Centrifugal compressors with integrated intercooling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10731664-B2
Application number	US-201515507623-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 27, 2015
Priority date	Aug 28, 2014
Publication date	Aug 4, 2020
Grant date	Aug 4, 2020

Abstract

A compressor comprising: a casing; an upstream impeller and a downstream impeller for rotation in the casing; a diaphragm comprised of an internal portion and an external portion; an upstream diffuser fluidly coupled to an outlet of the upstream impeller; a return channel fluidly coupled to the upstream diffuser and to an inlet of the downstream impeller, the return channel has a plurality of return-channel blades connecting the internal and external diaphragm portions; and a downstream diffuser fluidly coupled to an outlet of the downstream impeller is disclosed. A first coolant passage is in the internal diaphragm portion and extends around an inner core, the first coolant passage being in heat-exchange relationship with the upstream diffuser and the return channel. A second coolant passage and third coolant passage are separated by a second inner core in the external diaphragm portion and in a heat-exchange relationship with the return channel and the downstream diffuser.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An internally cooled centrifugal compressor, the centrifugal compressor comprising:
a casing;
at least an upstream impeller and a downstream impeller sequentially arranged for rotation in the casing;
a stationary diaphragm arranged in the casing and comprised of an internal diaphragm portion and an external diaphragm portion;
an upstream diffuser fluidly coupled to an outlet of the upstream impeller;
a return channel fluidly coupled to the upstream diffuser and to an inlet of the downstream impeller, the return channel provided with a plurality of return-channel blades connecting the internal diaphragm portion to the external diaphragm portion; and
a downstream diffuser fluidly coupled to an outlet of the downstream impeller;
wherein a first coolant passage is provided in the internal diaphragm portion and extends around a first inner core arranged in the internal diaphragm portion, the first coolant passage being in heat-exchange relationship with the upstream diffuser and the return channel; and
wherein a second coolant passage and a third coolant passage are provided in the external diaphragm portion, separated by a second inner core arranged in the external diaphragm portion, the second coolant passage and third coolant passage being in heat-exchange relationship with the return channel and the downstream diffuser.

2. The centrifugal compressor of claim 1 , wherein inlet coolant ducts and outlet coolant ducts extend through the return-channel blades, for circulating coolant through the first coolant passage.

3. The centrifugal compressor of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of inlet ducts extending through the return-channel blades fluidly connect the third coolant passage in the external diaphragm portion to the first coolant passage in the internal diaphragm portion; and wherein a plurality of outlet ducts extending through the return-channel blades fluidly connect the first coolant passage to the second coolant passage.

4. The centrifugal compressor of claim 1 , wherein the third coolant passage is in heat-exchange relationship with the downstream diffuser and the second coolant passage is in heat-exchange relationship with the return channel.

5. The centrifugal compressor of claim 1 , wherein: a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet are arranged in the external diaphragm portion in fluid communication with the third and second coolant passages.

6. The centrifugal compressor of claim 5 , wherein the coolant inlet, the coolant outlet and the first, second and third coolant passages are arranged such that coolant enters from the coolant inlet and exits through the coolant outlet and flows sequentially: through the third coolant passage arranged in the external diaphragm portion and in heat-exchange relationship with the downstream diffuser; through the first coolant passage, in heat-exchange relationship with the upstream diffuser and the return channel; and through the second coolant passage, in heat-exchange relationship with the return channel.

7. The centrifugal compressor of claim 5 , wherein the coolant inlet comprises an annular coolant-inlet plenum.

8. The centrifugal compressor of claim 5 , wherein the coolant outlet comprises an annular coolant-outlet plenum.

9. The centrifugal compressor of claim 1 , wherein the first coolant passage has a substantially loop shape in radial section and extends between the first inner core and a cover forming a surface of the upstream diaphragm, and between the first inner core and a first wall forming a surface of the return channel, whereto the return-channel blades are connected.

10. The centrifugal compressor of claim 1 , wherein the third coolant passage and the second coolant passage form a cooling loop at least partly surrounding the second inner core.

11. The centrifugal compressor of claim 1 , wherein the second coolant passage extends between the second inner core and a second wall forming a surface of the return channel whereto the return channel blades are connected.

12. The centrifugal compressor of claim 1 , wherein the third coolant passage extends between the second inner core and a third wall forming a surface of the downstream diffuser.

13. The centrifugal compressor of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of ports extend through the second inner core, where through coolant flows from the third coolant passage towards the first coolant passage.

Assignees

• Nuovo Pignone Srl
• Nuovo Pignone Tech Srl

Inventors

• Iurisci Giuseppe
• Aalburg Christian
• Sassanelli Giuseppe
• Mei Luciano
• Schoewel Simon
• Twarowski Pawel
• Watrobski Marek

Classifications

• F04D29/44 Primary

  Fluid-guiding means, e.g. diffusers · CPC title

• F04D29/444

  Bladed diffusers · CPC title

• F04D29/441

  especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps · CPC title

• F04D29/5826

  Cooling at least part of the working fluid in a heat exchanger · CPC title

• F04D29/584 Primary

  cooling or heating the machine (F04D29/5846, F04D29/5853 take precedence) · CPC title