Systems and methods of centrifugal moving wave compressors

Abstract

Aspects of this disclosure provide a centrifugal impeller having a plurality of constant area shrouded channels that inlet or outlet gas when the channel passes stator inlet port or exit port. The stator walls and ports are located closely adjacent the inside diameter (ID) and outside diameter (OD) of the impeller channel openings, allowing gas to enter or exit a channel of the impeller as the shrouded channel passes a stator port and allows gas to be contained within a channel of the impeller as the shrouded channel passes a stator wall. Further, the impeller reuses the pressurized gas flow by reinjecting the pressurized gas flow back into the ID of the impeller via a second inlet port and utilizing moving wave compression energy. The combination and sequence centrifugal processes and moving wave processes create a higher stage pressure ratio, at lower gas flow, with high gas flow turndown as compared to a conventional centrifugal compressor with similar dimensions and operating speed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of compressing air comprising:
 increasing velocity of air flow, via centrifugal energy, within sequential channels of a centrifugal impeller;   capturing the air flow from the sequential channels;   reloading at least some of the captured air flow into sequential channels of the centrifugal impeller;   increasing pressure of the reloaded air flow by inducing at least one shockwave traveling in a same direction as the centrifugal energy;   increasing pressure of the reloaded air flow by inducing at least one shockwave traveling opposite the centrifugal energy;   discharging the increased pressure reloaded air flow from the sequential channels.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 increasing pressure of the reloaded air flow by inducing at least one additional shockwave traveling in the same direction as the centrifugal energy. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the pressure of the reloaded air flow resulting from the at least one additional shockwave traveling in the same direction as the centrifugal energy is comparatively higher than the pressure of the reloaded air flow resulting from pressure of the reloaded air flow by inducing at least one shockwave traveling opposite the centrifugal energy. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 inducing an adjustment wave after the discharging. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 angularly locating at least one barrier adjacent the centrifugal impeller, wherein the reloaded air flow within the sequential channels of the centrifugal impeller collides with the at least one barrier. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 radially locating at least one barrier adjacent the centrifugal impeller, wherein the reloaded air flow within the sequential channels of the centrifugal impeller collides with the at least one barrier. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 capturing the discharged air flow; 
 injecting at least some of the captured discharged air flow into sequential channels of another centrifugal impeller. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 cooling at least some of the capturing the air flow prior to the reloading. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 changing a speed of the centrifugal impeller. 
 
     
     
         10 . A gas compressor comprising:
 a centrifugal impeller configured to increase velocity of air flow, via centrifugal energy, within sequential channels of a centrifugal impeller;   at least one port that captures the air flow from the sequential channels;   at least one reload port that reloads the at least some captured air flow into sequential channels of the centrifugal impeller; and   a stator comprising at least one radially located barrier operable to increase pressure of the reloaded air flow within the sequential channels by inducing at least one shockwave of controllable strength traveling a same direction as the centrifugal energy.   
     
     
         11 . The gas compressor of  claim 10  wherein the stator further comprises at least another angularly located barrier operable to increase pressure of the reloaded air flow by inducing at least one other shockwave traveling opposite direction of the centrifugal energy. 
     
     
         12 . The gas compressor of  claim 10  wherein the stator further comprises at least an additional angularly located barrier operable to increase pressure of the reloaded air flow by inducing at least one other shockwave traveling a same direction as the centrifugal energy. 
     
     
         13 . The gas compressor of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a discharge port that discharges the increased pressure reloaded air flow from the sequential channels. 
 
     
     
         14 . The gas compressor of  claim 13  wherein at least some of the discharged air flow is injected into sequential channels of another centrifugal impeller. 
     
     
         15 . The gas compressor of  claim 14  further comprising:
 at least one cooling unit operable to cool at least some of the discharged air flow prior to the injecting. 
 
     
     
         16 . The gas compressor of  claim 10  further comprising:
 at least one cooling unit operable to cool at least some of the captured the air flow prior to the reload port. 
 
     
     
         17 . The gas compressor of  claim 10  wherein the centrifugal impeller is one of:
 radial inlet and radial outlet; and 
 axial inlet and axial outlet. 
 
     
     
         18 . The gas compressor of  claim 10  wherein the centrifugal impeller is radial inlet and axial outlet. 
     
     
         19 . The gas compressor of  claim 10  wherein the centrifugal impeller is axial inlet and radial outlet. 
     
     
         20 . A method of compressing air comprising:
 increasing velocity of air flow, via centrifugal energy, within sequential channels of a centrifugal impeller;   capturing the air flow from the sequential channels;   reloading at least some of the captured air flow into sequential channels of the centrifugal impeller;   increasing pressure of the reloaded air flow by inducing at least one shockwave traveling in the same direction as the centrifugal energy;   increasing pressure of the reloaded air flow by inducing at least one shockwave traveling opposite the centrifugal energy;   increasing pressure of the reloaded air flow by inducing at least one other shockwave traveling opposite the centrifugal energy;   discharging the increased pressure reloaded air flow from the sequential channels; and   angularly locating at least one barrier adjacent the centrifugal impeller, wherein the reloaded air flow within the sequential channels of the centrifugal impeller collides with the at least one barrier.