US 7,025,557 B2Granted

Secondary flow control system

AssigneeConcepts ETI, Inc.

InventorsDavid Japikse, Daniel O. Baun

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Abstract

The present invention is a system (20) for controlling various fluid flows, e.g., secondary fluid flows including cavitating fluid flows, typically developed along the shroud line and usually in or around a leading edge (21) within a flow channel (22) of a compressor or pump impeller (23) and inducer/impeller (24). System (20) includes a plurality of devices for controlling various flow conditions. In one embodiment, system (20) includes a diffuser device (27) for stabilizing cavitating flows, a bypass device (28) for re-injecting flow upstream, and a flow control device (30) for selectively directing secondary fluid flow to either the diffuser device or the bypass device. In addition, at very high flow rates, bypass device (28) may also serve as a high-flow, forward-bypass device. Devices (27) and (28) form a pathway for secondary fluid flows, including cavitating flows, around a first portion (31) of a housing (32).

Claims38

Dependent claims

A system for controlling secondary fluid flow within a flow channel, the flow channel having an inducer or impeller residing at least partially therein, the inducer or impeller having rotatable blades for drawing the flow into, or being driven by the flow in, the flow channel, the inducer or impeller rotatable about an axis, the flow channel defined by interior sidewalls of a housing, the housing at least partially surrounded by an inlet plenum, the housing including an exit, said system comprising:

one or more diffuser slots having first and second ends, each of said first ends configured to be in fluid communication with the flow channel;
one or more diffuser passages each including first and second ends, each of said first ends in fluid communication with one of said second ends of said one or more diffuser slots;
a plurality of re-entry passages, each including first and second ends, each of said first ends in fluid communication with said second end of said one or more diffuser passages and each of said second ends configured to be in fluid communication with at least one of the inlet plenum, the housing exit, an area downstream of the housing exit, and the flow channel;
and
one or more bypass passages each having first and second ends, each of said first ends in fluid communication with said one or more diffuser slots and each of said second ends in fluid communication with at least one of the inlet plenum, the housing exit, an area downstream of the housing exit, and the flow channel.

2 more elements

a) a radial diffuser device including at least one diffuser slot configured to be substantially perpendicular with respect to the axis, said at least one diffuser slot having first and second ends, said first end configured to be in fluid communication with the flow channel, and at least one diffuser passage in fluid communication with said at least one diffuser slot each of said at least one diffuser passage including first and second diffuser passage ends, said first diffuser passage end in fluid communication with said second end of said at least one diffuser slot, said first and second diffuser passage ends having first and second cross-sectional areas, said second diffuser passage end cross-sectional area being greater than said first diffuser passage end cross-sectional area, a plurality of re-entry passages, each including first and second re-entry passage ends, each of said first re-entry passage ends in fluid communication with said second diffuser passage end and each of said second re-entry passage ends configured to be in fluid communication with at least one of the inlet plenum, the housing exit, an area downstream of the housing exit, and the flow channel;
and
b) a bypass device including a bypass passage having first and second bypass device ends, said first bypass device end in fluid communication with said at least one diffuser slot and said second bypass device end in fluid communication with at least one of the inlet plenum, the housing exit, an area downstream of the housing exit, and the flow channel.

An adjustable system for controlling a secondary fluid flow within a flow channel, the flow channel having an inducer or impeller residing at least partially therein, the inducer or impeller having rotatable blades for drawing the flow into, or being driven by the flow in, the flow channel, the inducer or impeller rotatable about an axis, the flow channel defined by interior sidewalls of a housing, the housing at least partially surrounded by an inlet plenum, the housing including an exit, said system comprising:

a) first means for causing a two-phase fluid in the secondary fluid flow to collapse or condense into a substantially single-phase fluid,
b) second means for causing the secondary fluid flow to flow upstream and
c) third means for directing the secondary fluid flow to said first means and said second means.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/757,334Filed 14 Jan 2004
Published: US 2005/0152775 A114 Jul 2005
Granted: 11 Apr 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

F04D 29/688
By influencing boundary layers: especially adapted for liquid pumps
F01D 5/143
Of the blades of successive rotor or stator blade-rows: contour of the outer or inner working fluid flow path wall, i.e. shroud or hub contour
F03B 11/04
Parts or details not provided for in, or of interest apart from, the preceding groups , e.g. wear-protection couplings, between turbine and…
F04D 27/0207
Surge control: by bleeding, bypassing or recycling fluids