Centrifugal Compressor

Abstract

A centrifugal compressor is provided. The centrifugal compressor includes a housing and a rotatable assembly mounted for rotation about an axis within the housing. The rotatable assembly includes an impeller forming part of a compressor stage and a motor rotor forming an armature of a motor for driving the rotating assembly about the axis. A first air intake is located at a first end of the apparatus, the first air intake providing an air source for the compressor stage and a second air intake is located at a second end of the apparatus, the second air intake providing an air source for at least two air cooling passageways.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a compressor housing;   a rotatable assembly mounted for rotation about an axis within the housing, and comprising an impeller forming part of a compressor stage within the housing and a motor rotor forming an armature of a motor for driving the rotating assembly about the axis;   a first air intake located at a first end of the apparatus, the first air intake providing an air source for the compressor stage; and   a second air intake located at a second end of the apparatus, the second air intake providing an air source for at least two air cooling passageways.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a fan attached to the rotatable assembly, the fan mounted within the second air intake, at a distal end opposite from the impeller. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , where the at least two air cooling passageways begin at the second air intake, and proceed toward the first air intake. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat exchanger located about a portion of the rotatable assembly, the heat exchanger comprising a plurality of fin elements. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover element coupled to the compressor housing, the cover element including the second air intake and a plurality of apertures sized to allow air to escape from at least one exit of the at least two air cooling passageways. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a liquid heat exchanger located about a portion of the rotatable assembly, the liquid heat exchanger having a liquid fluid inlet and a liquid fluid outlet. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , where the at least two air cooling passageways begin at the second air intake, and proceed toward the first air intake and air exiting the at least two air cooling passageways exits through a plurality of apertures sized to allow air to escape from at least one exit of the at least two air cooling passageways. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , where rotatable assembly comprises a shaft that is supported by at least two air bearings. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a compressor housing;   a rotatable assembly mounted for rotation about an axis within the housing, and comprising an impeller forming part of a compressor stage within the housing and a motor rotor forming an armature of a motor for driving the rotating assembly about the axis;   a first air passageway located within the housing, the first air passageway comprising an airflow passageway to direct air from the first end toward the second end; and   a second air passageway located within the housing, the second air passageway comprising an airflow passageway to direct air from the second end toward the first end.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , where the first air passageway allows air to enter through a compressor air inlet, through the compressor stage and exit through a volute exit. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising an impeller air passageway that is structured to allow air to flow past the impeller and through a first and second air bearing journal and then into a heat exchanger element. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a fan attached to the rotatable assembly, the fan mounted within a second air intake, at a distal end opposite from the impeller 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , where the second air passageway begins at the second air intake and comprises an air passage that directs air through a plurality fin elements located within a heat exchanger element that is located about a portion of the rotatable assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , where the second air passageway begins at the second air intake and comprises an air passage that directs air against a section of the rotatable assembly and then through a plurality fin elements located within a heat exchanger element that is located about a portion of the rotatable assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a liquid heat exchanger located about a portion of the rotatable assembly, the liquid heat exchanger having a liquid fluid inlet and a liquid fluid outlet. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , where rotatable assembly comprises a shaft that is supported by at least two air bearings. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a compressor housing;   a rotatable assembly mounted for rotation about an axis within the housing, and comprising an impeller forming part of a compressor stage within the housing and a motor rotor forming an armature of a motor for driving the rotating assembly about the axis;   a first air passageway located at a first end of the apparatus, the first air passageway enabling air to enter through a compressor air inlet, through the compressor stage and exit through a volute exit;   a second air passageway having an aperture within the compressor stage, and enabling air to flow past the impeller and through a first and second air bearing journal and then into a heat exchanger element located about a portion of the rotatable assembly;   a third air passageway beginning at a second air intake distal from the compressor air inlet, the third air passageway comprising an air passage that directs air into the heat exchanger element; and   a fourth air passageway beginning at the second air intake and comprising an air passage that directs air against a section of the rotatable assembly and then into heat exchanger element.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a fan attached to the rotatable assembly, the fan mounted within the second air intake. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , where the heat exchanger comprises a plurality fin elements. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a cover element coupled to the compressor housing, the cover element including the second air intake and a plurality of apertures sized to allow air to escape from the heat exchanger.