Centrifugal compressor having an asymmetric self-recirculating casing treatment

Abstract

A centrifugal compressor has a casing 7. In the casing 7 is formed a back-flow channel 9 to return fluid from a downstream position of an impeller full blade leading edge 6a to an upstream position of the impeller full blade leading edge 6a. The back-flow channel 9 includes a suction ring groove 9a and a back-flow ring groove 9b. The suction ring groove opens at the downstream position on the inner face 7a of the casing 7, and extends in the circumferential direction. The back-flow ring groove opens at the upstream position on the inner face 7a, and extends in the circumferential direction. Distribution in the circumferential direction of the axial-direction position of the suction ring groove 9a or a width of the suction ring groove 9a is asymmetric with reference to the rotation axis.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a casing of a centrifugal compressor including a rotational shaft that is rotatable, an impeller fixed to the rotational shaft, and the casing with inner face surrounding the impeller, wherein the impeller sends out drawn fluid to a scroll channel on an outer side in a radial direction of the rotational shaft for compression, the method comprising the steps of: (1) providing a casing of a centrifugal compressor; (2) forming a back-flow channel in the casing, wherein the back-flow channel returns fluid from a downstream position of an impeller full blade leading edge to an upstream position of the impeller full blade leading edge; (3) forming, in a circumferential direction around the rotational shaft, as part of the back-flow channel, a suction ring groove that opens at the downstream position on an inner face; (4) forming, in the circumferential direction, as part of the back-flow channel, a back-flow ring groove that opens at the upstream position on an inner face; wherein a position in an axial direction of the rotational shaft is defined as an axial direction position, and distribution in the circumferential direction of the axial-direction position of the suction ring groove is asymmetric with reference to the rotational shaft, wherein as a position of the suction ring groove is shifted in the circumferential direction defining an angle θ with respect to the casing, the axial-direction position of the suction ring groove is first gradually shifted toward the opposite side of the impeller full blade leading edge over a first range in the circumferential direction and then gradually shifted toward the side of the impeller full blade leading edge over a second range in the circumferential direction so that the position of the suction ring groove makes one complete circle from an angle θ of 0° to 360° , and wherein the first range and the second range make the one complete circle, the step forms the suction ring groove such that a start point of the first range is selected to reduce non-uniformity of fluid pressure distribution in the vicinity of the impeller full blade leading edge upstream of the impeller full blade leading edge, compared to a centrifugal compressor having a symmetric self-recirculating casing treatment wherein a back-flow channel is symmetric with reference to a rotational shaft thereof.

2. A method for manufacturing a casing of a centrifugal compressor including a rotational shaft that is rotatable, an impeller fixed to the rotational shaft, and the casing with inner face surrounding the impeller, wherein the impeller sends out drawn fluid to a scroll channel on an outer side in a radial direction of the rotational shaft for compression, the method comprising the steps of: (1) providing a casing of a centrifugal compressor; (2) forming a back-flow channel in the casing, wherein the back-flow channel returns fluid from a downstream position of an impeller full blade leading edge to an upstream position of the impeller full blade leading edge; (3) forming, in a circumferential direction around the rotational shaft, as part of the back-flow channel, a suction ring groove that opens at the downstream position on an inner face; (4) forming, in the circumferential direction, as part of the back-flow channel, a back-flow ring groove that opens at the upstream position on an inner face; wherein distribution in the circumferential direction of a width of the suction ring groove is asymmetric with reference to the rotational shaft, wherein as a position of the suction ring groove is shifted in the circumferential direction defining an angle θ with respect to the casing, the width of the suction ring groove first gradually increases over a first range in the circumferential direction and then gradually decreases over a second range in the circumferential direction so that the position of the suction ring groove makes one complete circle from an angle θ of 0° to 360° , and wherein the first range and the second range make the one complete circle, the step forms the suction ring groove such that a start point of the first range is selected to reduce non-uniformity of fluid pressure distribution in the vicinity of the impeller full blade leading edge upstream of the impeller full blade leading edge, compared to a centrifugal compressor having a symmetric self-recirculating casing treatment wherein a back-flow channel is symmetric with reference to a rotational shaft thereof.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first range is larger in circumferential direction than the second range.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the first range is larger in circumferential direction than the second range.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a centrifugal compressor according to Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the centrifugal compressor of FIG. 1 viewed from an axial direction thereof.

(3) FIG. 3A schematically illustrates parameters of a back-flow channel according to Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2.

(4) FIG. 3B illustrates the back-flow channel of FIG. 3A.

