Variable Backsweep Impeller for Wide-Range Compressor Efficiency
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional impeller designs with fixed backsweep angles fail to adapt to varying operational demands, limiting the efficiency and operational range of centrifugal compressors.
Innovation Solution
An impeller design with blades that can adjust their backsweep angle based on rotational speed, allowing the backsweep angle to vary within a predefined range of 15 to 60 degrees, enhancing operational flexibility and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a fixed backsweep angle is used in conventional impeller designs, then the manufacturing precision and structural simplicity are improved, but the adaptability to varying operational demands deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The impeller blades are designed with a variable backsweep angle that dynamically adjusts based on rotational speed. The blades transition from a higher backsweep angle at lower speeds to a lower backsweep angle at higher speeds, allowing the impeller to adapt to varying operational demands while maintaining manufacturing precision through a controlled geometric design
Solution Approach 2:
The backsweep angle parameter is made variable rather than fixed. The design incorporates a geometric relationship where the backsweep angle changes as a function of rotational speed, enabling the impeller to optimize performance across different operating conditions without requiring multiple impeller designs
2Device complexity
If a fixed backsweep angle is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity and operational range are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The impeller employs dynamic blade geometry where the backsweep angle automatically varies with rotational speed. This dynamic characteristic enables the impeller to maintain optimal performance across a wide range of operating conditions without adding complex external control mechanisms, thus improving productivity while keeping device complexity manageable
Solution Approach 2:
The variable backsweep angle design enables a single impeller to perform optimally across multiple operating conditions and speed ranges. This multi-functionality allows the impeller to serve diverse operational requirements without needing multiple specialized impeller designs, thereby expanding operational range while controlling complexity
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
The adjustable backsweep angle impeller improves the performance and operating range of centrifugal compressors, optimizing efficiency across different operational conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the unattached portion of the blades is free to deflect based on a rotational speed of the impeller and correspondingly adjust a backsweep angle of the corresponding blades
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein is an impeller for a flow device. The impeller comprises a hub, and a plurality of blades extending radially outwards from the hub, wherein each of the blades is at least partially attached to an outer surface of the hub such that at least a portion of a tip end, opposite to the hub, of the corresponding blades remains unattached to the outer surface of the hub, wherein the unattached portion of the blades is free to deflect based on a rotational speed of the impeller and correspondingly adjust a backsweep angle of the corresponding blades within a predefined range.