Patent Publication Number: US-11022142-B2

Title: Diffuser for compressor

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO THE RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0008588 filed on Jan. 24, 2018 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Disclosure 
     Apparatuses consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to a diffuser for a compressor, and more particularly to a diffuser for a compressor in which diffuser vanes and a deswirler are integrally formed. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A gas turbine engine rotates a turbine by combusting fuel. The fuel may be combusted by a combustor, which requires a large amount of air to do so. 
     A compressor may be used to supply a sufficient amount of air to the combustor. The compressor compresses a large amount of air to supply the compressed air to the combustor. The combustor then combusts the fuel using the supplied air. 
     Typically, the compressor includes a diffuser to control the flow of the air. The diffuser may include diffuser vanes and a deswirler. The air guided toward the diffuser vanes enters through the deswirler, where the flow angle changes and energy loss may occur. 
     Therefore, minimizing/reducing the flow loss of the air entering the diffuser by a deswirler is desired. 
     SUMMARY 
     One or more exemplary embodiments may provide a diffuser for a compressor in which diffuser vanes and a deswirler are integrally formed to reduce the energy loss. 
     It should be noted that objects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described objects, and other objects of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following descriptions 
     According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a diffuser for a compressor including a body having a ring shape and including a fluid inflow face broadly formed along a radial direction of the ring and a rim bent from the fluid inflow face; main vanes formed along the fluid inflow face and the rim to guide an introduced fluid; and at least one splitter vane disposed between two adjacent ones of the main vanes to guide the introduced fluid. 
     Each of the main vanes and the at least one splitter vane may include: a radial guide portion provided along the fluid inflow face; an axial guide portion provided along the rim; and a connection guide portion connecting the radial guide portion with the axial guide portion. 
     The main vanes and the at least one splitter vane may be provided on the body such that a longer axis of the radial guide portion is inclined with respect to a virtual line radially extended from a center of the body. 
     The main vanes may be disposed on the body such that a distance between the radial guide portions of two adjacent main vanes becomes larger toward an outer side from the center of the body. 
     The radial guide portions of the at least one splitter vane may be formed to be shorter than the radial guide portions of the main vanes. 
     Each of the radial guide portions of the main vanes may include a straight region adjacent to the center of the body. 
     Each of the radial guide portions of the main vanes may include two inflection points. 
     The fluid inflow face may be inclined toward the center axis of the body. 
     At least one splitter vane may be disposed between every two adjacent main vanes. 
     Particulars in the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in the detail description with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, there is provided a diffuser for a compressor, including: a body having a ring shape and including: a fluid inflow face extending along a radial direction of the diffuser; and a rim bent from the fluid inflow face; main vanes formed on the fluid inflow face and the rim to guide fluid; and at least one splitter vane disposed between adjacent main vanes of the main vanes to guide the fluid. 
     Each of the main vanes and the at least one splitter vane may include: a radial guide portion provided on the fluid inflow face; an axial guide portion provided on the rim; and a connection guide portion connecting the radial guide portion with the axial guide portion. 
     The main vanes and the at least one splitter vane may be provided on the body such that an axis of each of the radial guide portion of the main vanes and the at least one splitter vane is inclined with respect to a virtual line radially extended from a center of the body in the radial direction. 
     The main vanes may be disposed on the body such that a distance between the radial guide portions of two adjacent main vanes of the main vanes becomes larger toward an outer side from the center of the body in the radial direction. 
     A radial length of the radial guide portion of the at least one splitter vane may be shorter than that of each of the radial guide portions of the main vanes. 
     Each of the radial guide portions of the main vanes may include a straight region adjacent to the center of the body. 
     The main vanes or the at least one splitter vane may include a plurality of inflection points. 
     The plurality of inflection points may be formed in the radial guide portions of the main vanes or the at least one splitter vane. 
     The plurality of inflection points may include two inflection points. 
     The radial guide portions of the main vanes and the at least one splitter vane may be connected non-angularly to the connection guide portions of the main vanes and the at least one splitter vane, respectively. The axial guide portions of the main vanes and the at least one splitter vane may be connected non-angularly to the connection guide portions of the main vanes and the at least one splitter vane, respectively. 
     The fluid may be introduced into the radial guide portions and guided by the connection guide portions to be transmitted to the axial guide portions. 
     A thickness of each of the radial guide portions may gradually increase away from the center of the body. 
     Two splitter vanes may be disposed on the body such that a distance between the radial guide portions of the two adjacent splitter vanes becomes larger away from the center of the body in the radial direction. 
     A thickness of each of the main vanes and the at least one splitter vane may vary along the radial direction. 
     At least a part of each of the main vanes and the at least one splitter vane may be formed in a streamlined shape. 
