# US 10,502,231 B2 · Diffuser pipe with vortex generators

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- Number: US 10,502,231 B2
- Document ID: US10502231B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/896,664
- Filed: 2018-02-14
- Published: 2018-06-28
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2015-10-27
- Assignees: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
- Applicants: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
- Inventors: Hien Duong; Vijay Kandasamy; Madhusudhan Keragodu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502231B2

## CPC

- F04D 29/441: {especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps}
- F02C 3/08: the compressor comprising at least one radial stage (F02C3/10 takes precedence)
- F05B 2220/302: in gas turbines
- F05B 2240/122: Vortex generators, turbulators, or the like, for mixing
- F05B 2240/13: to collect or cause flow towards or away from turbines
- F05D 2240/127: Vortex generators, turbulators, or the like, for mixing
- F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02)
- F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00)
- F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
- F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS

## Abstract

A diffuser for a centrifugal compressor includes a diffuser pipe having an internal flow passage extending therethrough between an inlet and an outlet, a bend in the internal flow passage disposed between the inlet and the outlet, and a throat defined in the internal flow passage downstream of the inlet and upstream of the bend. One or more vortex generators project into the internal flow passage, and the vortex generators are disposed downstream of the throat and upstream of the bend. A method for diffusing fluid flow in a diffuser of a compressor is also described. In operation, the vortex generators engage fluid flow in the internal flow passage to generate downstream vortices.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A diffuser for a centrifugal compressor, the diffuser comprising:
a diffuser pipe having an internal flow passage extending therethrough between an inlet and an outlet, a bend in the internal flow passage disposed between the inlet and the outlet, and a throat defined in the internal flow passage downstream of the inlet and upstream of the bend; and
one or more vortex generators projecting into the internal flow passage, the vortex generators being disposed downstream of the throat and upstream of the bend.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The diffuser of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more vortex generators extend from an inner surface of the internal flow passage a distance substantially equal to or less than a thickness of a boundary layer at a location of the one or more vortex generators, the boundary layer being formed in operation by fluid flow in the internal flow passage.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The diffuser of claim 2, wherein the one or more vortex generators are disposed on a radially-inner portion of an inner surface of the internal flow passage.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The diffuser of claim 1, wherein the one or more vortex generators include a plurality of vortex generates forming a first circumferential row along an inner surface of the internal flow passage.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The diffuser of claim 4, wherein the plurality of vortex generators of the first circumferential row are spaced apart circumferentially along a full circumference of the inner surface at the first circumferential row.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The diffuser of claim 5, wherein the plurality of vortex generators of the first circumferential row are equally circumferentially spaced apart.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The diffuser of claim 4, wherein the plurality of vortex generators of the first circumferential row are spaced apart circumferentially along a portion of a full circumference of the inner surface at the first circumferential row.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The diffuser of claim 7, wherein the plurality of vortex generators of the first circumferential row are disposed on a radially-inner portion of the inner surface.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

The diffuser of claim 4, wherein the plurality of vortex generators of the first circumferential row are disposed in the diffuser pipe upstream of the bend a distance substantially equal to or less than one diameter of the diffuser pipe at an inlet to the bend.

### Claim 10 (depends on 4)

The diffuser of claim 4, further comprising a second circumferential row of the plurality of vortex generators, the plurality of vortex generators in the second circumferential row being circumferentially spaced-apart along the inner surface of the diffuser pipe downstream of the bend and upstream of the outlet.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The diffuser of claim 10, wherein the inner surface defines a radially inner and a radially outer wall, the vortex generators of the first circumferential row being disposed along the radially inner wall, and the vortex generators of the second circumferential row being disposed along the radially outer wall.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The diffuser of claim 11, wherein the one or more vortex generators are disposed in the diffuser pipe at a location upstream of the bend a distance substantially equal to or less than one diameter of the internal flow passage at an inlet to the bend.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The diffuser of claim 12, wherein each of the one or more vortex generators extend from an inner surface of the internal flow passage a distance substantially equal to or less than a thickness of a boundary layer at a location of the one or more vortex generators, the boundary layer being formed in operation by fluid flow in the internal flow passage.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The diffuser of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more vortex generators is inclined at an angle with respect to a direction of the fluid flow.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The diffuser of claim 14, wherein the angle is between 20°-35° relative to the direct of the fluid flow in the internal flow passage.

### Claim 16 (depends on 2)

The diffuser of claim 2, wherein the one or more vortex generators are disposed in the diffuser pipe at a location upstream of the bend a distance substantially equal to or less than one diameter of the internal flow passage at an inlet to the bend.

### Claim 17

A method for diffusing fluid flow in a diffuser of a compressor, the diffuser having an internal flow passage defining a throat and a curved portion, the method comprising generating vortices in the fluid flow within the internal flow passage downstream of the throat and upstream of the curved portion.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein generating vortices includes generating vortices at a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart positions in the internal flow passage.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein generating vortices includes generating vortices at a distance upstream of the at least one curved portion, the distance being substantially equal to or less than one diameter of the internal flow passage at an inlet to the at least one curved portion.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein generating vortices includes generating vortices at a first location and at a second location within the internal flow passage, the first location being upstream of the at least one curved portion, and the second location being within the internal flow passage downstream of the at least one curved portion.