Radial inlet compressor

A radial inlet of a gas turbine engine compressor, the radial inlet comprising:

• an inlet portion defining a compressor inlet;
• a duct;
• and
• a body, comprising:
• a flow diverter;
• plenums arranged around opposite sides of the inlet portion, the plenums comprising outer surfaces with increasing radii of curvature exhibiting increasing distance from the inlet portion and decreasing distance to the flow diverter,
• the flow diverter being disposed aside the inlet portion opposite the duct, the plenums being configured to direct flows from the duct around the inlet portion, the flow diverter and the plenums being configured to cooperatively encourage uniform distribution of the flows and the flow diverter comprising:
• curvilinear sides that tangentially register with and smoothly lead to the outer surfaces of the plenums;
• and
• a cusp where the curvilinear sides meet;
• and
• a front sidewall supporting the inlet portion and an aft sidewall opposite the front sidewall, the front and aft sidewalls being angled toward one another along the plenums.

A radial inlet of a gas turbine engine compressor, the radial inlet comprising:

• an inlet portion defining a compressor inlet leading to a compressor section;
• a duct by which air is directed from an exterior toward the inlet portion;
• and
• a body, comprising:
• a flow diverter;
• plenums arranged around opposite sides of the inlet portion, the plenums comprising outer surfaces with increasing radii of curvature exhibiting increasing distance from the inlet portion and decreasing distance to the flow diverter,
• the flow diverter being disposed aside the inlet portion opposite the duct, the plenums being configured to direct flows from the duct around the inlet portion, the flow diverter and the plenums being configured to cooperatively encourage uniform distribution of the flows and the flow diverter comprising:
• curvilinear sides that tangentially register with and smoothly lead to the outer surfaces of the plenums;
• and
• a cusp where the curvilinear sides meet;
• and
• a front sidewall supporting the inlet portion and an aft sidewall opposite the front sidewall, the front and aft sidewalls being angled toward one another along the plenums.