Abradable labyrinth seal for refrigerant compressors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11739654-B2
Application number	US-202017422407-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 21, 2020
Priority date	Feb 25, 2019
Publication date	Aug 29, 2023
Grant date	Aug 29, 2023

Abstract

A compressor according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a rotor configured to rotate with respect to a stator, the stator having an abradable portion. At least one labyrinth seal is between the rotor and the stator, wherein the labyrinth seal comprises a plurality of teeth extending from the rotor toward the abradable portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A compressor, comprising:
a rotor configured to rotate with respect to a stator, the stator having an abradable portion;
at least one labyrinth seal between the rotor and the stator, wherein the labyrinth seal comprises a plurality of teeth extending from the rotor toward the abradable portion.

2. The compressor as recited claim 1 , wherein the plurality of teeth are provided in a stepped arrangement.

3. The compressor as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of teeth are arranged in three groups separated by radial steps.

4. The compressor as recited in claim 1 , wherein the abradable portion is made of one of PTFE, polyamide, and a low strength alloy.

5. The compressor as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of teeth are configured to contact the abradable portion and carve tracks into the abradable portion over time.

6. The compressor as recited in claim 1 , wherein a flow path is defined through the labyrinth seal and a discharge path is arranged downstream of the labyrinth seal.

7. The compressor as recited in claim 1 , wherein a flow path is defined through the labyrinth seal and a debris trap is arranged downstream of the labyrinth seal.

8. The compressor as recited claim 1 , wherein the labyrinth seal is arranged at a first location, and a second labyrinth seal is arranged at a second location between the rotor and the stator.

9. The compressor as recited in claim 1 , wherein the rotor comprises an impeller, the stator is a housing, and the labyrinth seal is arranged between an outer diameter of the impeller and the housing.

10. The compressor as recited in claim 1 , wherein the rotor comprises an impeller and the labyrinth seal is arranged at an inner diameter of the impeller.

11. The compressor as recited in claim 1 , wherein the rotor rotates on a shaft that is driven by a motor.

12. The compressor as recited in claim 1 , wherein the compressor is a two stage compressor.

13. The compressor as recited in claim 1 , wherein the compressor is used in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) chiller system.

14. The compressor as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of teeth are configured to rotate together with the rotation of the rotor to gradually wear away the abradable portion.

15. The compressor as recited in claim 14 , wherein the plurality of teeth are configured to rotate together with the rotation of the rotor to gradually form tracks in the abradable portion.

16. The compressor as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of teeth and the rotor are formed of the same material.

17. The compressor as recited in claim 16 , wherein the plurality of teeth and the rotor are formed of a different material than the abradable portion.

18. A refrigerant system comprising:
a main refrigerant loop including a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and an expansion device, wherein the compressor includes:
a rotor configured to rotate with respect to a stator, the stator having an abradable portion; and
at least one labyrinth seal between the rotor and the stator, wherein the labyrinth seal comprises a plurality of teeth extending from the rotor toward the abradable portion.

19. The refrigerant system of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of teeth are provided in a stepped arrangement.

20. The refrigerant system of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of teeth are arranged in at least two groups separated by radial steps.

21. The refrigerant system of claim 18 , wherein the teeth are configured to contact the abradable portion and carve tracks into the abradable portion over time.

22. The refrigerant system of claim 18 , wherein a flow path is defined through the labyrinth seal and at least one of a discharge path and a debris trap is arranged downstream of the labyrinth seal.

23. The refrigerant system of claim 18 , comprising a second labyrinth seal between the rotor and the stator.

24. The refrigerant system of claim 18 , wherein the compressor is a two stage centrifugal compressor.

Assignees

• Danfoss As

Inventors

• Perez Alonso
• Sun Lin Xiang
• Yan Jin
• Li Tianlei

Classifications

• F04D29/102

  especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps · CPC title

• F04D29/162

  of a centrifugal flow wheel · CPC title

• F01D11/122 Primary

  with erodable or abradable material (blades having cutting or grinding tips F01D5/20) · CPC title

• F01D11/02

  by non-contact sealings, e.g. of labyrinth type (for sealing space between rotor blade tips and stator F01D11/08) · CPC title

• F01D15/005

  Adaptations for refrigeration plants · CPC title