Slanted Pipe Diffuser Centrifugal Compressor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Centrifugal compressors with pipe diffusers face inefficiencies due to distortions in the transition region caused by conventional fabrication techniques, leading to irregular surfaces and reduced operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The compressor design features pipes with axes slanted at an angle relative to the orthogonal plane, allowing the honing tool to pass without contacting the shroud, thus avoiding tool marks and maintaining a consistent transition region shape aligned with mathematical modeling, and incorporating a separate backplate to prevent indentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional fabrication techniques (drilling and honing) are used to produce pipe diffusers, then manufacturing cost is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but tool marks and indentations are created in the transition region, worsening manufacturing precision and operational efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by slanting the pipe axes at a specific angle relative to the orthogonal plane of the wheel outlet. This asymmetric configuration allows the honing tool to access and finish the pipe internal surfaces without contacting or marking the shroud and backplane, thereby maintaining manufacturing precision while preserving the cost advantages of conventional fabrication techniques
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimensional parameter by slanting the pipes at an angle A rather than having them perpendicular to the wheel outlet plane. This dimensional change enables the honing tool to pass through the pipes without creating tool marks on the surrounding surfaces, resolving the conflict between ease of manufacture and manufacturing precision
2Manufacturing precision
If the honing tool projects beyond the pipe inlet to complete shaping, then manufacturing precision of the pipe is improved, but tool marks and indentations are created in the shroud and backplane, worsening the transition region quality
Solution Approach 1:
By slanting the pipes at an angle, the patent creates an asymmetric geometry that allows the honing tool to exit the pipe in a direction that avoids contact with the shroud and backplane. This eliminates the harmful tool marks while maintaining adequate pipe shaping precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of tool marks into a benefit by using the slanted pipe configuration to redirect the honing tool's path. The same tool that could create harmful marks is instead guided to exit cleanly, transforming a potential defect into a quality feature
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 ensures a smooth gas flow transition with minimal turbulence, maintaining high efficiency while allowing for low-cost fabrication, as the transition region remains undistorted and the compressor is produced without increased part count or cost.
Implementation Method 1
Rotation of the wheel 12 may accelerate the gas 20 along the blades 12-2 and drive the gas 20 toward the diffuser 14
Implementation Method 2
the gas may enter a diffuser in which its velocity may be decreased and its static pressure may be increased
Implementation Method 3
Passage of the gas through the pipes 18 may result in an increase in static pressure of the gas 20
Data Source
AI summary
A centrifugal compressor may comprise a wheel and a pipe diffuser. The pipe diffuser may comprise an annular pipe diffuser section and at least one cylindrical hole passing through the annular pipe diffuser section for compressing gas emerging from the wheel. The at least one cylindrical hole may have an axis that is slanted at an angle A relative to a plane that is orthogonal to an axis of rotation of the compressor.