Diffuser pipe with non-axisymmetric end wall
AssigneePratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
InventorHien DUONG
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A compressor diffuser for a gas turbine engine comprises a plurality of diffuser pipes having a tubular body. The pipes have a first portion having a radial component and defining a throat at a location along the first portion, a second portion having an axial component, and a curved portion fluidly linking the first portion and the second portion. The first portion has an inner surface with a local surface contour located between the throat and the curved portion. The local surface contour extends along a portion of and around less than an entire perimeter of the first portion.
Claims20
A compressor diffuser for a gas turbine engine comprising:
- a plurality of diffuser pipes each having a tubular body including a first portion having a radial component and defining a throat at a location along the first portion, a second portion having an axial component, and a curved portion fluidly linking the first portion and the second portion, the first portion having an inner surface with a local surface contour located between the throat and the curved portion, the local surface contour extending along a portion of and around less than an entire perimeter of the first portion.
A centrifugal compressor comprising:
- an impeller having an inner hub with a plurality of vanes extending therefrom, the impeller being rotatable within an outer shroud about a central longitudinal axis, the impeller having a radial impeller outlet;
- and
- a diffuser configured to diffuse gas received from the impeller outlet, the diffuser including:
- a plurality of diffuser pipes each having a tubular body with an inner surface defining an internal flow passage extending therethrough, the tubular body including a first portion extending in a first direction and defining a throat therein, a second portion extending in a second direction different from the first direction, and a curved portion fluidly linking the first portion and the second portion;
- and
- one or more surface contours disposed on the inner surface of the at least one diffuser pipe, the one or more surface contours being axially disposed within a region of the first portion, the region located downstream of the throat and upstream of the curved portion, the one or more surface contours extending circumferentially about a non-complete portion of the inner surface within said region, wherein an outer perimeter shape defined by the inner surface is non-uniform about a full circumference thereof at a given axial position within said region.
A method for diffusing fluid flow in a centrifugal compressor, comprising:
- conveying the fluid flow through a diverging internal flow passage of a diffuser of the centrifugal compressor, the internal flow passage including an inlet, at least one curved portion downstream of the inlet, and a throat located between the inlet and the curved portion;
- and
- locally minimizing boundary layer growth within a region of the internal flow passage located downstream of the throat and upstream of the curved portion, by providing a non-axisymmetric diffuser within said region using one or more surface contours disposed on an inner surface of the internal flow passage, wherein an outer perimeter shape of the diffuser is non-uniform about a full circumference thereof at an axial plane within said region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.