Temperature control system for a machine and methods of operating same

Abstract

A temperature control system for an electrical machine and a method of operating the system is provided. The machine includes a housing enclosing a motor and a compressor, the housing includes a suction pipeline in flow communication with the compressor. The suction pipeline is configured to channel fluid into the housing. A temperature control system assembly includes a fluid mover coupled to at least one of the rotor shaft and the compressor shaft and in flow communication with the suction pipeline upstream from the compressor. The fluid mover is configured to channel the fluid from the suction pipeline and across at least one of the motor and the compressor. Temperature control system includes a distribution header coupled to the housing and in flow communication with the fluid mover, the distribution header includes a first outlet coupled in flow communication to the motor to channel the fluid across the motor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrical machine comprising:
 a motor comprising a stator and a rotor, said rotor comprising a rotor shaft;   a compressor rotatably coupled to said motor and comprising a compressor shaft;   a housing enclosing said motor and said compressor, said housing comprising a suction pipeline in flow communication with said compressor, said suction pipeline configured to channel a fluid into said housing; and   a temperature control assembly coupled in flow communication to said housing, said temperature control assembly comprising:
 a fluid mover coupled to at least one of said rotor shaft and said compressor shaft and in flow communication with said suction pipeline upstream from said compressor to channel the fluid from said suction pipeline and across at least one of said motor and said compressor; and 
 a distribution header coupled to said housing and in flow communication with said fluid mover, said distribution header comprising a first outlet coupled in flow communication to said motor to channel the fluid across said motor. 
   
     
     
         2 . The electrical machine of  claim 1 , wherein said housing comprises a return pipeline coupled in flow communication to said suction pipeline. 
     
     
         3 . The electrical machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a motor opposite drive end bearing and a motor drive end bearing coupled to said rotor shaft, said fluid mover is configured to channel the fluid across at least one of said motor bearings, said rotor, and said stator. 
     
     
         4 . The electrical machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a shaft coupler coupled to said rotor shaft and said compressor shaft in flow communication with said distribution header. 
     
     
         5 . The electrical machine of  claim 4 , comprising a compressor opposite drive end bearing coupled to said compressor shaft wherein said first outlet is configured to channel fluid across at least one of said compressor bearing, said shaft coupler, and said compressor. 
     
     
         6 . The electrical machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a motor bearing coupled to said rotor shaft in flow communication with said first outlet and a compressor opposite drive end bearing coupled to said compressor shaft in flow communication with said first outlet. 
     
     
         7 . The electrical machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a second outlet coupled in flow communication to said compressor to channel the fluid across said compressor. 
     
     
         8 . The electrical machine of  claim 1 , wherein said temperature control assembly comprises a discharge pipeline and a heat exchanger coupled to said discharge pipeline and between said housing and said fluid mover. 
     
     
         9 . The electrical machine of  claim 8 , wherein said heat exchanger is in flow communication with said fluid mover. 
     
     
         10 . The electrical machine of  claim 8 , further comprising a normally open valve coupled to said suction pipeline and to said housing in flow communication with said fluid mover and a normally closed valve coupled to said heat exchanger and said housing in flow communication with said fluid mover. 
     
     
         11 . A temperature control system for use in cooling an electrical machine, said system comprising:
 a housing having a motor portion, a compressor portion and a suction pipeline, said motor portion, said compressor portion and said suction pipeline configured in flow communication;   a temperature control assembly coupled to said housing and comprising a distribution header coupled in flow communication to said motor portion and said compressor portion; and   a fluid mover coupled to said motor portion and in flow communication with said suction pipeline upstream from said compressor portion, said fluid mover configured to channel a fluid from said suction pipeline and within said motor portion, said compressor portion and said distribution header.   
     
     
         12 . The temperature control system of  claim 11 , wherein said distribution header is coupled to said housing in flow communication with a shaft coupler of the electrical machine. 
     
     
         13 . The temperature control system of  claim 11 , wherein said distribution header comprises a first outlet coupled in flow communication to said motor portion and a second outlet coupled to said housing in flow communication to said compressor portion. 
     
     
         14 . The temperature control system of  claim 11 , wherein said temperature control assembly comprises a motor return pipe and a compressor return pipe coupled in flow communication to said suction pipeline upstream from said compressor portion. 
     
     
         15 . The temperature control system of  claim 11 , wherein said distribution header couples to said housing in flow communication with a motor bearing and a compressor bearing of the electrical machine. 
     
     
         16 . The temperature control system of  claim 11 , wherein said compressor portion includes a first compressor portion and a second compressor portion which are coupled in flow communication with said distribution header. 
     
     
         17 . The temperature control system of  claim 11 , further comprising a heat exchanger coupled in flow communication to said housing and to said fluid mover. 
     
     
         18 . A temperature control system for use in cooling an electrical machine, said system comprising:
 a housing having a motor portion, a compressor portion and a suction pipeline, said motor portion, said compressor portion and said suction pipeline configured in flow communication;   a temperature control assembly coupled to said housing and comprising a distribution header coupled in flow communication to said motor portion and said compressor portion;   a fluid mover coupled to said motor portion and in flow communication with said suction pipeline upstream from said compressor portion, said fluid mover configured to channel a fluid from said suction pipeline and within said motor portion, said compressor portion and said distribution header; and   a heat exchanger coupled in flow communication to said housing and to said fluid mover.   
     
     
         19 . The temperature control system of  claim 8 , wherein said heat exchanger is in flow communication with said fluid mover. 
     
     
         20 . The temperature control system of  claim 8 , further comprising a normally open valve coupled to said suction pipeline and to said housing in flow communication with said fluid mover and a normally closed valve coupled to said heat exchanger and said housing in flow communication with said fluid mover.