Cooling circuits for compressors and compressors including same
A compressor system includes a compressor housing, a shaft rotationally supported within the compressor housing, a first impeller operably connected to the shaft at a first end, a second impeller operably connected to the shaft at a second end, a motor operably connected to the shaft, and a cooling circuit. The cooling circuit includes a coolant inlet passage for introducing an inlet coolant flow into the cooling circuit, and a cooling channel connected in fluid communication with the coolant inlet passage. The cooling channel extends helically around the motor and includes a first portion and a second portion. Each of the first portion and the second portion extends from the coolant inlet passage to respective first and second outlets such that the inlet coolant flow is split into a first coolant flow along the first portion and a second coolant flow 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 coolant inlet passage defined by the compressor housing for introducing an inlet coolant flow into the cooling circuit; and
a cooling channel defined by the compressor housing and connected in fluid communication with the coolant inlet passage, wherein the cooling channel extends helically around the motor and includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein each of the first portion and the second portion extends from the coolant inlet passage to respective first and second outlets such that the inlet coolant flow is split into a first coolant flow along the first portion and a second coolant flow along the second portion, wherein a flow rate of the second coolant flow is greater than a flow rate of the first coolant flow.
2 . The compressor system of claim 1 , wherein 55%-60% of the inlet coolant flow flows along the second portion and 40%-45% of the inlet coolant flow flows along the first portion.
3 . The compressor system of claim 1 , wherein a length of the first portion is greater than a length of the second portion.
4 . The compressor system of claim 1 , wherein a length of the first portion is between 55-65% of a total length of the cooling channel.
5 . 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 more channel turns than the second portion.
6 . The compressor system of claim 5 , wherein a first outlet area of the first outlet is smaller than a second outlet area of the second outlet.
7 . The compressor system of claim 5 , wherein a second outlet area of the second outlet is at least 50% greater than a first outlet area of the first outlet.
8 . The compressor system of claim 1 , wherein the coolant inlet passage is the only coolant inlet passage of the cooling circuit.
9 . 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.
10 . 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 a cooling circuit comprising:
bearing; and
a coolant inlet passage defined by the compressor housing for introducing an inlet coolant flow into the cooling circuit; and
a cooling channel defined by the compressor housing and connected in fluid communication with the coolant inlet passage, wherein the cooling channel extends helically around the motor, the cooling channel includes a first portion and a second portion and wherein each of the first portion and the second portion extends from the coolant inlet passage to respective first and second outlets such that the inlet coolant flow is split into a first coolant flow along the first portion and a second coolant flow along the second portion, wherein each of the first portion and the second portion includes a respective flow resistance coefficient, and wherein the flow resistance coefficient of the first portion is greater than the flow resistance coefficient of the second portion.
11 . The compressor system of claim 10 , 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.
12 . The compressor system of claim 10 , wherein a flow rate of the second coolant flow is greater than a flow rate of the first coolant flow.
13 . The compressor system of claim 10 , wherein 55%-60% of the inlet coolant flow flows along the second portion and 40%-45% of the inlet coolant flow flows along the first portion.
14 . The compressor system of claim 10 , wherein a length of the first portion is greater than a length of the second portion.
15 . The compressor system of claim 10 , wherein a length of the first portion is between 55-65% of a total length of the cooling channel.
16 . The compressor system of claim 10 , 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 more channel turns than the second portion.
17 . The compressor system of claim 10 , wherein a first outlet area of the first outlet is smaller than a second outlet area of the second outlet.
18 . The compressor system of claim 10 , 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.
19 . 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 coolant inlet passage defined by the compressor housing for introducing an inlet coolant flow into the cooling circuit; and
a channel connected in fluid communication with the coolant inlet passage, wherein the channel wraps at least partially around the motor, the channel includes a first portion and a second portion, and wherein each of the first portion and the second portion extends from the coolant inlet passage to respective first and second outlets such that the inlet coolant flow is split into a first coolant flow along the first portion and a second coolant flow along the second portion, wherein a cross-sectional area of the first portion is substantially the same as a cross-sectional area of the second portion, and wherein the first portion has a first length longer than a second length of the second portion.