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US 10,648,702 B2Granted
Low capacity, low-GWP, HVAC system
AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorsParmesh Verma, Frederick J. Cogswell, William T. Cousins, Vishnu M. Sishtla, Ulf J. Jonsson, Larry D. Burns
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system (20; 300) comprises: a vapor compression loop (38; 338); a low-pressure or medium-pressure refrigerant in the loop; a centrifugal compressor (42) along the vapor compression loop and comprising: a housing (120); an inlet (44); an outlet (46); an impeller (140); an electric motor (122) coupled to the impeller to drive rotation of the impeller; and one or more refrigerant-lubricated bearings (130, 132).
Claims20
A system (20;
- 300) comprising:
- a vapor compression loop (38;
- 338);
- a low-pressure or medium-pressure refrigerant in the loop;
- and
- a centrifugal compressor (42) along the vapor compression loop and comprising:
- a housing (120);
- an inlet (44);
- an outlet (46);
- an impeller (140);
- an electric motor (122) coupled to the impeller to drive rotation of the impeller;
- and
- one or more refrigerant-lubricated bearings (130, 132),
- wherein:
- the impeller has a diameter at an outlet of not more than 5.0 inches (12.7 cm);
- and
- fluid in the vapor compression loop comprises said refrigerant and not more than 1000 ppm lubricant, by weight.
14 more elements
A method for operating a system (20;
- 300), the system comprising:
- a vapor compression loop (38;
- 338);
- a centrifugal compressor (42) along the vapor compression loop and comprising:
- a housing (120);
- an inlet (44);
- an outlet (46);
- an impeller (140);
- and one or more rolling element bearings (130, 132), wherein:
- the compressor is a single-stage compressor with an impeller having a diameter at an outlet of not more than 5.0 inches (12.7 cm);
- and the method comprises running the compressor at a speed of at least 20,000 rpm to drive a flow of refrigerant along the vapor compression loop so as to:
- pass a flow of the refrigerant to lubricate the one or more bearings;
- and provide refrigerant entering the compressor at a pressure below atmospheric pressure.
10 more elements
A system (20;
- 300) comprising:
- a vapor compression loop (38;
- 338);
- an indoor unit (26) comprising:
- a centrifugal compressor (42) along the vapor compression loop and comprising:
- a housing (120);
- an inlet (44);
- an outlet (46);
- an impeller (140) having a diameter at an outlet of not more than 5.0 inches (12.7 cm);
- an inter-loop heat exchanger (40) positioned to provide heat exchange between the vapor compression loop and a heat transfer loop (36);
- and an indoor air heat exchanger (32) along the heat transfer loop;
- and an outdoor unit (28;
- 328) comprising:
- an outdoor air heat exchanger (34;
- 334) along the vapor compression loop or in thermal communication with the vapor compression loop.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.