Screw Compressor Tapered Suction Flow Path for Lower Acceleration Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
In screw compressors, high-speed rotation of screw rotors leads to increased acceleration loss due to deceleration of working fluid in the suction flow path, deteriorating efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The suction flow path is designed with flow path walls that gradually converge towards the termination ends, reducing the cross-sectional area and minimizing fluid deceleration, thereby reducing acceleration loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the screw rotors are operated at high speed rotation to reduce leakage loss, then the sealing effect is improved, but the acceleration loss increases due to working fluid deceleration in the suction flow path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the suction flow path by making the flow path cross-sectional area gradually decrease from the branch side toward the downstream end. This parameter change allows the flow path to better match the decreasing flow rate of working fluid, reducing deceleration and minimizing acceleration loss while maintaining high-speed rotor operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different flow path cross-sectional areas at different locations along the suction flow path. The flow path has a larger cross-sectional area at the branch side and a gradually decreasing cross-sectional area toward the downstream end, creating local variations that optimize fluid flow characteristics and reduce energy loss
2Ease of manufacture
If the flow path cross-sectional area is kept constant from branch side to downstream end, then the manufacturing is simplified, but the working fluid decelerates causing increased acceleration loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gradual change in the flow path cross-sectional area parameter along the downstream direction. This parameter change creates a tapered flow path that reduces working fluid deceleration and minimizes acceleration loss, while the gradual nature of the change keeps manufacturing complexity manageable
Data Source
AI summary
A suction flow path of a screw compressor includes a male-side flow path that opens in an axial direction with respect to working chambers in a suction process on the male rotor side and extends from a starting end positioned on one side of a virtual plane to a first termination end positioned on the other side; and a female-side flow path on the female rotor side that extends from the starting end to a second termination end positioned on the other side of the virtual plane. The male-side or the female-side first flow path wall is configured such that at least a partial area in a range from the starting end to the first or the second termination end is closer to a male-side or female-side rotor lobe section from the starting end side toward the first or second termination end side.