Compressor impeller

A compressor impeller includes: a compressor impeller body portion including a boss portion and a plurality of vane portions disposed at intervals in a circumferential direction on a peripheral surface of the boss portion; and a heat shield portion disposed on a side of a back surface of the boss portion and configured to rotate with the compressor impeller body portion.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a compressor impeller.

BACKGROUND ART

Normally, the compressor impeller includes a boss portion, and a plurality of vane portions disposed at intervals in the circumferential direction on the peripheral surface of the boss portion.

FIG. 7is a diagram showing the distribution of air temperature on the front side (the side where the vanes004are provided) of the boss portion002of the compressor impeller050, during operation of the compressor used for the turbocharger.FIG. 8is a diagram showing the distribution of air temperature in the gap on the back side (the gap in the axial direction between the back side of the boss portion and the stationary portion of the casing or the like) of the boss portion002of the compressor impeller050, during operation of the compressor.FIG. 9is a diagram showing the distribution of the metal temperature of the compressor impeller050during operation of the compressor.FIGS. 7 to 9are diagrams schematically showing the result of thermal analysis by the present inventors, which are not known at the time of filing of the present application.

As shown inFIG. 7, the temperature of air compressed by the compressor impeller050increases, and thus the air temperature on the discharge side (outer side in the radial direction) of the compressor impeller050is higher than the air temperature on the intake side (inner side in the radial direction) of the compressor impeller050. Furthermore, a part of discharge air flows into the gap on the back side of the boss portion002. Thus, as shown inFIG. 8, the air in the gap is heated further by friction loss with the back surface002bof the boss portion002, and heats the back surface002bof the boss portion002.

As shown inFIG. 9, as the temperature of the back surface002bof the boss portion002increases due to the friction loss, the temperatures of the entire boss portion002and the vane portions004disposed around the boss portion002increase due to heat transmission from the back surface002of the boss portion002to the front side (compressor inlet side) of the boss portion002. Thus, the air flowing along the compressor impeller050is heated from heat transmission from the boss portion002and the vane portion004(in particular, heat transmission at the compressor inlet side where the temperature difference between the air and the compressor impeller050tends to increase), thus obtaining an increased temperature.

When the temperature of the air flowing along the compressor impeller050is increased from heat transmission from the boss portion002and the vane portion004, it leads to deterioration of the performance of the compressor impeller050, that is, reduction of the compressor pressure ratio and reduction of the compressor efficiency.

In the compressor disclosed in Patent Document 1, high-pressure cooling gas is sprayed onto the back surface of the boss portion of the compressor impeller to cool the back surface of the boss portion, and the compressor efficiency is improved.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

SUMMARY

Problems to be Solved

For the compressor disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to provide a supply flow passage for the cooling gas on the side of the casing for accommodating the compressor impeller, and thus the casing has a complex structure. In particular, for small-sized compressors used for automobile turbochargers or the like, it is often difficult to provide a casing with a supply flow passage for cooling gas.

The present invention was made in view of the above problem, and an object is to provide a compressor impeller whereby it is possible to suppress a temperature increase of a back surface of a boss portion of a compressor impeller, while preventing the configuration of the casing side from becoming complex.

Solution to the Problems

(1) According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, a compressor impeller includes: a compressor impeller body portion including a boss portion and a plurality of vane portions disposed at intervals in a circumferential direction on a peripheral surface of the boss portion; and a heat shield portion disposed on a side of a back surface of the boss portion and configured to rotate with the compressor impeller body portion.

According to the above compressor impeller (1), with the heat shield portion that rotates with the compressor impeller body portion, it is possible to suppress a temperature increase of the back surface of the boss portion due to friction between the back surface of the boss portion and air. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the amount of heat transmitted to the front side (compressor inlet side) of the boss portion from the back surface of the boss portion, and suppress a temperature increase of the boss portion and the vane portion disposed on the peripheral surface of the boss portion. Thus, it is possible to suppress heating of the air flowing along the compressor impeller body portion from heat transmission from the boss portion and the vane portion (in particular, heat transmission at the compressor inlet side where the temperature difference between the air and the compressor impeller body portion tends to increase), and thus it is possible to obtain a highly-efficient compressor impeller whereby it is possible to suppress reduction of the compressor pressure ratio and the compressor efficiency.

Furthermore, like the compressor disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is unnecessary to provide a supply flow passage for the cooling gas on the side of the casing for accommodating the compressor impeller, and thus it is possible to prevent the configuration of the casing from becoming complex.

