Abstract: A centrifugal compressor for compressing a refrigerant vapour in a refrigeration cycle. The compressor comprises an impeller drive shaft supported by first and second radial bearings for rotation within the compressor housing and an impeller assembly including at least one centrifugal impeller wheel mounted on the impeller drive shaft to rotate with the impeller drive shaft. The first and second radial bearings are hydrodynamic fluid bearings in which the bearing fluid is the refrigerant vapour. The compressor further comprises a conduit for supplying a portion of the refrigerant vapour from the impeller assembly to the first and second fluid bearings.

Abstract: A centrifugal compressor for compressing a refrigerant vapor in a refrigeration cycle. The compressor comprises an impeller drive shaft supported by first and second radial bearings for rotation within the compressor housing and an impeller assembly including at least one centrifugal impeller wheel mounted on the impeller drive shaft to rotate with the impeller drive shaft. The first and second radial bearings are hydrodynamic fluid bearings in which the bearing fluid is the refrigerant vapor. The compressor further comprises a conduit for supplying a portion of the refrigerant vapor from the impeller assembly to the first and second fluid bearings.

Abstract: A centrifugal compressor for compressing a refrigerant vapour in a refrigeration cycle. The compressor comprises an impeller drive shaft supported by first and second radial bearings for rotation within the compressor housing and an impeller assembly including at least one centrifugal impeller wheel mounted on the impeller drive shaft to rotate with the impeller drive shaft. The first and second radial bearings are hydrodynamic fluid bearings in which the bearing fluid is the refrigerant vapour. The compressor further comprises a conduit for supplying a portion of the refrigerant vapour from the impeller assembly to the first and second fluid bearings.

Abstract: A centrifugal compressor for compressing a refrigerant vapor in a refrigeration cycle. The compressor comprises an impeller drive shaft (28) supported by first and second radial bearings (32) for rotation within the compressor housing and an impeller assembly including at least one centrifugal impeller wheel mounted on the impeller drive shaft to rotate with the impeller drive shaft. The first and second radial bearings are hydrodynamic fluid bearings in which the bearing fluid is the refrigerant vapor. The compressor further comprising a conduit (36) for supplying a portion of the refrigerant vapor from the impeller assembly to the first and second fluid bearings.

Abstract: A centrifugal compressor for compressing a refrigerant vapour in a refrigeration cycle. The compressor comprises an impeller drive shaft (28) supported by first and second radial bearings (32) for rotation within the compressor housing and an impeller assembly including at least one centrifugal impeller wheel mounted on the impeller drive shaft to rotate with the impeller drive shaft. The first and second radial bearings are hydrodynamic fluid bearings in which the bearing fluid is the refrigerant vapour. The compressor further comprising a conduit (36) for supplying a portion of the refrigerant vapour from the impeller assembly to the first and second fluid bearings.

Abstract: A refrigerant compressor (10) for use in a chiller-heater system that can provide chilled water at less than 10° C. and hot water at more than 80° C. without the need for additional heat input, the compressor (10) being configured to provide a compression ratio of at least 18:1 and a temperature lift across the compressor of at least 80K, and the refrigerant fluid being selected to give the desired temperature lift without the pressure at the compressor outlet exceeding 25 bar.