Abstract: Disclosed is a hermetic AC electric motor that includes harmonics shunting such that high frequency harmonics are shunted from the AC electric motor without the use of one or more high frequency filters in the associated motor drive. A related method of operating an AC electric motor includes shunting high frequency harmonics to a fluid passing through the AC electric motor. Also disclosed is a simplified variable speed motor drive system which eliminates the need for a filter for removing high frequency harmonics.

Abstract: A compressor includes a housing, a shaft that is rotated relative to the housing to compress a working fluid, and a foil bearing that supports the shaft. The foil bearing includes a top foil. The foil bearing is a foil gas bearing that is backed up by a ball bearing, or a mesh foil bearing with an actuator to compress a wire mesh dampener. A heat transfer circuit includes a compressor and a working fluid. The compressor includes a shaft that is rotated to compress the working fluid, and a foil bearing for supporting the shaft as it rotates.

Abstract: Re-calibrating a bearing system of a compressor includes analyzing environmental data pertaining to a compressor to detect occurrence of a calibration threshold event, and re-calibrating the bearing system based on the detected calibration threshold event by controlling placement of a shaft relative to the bearing system of the compressor.

Abstract: A compressor includes a housing, a shaft that is rotated relative to the housing to compress a working fluid, and a foil bearing that supports the shaft. The foil bearing includes a top foil. The foil bearing is a foil gas bearing that is backed up by a ball bearing, or a mesh foil bearing with an actuator to compress a wire mesh dampener. A heat transfer circuit includes a compressor and a working fluid. The compressor includes a shaft that is rotated to compress the working fluid, and a foil bearing for supporting the shaft as it rotates.

Abstract: A heat transfer circuit that includes a compressor with a gas bearing, a condenser, an expander, an evaporator, a lubricant stream, and a heat source. The lubricant stream receives a portion of the working fluid and supplies the portion of the working fluid to the gas bearing of the compressor. A method of supplying lubricant to a gas bearing of a compressor in a heat transfer circuit includes compressing and further heating at least a portion of the working fluid heated in the evaporator, and supplying the compressed and further heated working fluid to the gas bearing of the compressor. A method of the supplying lubricant to a gas bearing of a compressor in a heat circuit includes generating compressed gaseous working fluid within a lubricant stream.

Abstract: An electric motor for a vapor compression system is disclosed. The electric motor is provided with a working fluid. The electric motor includes a housing forming cavity therein. The housing includes a rotor, a stator, and a shaft. The rotor is secured to the shaft and the stator surrounds at least a portion of the rotor. An airgap is formed between the rotor and the stator. An inlet of the housing receives the working fluid and is in fluid communication with the airgap. An outlet of the housing is in fluid communication with the airgap and receives the working fluid from the airgap. The electric motor further includes an impeller that induces flow of the working fluid between the inlet and the outlet.

Abstract: A compressor includes a housing, a shaft that is rotated relative to the housing to compress a working fluid, and a foil bearing that supports the shaft. The foil bearing includes a top foil. The foil bearing is a foil gas bearing that is backed up by a ball bearing, or a mesh foil bearing with an actuator to compress a wire mesh dampener. A heat transfer circuit includes a compressor and a working fluid. The compressor includes a shaft that is rotated to compress the working fluid, and a foil bearing for supporting the shaft as it rotates.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hermetic AC electric motor that includes harmonics shunting such that high frequency harmonics are shunted from the AC electric motor without the use of one or more high frequency filters in the associated motor drive. A related method of operating an AC electric motor includes shunting high frequency harmonics to a fluid passing through the AC electric motor. Also disclosed is a simplified variable speed motor drive system which eliminates the need for a filter for removing high frequency harmonics.

Abstract: An electric motor for a vapor compression system is disclosed. The electric motor is provided with a working fluid. The electric motor includes a housing forming cavity therein. The housing includes a rotor, a stator, and a shaft. The rotor is secured to the shaft and the stator surrounds at least a portion of the rotor. An airgap is formed between the rotor and the stator. An inlet of the housing receives the working fluid and is in fluid communication with the airgap. An outlet of the housing is in fluid communication with the airgap and receives the working fluid from the airgap. The electric motor further includes an impeller that induces flow of the working fluid between the inlet and the outlet.

Abstract: A variable orifice flow device controls the flow of refrigerant into a compressor motor housing in a compressor. The variable orifice flow device may include, for example, an electronic expansion valve, a thermal expansion valve, or a shuttling valve controlling the flow of refrigerant into a compressor motor housing. One or more flows of refrigerant may be through a fixed orifice, a valve seat of the variable orifice flow device, or leakage through a seal of the compressor motor housing, providing a baseline refrigerant flow to the inside of the compressor motor housing in addition to the flow through the variable orifice flow device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hermetic AC electric motor that includes harmonics shunting such that high frequency harmonics are shunted from the AC electric motor without the use of one or more high frequency filters in the associated motor drive. A related method of operating an AC electric motor includes shunting high frequency harmonics to a fluid passing through the AC electric motor. Also disclosed is a simplified variable speed motor drive system which eliminates the need for a filter for removing high frequency harmonics.