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary distribution in the circumferential direction of fluid pressure at a casing inner face.

(6) FIG. 5A illustrates distribution of an axial distance S.sub.r of a suction ring groove from an impeller full blade leading edge.

(7) FIG. 5B illustrates optimum distribution of an axial distance S.sub.r of a suction ring groove from an impeller full blade leading edge.

(8) FIG. 6A is a graph for a comparison of pressure ratio among the centrifugal compressor provided with an asymmetric casing treatment according to Embodiment 1, a centrifugal compressor provided with a conventional symmetric casing treatment and a centrifugal compressor without a casing treatment.

(9) FIG. 6B is a graph for a comparison of efficiency among the centrifugal compressor provided with an asymmetric casing treatment according to Embodiment 1, a centrifugal compressor provided with a conventional symmetric casing treatment and a centrifugal compressor without a casing treatment.

(10) FIG. 7A illustrates distribution of a width b.sub.r of a suction ring groove.

(11) FIG. 7B illustrates optimum distribution of a width b.sub.r of a suction ring groove.

(12) FIG. 8A is a graph for a comparison of pressure ratio among the centrifugal compressor provided with an asymmetric casing treatment according to Embodiment 2, a centrifugal compressor provided with a conventional symmetric casing treatment and a centrifugal compressor without a casing treatment.

(13) FIG. 8B is a graph for a comparison of efficiency among the centrifugal compressor provided with an asymmetric casing treatment according to Embodiment 2, a centrifugal compressor provided with a conventional symmetric casing treatment and a centrifugal compressor without a casing treatment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(14) The following describes embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are assigned to common elements, and duplicated description will be omitted.

(15) (Embodiment 1)

(16) FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a centrifugal compressor 10 including an asymmetric self-recirculating casing treatment according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The centrifugal compressor 10 includes a rotational shaft 3 that is rotated and an impeller 5 fixed to the rotational shaft 3. The impeller 5 sends out drawn fluid to a scroll channel 4 on the outer side of a radial direction of the rotational shaft 3 for compression. The impeller 5 includes an impeller full blade 6 and an impeller splitter blade 8. In FIG. 1, the reference numeral 6a denotes an impeller full blade leading edge, 6b denotes an impeller full blade trailing edge, 8a denotes an impeller splitter blade leading edge, and 8b denotes an impeller splitter blade trailing edge. The leading edge refers to an upstream end, and the trailing edge refers to a downstream end.

(17) In Embodiment 1, the circumferential direction around the rotational shaft 3 is simply called a circumferential direction, a direction in parallel with the rotational shaft 3 is simply called an axial direction, a radial direction of the rotational shaft 3 is simply called a radial direction, a position in the circumferential direction is simply called a circumferential-direction position, and a position in the axial direction is simply called an axial-direction position.

(18) The centrifugal compressor 10 further includes a casing 7 having an inner face 7a extending in the circumferential direction so as to surround the impeller full blade 6. In the casing 7 is formed a back-flow channel 9 to return fluid from a downstream position of the impeller full blade leading edge 6a to an upstream position of the impeller full blade leading edge 6a. In the example of FIG. 1, the downstream position is positioned between the impeller full blade leading edge 6a (most upstream position in the axial direction) and the impeller full blade trailing edge 6b (most downstream position in the axial direction).

(19) The back-flow channel 9 includes a suction ring groove 9a, a back-flow ring groove 9b and a ring guide channel (ring guide groove) 9c. The suction ring groove 9a opens at the downstream position on the inner face 7a and extends in the circumferential direction. The suction ring groove 9a extends in the radial direction from the opening position into the casing 7. The back-flow ring groove 9b opens at the upstream position on the inner face 7a and extends in the circumferential direction. The back-flow ring groove 9b extends in the radial direction from the opening position into the casing 7. The ring guide channel 9c extends in the axial direction so as to communicate the suction ring groove 9a with the back-flow ring groove 9b. In FIG. 1, the ring guide channel 9c is closed by a block member 11.

(20) In Embodiment 1 the “ring” in the suction ring groove 9a, the back-flow ring groove 9b and the ring guide channel 9c refers to a ring shape of them viewed from the axial direction.