     The at least one of the splitter vanes may be disposed between every two adjacent main vanes. 
     According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, there is provided a diffuser for a compressor, including: a body including: a through hole configured to engage with an impeller; an inner portion extending along a radial direction of the diffuser; and an outer bent portion bent from the inner portion; a plurality of first vanes extending along the inner portion and the outer bent portion to guide fluid from the inner portion to the outer bent portion; and at least one second vane disposed between adjacent first vanes of the plurality of first vanes to guide the fluid. A radial length of the at least one second vane is shorter than that of each of the plurality of first vanes. 
     Each of the first vanes may include: a radial guide portion provided on the inner portion; an axial guide portion provided on the outer bent portion; and a connection guide portion connecting the radial guide portion with the axial guide portion. The at least one second vane may include: a radial guide portion provided on the inner portion; an axial guide portion provided on the outer bent portion; and a connection guide portion connecting the radial guide portion with the axial guide portion. 
     A thickness of each of the plurality of first vanes in a circumferential direction of the diffuser may vary along the radial direction. A thickness of the at least one second vane in the circumferential direction may vary along the radial direction. 
     Each of the plurality of first vanes may include a plurality of inflection points along the radial direction. 
     According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, diffuser vanes and a deswirler are integrally formed, so that energy loss caused when the flow angle is changed at the inlet of the deswirler can be prevented. 
     It should be noted that effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described effects, and other effects of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following descriptions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and/or other aspects and features of the present disclosure will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a diffuser for a compressor according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a main vane according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of a splitter vane according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a view showing the flow of the fluid introduced into the body and the fluid inflow face according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a main vane according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of a splitter vane according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of a diffuser for a compressor according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a view showing the flow of the fluid guided by main vanes and splitter vanes according to an exemplary embodiment; and 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a diffuser for a compressor according to another exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Advantages and features of the present disclosure and methods to achieve them will become apparent from the descriptions of exemplary embodiments herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein but may be implemented in various different ways. The exemplary embodiments are provided for making the disclosure of the present disclosure thorough and for fully conveying the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. It is to be noted that the scope of the present disclosure is defined solely by the claims. Like reference numerals denote like elements throughout the descriptions. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and/or the present application, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a diffuser  10  for a compressor (not shown) according to an exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 2  is a front view of a main vane  200  according to an exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 3  is a front view of a splitter vane  300  according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a diffuser  10  for a compressor includes a body  100 , main vanes  200  and splitter vanes  300 . 
     The body  100  serves to support the main vanes  200  and the splitter vanes  300 . The body  100  may have a ring shape. Specifically, the body  100  may have a disc-like through hole H through which an impeller  20  ( FIG. 4 ) is mounted. 
     The body  100  having the ring shape may include a fluid inflow face  110  and a rim  120 . The fluid inflow face  110  refers to the face at which the fluid from the impeller is received. The fluid inflow face  110  may be formed to be wider along the radial direction of the ring. The rim  120  may be bent and extended from the fluid inflow face  110 . 
     The main vanes  200  and the splitter vanes  300  may be attached to the body  100 . Each of the main vanes  200  and the splitter vanes  300  may have a plate shape. That is, each of the main vanes  200  and the splitter vanes  300  may have at least one surface for guiding fluid. In addition, each of the main vanes  200  and the splitter vanes  300  may have two or more inflection points (See  FIG. 5 ). The moving direction of the fluid flowing along the main vanes  200  and the splitter vanes  300  may be changed at the inflection points. 
     The main vanes  200  and the splitter vanes  300  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may have a plate-like shape and may guide the fluid to both sides. The thickness of the main vanes  200  and the splitter vanes  300  may be either constant or variable along a radial direction of the main vanes  200  or the splitter vanes  300 . When the plate has different thicknesses, the thicknesses of the main vanes  200  and the splitter vanes  300  may vary in a streamline shape to produce a smooth flow of the fluid. 
     The main vanes  200  and the splitter vanes  300  may be disposed along the fluid inflow face  110  and the rim  120  of the body  100  to guide the fluid introduced from the impeller. At least one of the splitter vanes  300  may be disposed between two adjacent main vanes  200  to guide the fluid. In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , two splitter vanes  300  are disposed between every two adjacent main vanes  200 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , each of the main vanes  200  may include a radial guide portion  210 , an axial guide portion  220 , and a connection guide portion  230 . In addition, each of the splitter vanes  300  may include a radial guide portion  310 , an axial guide portion  320 , and a connection guide portion  330 . 
