Turbo compressor

Abstract

A turbo compressor includes a first compressor stage, which has a first compressor wheel, and a second compressor stage, which has a second compressor wheel, the first compressor wheel and the second compressor wheel being situated on a common shaft ( 12 ), the shaft being supported without contact. To reduce the complexity of the turbo compressor, a contactless bearing of the shaft is situated between the first compressor wheel and the second compressor wheel.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A turbo compressor, comprising:
 a first compressor stage having a first compressor wheel;   a second compressor stage having a second compressor wheel;   wherein the first compressor wheel and the second compressor wheel are situated on a common shaft, which is supported without contact, and   wherein a contactless bearing of the shaft is situated between the first compressor wheel and the second compressor wheel.   
     
     
         13 . The turbo compressor of  claim 12 , wherein the contactless bearing is a magnetic bearing. 
     
     
         14 . The turbo compressor of  claim 12 , wherein the shaft is only supported with the aid of the contactless bearing. 
     
     
         15 . The turbo compressor of  claim 12 , wherein the first compressor wheel and the second compressor wheel are aligned so that the respective inlets of the compressor stages are situated on diametrically opposed sides of the shaft. 
     
     
         16 . The turbo compressor of  claim 15 , wherein the compressor wheels have essentially the same distance to the bearing. 
     
     
         17 . The turbo compressor of  claim 12 , wherein the bearing includes a combined, contactless radial and axial bearing. 
     
     
         18 . The turbo compressor of  claim 17 , wherein the bearing has a radially projecting flange on the shaft side, the flange being at least partly enclosed axially by housing-side bearing components. 
     
     
         19 . The turbo compressor of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of an electrical drive and a generator are integrated into the bearing. 
     
     
         20 . The turbo compressor of  claim 19 , wherein the shaft has a cavity, which is open on at least one side and is situated to be rotationally symmetrical, in which a rotor is situated, and a stator projecting into the cavity. 
     
     
         21 . The turbo compressor of  claim 12 , wherein a point is situated on an axis of rotation of the shaft and has a distance to the shaft of between 0 mm and 5 mm. 
     
     
         22 . The turbo compressor of  claim 12 , wherein a point is situated on an axis of rotation of the shaft and has a distance to the shaft of between 0 mm and 1 mm. 
     
     
         23 . A shaft, comprising:
 a first compressor wheel, a second compressor wheel and a contactless shaft-side bearing part of a contactless bearing of a turbo compressor;   wherein the contactless shaft-side bearing part is situated between first compressor wheel and second compressor wheel, and   wherein the turbo compressor includes a first compressor stage having the first compressor wheel, a second compressor stage having the second compressor wheel, the first compressor wheel and the second compressor wheel being situated on the shaft, which is supported without contact.