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US 10,753,370 B2Granted
Variable diffuser with axially translating end wall for a centrifugal compressor
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorsChristopher Hall, David Sayre
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A variable diffuser for a centrifugal compressor comprises a passage between opposing disc faces and a plurality of vanes extending therethrough with a fixed angle relative to the engine centerline. Axial displacement between the opposing disc faces is variable. The vanes extend through one of the opposing disc faces as that disc face is axially translated.
Claims12
A variable diffuser for a centrifugal compressor comprising:
- a first disc having a first disc face extending radially from a first inner edge to a first outer edge:
- a second disc having a second disc face extending radially from a second inner edge to a second outer edge, the second disc positioned opposite and displaced from the first disc such that said second disc face opposes said first disc face, the second disc defining a plurality of pocketed vane slots spaced about a circumference of the second disc face;
- a passage defined between the first disc face and the second disc face, wherein axial displacement between the first inner edge and the second inner edge defines an inlet of the passage and axial displacement between the first outer edge and the second outer edge defines an outlet of the passage;
- a plurality of vanes within the passage, each vane spanning at least between the first disc face and the second disc face and having a fixed angle with respect to an axis of rotation of the centrifugal compressor, wherein each vane is translationally fixed to the first disc face and extends axially with at least a portion of the vane extending into a respective one of the plurality of pocketed vane slots;
- and
- an actuator comprising a cam mechanism and a unison ring, the actuator coupled to one of the first disc and the second disc, wherein axial displacement between the first disc face and the second disc face is varied upon actuation of the actuator,
- wherein each of the pocketed vane slots defines a pocket unique to a corresponding one of the plurality of vanes.
4 more elements
A centrifugal compressor comprising:
- an impeller having a high pressure outlet;
- a scroll;
- and
- a variable diffuser positioned between the impeller and the scroll, wherein high pressure gas flows from the high pressure outlet through the variable diffuser to the scroll, the variable diffuser comprising:
- a front disc having a front disc face extending radially from a front inner edge to a front outer edge;
- a back disc having a back disc face extending radially from a back inner edge to a back outer edge, the back disc defining a plurality of pocketed vane slots spaced about a circumference of the back disc face:
- a passage defined between the front disc face and the back disc face;
- an inlet defined between the respective inner edges, the inlet in fluid communication with the high pressure outlet and an outlet defined between the respective outer edges, the outlet in fluid communication with the scroll;
- a plurality of vanes within the passage, each vane spanning at least between the front disc face and the back disc face and having a fixed angle with respect to an axis of rotation of the centrifugal compressor each vane rigidly fixed to the front disc face and extending across the passage and having a least a portion of the vane extending into a respective one of the plurality of pocketed vane slots;
- the back disc face having a first and second axial position with respect to the front disc face;
- and
- an actuator operably connected to the back disc face and translating the back disc face between a first axial position and a second axial position, the actuator comprising:
- a piston connected to the back disc face, a cam mechanism, and a crank arm,
- wherein each of the pocketed vane slots defines a pocket unique to a corresponding one of the plurality of vanes.
11 more elements
A method of changing the operational range of a compressor comprising:
- defining a diffuser between two axially displaced and opposing faces, wherein one of said faces defines a plurality of pocketed vane slots;
- fixing a plurality of vanes at the outlet of the compressor, each vane spanning from one of said opposing faces and into a respective one of said plurality of pocketed vane slots to interact with fluid within the diffuser to convert dynamic energy of the fluid into static pressure;
- transitioning between a first arrangement and a second arrangement of the opposing faces as a function of flow rate of the compressor, wherein the axial displacement between the opposing faces is equal to or less than the span of each of the plurality of vanes in the first arrangement, and, in the second arrangement, the axial displacement between the opposing faces is less than in the first arrangement, wherein each of the pocketed vane slots defines a pocket unique to a corresponding one of the plurality of vanes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.