(21) Due to asymmetry of the scroll channel 4 illustrated in FIG. 2, the flow field at the suction ring groove 9a does not have symmetry with reference to the rotational shaft 3. Although FIG. 1 illustrates only one side (upper side of FIG. 2) with reference to the rotational shaft 3 as a boundary, FIG. 2 illustrates the rotational shaft 3, the scroll channel 4 and the impeller full blade 6 as a whole viewed from the axial direction. As in FIG. 2, the drawn fluid flowing into the impeller full blade 6 is sent out by the impeller full blade 6 to the scroll channel 4 positioned on the outer side of the radial direction, and flows to the outer side in the radial direction while flowing in the circumferential direction in the scroll channel 4. As in FIG. 2, the scroll channel 4 does not have a symmetric shape. For this reason, the flow field (pressure and flow rate of the fluid) of the fluid also does not have symmetry in the scroll channel 4. Such asymmetric flowing field affects the flow field upstream of the scroll channel 4 as well. As a result, the flow field in the suction ring groove 9a also does not have symmetry.

(22) Accordingly, unlike Embodiment 1, in the case of the configuration without the back-flow channel 9, the fluid pressure distribution in the circumferential direction becomes non-uniform at a position (e.g., at the axial-direction position of the suction ring groove 9a, an intermediate part in the axial direction of the impeller full blade 6 or the scroll channel 4) downstream of the impeller full blade leading edge 6a.

(23) Unlike Embodiment 1, in the case of the configuration with a back-flow channel 9 symmetric with reference to the rotational shaft 3, that is, in the case where the axial-direction positions of the suction ring groove 9a of the back-flow channel 9 are constant among the circumferential positions, the fluid pressure distribution in the circumferential direction becomes non-uniform downstream of the impeller full blade leading edge 6a.

(24) At a circumferential direction position of a low pressure that is downstream of the impeller full blade leading edge 6a, the pressure becomes low also upstream of the impeller full blade leading edge 6a. Accordingly, in many cases, the fluid pressure distribution at the position downstream of the impeller full blade leading edge 6a is similar to that at the position upstream of the impeller full blade leading edge 6a.

(25) According to Embodiment 1, the axial-direction position of the suction ring groove 9a has asymmetric distribution in the circumferential direction with reference to the rotational shaft 3.

(26) That is, according to Embodiment 1, the axial-direction positions of the suction ring groove 9a at circumferential direction positions are changed in accordance with the circumferential direction positions so as to reduce non-uniformity of the fluid pressure distribution at the position (hereinafter called a pressure-distribution-to-be-modified axial-direction position) in the vicinity of the leading edge 6a upstream of the impeller full blade leading edge 6a. Herein, the axial-direction position of the back-flow ring groove 9b may be the same as the pressure-distribution-to-be-modified axial-direction position or may be upstream of the pressure-distribution-to-be-modified axial-direction position.

(27) The following describes embodiments of the present invention in more detail.

(28) FIG. 3A illustrates parameters of the back-flow channel 9. FIG. 3B illustrates the back-flow channel of FIG. 3A. S.sub.r corresponds to an axial-direction position of the suction ring groove 9a, and is an axial-direction distance (axial distance) from the impeller full blade leading edge 6a to the suction ring groove 9a. b.sub.r denotes the axial-direction width of the suction ring groove 9a. S.sub.f corresponds to an axial-direction position of the back-flow ring groove 9b, and is an axial distance from the impeller full blade leading edge 6a to the back-flow ring groove 9b. b.sub.f denotes the axial-direction width of the back-flow ring groove 9b. b.sub.b denotes the radius-direction width of the ring guide channel 9c. h.sub.b denotes a depth of the suction ring groove 9a or the back-flow ring groove 9b.

(29) Among these dimensions, S.sub.r or b.sub.r most affects the stable operating range of the centrifugal compressor 10. That is, among these dimensions, S.sub.r or b.sub.r most affects a pressure difference between the suction ring groove 9a and the back-flow ring groove 9b, and the flow rate of fluid at the back-flow channel 9.

(30) Then, in Embodiment 1, S.sub.r is adjusted for each circumferential direction position so as to reduce non-uniformity of the fluid pressure distribution in the pressure-distribution-to-be-modified axial-direction position.

(31) FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary fluid pressure distribution of the fluid in the circumferential direction at the pressure-distribution-to-be-modified axial-direction position. In FIG. 4, the horizontal axis represents a phase angle (i.e., circumferential-direction position) around the rotational shaft 3, and the vertical axis represents normalized pressure of fluid. In the example of FIG. 4, open square marks of FIG. 4 represent fluid pressures measured by an experiment. Among the phase angles of FIG. 4, 0° is illustrated in FIG. 2.

