Patent ID: 6699008
Filing Date: 2004-03-02
Classification: F04D,F05D,Y10S

Abstract:
A device for at least partially stabilizing an unstable fluid flow within a flow channel, the device including an inducer or impeller residing at least partially within the flow channel, 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 device comprising:a) at least one diffuser slot, said at least one diffuser slot including an inlet and an exit, said inlet in fluid communication with the flow channel, said at least one diffuser slot being substantially radial with respect to the axis; and b) at least one passage in fluid communication with said exit of said at least one diffuser slot and said at least one passage 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; wherein said at least one diffuser slot has a radius ratio greater than or equal to 1.03, said radius ratio selected so that the device causes a two-phase fluid to collapse or condense into a substantially single-phase fluid, and said at least one diffuser slot is free of vanes.