Fluid flow controller
AssigneeMacro-Micro Devices, Inc.
InventorShaaban A. Abdallah
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid flow controller and method of operation thereof are presented. The fluid flow controller may include a casing having a casing blade. The fluid flow controller may also include a rotor having a first rotor blade and a second rotor blade radially spaced from the first rotor blade. The rotor may be configured to rotate relative to, and preferably within, the casing such that the casing blade passes between the first and second rotor blades during use. Compared to conventional pumps or compressors, the present fluid flow controller may have an enhanced ability to accelerate (and possibly to subsequently pressurize) fluid flow. Thus, the need to use multiple stages may be reduced or eliminated.
Claims63
A fluid flow controller comprising a casing having a casing blade configured to pass between first and second radially spaced rotor blades of a rotor adapted to rotate relative to the casing.
A fluid flow controller, comprising:
- a rotor adapted for rotation, and comprising a first rotor blade and a second rotor blade radially spaced from the first rotor blade;
- and
- a casing comprising a casing blade configured to pass between the first rotor blade and the second rotor blade during rotation of the rotor relative to the casing.
A fluid flow controller, comprising:
- a rotor configured to rotate around a rotational axis extending through a hub of the rotor, the rotor comprising a first plurality of rotor blades and a second plurality of rotor blades radially spaced from the first plurality of rotor blades and arranged further from the center of the hub than the first plurality of rotor blades, wherein a diameter of the rotor proximal to midpoints of each of the second plurality of rotor blades is greater than a diameter of the rotor proximal to midpoints of each of the first plurality of rotor blades, and wherein the rotor is configured to accelerate fluid flow such that the predominant orientation of fluid flow exiting the rotor during use is angled away from and substantially oblique to the rotational axis of the rotor;
- and
- a casing comprising a plurality of casing blades configured to pass between the first plurality of rotor blades and the second plurality of rotor blades during rotation of the rotor within the casing.
A method for operating a fluid flow controller, comprising:
- introducing fluid flow into a casing in which a rotor is positioned, wherein the rotor includes a first rotor blade and a second rotor blade radially spaced from the first rotor blade, and wherein the casing includes a casing blade;
- and
- rotating the rotor within the casing such that the casing blade passes between the first rotor blade and the second rotor blade.
A fluid flow controller comprising a rotor assembly, the rotor assembly comprising:
- a first rotor having a first rotor blade;
- a second rotor having a second rotor blade, wherein the first rotor is positionable at least partially within the lateral boundaries of the second rotor such that the first rotor blade is radially spaced from the second rotor blade, and wherein the first and second rotors are configured to independently rotate;
- and
- wherein the rotor assembly is configured to accelerate fluid flow such that the predominant orientation of fluid flow exiting the rotor assembly during use is angled away from and substantially oblique to a rotational axis of the rotor assembly.
A fluid flow controller, comprising:
- a rotor assembly configured to rotate around a rotational axis extending through a hub of the rotor assembly, the rotor assembly comprising:
- a first rotor having a first plurality of rotor blades;
- a second rotor having a second plurality of rotor blades radially spaced from the first plurality of rotor blades and having a diameter greater than the first rotor, wherein the first rotor is positionable at least partially within the lateral boundaries of the second rotor such that the second plurality of rotor blades are radially spaced from the first plurality of rotor blades and arranged further from the center of the hub than the first plurality of rotor blades, and wherein the first and second rotors are configured to independently rotate;
- and
- wherein a diameter of the second rotor proximal to midpoints of each of the plurality of second rotor blades is greater than a diameter of the first rotor assembly proximal to midpoints of each of the plurality of first rotor blades, and wherein the rotor assembly is configured to accelerate fluid flow such that the predominant orientation of fluid flow exiting the rotor during use is angled away from and substantially oblique to the rotational axis of the rotor;
- and
- a casing comprising a plurality of casing blades configured to pass between the plurality of first rotor blades and the plurality of second rotor blades during rotation of the rotor assembly within the casing.
A method for operating a fluid flow controller, comprising:
- introducing fluid flow into a casing in which a rotor assembly is positioned, wherein the rotor assembly includes:
- a first rotor having a first rotor blade;
- and
- a second rotor having a second rotor blade, wherein the first rotor is positioned within the lateral boundaries of the second rotor such that the first rotor blade is radially spaced from the second rotor blade, and wherein the first and second rotors are configured to independently rotate;
- rotating the first and second rotors within the casing;
- and
- accelerating the fluid flow by said rotating the first and second rotors such that the predominant orientation of the fluid flow exiting the rotor assembly is angled away from and substantially oblique to the rotational axis of the rotor assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.