US Patent 8246296 Aspirated impeller

In one embodiment, a centrifugal impeller is described having a front side with airfoils and a back side. A conduit may be formed between the front side and the back side, or any other side, and may convey pressurized working fluid between the two. The conduit may pass relatively high pressure working fluid between any two locations such as from the front side to the back side. The conduit may include an aperture located on the front side and an aperture located on the back side. Any number of conduits may be defined within the centrifugal impeller. Apertures located on the front side of the impeller may be formed in any suitable place, such as a hub of the impeller or an airfoil surface, to set forth just two non-limiting examples.