TPC centrifugal compressor impeller effectively compress large volumes of hydrogen gas
Successful application of advanced thermoplastic composites (TPC) achieves impellers that reliably distribute, store and use undiluted H2 gas in transportation and industry.
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Source | Greene Tweed
This thermoplastic composite (TPC) impeller manufactured by Greene Tweed (Kulpsville, Pa., U.S.) is a clean technology enabler, facilitating the compression of pure hydrogen (H2) gas. The centrifugal compressor impeller makes it possible to compress large volumes of undiluted H2 gas, enabling effective distribution, storage and use in transportation and industry.
Metallic impellers are unable to efficiently compress such lightweight gases due to their lower strength-to-weight ratios compared to composites, which lead to higher centripetal forces for a given peripheral speed.
Manufactured in Greene Tweed’s Swiss facility, the complex geometry of this closed impeller is achieved via a modified and multistep compression molding approach using a pre-impregnated unidirectional carbon fiber-reinforced PEEK material. The use of Hirth coupling — a type of mechanical connection that exploits interlocking, tapered teeth — at the attachment point eliminates potential stress concentrations and CTE mismatch. Tip speeds of more than 680 meters/second were recently demonstrated on a 300-millimeter-diameter prototype, a result of its optimized design and high specific strength.
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