Cooling circuits for compressors and compressors including same

A compressor system comprising:

• a compressor housing;
• a shaft rotationally supported by a first bearing and a second bearing within the compressor housing;
• a first impeller operably connected to the shaft at a first end of the shaft;
• a second impeller operably connected to the shaft at a second end of the shaft;
• a motor operably connected to the shaft between the first bearing and the second bearing;
• and
• a cooling circuit comprising:
• a first coolant inlet passage defined by the compressor housing for introducing a first coolant flow into the cooling circuit;
• a second coolant inlet passage defined by the compressor housing for introducing a second coolant flow into the cooling circuit;
• and
• a cooling channel defined by the compressor housing and connected in fluid communication with the first and second coolant inlet passages, wherein the cooling channel extends helically around the motor and includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion extends from the first coolant inlet passage to a first outlet and the second portion extends from the second coolant inlet passage to a second outlet such that the first coolant flow travels along the first portion and the second coolant flow travels along the second portion, wherein each of the first portion and the second portion includes a respective flow resistance coefficient, and wherein a flow resistance coefficient of the first portion is different than a flow resistance coefficient of the second portion.

A compressor system comprising:

• a compressor housing;
• a shaft rotationally supported by a first bearing and a second bearing within the compressor housing;
• a first impeller operably connected to the shaft at a first end of the shaft;
• a second impeller operably connected to the shaft at a second end of the shaft;
• a motor operably connected to the shaft between the first bearing and the second bearing;
• and
• a cooling circuit comprising:
• a first coolant inlet passage defined by the compressor housing for introducing a first coolant flow into the cooling circuit;
• a second coolant inlet passage defined by the compressor housing for introducing a second coolant flow into the cooling circuit;
• and
• a cooling channel defined by the compressor housing and connected in fluid communication with the first and second coolant inlet passages, wherein the cooling channel extends helically around the motor and includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion extends from the first coolant inlet passage to a first outlet and the second portion extends from the second coolant inlet passage to a second outlet such that the first coolant flow travels along the first portion and the second coolant flow travels along the second portion, and wherein a cross-sectional area of the first portion is substantially the same as a cross-sectional area of the second portion, wherein a second outlet area of the second outlet is greater than a first outlet area of the first outlet.