     The radial guide portions  210  and  310  of the main vanes  200  and the splitter vanes  300 , respectively, may be provided along the fluid inflow face  110  of the body  100 . The axial guide portions  220  and  320  may be provided along the rim  120  of the body  100 . The radial guide portions  210  and  310  may be attached on the fluid inflow face  110  along the radial direction of the body  100 . The axial guide portions  220  and  320  may be attached on the rim  120  along the axial direction of the body  100 . To this end, the side of the radial guide portions  210  and  310  attached on the fluid inflow face  110  may conform to the shape of the fluid inflow face  110 , and the side of the axial guide portions  220  and  320  attached on the rim  120  may conform to the shape of the rim  120 . 
     As described above, the main vanes  200  and the splitter vanes  300  guide fluid generated from an impeller and the fluid may move outward from the center of the body  100  (from the fluid inflow face  110  to the rim  120 ). Accordingly, the fluid can be introduced through the lower ends of the radial guide portions  210  and  310  of the main vanes  200  and the splitter vanes  300 . The introduced fluid may flow along the radial guide portions  210  and  310  and then may be transmitted to the axial guide portions  220  and  320 . 
     The axial guide portions  220  and  320  may be extended generally in the axial direction of the diffuser. The fluid may travel in the axial direction (from the left side toward the right side of the  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) by being guided by a housing (not shown) that accommodate the diffuser  10  for a compressor and the axial guide portions  220  and  320 . 
     The connection guide portions  230  and  330  serve to connect the radial guide portions  210  and  310  with the axial guide portions  220  and  320  of the main vanes  200  and the splitter vanes  300 , respectively. The fluid guided by the radial guide portions  210  and  310  may be transmitted to the axial guide portions  220  and  320  via the connection guide portions  230  and  330 . 
     As the radial guide portions  210  and  310  are connected to the axial guide portions  220  and  320  by the connection guide portions  230  and  330 , it is possible to prevent the flow loss when the fluid is transmitted from the radial guide portions  210  and  310  to the axial guide portions  220  and  320 . If the radial guide portions  210  and  310  and the axial guide portions  220  and  320  were disconnected from each other, the fluid may leak between the radial guide portions  210  and  310  and the axial guide portions  220  and  320 , such that flow loss would likely occur. In contrast, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the radial guide portions  210  and  310  are connected to the axial guide portions  220  and  320  by the connection guide portions  230  and  330 , and thus it is possible to prevent energy loss caused by a change in the flow angle (from the radial direction to the axial direction of the diffuser). 
     In addition, in order to guide the fluid in the axial direction (i.e., horizontal direction in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ), the axial guide portions  220  and  320  are required to have a certain length. The connection guide portions  230  and  330  may be connected to one side of the axial guide portions  220  and  320  to guide the fluid in the axial direction together with the axial guide portions  220  and  320 . 
     As the connection guide portions  230  and  330  guide the fluid in the axial direction, the overall length of the axial guide portions  220  and  320  can be reduced. As the length of the axial guide portions  220  and  320  is reduced, the length of the rim  120  (along the axial direction) of the body  100  supporting the axial guide portions  220  and  320  can be reduced. In addition, as the length of the rim  120  (along the axial direction) of the body  100  is reduced, the length of the compressor including the diffuser  10  as well as the length of the engine including the compressor are reduced, such that the overall weight of the engine can be reduced. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a diffuser  10  according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , an impeller  20  is mounted in the through hole H of the diffuser  10 . The center axis Ax of the body  100  of the diffuser  10  may be coaxial with the rotation axis Bx of the impeller  20 . 
     The impeller  20  may include a rotating body  21  and a blade  22 . As the impeller  20  rotates, the fluid moves outwardly from the blade  22  in the radial direction. The fluid may be introduced from the front of the impeller  20  as shown in the figure. The moving direction of the fluid moving from the blade  22  may be formed in an outward direction from the rotation axis Bx of the impeller  20 . 
     The fluid that has reached the fluid inflow face  110  of the diffuser  10  from the impeller  20  may be guided by the main vanes  200  and the splitter vanes  300  while moving along the surface of the fluid inflow face  110  in the radial direction. 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of a main vane  200  according to an exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 6  is a side view of a splitter vane  300  according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , each of the main vane  200  and the splitter vane  300  may be implemented in the form of a plate. 
     According to the exemplary embodiments, the thickness of the plate may vary depending on the extending direction (along the circumferential direction and/or the radial direction) of the assemblies of the radial guide portions  210  and  310  and the connection guide portions  230  and  330  of the main vane  200  and the splitter vane  300 , respectively. For example, the ratio of the maximum thickness to and the minimum thickness of the main vane  200  and the splitter vane  300  may be less than or equal to 3. As the ratio of the maximum thickness to the minimum thickness of the plate is not greater than 3, the surface of the assemblies of the radial guide portions  210  and  310  and the connection guide portions  230  and  330  may form a flat or streamlined surface. In particular, the thickness at the front end (i.e., an inner radial end) of the radial guide portions  210  and  310  into which the fluid flows is relatively small (the lower right ends in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ), and the thickness may gradually increase in the extending direction (toward the upper left ends in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ). 
