Rotary screw compressor

A rotary screw compressor configured to compress a working fluid, the rotary screw compressor comprising:

• a screw compressor rotor formed by a solid helical screw having an exterior compression surface, the solid helical screw axially extending from a first end to a second end and having a helical grooved valley situated between opposing helical valley walls,
• the screw compressor rotor having a cooling fluid inlet channel disposed on a centerline of the first end to receive a cooling fluid and an upstream manifold forming a plurality of spokes radially extending from the cooling fluid inlet channel, the upstream manifold having a smaller cross sectional area than a downstream manifold;
• wherein the plurality of spokes is configured to direct the cooling fluid to a plurality of separate cooling passages formed within the solid helical screw of the screw compressor rotor, the plurality of separate cooling passages in fluid communication with the cooling fluid inlet channel such that the cooling fluid inlet channel feeds cooling fluid to the plurality of separate cooling passages, the plurality of separate cooling passages having cross sectional areas that increase along a direction from an upstream end to a downstream end of the plurality of separate cooling passages;
• and wherein the diameter of the plurality of cooling passages vary radially along a length of each one of the plurality of spokes.

An apparatus comprising:

• a screw compressor rotor formed by a solid helical screw having an exterior compression surface, the solid helical screw axially extending from a first end to a second end and having a helical grooved valley situated between opposing helical valley walls,
• the screw compressor rotor having a cooling fluid inlet channel disposed on a centerline of the first end to receive a cooling fluid and an upstream manifold forming a plurality of spokes radially extending from the cooling fluid inlet channel, the upstream manifold having a smaller cross sectional area than a downstream manifold;
• wherein the plurality of spokes is configured to direct the cooling fluid to a plurality of separate cooling passages formed within the solid helical screw of the screw compressor rotor, the plurality of separate cooling passages in fluid communication with the cooling fluid inlet channel such that the cooling fluid inlet channel feeds cooling fluid to the plurality of separate cooling passages;
• and wherein the diameter of the plurality of cooling passages vary radially along a length of each one of the plurality of spokes.