Method and apparatus for orientation independent compression

A closed vapor compression cycle system, configured to circulate an oil-entrained working fluid vapor, the closed vapor compression cycle system comprising:

• a compressor comprising;
• a compressor input port that receives an oil-entrained working fluid vapor,
• a compressor output port through which the oil-entrained working fluid vapor exits the compressor,
• a compressor head between the compressor input port and the compressor output port, the compressor head comprising;
• a compressor head input port,
• a compressor head output port,
• an electric motor, for driving the compressor, located between the compressor input port and the compressor output port,
• a flow path comprising,
• a first segment that forms a straight path through the electric motor, the first segment comprising operating surfaces with an Ra value of between 16 micro-inch and 250 micro-inch and that are integral with the compressor input port and the compressor head input port, such that there is a defined flow path through the electric motor for the oil-entrained working fluid vapor from the compressor input port to the compressor head input port,
• a second segment having operating surfaces with an Ra value of between 16 micro-inch and 250 micro-inch and that are integral with the compressor head output port and the compressor output port, such that there is a defined flow path for the oil-entrained working fluid vapor that exits the compressor head output port to the compressor output port,
• wherein the oil-entrained working fluid vapor that exits the compressor output port has a mass flow rate that is substantially equivalent to the mass flow rate of the oil-entrained working fluid vapor that enters the compressor input port, independent of the physical orientation of the compressor.

A compressor, configured to operate in a closed vapor compression cycle system, the compressor comprising:

• a compressor input port;
• a first segment of a flow path having operating surfaces with an Ra value of between 16 micro-inch and 250 micro-inch, the first segment being integral with the compressor input port;
• a compressor head comprising,
• a compressor head input port integral with the first segment;
• and
• a compressor head output port;
• a compressor output port;
• a second segment of the flow path integral with the compressor head output port, the second segment having operating surfaces with an Ra value of between 16 micro-inch and 250 micro-inch;
• wherein the compressor receives through the compressor input port an oil-entrained working fluid vapor having a mass flow rate of lubricating oil that is at least 80% of a maximum mass flow rate of lubricating oil, wherein the oil-entrained working fluid vapor:
• flows through and is guided within the first segment of the flow path from the compressor input port to the compressor head input port,
• enters the compressor head, at an input pressure, via the compressor head input port,
• compresses by the action of the compressor head,
• exits the compressor head via the compressor head output port at an output pressure that is higher than the input pressure,
• enters and is guided by the second segment of the flow path from the compressor head output port to the compressor output port, and
• exits the compressor output port,
• such that the oil-entrained working fluid vapor output from the compressor output port has a mass flow rate substantially equivalent to the mass flow rate of the oil-entrained working fluid vapor that enters the compressor through the compressor input port,
• independent of the physical orientation of the compressor with respect to the surrounding gravitational field.

A closed vapor compression cycle system, configured to circulate an oil-entrained working fluid vapor, the closed vapor compression cycle system comprising:

• a system flow path having a first segment and a second segment each with operating surfaces that constrain the oil-entrained working fluid vapor in the system flow path;
• and
• a compressor comprising,
• a compressor head comprising,
• a compressor head input port
• configured to receive the oil-entrained working fluid vapor from the first segment of the system flow path, at an input pressure of between 20 psi and 100 psi and a mass flow rate of oil that is between 0.1% and 10%;
• a compressor head output port
• through which oil-entrained working fluid vapor exits to the second segment of the system flow path, at an output pressure,
• that is between about 50 psi and about 330 psi higher than the input pressure and having a mass flow rate that is at least equivalent to the mass flow rate of the oil-entrained working fluid vapor that entered the compressor head input port;
• a compressor input port through which the oil-entrained working fluid vapor is received by the first segment from the vapor compression cycle system;
• a motor that drives the compressor head;
• such that the oil-entrained working fluid vapor that enters the compressor input port is constrained within the first segment and guided in a straight path through the motor and to the compressor head input port,
• a compressor output port through which the oil-entrained working fluid vapor exits the compressor head to be circulated through the vapor compression cycle system;
• and
• such that when the oil-entrained working fluid vapor exits the compressor head output port, the oil-entrained working fluid vapor is guided to the compressor output port by the second segment of the system flow path,
• wherein the mass flow rate of lubricating oil circulating in the system flow path is at least 80% of a compressor maximum mass flow rate of lubricating oil, such that the mass flow rate of the lubricating oil in the oil-entrained working fluid vapor guided by the first segment of the system flow path is substantially the same as the mass flow rate of lubricating oil in the oil-entrained working fluid vapor that enters the second segment of the system flow path, independent of the physical orientation of the compressor with respect to the surrounding gravitational field.