US 12,012,972 B2
Diffuser and associated compressor section of aircraft engine
Guy Lefebvre, St-Bruno-de-Montarville (CA); and Christopher Gover, Longueuil (CA)
Assigned to PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP., Longueuil (CA)
Filed by PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP., Longueuil (CA)
Filed on Jul. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/872,242.
Prior Publication US 2024/0026900 A1, Jan. 25, 2024
Int. Cl. F04D 29/44 (2006.01); F02C 6/08 (2006.01); F04D 17/10 (2006.01); F04D 29/28 (2006.01); F04D 29/68 (2006.01)
CPC F04D 29/444 (2013.01) [F02C 6/08 (2013.01); F04D 17/10 (2013.01); F04D 29/284 (2013.01); F04D 29/682 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A compressor section comprising:
a centrifugal impeller operable to rotate around an axis extending between a front and a rear, the centrifugal impeller having blades extending between a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet, the compressor inlet oriented towards the front and axially relative the axis, the compressor outlet oriented radially outwardly relative the axis,
a diffuser having a diffusion flow path extending radially between a diffuser inlet and a diffuser outlet, the diffuser inlet in fluid flow communication with the compressor outlet, the diffusion flow path between a rear wall and a front wall, the diffuser having an inner structural ring and an outer structural ring disposed radially outwardly of the inner structural ring, the inner structural ring extending axially away from the centrifugal impeller and radially towards the axis;
a collector extending circumferentially around the axis, having a collector inlet in fluid communication with the diffuser outlet, and a collector outlet, the collector located radially outwardly of the diffuser outlet, the collector receiving a flow from the diffuser, the flow extending radially outwardly from the diffuser outlet; and
hollow structural members protruding rearwardly from the rear wall, the hollow structural members providing additional structural resistance to the rear wall against pressure generated in the diffuser flow path, the hollow structural members being circumferentially interspaced from one another, each hollow structural member having a length extending radially along the rear wall and having an internal conduit extending radially inwardly along the length, between a conduit inlet in fluid communication with the collector outlet to receive the flow from the diffuser outlet via the collector, and a conduit outlet located radially inwardly from the conduit inlet, the internal conduit disposed alongside the diffuser flow path and separated from the diffuser flow path by the rear wall, the conduit outlet located radially inwardly of the inner structural ring, the conduit outlet in fluid communication with a plenum defined radially inwardly of the inner structural ring.