CFD Based Design of an Impeller for a Novel Integrated Motor-Compressor System

Abstract

This paper presents the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) based impeller design of a residential HVAC centrifugal compressor system driven by an axial-flux switched reluctance motor (AF-SRM). The impeller, being the critical component of the compressor system, plays a vital role in the design of the compressor for optimal performance. The AF-SRM is encapsulated inside the compressor housing. The main idea is to exploit the simple and complementing structure of the AF-SRM to integrate it into the compressor itself, allowing for an innovative, compact and unique motor-compressor design. That is, the impeller blades of the compressor act as the motor rotor. The design and structure of the impeller, with the impeller being the AF-SRM rotor, and a uniquely designed stator, axially positioned on top of the impeller, are proposed for specifications imposed by the compressor in realistic HVAC applications.