Patent ID: 6520738
Filing Date: 2003-02-18
Classification: B64D,F02C,F05D,F15D

Abstract:
A swirl generator for creating a bulk swirl in the opposite direction of rotation of a compressor rotor, comprising:a hollow airflow passageway for directing a stream of air into contact with the compressor rotor; said flow passageway including a wall portion of variable radius, tapering from a maximum radius to a lesser radius of curvature, thereby creating a non-uniform air flow gradient in the passageway, resulting in an oppositely rotating bulk swirl acting against the compressor rotor; wherein the hollow airflow passageway comprises a compressor plenum disposed upstream of the compressor rotor and an air flow inlet duct attached to an inlet mouth of the plenum and forming an angle in the range of about 0Â°-180Â° with the compressor plenum; wherein the wall portion is formed at an intersection of the inlet duct and the compressor plenum, and includes a tapered fillet having a maximum radius of curvature adjacent one side wall of the inlet duct and a sharp corner adjacent an opposite side wall of the inlet duct.