Method and apparatus for producing fluid pressure and controlling boundary layer
First Claim
1. In a blower or pump or the like of the axial flow or mixed flow turbomachine type and having a hub member,a. a plurality of impeller blades mounted on a hub member for rotation,(1) each of said blades having a hub portion, a tip portion, a rounded leading edge and a relatively sharp trailing edge,(2) said blades having a combination of camber and blade solidity wherein, during operation of said blades at the design point,(a) the outlet relative velocity is equal to or greater than 0.6 times the inlet relative velocity at the hub of the impeller,(b) the ratio of the outlet relative velocity to the inlet relative velocity at the hub is greater than at the tip, and(c) the angle of flow deflection within the impeller blades is at least equal to approximately 50°
- or more, at one location within the impeller,b. a plurality of stationary guide vanes located downstream from said impeller blades and through which flows the entire flow discharge by the impeller blades,(1) each of said guide vanes including at least a forward row and an aft row of blades,(2) the chord of each of the blades in the aft row being greater than the chord of each of the blades in the forward row,(3) said blades in the aft row cooperating with said blades in the forward row to form during operation of the blower or pump, multiple rows of blades, and(4) each of said guide vanes having a combination of camber and blade solidity wherein the direction of discharge from said impeller blades is turned by said guide vanes back to the direction of entry of said flow into said impeller blades while the absolute flow through said stationary guide vanes undergoes a substantial flow deceleration wherein the ratio of the axial through flow velocity to the outlet velocity from the impeller blades equals approximately 0.66 or less at the hub location, andc. the pressure coefficient for said blower or pump is equal to at least 1.0 or more.
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Abstract
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing fluid pressure from mechanical energy. The apparatus is of the turbomachine type and includes blowers, compressors, pumps, turbines, fluid motors, and the like. This invention also relates to a method of generating pressurized fluid in which the flow of fluid is first deflected by a substantial amount while simultaneously maintaining the relative velocity following said deflection approximately equal to the relative velocity prior to said deflection fluid at least at one location between hub and tip followed by generating pressure by turning back the flow of fluid by an amount approximately equal to the amount of deflection of the fluid while simultaneously decelerating the flow of fluid and keeping the ratio of the axial through flow velocity through the fluid flow path to the outlet velocity following the generation of said deflection equal to approximately 0.66 or less. The invention also relates to a method and apparatus for controlling a boundary layer along flow directing surfaces contained within a blower, pump and the like. The invention also relates to the method and apparatus for producing fluid pressure from mechanical energy while simultaneously controlling the boundary layer formed on the flow directing surfaces contained in the fluid flow path.
55 Citations
139 Claims
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1. In a blower or pump or the like of the axial flow or mixed flow turbomachine type and having a hub member,
a. a plurality of impeller blades mounted on a hub member for rotation, (1) each of said blades having a hub portion, a tip portion, a rounded leading edge and a relatively sharp trailing edge, (2) said blades having a combination of camber and blade solidity wherein, during operation of said blades at the design point, (a) the outlet relative velocity is equal to or greater than 0.6 times the inlet relative velocity at the hub of the impeller, (b) the ratio of the outlet relative velocity to the inlet relative velocity at the hub is greater than at the tip, and (c) the angle of flow deflection within the impeller blades is at least equal to approximately 50° - or more, at one location within the impeller,
b. a plurality of stationary guide vanes located downstream from said impeller blades and through which flows the entire flow discharge by the impeller blades, (1) each of said guide vanes including at least a forward row and an aft row of blades, (2) the chord of each of the blades in the aft row being greater than the chord of each of the blades in the forward row, (3) said blades in the aft row cooperating with said blades in the forward row to form during operation of the blower or pump, multiple rows of blades, and (4) each of said guide vanes having a combination of camber and blade solidity wherein the direction of discharge from said impeller blades is turned by said guide vanes back to the direction of entry of said flow into said impeller blades while the absolute flow through said stationary guide vanes undergoes a substantial flow deceleration wherein the ratio of the axial through flow velocity to the outlet velocity from the impeller blades equals approximately 0.66 or less at the hub location, and c. the pressure coefficient for said blower or pump is equal to at least 1.0 or more. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 83, 84)
- or more, at one location within the impeller,
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81. In a blower or pump or the like of the axial flow or mixed flow turbomachine type and having a hub member,
a. a plurality of impeller blades mounted on the hub member for rotation, (1) each of said blades having a hub portion, a tip portion, a rounded leading edge and a relatively sharp trailing edge, (2) said blades having a combination of camber and blade solidity wherein, during operation of said blades at the design point, (a) the outlet relative velocity is equal to or greater than approximately 0.6 times the inlet relative velocity at the hub of the impeller, (b) the ratio of the outlet relative velocity to the inlet relative velocity at the hub is greater than at the tip, and (c) the angle of flow deflection within the impeller blades is equal to or more than approximately 50° - at the hub location, and
b. a plurality of stationary guide vanes mounted on the hub member, said guide vanes being located downstream from said impeller blades and through which flows the entire flow discharged by the impeller blades, (1) each of said guide vanes having a hub portion and a tip portion, (2) each of said guide vanes having a combination of camber and blade solidity wherein the direction of discharge from said impeller blades is turned by said guide vanes back to the direction of entry of said flow into said impeller blades while the absolute flow through said stationary guide vanes undergoes a substantial flow deceleration wherein the ratio of the axial through flow velocity to absolute impeller blade exit velocity from the impeller blades equals approximately 0.66 or less at the hub location, and c. the pressure coefficient for said blower or pump is equal to at least 1.0 or more. - View Dependent Claims (82, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92)
- at the hub location, and
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93. A method of producing pressurized fluid comprising the steps of:
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a. forming a fluid flow path, b. generating a flow of fluid through said fluid flow path, c. deflecting the flow of fluid as same flows through said fluid flow path substantially without generating any pressure at least at one point in the fluid flow path while simultaneously maintaining the average relative velocity following said deflection approximately equal to the relative velocity prior to said deflection at least at one point in the fluid flow path, and d. generating pressure by turning back the flow of fluid by an amount approximately equal to the amount of deflection of the fluid while simultaneously decelerating the flow of fluid by maintaining the ratio of the axial through flow velocity through the fluid flow path to the outlet velocity, before the generation of said pressure, equals approximately 0.66 or less.
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94. A method of producing pressurized fluid comprising the steps of:
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a. forming a fluid flow path, b. generating a flow of fluid through said fluid flow path, c. deflecting the flow of fluid as same flows through said fluid flow path by approximately 50 or more substantially without generating any pressure at least one point in the fluid flow path while simultaneously maintaining average relative velocity prior to said deflection at least at one point in the fluid flow path, and d. generating substantial pressure by turning back the flow of fluid by an amount greater than approximately 49°
while simultaneously decelerating the fluid of fluid by maintaining the ratio of the axial through flow velocity through the fluid flow path to the outlet velocity, before the generation of said pressure equal to approximately 0.66 or less.
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95. A method of removing a portion of the boundary layer formed on flow directing surfaces, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. forming a fluid flow path having flow directing surfaces, b. generating a flow of fluid through said flow path along said flow directing surfaces while simultaneously forming a boundary layer on said flow directing surfaces, c. forming a fluid flow passage, and d. removing a portion of the boundary layer containing a flow quantity up to Q=1/2(μ
π
DM VM) where μ
equals the boundary layer thickness, DM is the mean diameter at the point where the boundary layer is removed and VM is the mean velocity within the boundary layer at the place where the boundary layer is removed, the boundary layer removed includes the boundary layer from a first part of said boundary layer formed on at least one of said flow directing surfaces, and returning said portion of said removed boundary layer to said fluid flow path at a location upstream of said first part by simultaneously connecting said fluid passage in fluid communication with said first part in said upstream location. - View Dependent Claims (96, 97, 98)
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99. A method of controlling boundary layer formed on a flow directing surface, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. forming a fluid flow path having flow directing surfaces, b. generating a flow of fluid through said fluid flow path and along said flow directing surfaces while simultaneously forming a boundary layer on said flow directing surfaces, c. forming a fluid flow passage, and d. controlling the boundary layer thickness on at least one of said flow directing surfaces by removing from a plurality of first parts of said boundary layer formed on said flow directing surfaces, a portion of said boundary layer containing a flow quantity up to Q=1/2(μ
π
DM VM) where μ
equals the boundary layer thickness, DM is the mean diameter at the point where the boundary layer is removed and VM is the mean velocity within the boundary layer at the place where the boundary layer is removed, the boundary layer removed includes the boundary layer from the plurality of first parts or said boundary layer formed on said flow directing surfaces, and returning each of said portions of said boundary layer to said fluid flow path at a respective one of a plurality of parts located upstream of said first parts by simultaneously connecting said fluid passage in fluid communication with said first parts and said points.
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100. A method of removing a portion of the boundary layer formed on flow directing surfaces, said method comprising the steps:
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a. of forming a fluid flow path having spaced apart flow directing surfaces, b. forming a first fluid passage in one of said spaced apart flow directing surfaces outside the said fluid flow path, c. forming a second fluid passage in the other said spaced apart flow directing surface outside the said fluid flow path, d. generating a flow of fluid through said fluid flow path along said flow directing surfaces while simultaneously forming a boundary layer on said flow directing surfaces, e. removing from a plurality of first parts of said boundary layer formed on one of said flow directing surfaces portions of the boundary layer containing a flow quantity up to Q=1/2(μ
π
DM VM) where μ
equals the boundary layer thickness, DM is the mean diameter at the point where the boundary layer is removed and VM is the mean velocity within the boundary layer where the boundary layer is removed, the boundary layer removed includes the boundary layer from a first part of said boundary layer formed on at least one of said flow directing surfaces and returning each of said portions of said boundary layer to a respective one of a plurality of points located upstream of said first parts by connecting said first fluid flow passage in fluid communication with said first parts and said points, andf. removing from a plurality of first parts of the other flow directing surfaces portions of said boundary layer containing a flow quantity up to Q=1/2(μ
π
DM VM) where μ
equals the boundary layer thickness, DM is the mean diameter at the point where the boundary layer is removed and VM is the mean velocity within the boundary layer at the place where the boundary layer is removed, the boundary layer removed includes the boundary layer from a first part of said boundary layer formed on at least one of said flow directing surfaces and returning each of said portions of said boundary layer to a respective one of a plurality of points located upstream of said first parts surface by connecting said first fluid passage in fluid communication with said first parts and said points.
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101. A method of producing pressurized fluid at reduced noise levels comprising the steps of:
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a. forming a fluid flow path, b. generating a flow of fluid through said fluid flow path, c. deflecting the flow of fluid as same flows through the fluid flow path substantially without generating any pressure at least at one point in the fluid flow path while simultaneously maintaining the average relative velocity following said deflection approximately equal to the relative velocity prior to said deflection at least at one point in the fluid flow path, and d. generating pressure by turning back the flow of absolute fluid velocity by an amount approximately equal to the amount of absolute velocity deflection of the fluid while simultaneously decelerating the flow of fluid.
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102. A method of producing pressurized fluid at reduced noise levels comprising the steps of:
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a. forming a fluid flow path having flow directing surfaces, b. generating a flow of fluid through said fluid flow path along said flow directing surfaces while simultaneously forming a boundary layer on said flow directing surfaces, c. deflecting the flow of fluid as same flows through the fluid flow path substantially without generating any pressure at least at one point in the fluid flow path while simultaneously maintaining the average relative velocity following said deflection approximately equal to the relative velocity prior to said deflection at least at one point in the fluid flow path, d. generating pressure by turning back the flow of absolute fluid velocity by an amount approximately equal to the amount of absolute velocity deflection of the flow while simultaneously decelerating the flow of fluid, e. forming a fluid flow passage, and f. removing from a first part of said boundary layer formed on at least one of flow directing surfaces a portion of the boundary layer containing a flow quantity up to Q=1/2(μ
π
DM VM) where μ
equals the boundary layer thickness, DM is the mean diameter at the point where the boundary layer is removed and VM is the mean velocity within the boundary layer at the place where the boundary layer is removed, the boundary layer removed includes the boundary layer from the first part of said boundary layer formed on at least one of said flow directing surfaces, and returning said portion of said boundary layer to said fluid flow path at a location upstream of said first part by simultaneously connecting said fluid passage in fluid communication with said first part and said upstream location.
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103. A method of producing pressurized fluid, comprising the steps of:
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a. forming a fluid flow path having flow directing surfaces, b. generating a flow of fluid through said flow path along said flow directing surfaces while simultaneously forming a boundary layer on said flow directing surfaces, c. deflecting the flow of fluid as same flows through said fluid flow path substantially without generating any pressure at least at one point with fluid flow path while simultaneously maintaining the average relative velocity following said deflection approximately equal to the relative velocity prior to said deflection, d. generating pressure by turning back the flow of fluid by an amount approximately equal to the amount of deflection of the fluid while simultaneously decelerating the flow of fluid by maintaining the ratio of the axial through flow velocity through the fluid flow path to the impeller outlet velocity during the generation of said pressure equal to approximately 0.66 or less, e. forming a fluid flow passage, and f. removing from a first part of said boundary layer formed on at least one of said flow directing surfaces a portion of the boundary layer containing a flow quantity up to Q=1/2(μ
π
DM VM) where μ
equals the boundary layer thickness, DM is the mean diameter at the point where the boundary layer is removed and VM is the mean velocity within the boundary layer at the place where the boundary layer is removed, the boundary layer removed includes the boundary layer from the first part of said boundary layer formed on at least one of said flow directing surfaces, and returning said portion of said boundary layer to the fluid flow path upstream of said first part by simultaneously connecting said fluid passage in fluid communication with said first part and the fluid flow path located upstream of said first part.
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104. In a blower or pump or the like of the turbomachine type having a plurality of impeller blades mounted on an impeller for rotation, means for rotating said impeller blades, and a fluid flow path through which the fluid flows during operation of the blower or pump, said fluid flow path including surfaces for directing the flow of fluid passing through said fluid flow path, said surfaces, during operation of the blower or pump, having a boundary layer formed thereon, the improvement comprising means for removing a portion of the boundary layer from a first predetermined part, the size of the cross-sectional area of a first part of said means at said first predetermined part being equal up to approximately 1/2μ
- π
DM in which μ
is equal to the boundary layer thickness at said first predetermined part and having a value of approximately 0.233×
R-1/6 or 0.371×
R-1/5 or 0.154×
R-1/7 or 5.0×
R-1/6 in which R equals the Reynolds number at the diffusing surface at said first predetermined part, and DM is equal to the mean diameter at the point of the diffusing surface at said first predetermined part where the boundary layer is removed, and the size of the cross-sectional area of a second part of said means at said second predetermined part being equal to approximately 1/2μ
E π
DME in which μ
E is equal to the boundary layer thickness at said second predetermined part and having a value which is the function of the Reynolds number R at said second predetermined part, and DME is equal to the mean diameter of the diffusing surface at said second predetermined part. - View Dependent Claims (105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 124, 125)
- π
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121. In a blower or pump or the like of the turbomachine type having a plurality of impeller blades mounted on an impeller for rotation, stationary guide vanes located downstream of said impeller blades, said stationary guide vanes being mounted on a center body portion, said blower or pump having a fluid flow path through which fluid flows, said fluid flow path including two or more flow directing surfaces, including an outer surface of said center body portion, said flow directing surfaces, during operation of the blower or pump, having a boundary layer formed thereon, the improvement comprising means for removing a portion of the boundary layer from a first predetermined part of the outer surface of said center body portion and returning said removed boundary layer to the boundary layer at a second predetermined part located upstream of said first predetermined part, the size of the cross-sectional area of a first part of said means at said first predetermined part being equal up to approximately 1/2μ
- π
DM in which μ
is equal to the boundary layer thickness at said first predetermined part and having a value of approximately 0.233×
R.sup. -1/6 or 0.371×
R-1/5 or 0.154×
R-1/7 or 5.0×
R-1/2 in which R equals the Reynolds number at the diffusing surface at said first predetermined part, and DM is equal to the mean diameter at the point of the diffusing surface at said first predetermined part where the boundary layer is removed, and the size of the cross-sectional area of a second part of said means at said second predetermined part being equal to approximately 1/2(μ
E π
DME) in which μ
E is equal to the boundary layer thickness at said second predetermined part and having a value which is the function of the Reynolds number R at said second predetermined part'"'"' and DME is equal to the mean diameter of the diffusing surface at said second predetermined part. - View Dependent Claims (122, 123)
- π
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126. A blower or pump of the axial flow or mixed flow turbomachine type comprising
a. an elongated housing having an inlet and an outlet, b. a first hub member mounted for rotation within said housing, c. means mounted within said housing for rotating said hub member, d. a plurality of impeller blades mounted on said hub member for rotation therewith, (1) each of said impeller blades having a hub portion, a tip portion, a rounded leading edge and a relatively sharp trailing edge, (2) said impeller blades have a combination of camber and blade solidity wherein, during operation of said blades at the design point, (a) the outlet relative velocity is equal to or greater than approximately 0.6 times the inlet relative velocity at the hub of the impeller, (b) the ratio of the outlet relative velocity to the inlet relative velocity at the hub is greater than at the tip, (c) the angle of flow deflection within the impeller blades is equal to or more than approximately 50° - at the hub location, and
(d) a second hub member mounted within said housing between said first hub member and said outlet, (e) a plurality of stationary guide vanes mounted on said second hub member, (1) each of said guide vanes have a hub portion and a tip portion, (2) each of said guide vanes have a combination of camber and blade solidity wherein the direction of discharge of said impeller blades is turned by said guide vanes back to the direction of entry of said flow into said impeller blades while the absolute flow through said stationary guide vanes undergoes a substantial flow deceleration of approximately 0.66 or less at the hub location, (f) means for directing through said impeller blades the entire flow discharged by said impeller blades, said flow directing means including a portion of said housing and said first and second hub portions, and (g) the pressure coefficient for said blower or pump is equal to at least 1.0 or more.
- at the hub location, and
- 127. In a blower or pump or the like of the turbomachine type having a plurality of impeller blades mounted on an impeller for rotation, means for rotating said impeller blades, and a fluid flow path through which the fluid flows during operation of the blower or pump, said fluid flow path including surfaces for directing the flow of fluid passing through said fluid flow path, said flow directing surfaces including a surface for diffusing the fluid flowing through said fluid flow path, said diffusing surface having an inlet and outlet located downstream of said impeller blades, said diffusing surface, during operation of the blower or pump, having a boundary layer formed thereon, the improvement comprising means for removing a portion of the boundary layer from a first predetermined part of said diffusing surface adjacent the outlet and returning said removed boundary layer to the fluid flow path at a location upstream of said first predetermined part and adjacent said inlet.
- 137. In a blower or pump or the like of the turbomachine type having a plurality of impeller blades mounted on an impeller for rotation, stationary guide vanes located downstream of said impeller blades, said stationary guide vanes being mounted on a center body portion, at least one of said flow directing surfaces including a surface for diffusing the fluid flowing through said fluid flow path, said diffusing surface having an inlet and outlet located downstream of said impeller blades, said blower or pump having a fluid flow path through which fluid flows, said fluid flow path including two or more flow directing surfaces, including an outer surface of said center body portion, said flow directing surfaces, during operation of the blower or pump, having a boundary layer formed thereon, the improvement comprising means for removing a portion of the boundary layer from a first predetermined part of said diffusing surface adjacent said outlet and returning said removed boundary layer to the boundary layer at a second predetermined part located upstream of said first predetermined part and adjacent said outlet.
Specification