Devising a method for designing multicomponent diffusers of compressors in turbogenerators with hydrogen cooling

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15587/1729-4061.2025.337285

Keywords:

turbogenerator, compressor diffuser, multilayer seal, gas-dynamic calculations, circulating currents

Abstract

This study's object is the aerodynamic characteristics of the compressor diffusers in hydrogen-cooled turbogenerators.

This paper reports a solution to the task of improving the efficiency of a cooling system discharge unit. This issue relates to enabling the necessary gas consumption while reducing the number of diffuser blades. The problem was solved by introducing a seal with improved technological control capabilities and step-by-step optimization of the diffuser flow part.

Another issue is the thermal loads on the power components of the diffuser unit due to the action of circulating currents and temperature gradients. The problem was solved by introducing dielectric and non-magnetic elements into the structure, by additional finning and multi-component design for the diffuser strength circuits.

The main result is the designed multi-component diffuser structure with a number of blades of 20 while enabling a head of Hst = 978 mm H2O. The adopted duct opening angle was 20°. Other necessary geometric parameters were determined. The introduction of a multilayer seal made it possible to reduce the gap between the impeller and the diffuser to 0.9 mm. The proposed design was tested on the bench at a manufacturing enterprise.

The results of the study are attributed to the use of non-magnetic and dielectric materials (AISI 321 steel and fiberglass), as well as the introduction of additional strength decoupling elements.

A special feature of the proposed method is the application of mathematical models based on the basic equations of gas dynamics, taking into account the composition principles of engineering alloys and synthetic materials. This could be achieved via a step-by-step optimization of the design.

The proposed structure could be implemented when designing and modernizing hydrogen-cooled turbogenerators

Author Biographies

Oleksii Tretiak, National Aerospace University "Kharkiv Aviation Institute"

Doctor of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor

Department of  Aero-Hydrodynamics

Stanislav Kravchenko, National Aerospace University "Kharkiv Aviation Institute"

PhD

Department of  Aero-Hydrodynamics

Bogdan Shestak, National Aerospace University "Kharkiv Aviation Institute"

PhD Student

Department of  Aero-Hydrodynamics

Denys Shpitalnyi, National Aerospace University "Kharkiv Aviation Institute"

PhD Student

Department of  Aero-Hydrodynamics

Mariia Arefieva, ITSTEP SCHOOL

PhD Student

Iryna Tretiak, Limited Liability Company "Kharkov Electric Machine-Building Plant"

PhD Student

Serhii Serhiienko, Limited Liability Company "Kharkov Electric Machine-Building Plant"

PhD Student

Anton Kovryga, JSC "Ukrainian Energy Machines"

PhD Student

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Devising a method for designing multicomponent diffusers of compressors in turbogenerators with hydrogen cooling

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Published

2025-08-26

How to Cite

Tretiak, O., Kravchenko, S., Shestak, B., Shpitalnyi, D., Arefieva, M., Tretiak, I., Serhiienko, S., & Kovryga, A. (2025). Devising a method for designing multicomponent diffusers of compressors in turbogenerators with hydrogen cooling. Eastern-European Journal of Enterprise Technologies, 4(8 (136), 26–38. https://doi.org/10.15587/1729-4061.2025.337285

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Section

Energy-saving technologies and equipment