Patent ID: 8550775
Filing Date: 2013-10-08
Classification: F04D

Abstract:
1. A compressor comprising: a compressor wheel having a hub, free-ended compressor blades and being mounted for rotation on a shaft, each blade being characterized by a free-ended outer edge, an upstream leading edge and a downstream trailing edge; and a shroud mounted around the outer edges of the compressor blades and defining a gas flow path between the shroud and the hub from a compressor inlet to a diffuser outlet, through which the blades rotate with respect to the shroud; wherein in cross-section the shroud forms a surface along the flow path, the surface being characterized by a profile that includes a relative discontinuity in the region of the trailing edge; and wherein the discontinuity forms a downstream-facing blocking face adapted to impede an upstream flow of gas between the shroud and the wheel, the blocking face extending across the gas flow path to form a sharp edge connecting the blocking face to a smoothly curving surface along the gas flow path upstream of the blocking face.