Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
  • F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
  • F04D17/00—Radial-flow pumps, e.g. centrifugal pumps; Helico-centrifugal pumps
  • F04D17/08—Centrifugal pumps
  • F04D17/10—Centrifugal pumps for compressing or evacuating
  • F04D17/12—Multi-stage pumps
  • F04D17/122—Multi-stage pumps the individual rotor discs being, one for each stage, on a common shaft and axially spaced, e.g. conventional centrifugal multi- stage compressors
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
  • F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
  • F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
  • F04D29/40—Casings; Connections of working fluid
  • F04D29/42—Casings; Connections of working fluid for radial or helico-centrifugal pumps
  • F04D29/44—Fluid-guiding means, e.g. diffusers
  • F04D29/441—Fluid-guiding means, e.g. diffusers especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
  • F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
  • F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
  • F04D29/60—Mounting; Assembling; Disassembling
  • F04D29/62—Mounting; Assembling; Disassembling of radial or helico-centrifugal pumps
  • F04D29/624—Mounting; Assembling; Disassembling of radial or helico-centrifugal pumps especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T29/00—Metal working
  • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
  • Y10T29/49229—Prime mover or fluid pump making
  • Y10T29/49236—Fluid pump or compressor making
  • Y10T29/49243—Centrifugal type
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T29/00—Metal working
  • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
  • Y10T29/49229—Prime mover or fluid pump making
  • Y10T29/49236—Fluid pump or compressor making
  • Y10T29/49245—Vane type or other rotary, e.g., fan