(2) In some embodiments, in the above compressor impeller (1), the heat shield portion is made of a different material from the compressor impeller body portion.

According to the above compressor impeller (2), by using a suitable material for the heat shield portion, it is possible to effectively suppress a temperature increase of the back surface of the boss portion due to friction between the back surface of the boss portion and air.

(3) In some embodiments, in the above compressor impeller (2), the heat shield portion is made of a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the compressor impeller body portion.

With the above compressor impeller (3), even if the air opposite to the heat shield portion across the boss portion is heated from friction with the heat shield portion in rotation, the heat shield portion formed of a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the compressor impeller body portion suppresses heat transmission from the air toward the boss portion. Thus, it is possible to suppress heating of the back surface of the boss portion effectively.

(4) In some embodiments, in the compressor impeller according to any one of the above (1) to (3), the heat shield portion is made of sheet metal.

With the above compressor impeller (4), it is possible to achieve a light-weight heat shield portion at low cost.

(5) In some embodiments, in the compressor impeller according to any one of the above (1) to (4), the heat shield portion is disposed so as to face the back surface of the boss portion via a gap.

According to the above compressor impeller (5), the compressor impeller body portion and the heat shield portion rotate together, and thereby it is possible to rotate the air in the gap interposed between the back surface of the boss portion and the heat shield portion, with the back surface of the boss portion and the heat shield portion. That is, it is possible to make the air in the gap ‘g’ rotate together with the back surface2bof the boss portion2and the heat shield portion8in rotation. Thus, the friction between the back surface of the boss portion and the air in the gap is small, and the temperature of the air in the gap is less likely to rise. Thus, it is possible to suppress heating of the back surface of the boss portion effectively.

(6) In some embodiments, in the above compressor impeller (2) or (3), the heat shield portion includes a coating layer coating the back surface of the boss portion, the coating layer being formed of a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the compressor impeller body portion.

With the above compressor impeller (6), it is possible to achieve a light-weight heat shield portion at low cost.

(7) In some embodiments, in the above compressor impeller (1), the heat shield portion is formed integrally with the compressor impeller body portion from an identical material, and a slit is disposed between the heat shield portion and the boss portion.

According to the above description (7), the compressor impeller body portion and the heat shield portion rotate together, and thereby it is possible to rotate the air in the slit between the boss portion and the heat shield portion, with the back surface of the boss portion and the heat shield portion. Thus, the friction between the back surface of the boss portion and the air in the slit is small, and the temperature of the air in the slit is less likely to rise. Thus, it is possible to suppress heating of the back surface of the boss portion effectively. Furthermore, since the heat shield portion is formed integrally with the compressor impeller body portion from the same material, the heat shield portion can be provided without increasing the number of components, which makes it possible to suppress a size increase and a cost increase of the compressor impeller.

(8) In some embodiments, in the compressor impeller according to any one of the above (1) to (7), the heat shield portion is formed to have an annular shape.

According to the above compressor impeller (8), the heat shield portion is formed over the entire region in the circumferential direction of the compressor impeller, and thus it is possible to suppress heating of the back surface of the boss portion due to friction between the back surface of the boss portion and air effectively with the heat shield portion.

(9) In some embodiments, in the above compressor impeller (8), a distance between a radially outer end of the heat shield portion and a rotational axis of the compressor impeller is not smaller than a half of a distance between a radially outer end of the back surface of the boss portion and the rotational axis of the compressor impeller.

According to the above compressor impeller (9), it is possible to effectively suppress a temperature increase due to friction with air, for the radially outer portion of the back surface of the boss portion, where the temperature tends to rise, with the heat shield portion.

(10) In some embodiments, in the above compressor impeller (8) or (9), the heat shield portion is formed integrally with the compressor impeller body portion from an identical material, a slit is disposed between the heat shield portion and the boss portion, and a radially outer end of the heat shield portion is positioned on an inner side of a radially outer end of the back surface of the boss portion in a radial direction of the compressor impeller.

According to the above compressor impeller (10), the compressor impeller body portion and the heat shield portion rotate together, and thereby it is possible to rotate the air in the slit between the boss portion and the heat shield portion, with the back surface of the boss portion and the heat shield portion. Thus, the friction between the back surface of the boss portion and the air in the slit is small, and the temperature of the air in the slit is less likely to rise. Thus, it is possible to suppress heating of the back surface of the boss portion effectively.

