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Turbotec - High Speed Compressor
This compressor is a design made for fast-flow, axial CO2, high-power, laser cutting machines. The compressor pumps hot helium plasma at high speed into the optical circuit, where the laser beam is formed. The helium mixture is compressed and expanded with every passage through the circuit.
Due to the special properties of helium, three stages are needed to obtain the required pressure rise. The 30kW compressor runs at 30000rpm, accelerating the flow in the rotor channels to velocities near the speed of sound.
A Flemish machine builder turned to TURBOTEC to design, develop and prototype the helium compressor for their new laser cutting machine. We optimised the flow path for the helium circuit and designed the rotors, diffusor and return vanes for the compressor using advanced CFD methods. We also performed the structural, dynamic and thermal design of the impeller and machine axis. Finally, we made the CAD model and technical drawings for all components of the complete turbomachine.
After the prototype was assembled, TURBOTEC assisted in the field tests to assess the performance of the compressor, which was within 3% of the values predicted in our CFD simulations.