Cooling circuits for compressors and compressors including same
A compressor system including a cooling circuit including a first coolant inlet passage defined by a compressor housing for introducing a first coolant flow into the cooling circuit and a second coolant inlet passage defined by the compressor housing for introducing a second coolant flow into the cooling circuit. The cooling circuit includes a cooling channel defined by the compressor housing and connected in fluid communication with the first and second coolant inlet passages. The cooling channel extends helically around a motor and includes a first portion and a second portion. 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.
1 . 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.
2 . The compressor system of claim 1 , wherein the cooling channel defined by the compressor housing includes a third portion extending between the first portion and the second portion.
3 . The compressor system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first coolant inlet passage and the second coolant inlet passage is connected in fluid communication with a coolant source by respective first and second coolant supply lines disposed external to the compressor housing, wherein a length of the first coolant supply line is different than a length of the second coolant supply line.
4 . The compressor system of claim 1 , wherein a flow rate of the second coolant flow is greater than a flow rate of the first coolant flow.
5 . The compressor system of claim 1 , wherein 55%-45% of a total inlet coolant flow delivered to the cooling circuit flows along the second portion and 45%-55% of the total inlet coolant flow delivered to the cooling circuit flows along the first portion.
6 . The compressor system of claim 1 , wherein a length of the first portion is the same as a length of the second portion.
7 . The compressor system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first portion and the second portion includes a number of channel turns around the motor, and wherein the first portion includes the same number of channel turns as the second portion.
8 . The compressor system of claim 1 , wherein an outlet area of the first outlet is smaller than an outlet area of the second outlet.
9 . The compressor system of claim 1 , wherein an outlet area of the second outlet is at least 50% greater than an outlet area of the first outlet.
10 . The compressor system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second coolant inlet passages are both connected to a single coolant supply line.
11 . The compressor system of claim 1 , wherein coolant flow exiting the first outlet is delivered to the first bearing and the coolant flow exiting the second outlet is delivered to the second bearing.
12 . 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.
13 . The compressor system of claim 12 , wherein the cooling channel defined by the compressor housing includes a third portion extending between the first portion and the second portion, wherein the third portion extends between and fluidly connects the first coolant inlet passage and the second coolant inlet passage.
14 . The compressor system of claim 12 , wherein each of the first coolant inlet passage and the second coolant inlet passage is connected in fluid communication with a coolant source by respective first and second coolant supply lines disposed external to the compressor housing, wherein a length of the first coolant supply line is different than a length of the second coolant supply line.
15 . The compressor system of claim 12 , wherein each of the flow resistance coefficients is a function of a cross-sectional area of the respective first or second portion, a length of the respective first or second portion, an outlet area of the respective first or second portion, and a friction coefficient of the respective first or second portion.
16 . The compressor system of claim 12 , wherein 45%-55% of a total inlet coolant flow delivered to the cooling circuit flows along the second portion and 55%-45% of the total inlet coolant flow delivered to the cooling circuit flows along the first portion.
17 . The compressor system of claim 12 , wherein a length of the first portion is the same as a length of the second portion.
18 . The compressor system of claim 12 , wherein each of the first portion and the second portion includes a number of channel turns around the motor, and wherein the first portion includes the same number of channel turns as the second portion.
19 . The compressor system of claim 12 , wherein coolant flow exiting the first outlet is delivered to the first bearing and the coolant flow exiting the second outlet is delivered to the second bearing.
20 . 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.