According to findings of the present inventors, the temperature of air adjacent to the back surface of the boss portion becomes highest at a radial directional position on the inner side of the radially outer end of the boss portion.

In this regard, with the compressor impeller (10), the radially outer end of the heat shield portion is disposed on the inner side, with respect to the radial direction, of the radially outer end of the back surface of the boss portion, and thus it is possible to provide the slit from the outer side to the inner side of the radial directional position with the highest temperature, without increasing the depth of the slit excessively in view of the strength of the compressor impeller. Thus, it is possible to suppress a temperature increase of the back surface of the boss portion effectively while ensuring the strength of the compressor impeller.

(11) In some embodiments, in the compressor impeller according to any one of the above (8) to (10), the heat shield portion is disposed so as to face the back surface of the boss portion via a gap, and the heat shield portion includes a curved portion having an annular shape and curved so as to become closer to the back surface of the boss portion outward in a radial direction of the compressor impeller.

According to the above compressor impeller (11), the heat shield portion facing the back surface of the boss portion via gap has a curved portion having an annular shape which is curved toward the back surface of the boss portion outward in the radial direction of the compressor impeller. Thus, air is more likely to be retained on the radially inner side of the curved portion having an annular shape, and the air in the gap is more likely to rotate with the boss portion and the heat shield portion. Thus, it is possible to effectively reduce the friction between the back surface of the boss portion and the air in the gap, and suppress a temperature increase of the air in the gap. Thus, it is possible to suppress heating of the back surface of the boss portion effectively.

(12) In some embodiments, in the compressor according to any one of the above (8) to (10), the heat shield portion is disposed so as to face the back surface of the boss portion via a gap, and the heat shield portion includes a protruding portion having an annular shape and protruding toward the back surface of the boss portion.

According to the above compressor impeller (12), the heat shield portion facing the back surface of the boss portion via a gap has a protruding portion having an annular shape which protrudes toward the back surface of the boss portion. Thus, air is retained on the inner side of the protruding portion having an annular shape, and the air in the gap is more likely to rotate with the boss portion and the heat shield portion. Thus, it is possible to effectively reduce the friction between the back surface of the boss portion and the air in the gap, and suppress a temperature increase of the air in the gap. Thus, it is possible to suppress heating of the back surface of the boss portion effectively.

Advantageous Effects

According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a compressor impeller whereby it is possible to suppress a temperature increase of a back surface of a boss portion of the compressor impeller, while preventing the configuration of the casing side from becoming complex.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1is a side view of a compressor impeller50(50A) according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2is a side view of a compressor impeller50(50B) according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 3is a side view of a compressor impeller50(50C) according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 4is a side view of a compressor impeller50(50D) according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 5is a side view of a compressor impeller50(50E) according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 6is a side view of a compressor impeller50(50F) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, unless otherwise stated, the circumferential direction of the compressor impeller50is referred to as merely “circumferential direction”, the radial direction of the compressor impeller50is referred to as merely “radial direction”, and the axial direction of the compressor impeller50is referred to as merely “axial direction”. Further, the compressor impeller50can be suitably used as a compressor for a small-sized turbocharger for automobiles, for instance.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIGS. 1 to 6for instance, the compressor impeller50(50A to50F) includes a shaft10, a compressor impeller body portion6including a boss portion2(hub portion) mounted to the shaft10and a plurality of vane portions4disposed at intervals in the circumferential direction on the peripheral surface2aof the boss portion2, and a heat shield portion8disposed on the side of the back surface2bof the boss portion2and configured to rotate with the compressor impeller body portion6. The compressor impeller body portion6and the heat shield portion8are configured to rotate integrally with the shaft portion10.

In the depicted embodiment, the heat shield portion8extends in the radial direction. Furthermore, in the compressor impeller50(50A to50C) shown inFIGS. 1 to 3, the heat shield portion8is fixed to the shaft10, and thereby configured to rotate with the compressor impeller body portion6. In the compressor impeller50(50D to50F) shown inFIGS. 4 to 6, the heat shield portion8is fixed to back surface2bof the boss portion2, and thereby configured to rotate with the compressor impeller body portion6.

