Inlet Guide Vane for a Gas Compressor

Abstract

An inlet guide vane for a compressor is provided. The inlet guide vane is adjustable to modify gas flow properties in the compressor, wherein electroactive polymers are arranged in the inlet guide vane such that the shape of the inlet guide vane is adjusted in a specified manner upon applying a voltage to the inlet guide vane.

1 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . An inlet guide vane for a compressor, comprising:
 a plurality of electroactive polymers;   wherein the inlet guide vane is adjustable in order to modify gas flow properties in the compressor, and   wherein the plurality of electroactive polymers is arranged such that a shape of the inlet guide vane is adjusted in a specified manner upon applying a voltage to the inlet guide vane.   
     
     
         16 . The inlet guide vane as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising a fixed portion wherein the shape is maintained upon applying the voltage to the inlet guide vane. 
     
     
         17 . The inlet guide vane as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the fixed portion is located at a fore side. 
     
     
         18 . The inlet guide vane as claimed in  17 , wherein the fixed portion is located between a first portion at the fore side and a second portion at an aft side. 
     
     
         19 . The inlet guide vane as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein at least a part of the plurality of electroactive polymers is located in a first layer extending in a longitudinal direction of the inlet guide vane. 
     
     
         20 . The inlet guide vane as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the first layer is covered with a flexible coating layer on at least one longitudinal side of the inlet guide vane. 
     
     
         21 . The inlet guide vane as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the flexible coating layer comprises a flexible metal layer and/or a flexible polymer layer. 
     
     
         22 . The inlet guide vane as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the flexible coating layer comprises a second layer of sound absorbent material. 
     
     
         23 . The inlet guide vane as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the first layer is laminated to the flexible coating layer. 
     
     
         24 . The inlet guide vane as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein a surface of the inlet guide vane facing a wall of a channel of the compressor is of a generally spherical shape. 
     
     
         25 . A compressor, comprising:
 an inlet guide vane, comprising:
 a plurality of electroactive polymers, 
   wherein the inlet guide vane is adjustable in order to modify gas flow properties in the compressor, and   wherein the plurality of electroactive polymers is arranged such that a shape of the inlet guide vane is adjusted in a specified manner upon applying a voltage to the inlet guide vane.   
     
     
         26 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the compressor is configured as a centrifugal compressor. 
     
     
         27 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the inlet guide vance further comprises a fixed portion wherein the shape is maintained upon applying the voltage to the inlet guide vane. 
     
     
         28 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the fixed portion is located at a fore side. 
     
     
         29 . The compressor as claimed in  28 , wherein the fixed portion is located between a first portion at the fore side and a second portion at an aft side. 
     
     
         30 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein at least a part of the plurality of electroactive polymers is located in a first layer extending in a longitudinal direction of the inlet guide vane. 
     
     
         31 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the first layer is covered with a flexible coating layer on at least one longitudinal side of the inlet guide vane. 
     
     
         32 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the flexible coating layer comprises a flexible metal layer and/or a flexible polymer layer. 
     
     
         33 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the flexible coating layer comprises a second layer of sound absorbent material. 
     
     
         34 . A turbocharger, comprising:
 a compressor, comprising:
 an inlet guide vane, comprising:
 a plurality of electroactive polymers, 
 
   wherein the inlet guide vane is adjustable in order to modify gas flow properties in the compressor, and   wherein the plurality of electroactive polymers is arranged such that a shape of the inlet guide vane is adjusted in a specified manner upon applying a voltage to the inlet guide vane.