Vortex Pump Impeller Blade Curvature for Gas Flow Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vortex pumps face inefficiencies in gas pumping due to the shapes of blades and blade grooves, leading to separated flows and reduced pressurization efficiency, especially when handling gases with small densities.
Innovation Solution
The vortex pump design features blades and blade grooves arranged on the impeller with specific geometries, including curved and inclined configurations, where each blade's central portion is positioned forward in the rotation direction, and blade grooves are closed at one end surface and open at the other, suppressing separated flows and enhancing gas swirling, allowing efficient pressurization without high impeller speeds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional blade and blade groove shapes are used in the impeller, then the pump structure is simple, but separated flows occur in the vortex and pump efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The blade grooves are designed with curved shapes instead of straight lines, and the blades are positioned at specific angles relative to the rotation direction. This curvature allows the gas to follow smooth flow paths through the vortex, preventing separated flows and improving pump efficiency without adding complex mechanical components
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the blade grooves have different geometric characteristics - the grooves are closed at one end surface and open at the other, with specific curvature radii at different locations. This localized variation in geometry optimizes the flow characteristics at each stage of the vortex, enhancing overall pump performance while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure
2Stress or pressure
If the impeller rotation speed is increased to pressurize gas with small density, then pressurization efficiency improves, but energy consumption and wear increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the blade grooves and blades - specifically the curvature radius, the angle of the blade relative to the rotation direction, and the positioning of the blade central portion. These parameter changes optimize the vortex formation and gas swirling, enabling effective pressurization of low-density gases at lower rotation speeds, thereby reducing energy consumption and mechanical wear
3Productivity
If blade grooves are open at both end surfaces of the impeller, then manufacturing is easier, but separated flows occur and gas swirling is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The blade grooves are segmented in terms of their openness - closed at one end surface and open at the other. This partial closure creates a more controlled flow path that prevents separated flows and improves gas swirling, while still maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes compared to fully closed complex channel designs
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 configuration improves pump efficiency by smoothly swirling gases, enabling effective pressurization of gases with small densities without increasing impeller speed, resulting in a more power-efficient and less wear-prone pump.
Implementation Method 1
A vortex pump generates a vortex (which is also called a swirling flow) about a center axis along a rotation direction of an impeller by rotating the impeller. Fluid is thereby pressurized and discharged.
Implementation Method 2
occurrences of separated flows in a vortex (or swirling flow) generated in a space between the blade grooves and the opposing groove may be suppressed and the gas can be smoothly swirled by shapes of the blades and the blade grooves
Data Source
AI summary
An impeller may include a plurality of blades disposed along a rotation direction in an outer circumferential portion of at least one end surface of two end surfaces of the impeller; a plurality of blade grooves; and an outer circumferential wall disposed at an outer circumferential edge and closing the plurality of grooves. The housing may include an opposing groove opposing a blade groove region and extending along the rotation direction of the impeller. In a plan view of the one end surface of the two end surfaces of the impeller, each of the plurality of the blades may be curved, and a central portion of each of the blades may be positioned frontward in the rotation direction of the impeller than both ends of the blade.