(32) FIG. 5A illustrates the axial-direction positions (i.e., the aforementioned S.sub.r) of the suction ring groove 9a at the circumferential-direction positions to reduce the non-uniformity of fluid pressure distribution illustrated in FIG. 4. In FIG. 5A, the horizontal axis represents a phase angle (i.e., circumferential-direction position) around the rotational shaft 3, and the vertical axis represents an axial distance S.sub.r from the impeller full blade leading edge 6a to the suction ring groove 9a. As for the phase angles of FIG. 5A, FIG. 2 illustrates the position of 0° and the position of θ.

(33) During operation when the flow rate to the centrifugal compressor 10 is small, the back-flow channel 9 returns fluid partially from a position downstream of the impeller full blade leading edge 6a to a position upstream thereof. Thereby, the flow rate drawn to the impeller full blade 6 is increased. Accordingly the angle of attack of the impeller full blade 6 against the fluid can be decreased, thus preventing phenomena such as fluid separation, stall and surge. As a result, a stable operating range of the centrifugal compressor 10 can be extended.

(34) In Embodiment 1, the suction ring groove 9a having S.sub.r as in FIG. 5A reduces the non-uniformity of the fluid pressure distribution in the circumferential direction at the pressure-distribution-to-be-modified axial-direction position, and therefore phenomena such as fluid separation, stall and surge can be prevented more effectively. As a result, a stable operating range of the centrifugal compressor 10 can be more extended.

(35) [Example]

(36) FIG. 5B illustrates optimum distribution of S.sub.r obtained by numerical simulation. In this numerical simulation, the parameters indicating the structure of the back-flow channel 9 are set as b.sub.r=4.8 mm, S.sub.f=15.0 mm, b.sub.f=10.0 mm, b.sub.b=13.0 mm, h.sub.b=8.0 mm and the starting phase angle θ=0°.

(37) FIG. 6A illustrates pressure ratios of the centrifugal compressor with reference to flow rates. In FIG. 6A, the horizontal axis represents normalized values of the flow rates to the centrifugal compressor, and the vertical axis represents pressure ratios of the centrifugal compressor by rate to a reference value.

(38) FIG. 6B illustrates efficiency of the centrifugal compressor with reference to flow rates. In FIG. 6B, the horizontal axis represents normalized values of the flow rates to the centrifugal compressor, and the vertical axis represents efficiency of the centrifugal compressor by rate to a reference value.

(39) Herein, the efficiency of the centrifugal compressor can be represented by the following Expression 1:

(40) $\begin{array}{cc}\begin{array}{c}\eta =\frac{\mathrm{energy}\mathrm{used}\mathrm{for}\mathrm{pressure}\mathrm{raise}}{\mathrm{energy}\mathrm{supplied}\mathrm{to}\mathrm{system}}\\ =\frac{C_p{T}_{1t}\left\{{\left(\frac{P_{2t}}{P_{1t}}\right)}^{\frac{\gamma -1}{\gamma }}-1\right\}}{C_p\left(T_{2t}-T_{1t}\right)}\end{array}& \left[\mathrm{Expression}1\right]\end{array}$

(41) In this expression, C.sub.p denotes a constant pressure specific heat, T.sub.1t denotes a temperature on an inlet side of the centrifugal compressor, T.sub.2t denotes a temperature on an outlet side of the centrifugal compressor, P.sub.1t denotes a pressure on the inlet side of the centrifugal compressor, P.sub.2t denotes a pressure on the outlet side of the centrifugal compressor, and γ denotes a ratio of specific heat.

(42) In FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, black square marks and the curve of the solid line passing through these square marks indicate the example of Embodiment 1 (i.e., the centrifugal compressor including an asymmetric casing treatment). In FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, the casing treatment is abbreviated as CT. In FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, open square marks and the curve of the dot-and-dash line passing through these square marks indicate the case of a conventional centrifugal compressor (i.e., a centrifugal compressor with a symmetric casing treatment) including a back-flow channel where the axial-direction positions of the suction ring groove 9a are constant at circumferential-direction positions. In FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, open round marks and the curve of the dashed line passing through these round marks indicate the case of a centrifugal compressor without a back-flow channel (i.e., a centrifugal compressor without casing treatment).

