Structure and principle of centrifugal compressor

Release time：2025-12-08    Click：9

　　Structure and principle of centrifugal compressor? The multistage series structure and precise energy conversion mechanism of centrifugal compressor make it an indispensable and efficient gas compression equipment in modern industry. In this paper, Turbo-Tech will analyze this technical core in detail from the perspectives of structural composition, working principle, performance characteristics and practical application of centrifugal compressor.

　　Structure and principle of centrifugal compressor

　　First, the core structure of centrifugal compressor

　　1. Main components

　　Centrifugal compressor is mainly composed of rotor system and stator system, which work together to realize efficient gas compression;

　　Rotor system: including main shaft, impeller, balance disk, thrust disk and other key components;

　　Spindle: it transmits the motor torque and supports the impeller to rotate at high speed, usually using high-strength steel such as 35CrMo and 40Cr;

　　Impeller: the core working part of compressor, which consists of wheel disc, wheel cover and blades;

　　Balance disk and thrust disk: used to balance axial force and ensure the stable operation of the rotor;

　　Stator system: including cylinder, partition, seal, air inlet chamber and volute chamber;

　　Cylinder: the shell of the compressor has two structures: horizontal split type and vertical split type (cylinder type);

　　Baffle: a gas channel forming a fixed element, including an air inlet baffle, a middle baffle, a section baffle and an exhaust baffle;

　　Sealing system: including labyrinth seal, dry gas seal and floating ring seal to prevent gas leakage;

　　2. Detailed explanation of key components

　　(1) Impeller

　　Type: closed (with wheel cover and wheel disc), semi-open (with wheel disc only) and open (without wheel cover and wheel disc);

　　Materials: Nickel-based or cobalt-based superalloys are usually used to bear the stress caused by high-speed rotation;

　　Design: In modern times, the three-dimensional flow back-curved blade type is mostly adopted, which has higher efficiency and more uniform airflow distribution;

　　(2) Diffuser

　　Function: the kinetic energy obtained by the gas in the impeller is converted into pressure energy;

　　Type:

　　Vaneless diffuser: simple structure and strong adaptability to variable working conditions;

　　Vaned diffuser: high efficiency, but easy to flow separation;

　　(3) Spiral case

　　Structure: spiral, with small cross section;

　　Function:

　　Collecting compressed gases at all levels;

　　Further speed reduction and pressurization;

　　Guide the gas into the exhaust pipe smoothly;

　　(4) Bearing and sealing system

　　Radial bearing: supporting the weight of the rotor, tilting pad bearing is commonly used to adapt to high-speed operation;

　　Thrust bearing: it bears axial force to prevent the rotor from moving axially;

　　Sealing device: labyrinth seal is commonly used, and dry gas seal is suitable for occasions with high purity requirements;

　　Second, the working principle of centrifugal compressor

　　Based on the principle of dynamic energy conversion, centrifugal compressor realizes gas pressurization through the cooperation of impeller and diffuser;

　　1. Impeller work stage: gas enters the impeller axially, is driven by high-speed rotating blades, and is accelerated and thrown out along the radial direction under the action of centrifugal force. In this process, the gas pressure, velocity and temperature increase synchronously.

　　2. Diffuser conversion stage: the high-speed airflow enters the diffuser with gradually expanding cross-sectional area, and the speed decreases, and the kinetic energy is converted into pressure energy, which further increases the gas pressure.

　　3. Multi-stage compression and intermediate cooling: For high-pressure demand, the gas is introduced into the next stage impeller through a bend and a reflux device for repeated compression. In order to avoid the increase of energy consumption caused by excessive temperature, multistage compressors are often equipped with interstage coolers to improve their efficiency.

　　Third, the performance characteristics

　　The gas handling capacity is large: the exhaust capacity of a single device can reach thousands of cubic meters per hour;

　　Simple structure: no reciprocating parts, good dynamic balance characteristics;

　　Low vibration and noise: simple foundation requirements;

　　Less vulnerable parts: less faults and reliable work;

　　Oil-free cleaning: the compression cavity is clean, which is suitable for occasions with high purity requirements;

　　Fourth, the practical application of centrifugal compressor

　　Centrifugal compressors play a key role in many industrial fields:

　　Petrochemical industry: used for gas transportation and process gas compression, such as natural gas treatment station to provide stable high-pressure source;

　　Energy and power industry: as an air supercharger in gas turbines to improve combustion efficiency;

　　Metallurgical industry: used for blast furnace blast, providing a lot of combustion-supporting air;

　　Refrigeration and air separation field: as the core component of large refrigeration unit and air separation device;

　　Hydrogen energy storage: support high-efficiency gas compression and promote green transformation;

　　Carbon capture project: In the carbon capture and storage (CCS) project, CO2 is compressed to a supercritical state;

　　Electronics industry: provide ultra-clean compressed air for chip manufacturing to ensure dust-free production environment;

　　In a word, the structure and principle of centrifugal compressor are explained in detail, which is here for you. Centrifugal compressor has obvious advantages such as large gas handling capacity, simple structure, small vibration and long service life. With its unique dynamic principle and modular structure, it has become the core equipment in the field of industrial compression. If you are interested in Turbo-Tech centrifugal compressor, please consult the sales number 400-8861856 of Turbo-Tech.