According to the above configuration, with the heat shield portion8that rotates with the compressor impeller body portion6, it is possible to suppress heating of the back surface2bof the boss portion2due to friction between the back surface2bof the boss portion2and air. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the amount of heat transmitted to the front side (compressor inlet side, that is, the side of the leading edge4aof the vane portion4) of the boss portion2from the back surface2bof the boss portion2, and suppress a temperature increase of the boss portion2and the vane portion4disposed on the peripheral surface2aof the boss portion2. Thus, it is possible to suppress heating of the air flowing along the compressor impeller body portion6from heat transmission from the boss portion2and the vane portion4(in particular, heat transmission at the compressor inlet side where the temperature difference between the air and the compressor impeller body portion6tends to increase), and thus it is possible to obtain a highly-efficient compressor impeller50whereby it is possible to suppress reduction of the compressor pressure ratio and the compressor efficiency.

Furthermore, like the compressor disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is possible to suppress a temperature increase of the back surface of the boss portion without providing a supply flow passage for the cooling gas on the side of the casing for accommodating the compressor impeller, and thus it is possible to prevent the configuration of the casing from becoming complex.

In some embodiments, in the compressor impeller50(50A to50F) shown inFIGS. 1 to 6, the heat shield portion8is formed to have an annular shape around the shaft10.

According to the above configuration, the heat shield portion8is formed over the entire region in the circumferential direction of the compressor impeller50, and thus it is possible to suppress heating of the back surface2bof the boss portion2due to friction between the back surface2bof the boss portion2and air effectively with the heat shield portion8.

In some embodiments, in the compressor impeller50(50A to50D) shown inFIGS. 1 to 4, the heat shield portion8is formed of a different material from the compressor impeller body portion6.

According to the above configuration, by using a suitable material for the heat shield portion8, it is possible to effectively suppress a temperature increase of the back surface2bof the boss portion2due to friction between the back surface2bof the boss portion2and air.

In some embodiments, in the compressor impeller50(50A to50D) shown inFIGS. 1 to 4, the heat shield portion8is formed of a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the compressor impeller body portion6.

With the above configuration, even if the air opposite to the heat shield portion8across the boss portion2(the air adjacent to the right side of the heat shield portion8in the drawing) is heated from friction with the heat shield portion8in rotation, the heat shield portion8formed of a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the compressor impeller body portion6suppresses heat transmission from the air toward the boss portion2. Thus, it is possible to suppress heating of the back surface2bof the boss portion2effectively.

In some embodiments, in the compressor impeller50(50A,50B) shown inFIGS. 1 and 2for instance, the heat shield portion8is formed of sheet metal. According to the above configuration, it is possible to achieve a light-weight heat shield portion8at low cost.

In some embodiments, as depicted inFIGS. 1 to 3, 5, and 6, in the compressor impeller50(50A to50C,50E,50F), the heat shield portion8is formed so as to face the back surface2bof the boss portion2via a gap ‘g’.

According to the above configuration, the compressor impeller body portion6and the heat shield portion8rotate together, and thereby it is possible to rotate the air in the gap ‘g’ interposed between the back surface2bof the boss portion2and the heat shield portion8, with the back surface2bof the boss portion2and the heat shield portion8. That is, it is possible to make the air in the gap ‘g’ rotate together with the back surface2bof the boss portion2and the heat shield portion8in rotation. Thus, the friction between the back surface2bof the boss portion2and the air in the gap ‘g’ is small, and the temperature of the air in the gap ‘g’ is less likely to rise. Thus, it is possible to suppress heating of the back surface2bof the boss portion2effectively.

In some embodiments, as depicted inFIG. 1, in the compressor impeller50(50A), the heat shield portion8is formed to have a flat plate shape along a surface orthogonal to the axial direction. According to the above configuration, it is possible to obtain the above described effect to suppress a temperature increase of the back surface2bof the boss portion2with a simple configuration.

In some embodiments, as depicted inFIG. 2, in the compressor impeller50(50B), the heat shield portion8has a curved portion16having an annular shape which is curved toward the back surface2bof the boss portion2outward in the radial direction. In an illustrative embodiment, the entire heat shield portion8is curved toward the back surface2bof the boss portion2outward in the radial direction.

According to the above configuration, air is more likely to be retained on the radially inner side of the curved portion16having an annular shape, and the air in the gap ‘g’ is more likely to rotate with the boss portion2and the heat shield portion8. Thus, it is possible to effectively reduce the friction between the back surface2bof the boss portion2and the air in the gap ‘g’, and suppress a temperature increase of the air in the gap ‘g’. Thus, it is possible to suppress heating of the back surface2bof the boss portion2effectively.

Furthermore, to promote rotation of the air in the gap ‘g’ with the boss portion2and the heat shield portion8, it is desirable to form the curved portion16having an annular shape in a range including at least a part of the radially outer portion14of the heat shield portion8. In an illustrative embodiment, the entire heat shield portion8is curved toward the back surface2bof the boss portion2outward in the radial direction.