Abstract: A heat transfer circuit includes a compressor, a condenser, an expander, and an evaporator. The compressor includes a shaft that is rotated to compress a working fluid and a gas bearing to support the shaft. A conduit is configured to supply a portion of the working fluid to the compressor to cool the gas bearing. A method of controlling a heat transfer circuit includes directing a working fluid through a main flow path of the heat transfer circuit that directs the working fluid through a compressor, a condenser, an expander, an evaporator, and back to the compressor. The method also includes suppling supplying a portion of the working fluid in the main flow path to the compressor to cool a gas bearing of the compressor.

Abstract: A compressor includes a housing, a shaft that is rotated relative to the housing to compress a working fluid, and a foil bearing that supports the shaft. The foil bearing includes a top foil. The foil bearing is a foil gas bearing that is backed up by a ball bearing, or a mesh foil bearing with an actuator to compress a wire mesh dampener. A heat transfer circuit includes a compressor and a working fluid. The compressor includes a shaft that is rotated to compress the working fluid, and a foil bearing for supporting the shaft as it rotates.

Abstract: A heat transfer circuit that includes a compressor with a gas bearing, a condenser, an expander, an evaporator, a lubricant stream, and a heat source. The lubricant stream receives a portion of the working fluid and supplies the portion of the working fluid to the gas bearing of the compressor. A method of supplying lubricant to a gas bearing of a compressor in a heat transfer circuit includes compressing and further heating at least a portion of the working fluid heated in the evaporator, and supplying the compressed and further heated working fluid to the gas bearing of the compressor. A method of the supplying lubricant to a gas bearing of a compressor in a heat circuit includes generating compressed gaseous working fluid within a lubricant stream.

Abstract: A variable orifice flow device controls the flow of refrigerant into a compressor motor housing in a compressor. The variable orifice flow device may include, for example, an electronic expansion valve, a thermal expansion valve, or a shuttling valve controlling the flow of refrigerant into a compressor motor housing. One or more flows of refrigerant may be through a fixed orifice, a valve seat of the variable orifice flow device, or leakage through a seal of the compressor motor housing, providing a baseline refrigerant flow to the inside of the compressor motor housing in addition to the flow through the variable orifice flow device.

Abstract: A scroll compressor orbiting scroll bearing lubrication system includes a scroll compressor crankshaft having a lubricating fluid gallery extending therethrough between a first stage orbiting scroll and a second stage orbiting scroll. The first stage employs an orbiting scroll radial bearing and an orbiting scroll hydrodynamic thrust bearing, while the second stage employs an orbiting scroll radial bearing and an orbiting scroll hydrostatic thrust bearing. Lubricating fluid is supplied to the second stage orbiting scroll radial bearing via the lubricating fluid gallery.

Abstract: An electric motor for a vapor compression system is disclosed. The electric motor is provided with a working fluid. The electric motor includes a housing forming cavity therein. The housing includes a rotor, a stator, and a shaft. The rotor is secured to the shaft and the stator surrounds at least a portion of the rotor. An airgap is formed between the rotor and the stator. An inlet of the housing receives the working fluid and is in fluid communication with the airgap. An outlet of the housing is in fluid communication with the airgap and receives the working fluid from the airgap. The electric motor further includes an impeller that induces flow of the working fluid between the inlet and the outlet.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hermetic AC electric motor that includes harmonics shunting such that high frequency harmonics are shunted from the AC electric motor without the use of one or more high frequency filters in the associated motor drive. A related method of operating an AC electric motor includes shunting high frequency harmonics to a fluid passing through the AC electric motor. Also disclosed is a simplified variable speed motor drive system which eliminates the need for a filter for removing high frequency harmonics.

Abstract: A scroll compressor orbiting scroll bearing lubrication system includes a scroll compressor crankshaft having a lubricating fluid gallery extending therethrough between a first stage orbiting scroll and a second stage orbiting scroll. The first stage employs an orbiting scroll radial bearing and an orbiting scroll hydrodynamic thrust bearing, while the second stage employs an orbiting scroll radial bearing and an orbiting scroll hydrostatic thrust bearing. Lubricating fluid is supplied to the second stage orbiting scroll radial bearing via the lubricating fluid gallery.

Abstract: A scroll compressor includes an orbiting scroll member disposed within a compressor housing. The orbiting scroll member has a substantially circular baseplate and a generally spiral wrap extending from its base. A first seal is disposed proximal to the outer periphery of the orbiting scroll baseplate to provide an external seal between the baseplate and the housing. A second seal is disposed radially inward from the first seal to provide an internal seal between the baseplate and the housing. A space between the internal seal and the external seal defines a balance piston chamber. The balance piston chamber is pressurized via a high or intermediate pressure oil source to reduce thrust loading on the baseplate caused by an axial pressure differential across the baseplate.