Abstract: A supersonic compressor rotor. The supersonic compressor rotor includes a rotor disk that includes an upstream surface, a downstream surface, and a radially outer surface that extends generally axially between the upstream surface and the downstream surface. The radially outer surface includes an inlet surface, an outlet surface, and a transition surface that extends between the inlet surface and the outlet surface. A plurality of vanes are coupled to the radially outer surface. Adjacent vanes form a pair and are oriented such that a flow channel is defined between each pair of adjacent vanes. The flow channel extends between an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The inlet surface defines an inlet plane that extends between the inlet opening and the transition surface. The outlet surface defines an outlet plane that extends between the outlet opening and the transition surface that is not parallel to the inlet plane.

Abstract: The present invention provides a supersonic compressor comprising a supersonic compressor rotor comprising a clockable rotor disk allowing restriction or opening of portions of a fluid flow channel of the rotor in order to enhance performance of the rotor during different operational stages, for example rotor start-up or steady state. The supersonic compressor rotor comprises a first rotor disk, a second rotor disk and a third rotor disk which share a common axis of rotation. The first and second rotor disks are rotatably coupled, and the third rotor disk is disposed between them. The third rotor disk is independently rotatable relative to said first and second disks, and comprises a raised surface structure for restricting or opening a portion of the flow channel defined by the rotor disks and at least two vanes. The flow channel comprises a supersonic compression ramp and encompasses the raised surface structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel supersonic compressors comprising novel supersonic compressor rotors. The supersonic compressor rotors are designed to operate at very high rotational speed wherein the velocity of the gas entering the supersonic compressor rotor is greater than the local speed of sound in the gas, hence the descriptor “supersonic”. The new supersonic compressors comprise at least one supersonic compressor rotor defining an inner cylindrical cavity and an outer rotor rim and at least one radial flow channel allowing fluid communication between the inner cylindrical cavity and the outer rotor rim, said radial flow channel comprising a supersonic compression ramp. The novel supersonic compressor rotors are expected to enhance the performance of supersonic compressors comprising them, and to provide for greater design versatility in systems comprising such novel supersonic compressors.

Abstract: A novel supersonic compressor is provided by the present invention. In one embodiment, the novel supersonic compressor comprises a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and at least two counter rotary supersonic compressor rotors, said supersonic compressor rotors being configured in series such that an output from a first supersonic compressor rotor having a first direction of rotation is directed to a second supersonic compressor rotor configured to counter-rotate with respect to the first supersonic compressor rotor.