(43) In FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, Pa denotes a limit operating point on a small flow-rate side where surge does not occur in the example of the present invention, Pb denotes a limit operating point on a small flow-rate side where surge does not occur in the centrifugal compressor including a symmetric casing treatment, and Pc denotes a limit operating point on a small flow-rate side where surge does not occur in the centrifugal compressor without a casing treatment. These limit operating points Pa, Pb and Pc show that the example of the present invention enables further expansion of a stable operating range. That is, the centrifugal compressor including a symmetric casing treatment extends a stable operating range free from surge (flow rate range) by 7.7% from that of the centrifugal compressor without a casing treatment, and the example of the present invention further extends the stable operating range free from surge (flow rate range) by 3.3% from that of the centrifugal compressor with the symmetric casing treatment.

(44) As is understood from FIG. 6B, the efficiency of the example of the present invention is not degraded as compared with that of the centrifugal compressor with the symmetric casing treatment.

(45) [Embodiment 2]

(46) The following describes a centrifugal compressor 10 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Embodiment 2 is the same as in the aforementioned Embodiment 1 except for the following description.

(47) Instead of asymmetric distribution of the axial-direction positions of the suction ring groove 9a in the circumferential direction with reference to the rotational axis, in Embodiment 2, the distribution in the circumferential direction of the width of the suction ring groove 9a is asymmetric with reference to the rotational axis.

(48) FIG. 7A illustrates the width (i.e., the aforementioned b.sub.r) of the suction ring groove 9a at the circumferential-direction positions to reduce the non-uniformity of fluid pressure distribution illustrated in FIG. 4. In FIG. 7A, the horizontal axis represents a phase angle (i.e., circumferential-direction position) around the rotational shaft 3, and the vertical axis represents a width b.sub.r of the suction ring groove 9a. As for the phase angles of FIG. 7A, FIG. 2 illustrates the position of 0° and the position of θ.

(49) Similarly to Embodiment 1, in Embodiment 2, the suction ring groove 9a having b.sub.r as in FIG. 7A reduces the non-uniformity of the fluid pressure distribution in the circumferential direction at the pressure-distribution-to-be-modified axial-direction position. Therefore, phenomena such as fluid separation, stall and surge can be prevented more effectively. As a result, a stable operating range of the centrifugal compressor 10 can be more extended.

(50) [Example]

(51) FIG. 7B illustrates optimum distribution of b.sub.r obtained by numerical simulation. In this numerical simulation, the parameters indicating the structure of the back-flow channel are set as S.sub.r=5 mm, S.sub.f=15.0 mm, b.sub.f=10.0 mm, b.sub.b=13.0 mm, h.sub.b=8.0 mm and the starting phase angle θ=0°.

(52) FIG. 8A illustrates pressure ratios of the centrifugal compressor with reference to flow rates. In FIG. 8A, the horizontal axis represents normalized values of the flow rates to the centrifugal compressor, and the vertical axis represents pressure ratios of the centrifugal compressor by rate to a reference value.

(53) FIG. 8B illustrates efficiency of the centrifugal compressor with reference to flow rates. In FIG. 8B, the horizontal axis represents normalized values of the flow rates to the centrifugal compressor, and the vertical axis represents efficiency of the centrifugal compressor by rate to a reference value.

(54) In FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B, black square marks and the curve of the solid line passing through these square marks indicate the example of Embodiment 2 (i.e., the centrifugal compressor including an asymmetric casing treatment). In FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B, the casing treatment is abbreviated as CT. In FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B, black triangle marks and the curve of the solid line passing through these triangle marks indicate the case of a conventional centrifugal compressor including a back-flow channel where the axial-direction positions of the suction ring groove 9a are constant at circumferential-direction positions (i.e., a centrifugal compressor with a symmetric casing treatment). In FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B, open round marks and the curve of the solid line passing through these round marks indicate the case of a centrifugal compressor without a back-flow channel (i.e., a centrifugal compressor without casing treatment).

(55) As is understood from FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B, the centrifugal compressor provided with an asymmetric casing treatment according to the example of the present invention can extend a stable operating range while substantially keeping the same efficiency as compared with the centrifugal compressor provided with a symmetric casing treatment and the centrifugal compressor without a casing treatment.

(56) The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments, and can be modified variously in the range without departing from the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(57) 3: rotational shaft, 4: scroll channel, 5: impeller 6: impeller full blade, 6a: impeller full blade leading edge, 6b: impeller full blade trailing edge, 7: casing 7a: inner face of casing, 8: impeller splitter blade, 8a: impeller splitter blade leading edge, 8b: impeller splitter blade trailing edge, 9: back-flow channel, 9a: suction ring groove, 9b: back-flow ring groove, 9c: ring guide channel 10: centrifugal compressor, 11: block member