Scavenge loss limiter for a rotary compressor
AssigneeIngersoll-Rand Industrial U.S., Inc.
InventorTaylor Stratman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fluid compressor system has a scavenge loss limiter that increases the efficiency of the fluid compressor system by reducing the compressed working fluid recirculated into the airend through a scavenge flow. The scavenge loss limiter includes a scavenge hole positioned at a discharge end face of a rotor cavity of the compressor housing. As a rotor of the compressor system rotates, the rotor may intermittently restrict the free-flowing scavenge flow returning from a lubricant separation tank. The rotor may be a male rotor having a plurality of male lobes. As the discharge end clearance between the rotor and the discharge end face is tightly controlled and monitored, a better control of the scavenge flow returning to the rotor cavity is achieved.
Claims20
A rotary compressor comprising:
- a housing having a rotor cavity and an interior wall;
- a rotor housed within the rotor cavity and rotating about a rotor axis, the rotor having a plurality of lobes;
- and
- a scavenge loss limiter disposed within the interior wall, the scavenge loss limiter comprising a scavenge passage and a scavenge orifice;
- wherein the scavenge loss limiter is configured to recirculate scavenge flow from an oil separator into the rotor cavity as the rotation of the rotor intermittently covers and uncovers the scavenge orifice.
A rotary compressor comprising:
- a housing having a rotor cavity and an interior wall;
- a rotor housed within the rotor cavity, rotating about a rotor axis;
- and
- a scavenge loss limiter disposed within the interior wall, the scavenge loss limiter including a scavenge passage and a scavenge orifice, the scavenge orifice connecting the scavenge passage with the rotor cavity;
- wherein the scavenge loss limiter is configured to recirculate scavenge flow from an oil separator into the rotary rotor cavity as the rotation of the rotor intermittently opens and closes the scavenge orifice.
A compressor system comprising:
- an airend configured to compress a working fluid, the airend including:
- a housing having a rotor cavity and an interior wall;
- a rotor housed within the rotor cavity, rotating about a rotor axis;
- and
- a scavenge loss limiter disposed within the first interior wall, the scavenge loss limiter including a scavenge passage and a scavenge orifice, the scavenge orifice connecting the scavenge passage with the rotor cavity;
- and
- a lubricant separator configured to separate a lubricant from the working fluid, the lubricant separator delivering a scavenge flow to the airend;
- wherein the scavenge loss limiter is configured to recirculate the scavenge flow into the rotary rotor cavity as the rotation of the rotor intermittently opens and closes the scavenge orifice.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.