Definitions

• the present invention in general, is related to multi-stage centrifugal compressors and, more particularly, to a diaphragm assembly for use with a multi-stage centrifugal compressor.
• Multi-stage centrifugal compressors are well-known in the art.
• a typical multi-stage centrifugal compressor includes a compressor casing that accommodates a series of diaphragms, and a rotor in the form of a shaft with impellers installed thereon.
• the diaphragms include internal channels which, together with the impellers, form a flow duct of the compressor.
• a typical diaphragm includes a return channel, a plurality of blades or vanes, and a diaphragm wall that are bolted together. Both turbines and compressors usually include such diaphragms. For instance, United States Patent No. 3,330,180 to Turtle et al.
• the diaphragm assembly for use with a turbine.
• the diaphragm assembly includes an outer retaining ring and a concentric, inner retaining disc.
• the retaining ring and disc are each split along the same horizontal plane. Accordingly, the retaining ring includes ring segments and the disc includes segments. The segments are coupled together with screws that extend through an oversized bore segment into a threaded bore segment.
• the diaphragm assembly further includes nozzle blade segments that extend between the radial inner surface of the retaining ring and the periphery of the disc.
• United States Patent No. 3,367,630 to Saunder discloses a similar configuration.
• the return channel wall may be manufactured as one of a single piece, half segments, or quarter segments by milling, casting, powder metal techniques, or waterjet techniques.
• the vane assembly may also be manufactured as a single piece, half segments, or quarter segments by milling, casting, powder metal techniques, or waterjet techniques.
• the return channel wall may be fixedly coupled to the vane assembly by one of welding, slot welding, and brazing.
• the diaphragm wall may be manufactured by one of milling, casting, powder metal techniques, and waterjet techniques.
• the vane assembly may include two tracks positioned concentrically with each other and each track may have a rail structure extending therefrom.
• the rail structure may have a cross-sectional shape that is T-shaped, L-shaped, dove-tail shaped, or any other suitable interlocking geometric shape.
• the at least one groove in the diaphragm wall may have a cross- sectional shape that corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the rail structure.
• the at least one groove in the diaphragm wall may have a cross-sectional shape that is T-shaped, L-shaped, dovetail shaped, or any other suitable interlocking geometric shape.
• the rail structure may include a plurality of equally spaced segments, and the groove includes a plurality of equally spaced pockets configured to receive the segments and lock the segments when the return channel assembly is rotated.
• the present invention is also directed to a centrifugal compressor that includes a casing and a plurality of stages positioned within the casing. Each of the stages includes an impeller assembly and a diaphragm assembly encompassing the impeller assembly.
• the diaphragm assembly has a return channel wall having a generally ring-like shape; a vane assembly having a plurality of vanes formed integrally with at least one ring-shaped track having a rail structure extending therefrom; and a diaphragm wall having a generally ring-like shape and at least one groove extending around a circumference thereof.
• the vane assembly is fixedly coupled to the return channel, thereby forming a return channel assembly.
• the return channel assembly is coupled to the diaphragm wall by sliding the rail structure into the at least one groove of the diaphragm wall.
• the rail structure may include a cross-sectional shape that is T-shaped, L-shaped, dove-tail shaped, or any other suitable interlocking geometric shape.
• the at least one groove in the diaphragm wall may have a cross-sectional shape that corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the rail structure.
• the at least one groove in the diaphragm wall may have a cross- sectional shape that is T-shaped, L-shaped, dove-tail shaped, or any other suitable interlocking geometric shape.
• the return channel wall, the vane assembly, and the diaphragm wall may each be manufactured by one of milling, casting, powder metal techniques, and waterjet techniques.
• the return channel wall may be fixedly coupled to the vane assembly by one of welding, slot welding, and brazing.
• FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a diaphragm wall of the diaphragm assembly in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a return channel wall of the diaphragm assembly in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of a vane segment of the diaphragm assembly hi accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the vane segment of FIG. 5;
• FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the return channel wall of FIG. 4 coupled to the vane segment of FIGS. 5 and 6 to form a return channel assembly;
• FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the manner in which the return channel assembly of FIG. 7 is coupled to the diaphragm wall of FIG. 3;
• FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the diaphragm wall of the diaphragm assembly with a first return channel assembly coupled thereto;
• FIG. 10 is a portion of the diaphragm assembly of FIG. 9 enlarged for magnification purposes;
• FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of a portion of an alternative embodiment of the diaphragm wall of the diaphragm assembly in accordance with the present invention.
• a centrifugal compressor 1 includes a casing 3 and a plurality of stages 5 positioned within casing 3.
• stages 5 includes an impeller assembly 7 and a diaphragm assembly 9 encompassing impeller assembly 7.
• Each impeller assembly 7 is positioned along a shaft 11.
• diaphragm assembly 9 includes a return channel wall 13, a vane assembly 15, and a diaphragm wall 17.
• Return channel wall 13 as shown in FIG. 4, has a generally ring-like body portion 19 having an outer circumference 21 and an inner circumference 23.
• Body portion 19 of return channel wall 13 may be manufactured as half segments or quarter segments. Desirably, body portion 19 of return channel wall 13 is manufactured in quarter segments and each of the quarter segments is assembled to form body portion 19 having a ring-like shape. Each segment of body portion 19 may be manufactured by milling, casting, powder metal techniques, or waterjet techniques.
