# US 10,309,704 B2 · Compressor with an oil separator between compressing stages > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,309,704 B2 - Document ID: US10309704B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/038,234 - Filed: 2014-11-19 - Published: 2016-10-06 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2013-11-25 - Assignees: The Coca-Cola Company - Applicants: The Coca-Cola Company - Inventors: Roberto Horn Pereira - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309704B2 ## CPC - F25B 43/02: for separating lubricants from the refrigerant - F25B 1/10: with multi-stage compression (with cascade operation F25B7/00) - F25B 9/008: {the refrigerant being carbon dioxide} - F25B 31/004: {oil recirculating arrangements} - F25B 31/026: {with compressor of rotary type} - F25B 2309/061: with cycle highest pressure above the supercritical pressure - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS ## Abstract The present application provides a compressor for use with a flow of carbon dioxide. The compressor may include a first stage compression mechanism for compressing the flow of carbon dioxide from a low pressure to an intermediate pressure, an oil separator downstream of the first stage compression mechanism, and a second stage compression mechanism positioned downstream of the oil separator for compressing the flow of carbon dioxide from the intermediate pressure to a high pressure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A compressor for use with a flow of carbon dioxide, comprising: a first stage compression mechanism for compressing the flow of carbon dioxide from a low pressure to an intermediate pressure; an oil separator downstream of the first stage compression mechanism; and a second stage compression mechanism downstream of the oil separator for compressing the flow of carbon dioxide from the intermediate pressure to a high pressure; wherein the oil separator comprises an expansion chamber; and wherein the oil separator comprises a J-tube, the J-tube comprising an inlet at a bottom of the expansion chamber, an outlet within the expansion chamber and wherein the J-tube provides an approximate 180 degree turn to the flow of carbon dioxide. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The compressor of claim 1, wherein the first stage compression mechanism comprises a first stage input in communication with the flow of carbon dioxide at low pressure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The compressor of claim 1, further comprising a shell casing and wherein the first stage compression mechanism and the second stage compression mechanism are positioned within the shell casing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The compressor of claim 3, further comprising a motor positioned within the shell casing and in communication with the first stage compression mechanism and the second stage compression mechanism. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The compressor of claim 3, wherein the first stage compression mechanism comprises a first stage output in communication within the shell casing for the flow of carbon dioxide at intermediate pressure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The compressor of claim 3, wherein the shell casing comprises a second stage pathway in communication with the second stage compression mechanism. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The compressor of claim 1, wherein the second stage compression mechanism comprises a second stage input in communication with the flow of carbon dioxide at intermediate pressure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The compressor of claim 1, wherein the second stage compression mechanism comprises a second stage output in communication with the flow of carbon dioxide at high pressure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The compressor of claim 1, wherein the oil separator comprises an oil pan and a wire mesh within the expansion chamber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The compressor of claim 1, further comprising a check valve upstream of the oil separator. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The compressor of claim 1, wherein the oil separator comprises an oil drain in communication with a shell casing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The compressor of claim 11, wherein the oil separator comprises a check valve on the oil drain. ### Claim 13 A method of compressing a flow of carbon dioxide for use in a refrigeration system, comprising: compressing the flow of carbon dioxide from a low pressure to an intermediate pressure in a first stage compressor; passing the flow of carbon dioxide at the intermediate pressure through a J-tube with an inlet located at a bottom of an expansion chamber of an oil separator; turning the flow of carbon dioxide approximately 180 degrees; reducing a velocity of the flow of carbon dioxide in the oil separator; and compressing the flow of carbon dioxide from the intermediate pressure to a high pressure in a second stage compressor. ### Claim 14 A compressor for use with a flow of a refrigerant, comprising: a shell casing; a first stage compression mechanism for compressing the flow of the refrigerant from a low pressure to an intermediate pressure positioned within the shell casing; an oil separator downstream of the first stage compression mechanism and positioned outside the shell casing; wherein the oil separator comprises a J-tube and an expansion chamber, the J-tube comprising an inlet at a bottom of the expansion chamber, an outlet within an expansion chamber and the wherein J-tube provides an approximate 180 degree turn to the flow of refrigerant; a second stage compression mechanism downstream of the oil separator for compressing the flow of the refrigerant from the intermediate pressure to a high pressure positioned within the shell casing; and a motor to drive the first stage compression mechanism and the second stage compression mechanism positioned within the shell casing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The compressor of claim 14, wherein the oil separator comprises an oil drain in communication with the shell casing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The compressor of claim 14, wherein the refrigerant comprises a flow of carbon dioxide. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The compressor of claim 12, wherein the check valve comprises a biased check valve to ensure a sufficient volume of carbon dioxide within the oil separator. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The compressor of claim 15, wherein the oil drain comprises a biased check valve to ensure a sufficient volume of the refrigerant within the oil separator.