     As the fluid moves along the flat or streamlined surface, eddy is prevented, so that the flow loss due to friction with the surfaces of the radial guide portions  210  and  310  and the connection guide portions  230  and  330  can be reduced. 
     The radial guide portion  210  of the main vane  200  may include a straight region adjacent to the center of the body  100 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , the front end portion  211  of the radial guide portion  210  is disposed adjacent to the center of the body  100  and the front end portion  211  may include a straight region where the fluid is introduced. 
     The fluid discharged from the impeller  20  may flow into the front end portion  211  of the radial guide portion  210 . In the environment where the velocity of the fluid is close to Mach 1, if the front end portion of the radial guide portion has a curved shape, the fluid may be accelerated too much so that the flow loss due to the shock wave may be increased. In contrast, the front end portion  211  of the radial guide portion  210  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure has the straight shape, so that the flow acceleration is limited and thus the flow loss can be reduced as compared with the curved shape. 
     The radial guide portion  210  of the main vane  200  may include two inflection points  212   a  and  212   b . The moving direction of the fluid may be changed at the inflection points  212   a  and  212   b . If there is one inflection point, the loss due to friction may increase as the overall length of the vane is long. In contrast, if there is more than one inflection point, the overall length of the vane becomes shorter, such that the loss due to the friction can be reduced, facilitating guiding the fluid. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the radial guide portion  210  includes two inflection points  212   a  and  212   b , such that the friction between the fluid and the radial guide portion  210  can be relatively small, thereby suppressing the eddy. 
     The front end portion  311  of the radial guide portion  310  of the splitter vane  300  may be positioned adjacent to the inflection points  212   a  and  212   b  of the main vane  200 . Accordingly, the fluid can be smoothly introduced into the splitter vane  300  and guided after its moving direction has been changed. 
     Although  FIG. 5  shows that the radial guide portion  210  has the two inflection points  212   a  and  212   b , the main vane  200  may include more than two inflection points. For example, the axial guide portion  220  may additionally include an inflection point, or the connection guide portion  230  may additionally include an inflection point. Alternatively, an inflection point may be included between the radial guide portion  210  and the connection guide portion  230  or an inflection point may be included between the connection guide portion  230  and the axial guide portion  220 . 
     In addition, the splitter vane  300  may include two or more inflection points, similar to the main vane  200 . 
       FIG. 7  is a front view of a diffuser  10  for a compressor according to an exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 8  is a view showing the flow of the fluid guided by main vanes  200  and splitter vanes  300  according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the main vanes  200  and the splitter vanes  300  may be disposed on the body  100  such that the axes Lx 1  and Lx 2  of the radial guide portions  210  and  310 , respectively, are inclined with respect to the virtual line VL extended radially from the central axis Ax of the body  100 . 
     The end of the blade  22  provided on the impeller  20  may be spaced apart from the rotation axis Bx by a predetermined distance. Accordingly, when the impeller  20  rotates, the moving direction of the fluid discharged from the end of the blade  22  may be bent (or rotated) with respect to the virtual line VL. 
     The angle between the virtual line VL and the axes Lx 1  and Lx 2  of the radial guide portions  210  and  310  may be determined depending on the moving direction of the fluid discharged from the blade  22 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the two adjacent main vanes  200  may be provided on the body  100  such that the distance between the radial guide portions  210  of the adjacent main vanes  200  gradually increases toward the outer side from the center of the body  100  in the radial direction. 
     The radial guide portions  310  of the splitter vanes  300  may be shorter than the radial guide portions  210  of the main vanes  200 . The splitter vanes  300  may be disposed between the adjacent main vanes  200 . The splitter vanes  300  may split the fluid moving along the main vanes  200  (or between the adjacent main vanes  200 ). As the flow of the fluid is split by the splitter vanes  300 , the pressure at an outlet WO formed by the main vanes  200  and the splitter vanes  300  can become relatively uniform along the edge of the body  100 . 
     Further, because the moving path of the fluid becomes relatively small by the splitter vanes  300 , it is possible to reduce the eddy by the fluid. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a diffuser for a compressor according to another exemplary embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the diffuser  11  for a compressor according to this exemplary embodiment may include three splitter vanes  300  between every two adjacent main vanes  200  (instead of two as shown in the previous embodiment). 
     The number of splitter vanes  300  included between the adjacent main vanes  200  may be determined by the size of an inlet WI of the adjacent main vanes  200 , the size of the outlet WO of the main vanes  200 , the moving speed of the fluid, etc. 
     Although the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit or essential features of the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be understood that the above-mentioned embodiments are not limiting but illustrative in all aspects.