Refrigerant circuit compressor gas bearing feed

A method of operating a refrigerant circuit, the refrigerant circuit including a compressor having a driveshaft and one or more gas bearings to support the driveshaft, the method comprising:

• operating the refrigerant circuit in a first mode, which includes:
• compressing, with the compressor, a working fluid in the refrigerant circuit, which includes preventing the compressor from operating above a gas maximum speed limit,
• supplying a gaseous portion of the working fluid to the one or more gas bearings of the compressor, and
• supporting, with the one or more gas bearings, the driveshaft of the compressor using the gaseous portion of the working fluid;
• and
• operating the refrigerant circuit in a second mode, which includes:
• compressing, with the compressor, the working fluid, which includes preventing the compressor from operating above a liquid maximum speed limit, the liquid maximum speed limit being less than the gas maximum speed limit,
• supplying a liquid portion of the working fluid in the refrigerant circuit to the one or more gas bearings of the compressor, and
• supporting, with the one or more gas bearings, the driveshaft of the compressor using the liquid portion of the working fluid.

A refrigerant circuit in an HVACR system, comprising:

• a compressor including a driveshaft, a compression mechanism coupled to the driveshaft, a motor to rotate the driveshaft causing the compression mechanism to compress a working fluid in the refrigerant circuit, and one or more gas bearings to support the driveshaft while the driveshaft rotates;
• a condenser to cool the working fluid compressed by the compressor;
• an expander to expand the working fluid;
• an evaporator to heat the working fluid with a process fluid;
• a main flow path traveling through the compressor, the condenser, the expander, and the evaporator, and back to the compressor;
• a pump fluidly connected to the one or more gas bearings of the compressor;
• and
• a controller configured to selectively operate the refrigerant circuit in at least a first mode and a second mode,
• wherein operating the refrigerant circuit in the first mode includes:
• supplying a gaseous portion of the working fluid to the one or more gas bearings of the compressor, and
• supporting, with the gas bearing, the driveshaft of the compressor using the gaseous portion of the working fluid, and wherein operating the refrigerant circuit in the second mode includes:
• supplying, with the pump, a liquid portion of the working fluid to the one or more gas bearings of the compressor, the liquid portion of the working fluid being substantially liquid, and
• supporting, with the one or more gas bearings, the driveshaft of the compressor using the liquid portion of the working fluid.