Compressor and hermetic housing with minimal housing ports

Abstract

A vapor compression system having a multi-stage compressor with a minimal number of ports located in the hermetically sealed compressor housing. A working fluid at suction pressure enters the compressor housing through a first port and is compressed to an intermediate pressure. The intermediate pressure refrigerant flows from the first stage compressor mechanism to the second stage compressor mechanism where it is compressed to a discharge pressure and discharged through a second port. The intermediate pressure refrigerant is in thermal communication with a heat exchange medium which is introduced into the compressor housing through a third port in the housing.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a hermetically sealed compressor for a vapor compression system and, more particularly, to a compressor housing having a minimal number of housing ports. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] A vapor compression system typically includes at least a compressor, a first heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a second heat exchanger fluidly linked in serial order. Other components such as accumulators, flash tanks, and the like are also well-known and may be employed with the vapor compression system, but are not essential for the operation of the vapor compression system. [0005] One known type of vapor compression system is a transcritical vapor compression system wherein the refrigerant is compressed to a supercritical pressure and is returned to the compressor at a subcritical pressure. When the refrigerant is at a supercritical pressure, the liquid and vapor phases of th...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015] An advantage of the present invention is that same provides a multi-stage compressor mechanism wherein intermediate pressure refrigerant may be cooled without requiring an intercooler and the two housing ports associated with the use of an intercooler. The elimination of the intercooler is beneficial because it may simplify the manufacture of the compressor assembly.

[0016] The reduction in the number of ports required in the hermetically sealed housing is also beneficial because each of the ports of the housing must be properly sealed to ensure that the housing provides a hermetically sealed enclosure and an increase in the number of ports in the housing increases the chances that one of such ports may later develop a leak and may also increase the initial cost of manufacturing the compressor assembly.

Problems solved by technology

A problem with the foregoing compressor mechanism is that the compressor housing requires as many as four or more ports, each of which include an opening in the compressor housing which requires a seal, thereby increasing the cost of the compressor and the number of locations on the compressor housing at which a fluid leak could potentially occur.

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