efficiency while remaining within standard manufacturing capabilities
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 partially swept leading edge enhances compressor efficiency by 0.4-0.8%, improves stall margin by 1-7%, and increases total pressure ratio by 1%, while reducing diffusion losses and improving choke flow capacity by 1-2%.
Implementation Method 1
The leading edge of the impeller experiences axial entry of a high flow velocity fluid, which may lead to flow separation along the impeller. The flow separation may result in pressure loss.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1A
Figure 2
AI summary
A compressor section (120) for a gas turbine engine includes an inlet duct (210), a port plenum (212), and an impeller (204). The port plenum has a port inlet (240) and a port outlet. (242). The port inlet is in fluid communication with the inlet duct. The impeller includes a hub (254), a shroud (256), and an impeller blade (258). The impeller blade extends for a span that is 0% at the hub and 100% at a tip. The impeller blade has a partially swept leading edge (206) and extends in a streamwise direction from the partially swept leading edge to a trailing edge (260). The partially swept leading edge of the impeller blade is in fluid communication with the inlet duct. The port outlet is defined through the shroud. The partially swept leading edge extends in the streamwise direction at the tip upstream of the port outlet for a distance.