Fluid energy machine

Abstract

A fluid energy machine is provided. The fluid energy machine includes a housing having a motor, an impeller, at least two radial bearings, and a shaft which extends along a shaft longitudinal axis and which supports the impeller and a rotor of the motor wherein the shaft is mounted in the radial bearings. The motor includes a stator which at least partially surrounds the rotor in the region of the motor. A gap which extends in the circumferential direction along the shaft longitudinal axis is formed between the rotor and stator and between the rotor and the radial bearings, which gap is at least partially filled with fluid. The motor is embodied as a bearing and is connected to a controller which activates the motor so that forces acting radially with respect to a shaft longitudinal axis can be exerted in addition to torques for driving the fluid energy machine.

1 .- 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A fluid energy machine, comprising:
 a housing;   a motor;   an impeller;   at least two radial bearings;   a shaft which extends along a shaft longitudinal axis and supports the impeller and a rotor of the motor,   wherein the shaft is borne in the radial bearings,   wherein the motor includes a stator which at least partially surrounds the rotor in the area of the motor, and a gap which extends in a circumferential direction and along the shaft longitudinal axis and is at least partially filled with a fluid is formed between the rotor and the stator, as well as between the rotor and the radial bearings, and   wherein the motor is also in a form of a bearing and is connected to a closed-loop control system which drives the motor such that a plurality of radial forces with respect to the shaft longitudinal axis can also be exerted, in addition to a plurality of torques for driving the fluid energy machine.   
     
     
         15 . The fluid energy machine as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the housing is gas-tight. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid energy machine as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein an axial bearing is provided for bearing the shaft. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid energy machine as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein a process fluid, which is fed by the fluid energy machine, at least partially flows around the rotor. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid energy machine as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein a split cage is provided in a gap between the rotor and the stator, such that fluids which flow around the rotor do not reach that side of the split cage on which the stator is located. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid energy machine as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the radial bearings are magnetic bearings. 
     
     
         20 . The fluid energy machine as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the axial bearing is a magnetic bearing. 
     
     
         21 . The fluid energy machine as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein at least one magnetic bearing is cooled by means of the process fluid. 
     
     
         22 . The fluid energy machine as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the motor is equipped with at least two winding systems with different numbers of pole pairs. 
     
     
         23 . The fluid energy machine as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the closed-loop control system is connected to a plurality of position sensors and/or a plurality of oscillation sensors, and uses a plurality of signals from the plurality of position sensors and/or oscillation sensors as input signals to drive the motor. 
     
     
         24 . The fluid energy machine as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the closed-loop control system is linked to measurements of the electrical currents through a motor winding or to measurements of a plurality of magnetic fluxes on the motor, and is designed such that the measurements are used as an input signal for driving the motor. 
     
     
         25 . The fluid energy machine as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the fluid energy machine is a compressor or a pump. 
     
     
         26 . A method for operation of a fluid energy machine, comprising:
 connecting the closed-loop control system to two position sensors and/or oscillation sensors for the shaft;   using a plurality of signals from the position sensors and/or the oscillation sensors as input signals for driving the motor in order to produce radial forces with respect to the shaft axis; and   connecting the closed-loop control system to two radial bearings which are in the form of magnetic bearings,   wherein the closed-loop control system uses the plurality of signals as input signals for driving the radial bearings.   
     
     
         27 . The method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the closed-loop control system is linked to a first plurality of measurements of the electrical currents through a motor winding or to a second plurality of measurements of the magnetic fluxes on the motor, and uses the first and second plurality of measurements as an input signal for driving the motor. 
     
     
         28 . The method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the fluid energy machine comprises:
 a housing;   a motor;   an impeller;   at least two radial bearings;   a shaft which extends along a shaft longitudinal axis and supports the impeller and a rotor of the motor,   wherein the shaft is borne in the radial bearings,   wherein the motor includes a stator which at least partially surrounds the rotor in the area of the motor, and a gap which extends in a circumferential direction and along the shaft longitudinal axis and is at least partially filled with a fluid is formed between the rotor and the stator, as well as between the rotor and the radial bearings, and   wherein the motor is also in a form of a bearing and is connected to a closed-loop control system which drives the motor such that a plurality of radial forces with respect to the shaft longitudinal axis can also be exerted, in addition to a plurality of torques for driving the fluid energy machine.   
     
     
         29 . The method as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the housing is gas-tight. 
     
     
         30 . The method as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein an axial bearing is provided for bearing the shaft. 
     
     
         31 . The method as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein a process fluid, which is fed by the fluid energy machine, at least partially flows around the rotor.