Centrifugal compressor diffuser
AssigneePratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
InventorsGuillaume Landry-Drolet, Jason Nichols
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A centrifugal compressor includes an impeller rotatable about a central axis, and a scroll housing enclosing the impeller. The scroll housing includes a housing inlet configured to direct an airflow to the impeller for compression, and a scroll positioned downstream of an impeller outlet. The scroll is configured to direct a compressed airflow toward a housing outlet. A plurality of diffuser pipes are positioned in the scroll housing and are configured to direct the compressed airflow from the impeller outlet, through the plurality of diffuser pipes and into the scroll. An aerodynamic sleeve encloses at least one diffuser pipe of the plurality of diffuser pipes.
Claims20
A centrifugal compressor, comprising:
- an impeller rotatable about a central axis;
- and
- a scroll housing enclosing the impeller, the scroll housing including:
- a housing inlet configured to direct an airflow to the impeller for compression;
- a scroll disposed downstream of an impeller outlet, the scroll configured to direct a compressed airflow toward a housing outlet;
- a plurality of diffuser pipes disposed in the scroll housing configured to direct the compressed airflow from the impeller outlet, through the plurality of diffuser pipes and into the scroll;
- and
- an aerodynamic sleeve enclosing at least one diffuser pipe of the plurality of diffuser pipes;
- wherein the aerodynamic sleeve encloses two or more circumferentially adjacent diffuser pipes of the plurality of diffuser pipes;
- and
- wherein the aerodynamic sleeve has a varying axial width between two diffuser pipes of the two or more circumferentially adjacent diffuser pipes.
(canceled)
(canceled)
A housing assembly of a centrifugal compressor, comprising:
- a housing inlet configured to direct an airflow to an impeller of the centrifugal compressor for compression;
- a scroll disposed downstream of an impeller outlet of the impeller, the scroll configured to direct a compressed airflow toward a housing outlet;
- a plurality of diffuser pipes configured to direct the compressed airflow from the impeller outlet, through the plurality of diffuser pipes and into the scroll;
- and
- an aerodynamic sleeve enclosing at least one diffuser pipe of the plurality of diffuser pipes;
- wherein the aerodynamic sleeve encloses two or more circumferentially adjacent diffuser pipes of the plurality of diffuser pipes;
- and
- wherein the aerodynamic sleeve has a varying axial width between two diffuser pipes of the two or more circumferentially adjacent diffuser pipes.
(canceled)
(canceled)
A gas turbine engine, comprising:
- a turbine;
- a combustor operably connected to the turbine to drive rotation of the turbine via operation of the combustor;
- a compressor section configured to compress an airflow and direct the compressed airflow to the combustor, the compressor section including at least one centrifugal compressor including:
- an impeller rotatable about a central axis;
- and
- a scroll housing enclosing the impeller, the scroll housing including:
- a housing inlet configured to direct an airflow to the impeller for compression;
- a scroll disposed downstream of an impeller outlet, the scroll configured to direct a compressed airflow toward a housing outlet;
- a plurality of diffuser pipes disposed in the scroll housing configured to direct the compressed airflow from the impeller outlet, through the plurality of diffuser pipes and into the scroll;
- and
- an aerodynamic sleeve enclosing at least one diffuser pipe of the plurality of diffuser pipes;
- wherein the aerodynamic sleeve encloses two or more circumferentially adjacent diffuser pipes of the plurality of diffuser pipes;
- and
- wherein the aerodynamic sleeve has a varying axial width between two diffuser pipes of the two or more circumferentially adjacent diffuser pipes.
(canceled)
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.