Multi-segment compressor casing assembly

Abstract

A casing assembly for a compressor includes an internal compression assembly with a shaft and at least one impeller disposed on the shaft. The casing assembly includes an inlet body segment having a fluid inlet, an outlet body segment having a fluid outlet, and a number of intermediate body segments selected from a plurality of intermediate body segments, which are preferably preformed. The intermediate segments are disposed between the inlet and outlet segments to form the casing and each has an inner circumferential surface defining an interior chamber section, the chamber sections collectively defining at least a portion of a compressor chamber sized to receive the compression assembly. Preferably, the intermediate segment inner surfaces have equal inside diameters and are generally coaxially aligned. As such, the inner surfaces collectively define a portion of continuous compressor support surface of a desired axial length for supporting the compression assembly.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings, which are diagrammatic, embodiments that are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a compressor casing assembly in accordance with a first construction of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is another front perspective view, viewed from the top, of the casing assembly of FIG. 1, shown without a casing base;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the casing assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the casing assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an axial cross-sectional view of the casing assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is another axial cross-sectional view of the casing assembly, shown with an installed internal compression assembly;

FIG. 7 is greatly enlarged, broken away view of a portion of the casing assembly shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a partly exploded, perspective view of the casing assembly of FIG. 1, shown without fasteners;

FIG. 9 is an exploded, side elevational view of the casing assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of a casing assembly in accordance with a second construction of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a partly exploded, front perspective view of the second casing assembly construction of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a partly exploded, front perspective view of a casing assembly in accordance with a third construction of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a front plan view of an intermediate segment of the casing assembly;

FIG. 14 is a side plan view of the intermediate segment of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a front plan view of an inlet segment of the casing assembly;

FIG. 16 is a rear plan view of the inlet segment of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a front plan view of an outlet segment of the casing assembly;

FIG. 18 is a rear plan view of the outlet segment of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of the casing assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a top plan view of the casing assembly of FIG. 19; and

FIG. 21 is an axial cross-sectional view of the second embodiment casing assembly of FIG. 20.

Claims

1. A casing assembly for a compressor, the compressor including an internal compression assembly having a shaft rotatable about a central axis and at least one compressor stage with an impeller disposed on the shaft, the casing assembly comprising: an inlet body segment having a fluid inlet;an outlet body segment having a fluid outlet; anda number of intermediate body segments selected from a plurality of intermediate body segments, the selected number of intermediate segments being disposed between the inlet and outlet body segments, each intermediate segment being connected with at least one of the inlet segment, the outlet segment and another one of the intermediate segments to form a compressor casing, each intermediate segment having an inner circumferential surface defining an interior chamber section, the chamber sections of the connected intermediate body segments collectively defining at least a portion of a compressor chamber sized to receive the internal compression assembly.

2. The casing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the internal compression assembly has a size and the number of intermediate body segments is selected to provide the compressor chamber with a volume sufficient to receive the predetermined-sized compression assembly.

3. The casing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the internal compression assembly has an axial length and the number of intermediate body segments is selected to provide the compressor chamber with an axial length of at least a portion of the compression assembly axial length.

4. The casing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the internal compression assembly has an axial length, each intermediate body segment has an axial length, and the number of intermediate segments is selected to provide the compressor chamber with an axial length of at least a portion of the compression assembly axial length.

5. The casing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein each one of the inlet and outlet body segments has an inner circumferential surface defining an interior chamber section, the interior chamber sections of the inlet, outlet and intermediate body segments collectively defining the entire compressor chamber.

6. The casing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein one of: the selected number of intermediate body segments is zero and the inlet and outlet body segments are directly connected together;the selected number of intermediate body segments is two such that the casing assembly includes a first intermediate body segment directly connected with the inlet body segment and a second intermediate body segment directly connected with the outlet body segment and with the first intermediate body segment; andthe number of intermediate body segments is greater than two such that the casing assembly includes at least a first intermediate body segment directly connected with the inlet body segment, a second intermediate body segment directly connected with the outlet body segment, and a third intermediate body segment disposed between the first and second intermediate body segments.

7. The casing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the casing assembly has a centerline and the inlet, intermediate and outlet body segments are spaced axially along the centerline, the shaft central axis being generally collinear with the centerline when the shaft is disposed in the casing assembly.

