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US 8,104,298 B2Granted
Lubrication system for touchdown bearings of a magnetic bearing compressor
AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorVishnu M. Sishtla
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vapor compression system includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator. Refrigerant circulates though the closed circuit vapor compression system. Touchdown bearings protect a rotor during power shutdown of the compressor. Liquid refrigerant from the condenser flows along a supply line and lubricates the touchdown bearings. The refrigerant from the touchdown bearings is discharged through an outlet and flows along a discharge line to the evaporator.
Claims13
A vapor compression system comprising:
- a compressor to compress a refrigerant to a high pressure, the compressor including a magnetic bearing and at least one touchdown bearing;
- a condenser for cooling the refrigerant;
- a refrigerant supply line that constantly supplies the refrigerant from the condenser to the compressor to lubricate the magnetic bearing;
- an evaporator for heating the refrigerant;
- a refrigerant discharge line that discharges the refrigerant that lubricates the magnetic bearing to the evaporator;
- a control that monitors shutdown of the compressor;
- and
- a valve, wherein the control opens the valve to allow the refrigerant to flow to the at least one touchdown bearing when the control detects that the compressor is shutdown.
5 more elements
A vapor compression system comprising:
- a compressor to compress a refrigerant to a high pressure, the compressor including a magnetic bearing, at least one of a radial touchdown bearing and an axial touchdown bearing;
- a condenser for cooling the refrigerant;
- a refrigerant supply line that constantly supplies the refrigerant from the condenser to the compressor to lubricate the magnetic bearing;
- an evaporator for heating the refrigerant;
- and
- a refrigerant discharge line that discharges the refrigerant that lubricates the magnetic bearing to the evaporator;
- a control that monitors shutdown of the compressor;
- and
- a valve, wherein the control opens the valve to allow the refrigerant to flow to the at least one of the radial touchdown bearing and the axial touchdown bearing when the control detects that the compressor is shutdown.
6 more elements
A vapor compression system comprising:
- a compressor to compress a refrigerant to a high pressure, the compressor including a magnetic bearing and at least one touchdown bearing;
- a condenser for cooling the refrigerant;
- a refrigerant supply line that constantly supplies the refrigerant from the condenser to the compressor to lubricate the magnetic bearing;
- another refrigerant supply line that supplies the refrigerant from the condenser to the compressor to lubricate the at least one touchdown bearing;
- an evaporator for heating the refrigerant;
- a refrigerant discharge line that discharges the refrigerant that lubricates the magnetic bearing and the at least one touchdown bearing to the evaporator;
- a control that monitors shutdown of the compressor;
- and
- a valve on the another refrigerant supply line, wherein the control opens the valve to allow the refrigerant to flow to the at least one touchdown bearing when the control detects that the compressor is shutdown.
6 more elements
A method of lubricating a magnetic bearing of a vapor compression system, the method comprising the steps of:
- compressing a refrigerant to a high pressure in a compressor;
- protecting components of the compressor with a magnetic bearing and at least one touchdown bearing;
- cooling the refrigerant in a condenser;
- constantly supplying the refrigerant from the condenser to the magnetic bearing to provide lubrication;
- supplying the refrigerant from the condenser to the at least one touchdown bearing to provide lubrication when the compressor is shutdown, wherein the refrigerant is only supplied to the at least one touchdown bearing when the compressor is shutdown;
- heating the refrigerant in an evaporator;
- and
- providing the refrigerant that lubricates the magnetic bearing and the at least one touchdown bearing to the evaporator.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.