Side-Channel Compressor Outer Delimitation Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing side-channel compressors for fuel cell systems suffer from unfavorable flow conditions and increased friction between the gaseous medium and the housing, leading to reduced conveying pressure and efficiency, as well as increased temperature and noise pollution.
Innovation Solution
The side-channel compressor design features a compressor wheel with an encircling outer delimitation ring that prevents radial flow and contact with the housing, along with V-shaped blades and chamfers to improve flow directionality and reduce friction, and an encapsulated separation chamber to discharge heavy components, enhancing the efficiency and reliability of the compressor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the compressor wheel rotates in the housing without an outer delimitation ring, then the structure is simpler, but the gaseous medium contacts the housing causing increased friction and reduced flow rate
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor wheel is segmented from the housing by introducing an outer delimitation ring that encircles the compressor wheel. This segmentation creates a distinct boundary between the rotating compressor wheel and the stationary housing, preventing direct contact between the gaseous medium and the housing surface, thereby reducing friction and maintaining optimal flow rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer delimitation ring acts as an intermediary element between the compressor wheel and the housing. It serves as a barrier that prevents the gaseous medium from contacting the housing, eliminating the harmful friction effect while allowing the compressor wheel to rotate freely within the housing.
2Device complexity
If the gaseous medium flows radially outward to the housing, then the compression process is simpler, but friction increases and temperature rises reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The outer delimitation ring segments the compression chamber from the housing, creating a controlled flow path for the gaseous medium. This segmentation prevents radial outward flow to the housing, eliminating friction-induced energy losses and temperature increases that would reduce compression efficiency.
3Ease of manufacture
If the blades have a planar contour running in the rotation axis direction, then manufacturing is easier, but unfavorable flow conditions reduce conveying pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The blade contour is changed from a planar shape to a curved shape that is optimized for fluid flow. The curved blade contour creates more favorable flow conditions for the gaseous medium, improving conveying pressure and compression efficiency while remaining manufacturable.
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 maintains optimal flow rates and pressures, reduces energy consumption, minimizes noise, and increases the efficiency and reliability of the fuel cell system by preventing undesirable friction and temperature increases, while also eliminating the need for purge valves and reducing hydrogen consumption.
Implementation Method 1
The flow rate of the gaseous medium is reduced by virtue of the increased friction between the gaseous medium and the housing, in particular in a radial manner to the rotation axis, and the temperature of the gaseous medium can increase on account of said friction, this in turn counteracting an optimal compression. This effect furthermore leads to a reduced conveying pressure and to a reduced efficiency factor.
Implementation Method 2
The surface of the stationary housing herein can cause a deceleration of the flow of the gaseous medium, in particular of the circulating flow, and increased friction arises between the housing and the gaseous medium, in particular in a gaseous medium which in a radial manner to the rotation axis flows outward from the compressor wheel.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a side-channel compressor (1) for a fuel cell system (37) for conveying and/or compressing a gas, particularly hydrogen, comprising a housing (3), the housing (3) comprising a housing upper part (7) and a housing lower part (8), a compressor chamber (30) located in the housing (3), comprising at least one peripheral side channel (19), a compressor wheel (2) arranged in the housing (3), which is rotatably arranged about an axis of rotation (4), the compressor wheel (2) comprising blades (5) arranged on the periphery thereof in the region of the compressor chamber (30), and respectively a gas inlet (14) embodied in the housing and a gas outlet (16) which are fluidically interconnected by means of the compressor chamber (30), particularly the at least one side channel (19). According to the invention, the compressor wheel (2) comprises a peripheral stop ring (11) on the periphery thereof, which extends around the compressor wheel (2) in a rotationally symmetric manner in relation to the axis of rotation (4).