8. The casing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein internal compression assembly has an outer circumferential surface, each intermediate body segment inner circumferential surface has an inside diameter, the inside diameter of each intermediate segment inner surface being substantially equal to the inside diameter of each other intermediate segment inner surface such that the inner surfaces of all the connected body segments collectively form a generally continuous inner circumferential support surface, the inner circumferential support surface being configured to receive and support the compression assembly such that the support surface extends coaxially about the compression assembly outer surface.

9. The casing assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein the support surface is configured to support a first internal compression assembly including a first number of compressor stages and to alternatively support a second internal compression assembly having a second number of compressor stages, the second number being different than the first number.

10. The casing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the casing assembly has a centerline, each intermediate body segment inner circumferential surface is generally centered about the centerline and has an inside diameter, the inside diameter of each intermediate segment inner surface being substantially equal to the inside diameter of each other intermediate segment inner surface, the intermediate body segment inner surfaces being spaced axially apart and located adjacent to at least one other intermediate segment inner surface such that the inner surfaces of all the connected body segments collectively form a generally continuous inner circumferential support surface configured to receive and support at least a portion of the internal compression assembly.

11. The casing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of the intermediate body segments has a fluid inlet and is positioned to direct fluid to a particular location of the internal compression assembly.

12. The casing assembly as recited in claim 11 wherein the at least one intermediate body segment includes a generally tubular portion with a bore providing the intermediate segment fluid inlet.

13. The casing assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a base configured to receive and to support the inlet segment, the outlet segment and the selected number of intermediate segments.

14. The casing assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein the base includes a lower, frame portion disposeable upon a surrounding environment surface and an upper support portion connected with the frame portion and configured to retain all of the casing segments spaced generally above the surrounding surface.

15. The casing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein each one of the inlet, outlet and intermediate body segments includes a generally annular main body section, the main body section of each intermediate body segment providing the inner circumferential surface of the intermediate segment.

16. The casing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein each one of the inlet, outlet and intermediate segments includes first and second body halves, one of the two body halves of each of the inlet and outlet segments including a generally tubular section with a bore providing a fluid passage.

17. The casing assembly as recited in claim 16 wherein each one of the first and second body halves is generally semi-circular shaped and connectable together to form a generally annular main body section.

18. The casing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of the intermediate body segments includes a generally annular main body section, the main body section providing the inner circumferential surface of the intermediate segment, and a generally tubular section extending generally radially from the main body section and having a bore providing a fluid passage, the main body inner surface defining an interior chamber section and the tubular passage being fluidly coupled with the chamber section.

19. The casing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein: the casing has a centerline;the inlet and outlet segments each have a generally radially-extending inner end surface extending circumferentially about the centerline; andeach one of the intermediate end segments has two, opposing generally radially-extending end surfaces extending circumferentially about the centerline, each intermediate segment end surface being disposed against the end surface of one of the inlet segment, the outlet segment, and another intermediate segment.

20. The casing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein: the inlet and outlet segments each have a generally annular mounting flange; andeach intermediate segment has two generally annular mounting flanges, each intermediate segment flange being disposed against and connected with the mounting flange of one of the inlet segment, the outlet segment, and another intermediate segment.

21. The casing assembly as recited in claim 20 wherein each mounting flange is removably connected with an adjacent mounting flange by a plurality of fasteners.

22. The casing assembly as recited in claim 20 wherein each body segment includes first and second body halves with two opposing ends, each body half end having a generally radially and axially extending mounting flange disposeable against a proximal corresponding mounting flange of the other body half.

23. The casing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the compressor includes a generally tubular inner casing disposeable within the compressor chamber and having a central bore configured to receive the internal compression assembly.

24. The casing assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the compression assembly has a plurality of compressor stages, each compressor stage including an impeller disposed on the shaft and a fixed flow channel assembly disposed about the impeller, the flow channel assembly including a diffuser channel, a return bend channel, a return channel and a guide vane.

25. A casing assembly for a compressor, the compressor having a centerline and including an internal compression assembly with a shaft rotatable about a central axis coaxially aligned with the centerline and at least one compressor stage with an impeller disposed on the shaft, the casing assembly comprising: a first end body segment;a second end body segment spaced along the centerline from the first end segment; anda plurality of intermediate body segments disposed between and connected with the first and second end segments to form a compressor casing, each intermediate body segment having an inner circumferential surface with an inside diameter, the inside diameter of each intermediate segment inner circumferential surface being substantially equal to the inside diameter of each other intermediate segment inner surface and the inner surfaces being generally coaxially aligned such that the inner surfaces collectively define at least a portion of a generally continuous compressor support surface configured to support at least a portion of the internal compression assembly.

