Radial Compressor Diffuser With Asymmetric Guide Vanes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern turbochargers face resonance vibrations due to the geometrically regular design of compressor rotors and diffuser guide vanes, leading to mechanical damage from high cycle fatigue, as they attempt to balance aerodynamic performance, mechanical utilization, and noise generation.

Innovation Solution

The diffuser guide vanes are positioned with varying angular distances relative to an asymmetrically designed spiral casing, allowing for irregular distribution and alignment with the spiral housing to minimize resonance vibrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the diffuser guide vanes are arranged with regular angular spacing to simplify manufacturing and maintain geometric symmetry, then manufacturing precision and ease of manufacture are improved, but resonance vibrations occur due to excitation of natural modes by the pressure potential field, worsening reliability and mechanical strength

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidreliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by deliberately arranging diffuser guide vanes with non-uniform angular spacing around the circumference. This asymmetric configuration breaks the geometric symmetry that causes resonant vibrations, thereby reducing the excitation of natural modes in the compressor impeller blades while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through precise but varied positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by varying the angular spacing of individual guide vanes according to specific design criteria. Rather than applying a uniform spacing pattern, each guide vane pair is positioned with locally optimized angular distances to minimize resonance vibrations in critical areas while maintaining overall flow symmetry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the diffuser guide vanes are arranged with irregular angular spacing to reduce resonance vibrations and improve reliability, then reliability and mechanical strength are improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase and ease of manufacture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidease of manufacture

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Productivity

If the compressor impeller blades are designed with long, thin geometry to increase specific air flow capacity, then productivity is improved, but the natural modes occur at low frequencies and are easily excited into vibration, worsening reliability and mechanical strength

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespecific air flow capacityVSAvoidreliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful resonant vibration problem into a beneficial solution by using the pressure potential field from asymmetrically spaced guide vanes to actively reduce vibrations. The asymmetric arrangement creates a pressure distribution that counteracts the excitation of natural modes in the long, thin impeller blades, transforming the potential harm of blade geometry into a controlled vibration reduction mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentEP2165080B1Diffuser for radial compressors

Publication Date: 2016.04.13 ABB TURBO SYST

Figure 1~4
Figure 2~3

AI summary

Since the angular intervals between two guide vanes (21), which are arranged adjacent, in the diffuser vary along the circumference, the resonant oscillation of the compressor can be reduced.