• Body portion 19 further includes a groove 25 formed around inner circumference 23 thereof. Groove 25 is configured to receive a seal 26 when diaphragm assembly 9 is assembled in a stage 5 of compressor 1.
• Vane assembly 15 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, includes a plurality of vanes 27 formed integrally with at least one ring-shaped track 29. Desirably, and as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, vane assembly 15 includes two ring-shaped tracks 29 positioned concentrically with each other. However, this is not to be construed as limiting the present invention as any suitable number of tracks may be utilized.
• Each of tracks 29 includes a rail structure 31 extending therefrom. Rail structure 31 may have a dove-tail cross-sectional shape as shown in FIGS.
• Diaphragm wall 17, as shown in FIG. 3, has a generally ring-like body portion 35 having an outer circumference 37, an inner circumference 39, a front face 41, and a rear face 43.
• Body portion 35 of diaphragm wall 17 may be manufactured as half segments and each of the half segments is assembled to form body portion 35 having a ring-like shape.
• Each segment of body portion 35 may be manufactured by milling, casting, powder metal techniques, or waterjet techniques.
• At least one groove 45 is formed in rear face 43 of body portion 35 and extends around a circumference thereof.
• body portion 35 includes two grooves 45 positioned concentrically with each other.
• Body portion 35 further includes a second groove 47 formed around inner circumference 39 thereof. Second groove 47 is configured to receive a seal 49 when diaphragm assembly 9 is assembled in a stage 5 of compressor 1.
• return channel assembly 33 and diaphragm wall 17 are assembled as follows: first, one of the quarter segments of return channel assembly 33 is coupled to the half segment of diaphragm wall 17 by sliding rail structures 31 into grooves 45 of diaphragm wall 17. The travel of rail structures 31 in grooves 45 may be anywhere from 0 to 180 degrees per half segment of diaphragm wall 17. Next, another one of the quarter segments of return channel assembly 33 is coupled to the half segment of diaphragm wall 17 by sliding rail structures 31 into grooves 45 of diaphragm wall 17. This process is then repeated for the other half segment of diaphragm wall 17 and quarter segments of return channel assembly 33. The two half segments of diaphragm wall 17 are then coupled together to form diaphragm assembly 9.
• diaphragm assembly 9 includes a minimum number of parts since each of vanes 27 is formed as part of an integral vane assembly 15.
• diaphragm assembly 9 can be quickly and easily assembled without the use of expensive specialty bolting.
• Diaphragm assembly 9 can also be easily disassembled, thereby allowing for easier and more efficient cleaning of diaphragm assembly 9.
• Return channel wall assembly 133 includes a return channel wall 113 and a vane assembly 115 that are fixedly coupled together by welding, slot welding, or brazing.
• Return channel wall 113 has a generally ring-like body portion 119 having an outer circumference 121 and an inner circumference 123.
• Body portion 119 of return channel wall 113 may be manufactured as one piece, half segments, or quarter segments.
• Body portion 119 may be manufactured by milling, casting, powder metal techniques, or waterjet techniques.
• Body portion 119 further includes a groove 125 formed around inner circumference 123 thereof. Groove 125 is configured to receive a seal 26 when diaphragm assembly 9 is assembled in a stage 5 of compressor 1.
• Vane assembly 115 includes a plurality of vanes 127 formed integrally with at least one ring-shaped track 129. Desirably, vane assembly 115 includes two ring-shaped tracks 129 positioned concentrically with each other. However, this is not to be construed as limiting the present invention as any suitable number of tracks maybe utilized.
• Each of tracks 129 includes a rail structure 131 extending therefrom.
• Rail structure 131 includes a plurality of equally spaced segments 132. Each of segments 132 have a T-shaped cross-sectional shape.
• Vane assembly 115 may be manufactured as one piece, half segments, or quarter segments. Vane assembly 115 may be manufactured by milling, casting, powder metal techniques, or waterjet techniques. Return channel wall 113 is then fixedly coupled to vane assembly 115 by welding, slot welding, or brazing to form return channel assembly 133 as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.
• Diaphragm wall 117 has a generally ring-like body portion 135 having an outer circumference 137, an inner circumference 139, a front face 141, and a rear face 143.
• Body portion 135 of diaphragm wall 117 may be manufactured as one piece or as half segments.
• Body portion 135 may be manufactured by milling, casting, powder metal techniques, or waterjet techniques.
• At least one groove 145 is formed in rear face 143 of body portion 135 and extends around a circumference thereof.
• body portion 135 includes two grooves 145 positioned concentrically with each other.
• each groove 145 includes a plurality of equally spaced pockets 146 configured to receive segments 132 therein. Pockets 146 are formed in groove 145 by milling, for instance. Grooves 145 may have a T-shaped cross-sectional shape as shown in FIG. 13 to correspond to the cross-sectional shape of rail structures 131 of vane assembly 115. Body portion 135 further includes a second groove 147 formed around inner circumference 139 thereof. Second groove 147 is configured to receive a seal 149 when a diaphragm assembly 109 is assembled in a stage 5 of compressor 1.
• return channel assembly 133 and diaphragm wall 117 are assembled as follows: first, a first half segment of return channel assembly 133 is coupled to a half segment of diaphragm wall 117 by lowering return channel assembly 133 onto diaphragm wall 117 such that each segment 132 of rail structure 131 is received within a pocket 146 of groove 145. Return channel assembly 133 is then rotated, such that segments 132 are locked within groove 145 underneath tab portions 151 formed within groove 145. The travel of rail structures 131 in grooves 145 is approximately 12 degrees. A possible fixture to use during this process is a hydraulic table.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

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Publications (2)

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Family Applications (1)

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• 2009
  • 2009-04-27 US US12/430,444 patent/US8157517B2/en active Active
• 2010
  • 2010-04-26 JP JP2012507462A patent/JP5581379B2/ja active Active
  • 2010-04-26 WO PCT/US2010/032355 patent/WO2010129214A2/en not_active Ceased

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