In some embodiments, as depicted inFIG. 3, in the compressor impeller50(50C), the heat shield portion8has a protruding portion18having an annular shape which protrudes toward the back surface2bof the boss portion2.

According to the above configuration, air is more likely to be retained on the radially inner side of the protruding portion18having an annular shape, and the air in the gap ‘g’ is more likely to rotate with the boss portion2and the heat shield portion8. Thus, it is possible to effectively reduce the friction between the back surface2bof the boss portion2and the air in the gap ‘g’, and suppress a temperature increase of the air in the gap ‘g’. Thus, it is possible to suppress heating of the back surface2bof the boss portion2effectively.

Furthermore, to promote rotation of the air in the gap ‘g’ with the boss portion2and the heat shield portion8, it is desirable to form the protruding portion18having an annular shape on the radially outer portion14of the heat shield portion8. In the depicted illustrative embodiment, the protruding portion18is formed on the radially outer edge of the heat shield portion8.

In some embodiments, in the compressor impeller50(50D) shown inFIG. 4, the heat shield portion8is a coating layer coating the back surface2bof the boss portion2, including a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the compressor impeller body portion6. According to the above configuration, it is possible to achieve a light-weight heat shield portion8at low cost.

In some embodiments, as depicted inFIGS. 5 and 6, in the compressor impeller50(50E,50F), the heat shield portion8is formed integrally with the compressor impeller body portion6from the same material, and the gap ‘g’ is an annular slit12disposed between the boss portion2and the heat shield portion8.

According to the above configuration, the compressor impeller body portion6and the heat shield portion8rotate together, and thereby it is possible to rotate the air in the slit12between the boss portion2and the heat shield portion8, with the back surface2bof the boss portion2and the heat shield portion8. Thus, the friction between the back surface2bof the boss portion2and the air in the slit12is small, and the temperature of the air in the slit12is less likely to rise. Thus, it is possible to suppress heating of the back surface2bof the boss portion2effectively. Furthermore, since the heat shield portion8is formed integrally with the compressor impeller body portion6from the same material, the heat shield portion8can be provided without increasing the number of components, which makes it possible to suppress a size increase and a cost increase of the compressor impeller50.

In some embodiments, as depicted inFIGS. 1 to 6, in the compressor impeller50(50A to50F), the distance R1between the radially outer end8eof the heat shield portion8and the rotational axis O of the compressor impeller50is not smaller than a half of the distance R2between the radially outer end2eof the back surface2bof the boss portion2and the rotational axis O of the compressor impeller50.

As depicted inFIG. 9, the temperature of the back surface of the boss portion tends to become relatively high at the radially outer portion of the boss portion. Thus, by setting the distance R1to be not smaller than a half of the distance R2, it is possible to effectively suppress a temperature increase of the radially outer portion of the back surface2bof the boss portion2, where the temperature tends to rise, with the heat shield portion8.

In some embodiments, as depicted inFIGS. 1 to 3, and 6, in the compressor impeller50(50A to50F), the radially outer end8eof the heat shield portion8is positioned on the inner side, with respect to the radial direction, of the radially outer end2eof the back surface2bof the boss portion2.

According to findings of the present inventors, as depicted inFIG. 8, the temperature of air adjacent to the back surface of the boss portion002becomes highest at a radial directional position P on the inner side of the radially outer end002eof the boss portion002.

In this regard, with the compressor impeller50(50F) depicted inFIG. 6, the radially outer end8eof the heat shield portion8is disposed on the inner side, with respect to the radial direction, of the radially outer end2eof the back surface2bof the boss portion2, and thus it is possible to provide the slit12from the outer side to the inner side of the radial directional position P with the highest temperature, without increasing the depth ‘d’ of the slit12excessively in view of the strength of the compressor impeller. Thus, it is possible to suppress a temperature increase of the back surface2bof the boss portion2effectively while ensuring the strength of the compressor impeller50(50F).

Embodiments of the present invention were described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various amendments and modifications may be implemented.

The present invention may be combined to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, that is, the technique of spraying high-pressure cooling air onto the back surface of the boss portion of the compressor impeller to cool the back surface of the boss portion. In this case, it is possible to reduce the flow rate of cooling gas required to cool the back surface of the boss portion of the compressor impeller to a certain standard, and thus it is possible to simplify the configuration of the supply flow passage for supplying cooling gas.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS