Non-periodic centrifugal compressor diffuser

Abstract

A system, in certain embodiments, includes a centrifugal compressor diffuser having a mounting surface and plurality of diffuser vanes extending from the mounting surface in an axial direction and forming an asymmetrical (e.g., non-periodic) pattern around the circumference of the diffuser. The asymmetrical pattern may be determined based upon characteristics of fluid flowing from an impeller across the diffuser and through a scroll of a centrifugal compressor.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a centrifugal gas compressor, comprising:
 an impeller; 
 a diffuser configured to convert velocity into pressure for a fluid flow from the impeller; and 
 a scroll configured to direct the fluid flow from the diffuser out of the centrifugal gas compressor; 
 wherein the diffuser comprises a plurality of diffuser vanes arranged in an asymmetrical pattern around a mounting surface of the diffuser. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the asymmetrical pattern is determined based upon characteristics of the fluid flowing from the impeller across the diffuser and through the scroll. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the asymmetrical pattern comprises an asymmetrical geometry. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the asymmetrical geometry comprises a change in a pressure surface from a first diffuser vane to a second diffuser vane. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the asymmetrical geometry comprises a change in a suction surface from a first diffuser vane to a second diffuser vane. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the asymmetrical pattern comprises an asymmetrical orientation. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the asymmetrical orientation comprises a change in radial location from a first diffuser vane to a second diffuser vane. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the asymmetrical orientation comprises a change in circumferential location with respect to equally spaced reference points from a first diffuser vane to a second diffuser vane. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the asymmetrical orientation comprises a change in angular orientation from a first diffuser vane to a second diffuser vane. 
     
     
         10 . A system, comprising:
 a centrifugal compressor diffuser having a mounting surface and a plurality of diffuser vanes extending from the mounting surface in an axial direction and forming an asymmetrical pattern in a circumferential direction along the mounting surface.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the asymmetrical pattern comprises an asymmetrical geometry. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the asymmetrical geometry comprises a change in a pressure surface or a suction surface from a first diffuser vane to a second diffuser vane. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the asymmetrical pattern comprises an asymmetrical orientation. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the asymmetrical orientation comprises a change in radial location from a first diffuser vane to a second diffuser vane. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the asymmetrical orientation comprises a change in circumferential location with respect to equally spaced reference points from a first diffuser vane to a second diffuser vane. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the asymmetrical orientation comprises a change in angular orientation from a first diffuser vane to a second diffuser vane. 
     
     
         17 . A method, comprising:
 determining three-dimensional flow field characteristics of a fluid flowing from a centrifugal compressor impeller across a centrifugal compressor diffuser and through a centrifugal compressor scroll; and   optimizing the shape, orientation, and location of each of a plurality of diffuser vanes of the centrifugal compressor diffuser based on the three-dimensional flow field characteristics.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein optimizing the shape, orientation, and location of each of the plurality of diffuser vanes comprises minimizing the creation of loss-producing fluid structures near each of the plurality of diffuser vanes. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein optimizing the shape, orientation, and location of each of the plurality of diffuser vanes comprises optimizing a pressure surface or a suction surface of each of the plurality of diffuser vanes. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein one or more diffuser vane surfaces are not spatially symmetric along equally spaced radial lines defined at an angle equal to 360 degrees divided by the number of diffuser vanes.