Rotating Plate Inlet Guide Vane for Centrifugal Compressor Flow Control

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing inlet guide vanes in centrifugal compressors, typically formed in a blade shape, require significant time and cost for processing, and do not effectively simplify the air inflow process.

Innovation Solution

A plate-shaped inlet guide vane with a rotation portion that rotates a bent portion inclined relative to other parts, allowing for adjustable opening degrees by rotating the plate portion around a radial axis, simplifying the shape and reducing processing complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the inlet guide vane is formed in a blade shape to reduce turbulence, then the fluid flow is improved, but the processing time and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid flow qualityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The inlet guide vane is divided into two functional parts: a simple plate-shaped main body for flow regulation and a localized bent portion at the leading edge for turbulence reduction. This segmentation allows the majority of the structure to remain simple while adding complexity only where aerodynamic performance is critical.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bent portion is applied locally at the leading edge of the plate-shaped vane rather than forming the entire vane as a complex blade. This localized application of the bent shape provides turbulence reduction benefits while keeping the overall structure simple and easy to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the inlet guide vane is formed in a blade shape to reduce turbulence, then the fluid flow is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid flow qualityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The inlet guide vane is divided into two functional parts: a simple plate-shaped main body for flow regulation and a localized bent portion at the leading edge for turbulence reduction. This segmentation allows the majority of the structure to remain simple while adding complexity only where aerodynamic performance is critical.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bent portion is applied locally at the leading edge of the plate-shaped vane rather than forming the entire vane as a complex blade. This localized application of the bent shape provides turbulence reduction benefits while keeping the overall structure simple and easy to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If a plate-shaped structure is used instead of a blade shape, then manufacturing is simplified, but turbulence reduction capability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshape complexityVSAvoidturbulence reduction

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The bent portion is applied locally at the leading edge of the plate-shaped vane rather than forming the entire vane as a complex blade. This localized application of the bent shape provides turbulence reduction benefits while keeping the overall structure simple and easy to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The bent portion at the leading edge pre-condition the airflow before it encounters the main plate-shaped body of the vane. This preliminary action smooths the flow at the critical leading edge region where turbulence is most likely to initiate, allowing the rest of the simple plate structure to function effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 design simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces losses, and effectively adjusts air inflow by varying the opening degree, enhancing the efficiency of the centrifugal compressor.

Implementation Method 1

a centrifugal compressor is used. In the centrifugal compressor, kinetic energy is applied to a fluid by a rotation of as impeller, and an increase in pressure is obtained by a centrifugal force by blowing the fluid to the outside in a radial direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentUS10544800B2Inlet guide vane and centrifugal compressor

Publication Date: 2020.01.28 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND THERMAL SYST

AI summary

Provided are an inlet guide vane and a centrifugal compressor such that air can be caused to efficiently flow in with use of a simple shape. The inlet guide vane is disposed upstream of an impeller in a flow path of a centrifugal compressor. The inlet guide vane has: a plate-shaped plate section that is disposed in the flow path; and a rotation part that causes the plate section to rotate along an axis of rotation aligned with the radial direction of a rotary shaft of the centrifugal compressor. In a cross-section orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the rotation part, the plate section has, at the leading edge thereof on the upstream side of the flow path, a bent part that is tilted with respect to the other portions.