Outlet diffusor for a centrifugal compressor

Claim 1

An outlet diffusor in combination with a centrifugal compressor comprising a rotor for discharging radially and tangentially of the axis of rotation of the rotor, the diffusor comprising parallel, planar discs having an inner and outer periphery circumposed about the rotor, a plurality of individual separated elongated passage-forming elements circumferentially spaced, transversely between said discs, said elements comprising opposed planar, parallel side faces defining a segment of a circle along their length and extending in juxtaposed relation on the opposed inner surfaces of said discs and substantially from the inner to the outer periphery of said discs, said elements including opposed channel shaped edge faces converging in a concave transverse edge between said side faces and adjacent the inner periphery of said discs, the parallel side faces of the elements terminating in a rounded ends flanking the transverse edge at the inner periphery of the discs, the channel shaped edge faces merging into each other along the transverse edge, adjacent edge faces of adjacent elements combining to form divergent expansion passages from the inner to the outer periphery of said discs.