26. The casing assembly as recited in claim 25 wherein the first end body segment includes a fluid inlet and the second end body segment includes a fluid outlet.

27. The casing assembly as recited in claim 25 wherein the compressor support surface is configured to support a first internal compression assembly including a first number of compressor stages and to alternatively support a second internal compression assembly having a second number of compressor stages, the second number being different than the first number.

28. The casing assembly as recited in claim 25 wherein the compressor support surface is configured to support a first internal compression assembly including at least one first compressor stage having a first axial length and to alternatively support a second compression assembly including at least two second compressor stages, each second compressor stage having a second axial length, the second axial length being lesser than the first axial length.

29. The casing assembly as recited in claim 25 wherein the compressor support surface defines a compressor chamber sized to receive the internal compression assembly.

30. The casing assembly as recited in claim 25 wherein: the inlet body segment has an inner circumferential surface defining an interior chamber section;the outlet body segment has an inner circumferential surface defining an interior chamber section; andeach of the intermediate body segment inner surfaces defines an interior chamber section, the interior chamber sections of all the connected body segments collectively defining a compressor chamber sized to receive the internal compression assembly.

31. The casing assembly as recited in claim 25 wherein the first and second end segments each have an inner circumferential surface with an inside diameter, the inside diameter of each of the first and second end segments being substantially equal to each intermediate body segment inside diameter, the inner surfaces of the two end segments and the intermediate segments being substantially coaxially aligned to collectively define the entire compressor support surface.

32. The casing assembly as recited in claim 31 wherein the inner surface of each one of the end segments and the intermediate segments is substantially centered about and spaced along the compressor centerline.

33. The casing assembly as recited in claim 25 wherein the inner circumferential surface of each one of the intermediate body segments defines a separate interior chamber section, the chamber sections of all the connected body segments collectively defining a compressor chamber sized to receive at least a portion of the internal compression assembly.

34. The casing assembly as recited in claim 25 wherein each one of the first and second end body segments and the intermediate body segments includes a generally annular main body section, the main body section of each intermediate body segment providing the intermediate segment inner circumferential surface.

35. The casing assembly as recited in claim 25 wherein each one of the first and second end body segments and the intermediate body segments includes first and second body halves, one of the two body halves of each of the first and second end body segments includes a generally radially-extending tubular section with a bore providing a fluid passage.

36. The casing assembly as recited in claim 35 wherein each one of the first and second body halves is generally semi-circular shaped and connectable together to form a generally annular main body section.

37. The casing assembly as recited in claim 35 wherein at least one of the intermediate body segments includes a generally radially-extending tubular section with a bore providing a fluid passage.

38. The casing assembly as recited in claim 25 wherein: the casing has a centerline;the first and second end segments each has a generally radially-extending inner end surface extending circumferentially about the centerline; andeach one of the intermediate end segments has two, opposing generally radially-extending end surfaces extending circumferentially about the centerline, each intermediate segment end surface being disposed against the end surface of one of the first end segment, the second end segment, and another intermediate segment.

39. The casing assembly as recited in claim 25 wherein: the inlet and outlet segments each have a generally annular mounting flange; andeach intermediate segment has two generally annular mounting flanges, each intermediate segment flange being disposed against and connected with the mounting flange of one of the first end segment, the second end segment, and another intermediate segment.

40. The casing assembly as recited in claim 39 wherein each body segment includes first and second body halves with two opposing ends, each body half end having a generally radially and axially extending mounting flange disposeable against and connectable with a proximal corresponding mounting flange of the other body half.

41. The casing assembly as recited in claim 25 wherein each of the first and second end body segments includes a generally radially-extending end wall section integrally formed with one axial end of the annular section, the radial wall section including a central opening configured to receive a portion of a compressor shaft.

42. The casing assembly as recited in claim 25 further comprising a base configured to receive and to support the first end segment, the second end segment and the plurality of intermediate segments.

