Counter rotating back-to-back fluid movement system
AssigneeOneSubsea IP UK Limited
InventorSimon Kalgraff
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A technique facilitates movement of fluids while reducing axial loading on system components such as thrust bearings. The technique utilizes a system, e.g. a compressor, for moving fluid via counter rotating rotors. By way of example, the rotors may utilize impellers for establishing opposed fluid flows along fluid movement sections. The fluid movement sections may be arranged in a back-to-back configuration such that counter rotation of the rotors causes the impellers to move fluid flows in opposed directions, thus reducing axial loading. The opposed fluid flows ultimately are redirected to an outlet.
Claims16
A system for moving a compressible fluid, comprising:
- a counter rotating axial compressor having:
- an inner rotor comprising a plurality of inner impellers, the inner rotor being secured axially by an inner rotor thrust bearing assembly;
- and
- an outer rotor comprising a plurality of outer impellers interleaved with the inner impellers, the outer impellers being secured axially via an outer rotor thrust bearing assembly, the outer rotor being rotatable in an opposite direction relative to the inner rotor to draw in the compressible fluid;
- the inner rotor and the outer rotor forming a first compressor section wherein inner and outer impellers are interleaved and a second compressor section wherein inner and outer impellers are interleaved, the first and second compressor sections being oriented to move the compressible fluid in opposed axial directions along the first compressor section and the second compressor section, respectively, so as to reduce axial loading incurred by the inner rotor thrust bearing assembly and the outer rotor thrust bearing assembly.
A system for moving a fluid, comprising:
- an inner rotor having a plurality of inner impellers, the inner rotor being secured axially by an inner rotor thrust bearing assembly;
- and
- an outer rotor having a plurality of outer impellers interleaved with the inner impellers, the outer impellers being secured axially via an outer rotor thrust bearing assembly, the outer rotor being rotatable in an opposite direction relative to the inner rotor to draw in the fluid;
- the inner rotor and the outer rotor forming a first fluid movement section wherein inner and outer impellers are interleaved and a second fluid movement section wherein inner and outer impellers are interleaved, the first and second fluid movement sections being oriented to move the fluid in opposed axial directions along the first fluid movement section and the second fluid movement section, respectively, so as to reduce axial loading incurred by the inner rotor thrust bearing assembly and the outer rotor thrust bearing assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.