Radial Compressor Injection Apparatus for Droplet Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current compressors, particularly radial compressors, face limitations in efficiency due to incomplete evaporation of injected liquids, leading to large droplet formation that can cause erosion and inefficient heat absorption, restricting further efficiency gains beyond 90%.
Innovation Solution
A radial compressor design incorporating an injection apparatus that adjusts the quantity of liquid, such as methanol or ethanol, based on temperature and humidity, to achieve precise evaporation within the compression process, reducing droplet size and enhancing heat absorption, and utilizing a cascading injection system with controlled spacing to optimize droplet formation and evaporation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If liquid is injected into the compressor gas flow to increase efficiency, then heat absorption and efficiency improve, but incomplete evaporation occurs leading to large droplet formation that causes erosion and reduces reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the injected liquid by using pre-heated liquid or liquid in a vaporizable state, and adjusts injection parameters such as injection location, injection pressure, and injection timing to optimize evaporation while preventing droplet formation that causes erosion
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid is pre-heated or prepared in a vaporizable state before injection into the compressor, so that upon contact with the gas flow, evaporation occurs immediately and completely, preventing the formation of large droplets that would cause erosion of compressor components
2Loss of energy
If liquid is injected to achieve isothermal compression, then efficiency increases, but the liquid may not evaporate completely in low speed regions leading to poor atomization and reduced heat absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the temperature parameter of the injected liquid by using pre-heated liquid or liquid at temperatures closer to the gas temperature, which accelerates evaporation and ensures complete vaporization even in low speed regions, thereby maintaining high heat absorption efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid is pre-heated or prepared in advance before injection, so that upon contact with the compressor gas flow, evaporation occurs immediately and completely, ensuring thorough heat absorption without leaving unevaporated liquid droplets
3Loss of energy
If water injection is used to cool the gas during compression, then efficiency increases by 1-2%, but the system complexity increases and requires additional injection apparatus and control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The injection apparatus is designed to handle multiple types of vaporizable liquids (water, alcohol, ether, etc.) and can operate in different modes (continuous injection, intermittent injection, pre-heating modes), making it a multi-functional system that achieves efficient cooling without requiring separate systems for different applications
Solution Approach 2:
The injection system incorporates dynamic control elements including adjustable injection timing, variable injection pressure, and controllable injection duration, allowing the system to adapt to different operating conditions and optimize efficiency while managing complexity through intelligent control rather than additional hardware
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
This approach increases compressor efficiency by up to 2% by ensuring effective evaporation and reducing flow losses, allowing for a more compact design without power penalties, with a potential 8% reduction in volume flow and 15% reduction in diffuser and helix losses.
Implementation Method 1
The water evaporates during the compression and continuously cools the gas, as in the comparison process of isothermal compression
Implementation Method 2
the water evaporates during the compression and continuously cools the gas
Implementation Method 3
The water evaporates during the compression and continuously cools the gas
Data Source
AI summary
A compressor having a rotor which extends along an axis of rotation, a housing, wherein the housing is arranged around the rotor, wherein the housing has an axial inflow and, downstream of the axial inflow, a first compression stage and, further downstream of the first compression stage, a radial outflow for a process fluid, the radial outflow leading through the housing, and an impeller which is arranged on the rotor, with an injection device for injecting a fluid into the axial inflow.