Centrifugal compressor having adjustable inlet guide vanes

Abstract

An apparatus for adjustment of inlet guide vanes of a compressor includes a ring having a plurality of slots spaced around a circumference thereof; a plurality of lever arm assemblies each having a pin that includes a body with a first end and a second end and a lever arm extending perpendicularly from the second end of the body of the pin; a plurality of vanes each coupled to an end of one of the plurality of lever arms by a shaft; and a rack and pinion drive mechanism. The pin of each of the lever arm assemblies is configured to be positioned within each of the plurality of slots such that the first end of the pin extends into the slot. The rack and pinion drive mechanism includes a pinion coupled to the shaft of one of the plurality of vanes, thereby creating a drive vane; and a driven rack operationally coupled to the pinion. The drive vane is configured to rotate the ring via the rack and pinion drive mechanism, thereby adjusting an angular position of the plurality of vanes.

1 . An apparatus for adjustment of inlet guide vanes of a compressor comprising:
 a ring having a plurality of slots spaced around a circumference thereof;   a plurality of lever arm assemblies each comprising a pin having a body with a first end and a second end and a lever arm extending perpendicularly from the second end of the body of the pin, the pin of each of the lever arm assemblies configured to be positioned within each of the plurality of slots, such that the first end of the pin extends into the slot;   a plurality of vanes each coupled to an end of one of the plurality of lever arms by a shaft; and   a rack and pinion drive mechanism comprising:
 a pinion coupled to the shaft of one of the plurality of vanes, thereby creating a drive vane; and 
 a driven rack operationally coupled to the pinion, 
   wherein the drive vane is configured to rotate the ring via the rack and pinion drive mechanism, thereby adjusting an angular position of the plurality of vanes.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus for adjustment of inlet guide vanes of a compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the driven rack is coupled to a drive shaft. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus for adjustment of inlet guide vanes of a compressor of  claim 2 , wherein a hydraulic cylinder powers the drive shaft to drive the driven rack. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus for adjustment of inlet guide vanes of a compressor of  claim 3 , wherein the hydraulic cylinder is located external to the compressor. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus for adjustment of inlet guide vanes of a compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is isolated from a flow path of the compressor by an endwall cover plate. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus for adjustment of inlet guide vanes of a compressor of  claim 5 , wherein the ring is constrained axially in the compressor by an end wall and the end wall cover plate. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus for adjustment of inlet guide vanes of a compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vanes are each rotated to the same angle when the drive vane rotates the ring via the rack and pinion drive mechanism, thereby adjusting the angular position of the plurality of vanes. 
   
   
       8 . A compressor comprising:
 a casing;   a rotor comprising a shaft and an impeller positioned within the casing; and   a vane adjustment mechanism positioned within the casing and surrounding the rotor, the vane adjustment mechanism comprising:
 a ring having a plurality of slots spaced around a circumference thereof; 
 a plurality of lever arm assemblies each comprising a pin having a body with a first end and a second end and a lever arm extending perpendicularly from the second end of the body of the pin, the pin of each of the lever arm assemblies configured to be positioned within each of the plurality of slots, such that the first end of the pin extends into the slot; 
 a plurality of vanes each coupled to an end of one of the plurality of lever arms by a shaft; and 
 a rack and pinion drive mechanism comprising:
 a pinion coupled to the shaft of one of the plurality of vanes, thereby creating a drive vane; and 
 a driven rack operationally coupled to the pinion, 
 
   wherein the drive vane is configured to rotate the ring via the rack and pinion drive mechanism, thereby adjusting an angular position of the plurality of vanes.   
   
   
       9 . The compressor of  claim 8 , wherein the driven rack is coupled to a drive shaft. 
   
   
       10 . The compressor of  claim 9 , wherein a hydraulic cylinder powers the drive shaft to drive the driven rack. 
   
   
       11 . The compressor of  claim 10 , wherein the hydraulic cylinder is positioned within a housing located external to the casing of the compressor. 
   
   
       12 . The compressor of  claim 8 , wherein the vane adjustment mechanism is isolated from a flow path of the compressor by an endwall cover plate. 
   
   
       13 . The compressor of  claim 8 , wherein the ring is constrained axially in the compressor by an end wall and the end wall cover plate. 
   
   
       14 . The compressor of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of vanes are each rotated to the same angle when the drive vane rotates the ring via the rack and pinion drive mechanism, thereby adjusting the angular position of the plurality of vanes. 
   
   
       15 . A vane adjustment mechanism for a compressor comprising:
 a ring; and   a plurality of vanes pivotally attached around a circumference of the ring,   wherein one of the plurality of vanes is a drive vane configured to rotate the ring via a rack and pinion drive mechanism, thereby adjusting an angular position of the plurality of vanes.   
   
   
       16 . The vane adjustment mechanism of  claim 15 , wherein the ring includes a plurality of slots spaced around a circumference thereof. 
   
   
       17 . The vane adjustment mechanism of  claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of lever arm assemblies each comprising a pin having a body with a first end and a second end and a lever arm extending perpendicularly from the second end of the body of the pin, the pin of each of the lever arm assemblies configured to be positioned within each of the plurality of slots such that the first end of the pin extends into the slot. 
   
   
       18 . The vane adjustment mechanism of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of vanes are each coupled to an end of one of the plurality of lever arms by a shaft. 
   
   
       19 . The vane adjustment mechanism of  claim 15 , wherein the rack and pinion drive mechanism comprises:
 a pinion coupled to the shaft of one of the plurality of vanes, thereby creating a drive vane; and   a driven rack operationally coupled to the pinion.   
   
   
       20 . The vane adjustment mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein the driven rack is coupled to a drive shaft and a hydraulic cylinder powers the drive shaft to drive the driven rack.