Suction Casing Radial Width Variation for Fluid Uniformity

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fluid machines face challenges in uniformly supplying fluid in the circumferential direction, leading to increased axial dimensions and vibration issues due to non-uniform fluid distribution.

Innovation Solution

A suction casing design with a narrower radial width in the circumferential direction and strategically placed partitioning blades guides the fluid closer to the inlet opening, preventing direct flow into the inlet and ensuring uniform distribution, allowing for a smaller axial dimension.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the chamber is made larger in the axial direction to ensure uniform fluid distribution, then the fluid uniformity in the circumferential direction is improved, but the axial dimension of the fluid machine increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid uniformityVSAvoidaxial dimension
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the design approach from axial dimension adjustment to radial width adjustment. By making the radial width of the chamber narrower in the circumferential direction from the joint portion, the patent achieves uniform fluid distribution without increasing the axial dimension, thus resolving the contradiction through dimensional substitution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by varying the radial width of the chamber at different circumferential positions. The radial width is made narrower from the joint portion toward the opposite side, creating localized geometric variations that guide fluid flow and ensure uniform distribution without requiring overall chamber enlargement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Length of moving object

If the radial width of the chamber is made narrower in the circumferential direction to reduce axial dimension, then the axial size is reduced, but it becomes difficult to ensure uniform fluid distribution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaxial dimensionVSAvoidfluid uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes axial dimension adjustment with radial width adjustment. By controlling the radial width variation in the circumferential direction, the invention achieves compact axial dimensions while maintaining uniform fluid distribution through carefully designed radial geometry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates partitioning blades in advance within the chamber to pre-guide the fluid flow before it reaches the inlet opening. These blades are positioned to divide and redirect fluid, ensuring uniform distribution is achieved proactively through the narrowed radial width configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If partitioning blades are added to guide fluid flow uniformly, then fluid distribution uniformity is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid uniformityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the chamber into multiple sections using partitioning blades arranged in the circumferential direction. These blades segment the fluid flow path, guiding fluid from the joint portion uniformly toward the inlet opening, thereby achieving uniform distribution through systematic division of the flow domain.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The partitioning blades are designed with curved surfaces that follow the circumferential flow pattern. The curved geometry of the blades and chamber walls guides fluid smoothly around the circumferential direction, reducing flow separation and enhancing uniformity without requiring complex angular or irregular shapes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP2402618B1Suction casing and fluid machine
Publication Date: 2019.06.26 MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTIES COMPRESSOR CORP
  • EP2402618B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2402618B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2402618B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A suction casing of the present invention includes: a suction nozzle that introduces a fluid from an outer circumferential side to an inner circumferential side in a radial direction; and a chamber that includes a substantially doughnut-shaped space in communication with an inside of the suction nozzle on the outer circumferential side and that guides the fluid, introduced from the suction nozzle, to an inlet opening portion opening in an axial direction and disposed in a substantially annular shape, in which the chamber is formed so that a radial width is narrower in a circumferential direction from a joint portion in communication with the suction nozzle to an opposite side across a central axis.