Мaterial Selection for Additive Manufacturing of the Shrouded Impeller of a High-Speed Centrifugal Compressor

The traditional manufacturing process for shrouded impellers in centrifugal compressors is characterized as a multi-stage process, which involves attaching blades to the impeller and welding a cover disk to the blades. Despite the extensive experience gained with traditional manufacturing methods, including laser welding, transitioning to additive manufacturing technology offers significant advantages: it enables the production of a shrouded impeller as a single, seamless part with no joints, thereby reducing the likelihood of defects. This article examines the stress and deformation behavior of a shrouded impeller in a centrifugal compressor operating at high rotational speeds (60400 rpm). A three-dimensional model was created, and a strength analysis was conducted to evaluate the structural integrity of the impeller. The calculations were performed using the ANSYS Workbench 2019 software. The results identified the locations of maximum stress concentration, which occur at 30 – 40% of the main blade length and near the leading edges of the splitters. In these regions of stress concentration, the ductility of the impeller material was considered. The primary mechanical properties of the additive materials used for the impeller — stainless steel grade 316, aluminum alloy AlSi10Mg, titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V, and martensitic steel 17-4PH — were specified. The analysis showed that the titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V best satisfies both the strength and technological requirements.
The conducted analysis facilitated the selection of a suitable material for the rotating components of high-speed turbomachinery.

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