Wave augmented diffuser for centrifugal compressor

A diffuser for use with an impeller having an inlet and an outlet, the impeller rotating about an axis of rotation, the inlet to the impeller accepting a fluid flow substantially parallel to the axis of rotation, the fluid flow passing through the outlet in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation;

• the diffuser comprising:
• a plurality of vanes disposed at the outlet of the impeller;
• a wave chamber disposed between adjacent vanes, each wave chamber having a maximum outer radius;
• each wave chamber having an inlet aligned with the outlet to the impeller;
• each wave chamber further having an outlet substantially perpendicular to the inlet of the wave chamber;
• the outlet having a maximum outer radius;
• the maximum radius of the outlet being no greater than the maximum outer radius of the wave chamber;
• and
• a valve selectively opening and closing the outlet to the wave chamber.

A method of diffusing a fluid flow in a centrifugal compressor, comprising the steps of:

• delivering a fluid flow to the input of the impeller of the diffuser, the fluid flow traveling in an input direction axial to the impeller;
• imparting kinetic energy to a fluid flow with the impeller;
• turning the fluid flow with the impeller from the axial direction to a radial outlet direction substantially perpendicular to the input direction;
• delivering the fluid flow from the impeller to a plurality of wave chambers, each of the wave chambers having a maximum outer radius;
• and wherein each wave chamber has an outlet;
• providing a valve in communication with the outlet to each wave chamber and opening and closing the outlet of each wave chamber with the valve;
• stalling the fluid flow in the wave chamber;
• redirecting the fluid flow from the radial outlet direction to an axial direction within the wave chamber inside the maximum outer radius of the wave chamber.

A method of diffusing a fluid flow delivered from the outlet of an impeller in a radial and tangential direction, the impeller rotating about an axis of rotation;

• the method comprising the steps of:
• delivering the fluid flow from the outlet of the impeller to a plurality of wave chambers, each of the wave chambers having an inlet and an outlet;
• and
• selectively opening and closing the outlets of the wave chambers.