43. A casing assembly for a compressor, the compressor including an internal compression assembly having a shaft rotatable about a central axis and at least one compressor stage with an impeller disposed on the shaft, the casing assembly comprising: an inlet body segment having a fluid inlet;an outlet body segment having a fluid outlet;at least one first intermediate body segment connected with the inlet body segment and having an inner circumferential surface with a first inside diameter; andat least one second intermediate body segment connected with the outlet body segment and with the at least one first intermediate body segment to form a compressor casing, the at least one second intermediate body segment having an inner circumferential surface with a second inside diameter, the first inside diameter being substantially larger than the second inside diameter.

44. The casing assembly as recited in claim 43 wherein: the inner surface of each one of the first and second intermediate body segments defines a separate interior chamber section;the inlet body segment has an inner circumferential surface defining an interior chamber section and having an inside diameter, the inside diameter of the inlet segment inner surface being substantially equal to the first inside diameter such that the interior chamber sections of the inlet segment and the at least one first intermediate body segment collectively define a first compressor chamber portion; andthe outlet body segment has an inner circumferential surface defining an interior chamber section and having an inside diameter, the inside diameter of the outlet segment inner surface being substantially equal to the second inside diameter such that the interior chamber sections of the outlet segment and the at least one second intermediate segment collectively define a second compressor chamber portion.

45. The casing assembly as recited in claim 44 wherein: the compression assembly has at least one first compressor stage and at least one second compressor stage, each one of the first and second compressor stages including an impeller disposed on the shaft and a fixed flow channel assembly disposed about the impeller, the at least one first compressor stage having a first outside diameter and the at least one second compressor stage having a second outside diameter, the first outside diameter being substantially greater than the second inside diameter; andthe first compressor chamber portion is sized to receive the at least one first compressor stage and the second compressor chamber portion is sized to receive the at least one second compressor stage.

46. The casing assembly as recited in claim 43 wherein each first intermediate body segment includes a generally annular main body section providing the first intermediate segment inner circumferential surface and each second intermediate body segment includes a generally annular main body section providing the second intermediate segment inner circumferential surface.

47. The casing assembly as recited in claim 46 wherein the annular main body section of each first intermediate body segment has a first outside diameter and the annular main body section of each second intermediate body segment has a second outside diameter, the first outside diameter being substantially larger than the second outside diameter.

48. The casing assembly as recited in claim 43 wherein each one of the inlet, outlet, first intermediate and second intermediate segments includes first and second connected body halves, one of the two body halves of each of the inlet and outlet segments including a generally radially extending tubular section with a bore providing a fluid passage.

49. A method of forming a casing assembly for a compressor including an internal compression assembly having a shaft rotatable about a central axis and at least one compressor stage with an impeller disposed on the shaft, the at least one compressor stage having an axial length, the method comprising the steps of: providing an inlet body segment having a fluid inlet and an outlet body segment having a fluid outlet;providing a plurality of intermediate body segments, each intermediate body segment having an inner surface defining an interior chamber section and an axial length;selecting a number of intermediate body segments from the plurality of intermediate body segments such that the selected number of intermediate body segments collectively define a compressor chamber section with a predetermined length, the predetermined length being at least a portion of the compressor stage length such that the compressor chamber section is sized to receive at least a portion of the compression assembly; andconnecting the selected number of intermediate body segments at least one of with each other and with the inlet and outlet body segments to form a casing assembly.

50. The casing assembly method as recited in claim 49 wherein the axial length of each one of the plurality of intermediate body segments is substantially equal to the axial length of each other intermediate body segment.

51. A method of forming a casing assembly for a compressor including an internal compression assembly having a shaft rotatable about a central axis and at least one compressor stage with an impeller disposed on the shaft, the at least one compressor stage having an axial length, the method comprising the steps of: providing an inlet body segment having a fluid inlet and an outlet body segment having a fluid outlet;providing a plurality of intermediate body segments, at least one of the intermediate body segments being an intermediate inlet segment having a fluid inlet;selecting a number of the intermediate body segments, the number of intermediate body segments one of including the at least one intermediate inlet body segment and excluding the at least one intermediate inlet segment; andconnecting the selected number of intermediate body segments at least one of with each other and with the inlet and outlet body segments to form a casing assembly.

52. The casing assembly method as recited in claim 51 wherein the fluid inlet of the at least one intermediate inlet body segment is positionable to direct fluid to a particular location of the internal compression assembly.