Volute assembly of centrifugal compressor, centrifugal compressor and air conditioner

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of compressors, in particular to a volute assembly of a centrifugal compressor, the centrifugal compressor and an air conditioner. The volute assembly comprises an air suction section, a diffusion section and a volute pipe section which are sequentially connected, the diffusion section and the volute pipe section are arranged around the air suction section, an air suction chamber is formed in the air suction section, a diffusion channel is formed in the diffusion section, a volute chamber is formed in the volute pipe section, and the air suction chamber, the diffusion channel and the volute chamber are sequentially communicated. A heat conduction section is arranged between the outer wall of the volute pipe section and the outer wall of the air suction section and is configured to transmit heat of the volute pipe section to the air suction section in a heat conduction mode. The problem that liquid is carried in air suction of the centrifugal compressor can be effectively solved, the liquid impact risk is avoided, and the compression efficiency and stability are improved. Heat resources of the volute chamber are ingeniously utilized, the structure is simple, removability is high, the core structure of the compressor does not need to be greatly changed, improvement can be achieved only by adding the heat conduction section, and the volute chamber structure is suitable for modification of a new machine and an old machine.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of compressors, and in particular to a volute assembly of a centrifugal compressor, a centrifugal compressor, and an air conditioner. Background Art

[0002] At present, a centrifugal compressor is a fluid machine that boosts low-pressure gas to high-pressure gas. It sucks in low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas from the intake pipe, pressurizes it by driving the impeller through the motor, and then discharges high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas to the exhaust pipe, providing power for the refrigeration cycle.

[0003] Due to various factors, liquid refrigerant may enter the compressor's suction line and be drawn into the compressor for compression, resulting in liquid inhalation. Centrifugal compressors, as key equipment widely used in the refrigeration industry, have complex structures and high operating speeds, placing even stricter demands on the state of the inhaled gas. Liquid inhalation not only affects the compressor's operating efficiency but can also cause serious mechanical failures, such as liquid hammering of the compressor's impeller, severely impacting its lifespan. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present application provides a volute assembly of a centrifugal compressor, a centrifugal compressor and an air conditioner.

[0005] According to the first aspect of the present application, an embodiment of the present application provides a volute assembly of a centrifugal compressor, which includes an intake section, a diffusion section and a volute section connected in sequence, the diffusion section and the volute section are both arranged around the intake section, an intake chamber is formed in the intake section, a diffusion channel is formed in the diffusion section, and a volute chamber is formed in the volute section, the intake chamber, the diffusion channel and the volute chamber are connected in sequence, and a heat conduction section is provided between the outer wall of the volute section and the outer wall of the intake section, and the heat conduction section is configured to transfer the heat of the volute section to the intake section by heat conduction.

[0006] Furthermore, the air intake section, the diffusion section, the scroll section and the heat conduction section are integrally formed.

[0007] Furthermore, the volute section bulges and protrudes toward the side where the intake section is set relative to the diffuser section, and an annular groove is formed between the volute section, the diffuser section and the intake section. The heat conduction section is embedded and fixed in the annular groove, and the heat conduction section is connected to the intake section and the volute section at the same time.

[0008] Furthermore, the heat-conducting section is made of heat-conducting glue, and the heat-conducting glue is filled in the annular groove.

[0009] Furthermore, the heat-conductive colloid also covers the outer wall of the air suction section.

[0010] Furthermore, a heating element is provided on the outer wall of the air intake section, and the heating element is embedded between the heat conduction section and the air intake section.

[0011] According to the second aspect of the present application, an embodiment of the present application provides a centrifugal compressor, which includes the volute assembly provided by the first aspect of the present application.

[0012] Furthermore, the centrifugal compressor also includes a cylinder, a stator, a rotor, an impeller and an air suspension bearing. The volute assembly is connected to the axial end of the cylinder, the rotor is rotatably arranged in the cylinder through the air suspension bearing, the impeller is connected to the axial end of the rotor and is located in the volute assembly, and the impeller is used to drive the airflow in the suction section through the diffuser section into the volute chamber.

[0013] Furthermore, a spiral cooling channel is provided between the stator and the cylinder, and the cylinder is provided with a cooling inlet communicating with one end of the spiral cooling channel and a cooling outlet communicating with the other end of the spiral cooling channel.

[0014] According to the third aspect of the present application, an embodiment of the present application provides an air conditioner, which includes the centrifugal compressor provided in the second aspect of the present application

[0015] The volute assembly provided by the present application can be applied to a centrifugal compressor to effectively reduce the problem of liquid carryover in the suction of the centrifugal compressor, that is, by pre-heating the liquid refrigerant in the suction section, the liquid can be effectively reduced from directly entering the impeller area, avoiding the risk of liquid hammer, and the early vaporization of the entrained liquid refrigerant is also beneficial to improving the compression efficiency and stability; in addition, the embodiment of the present application, on the basis of not changing the basic flow path structure of the centrifugal compressor, cleverly utilizes the heat resources of the volute chamber itself through structural thermal management design to achieve refrigerant vaporization pretreatment on the suction path. It has a simple structure and strong modifiability. There is no need to make major changes to the core structure of the compressor. Improvements can be achieved only by adding a heat conduction section. It is suitable for the modification of new and old machines. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The drawings that constitute part of this application are used to provide a further understanding of this application and make other features, objects and advantages of this application more apparent. The illustrative embodiment drawings of this application and their descriptions are used to explain this application and do not constitute an improper limitation of this application. In the drawings:

[0017] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a volute assembly for a centrifugal compressor in the related art is schematically provided;

[0018] Figure 2A cross-sectional view of a volute assembly for a centrifugal compressor provided in an embodiment of the present application is schematically provided;

[0019] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of a centrifugal compressor provided in an embodiment of the present application is schematically provided;

[0020] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of another volute assembly for a centrifugal compressor in the related art is schematically provided;

[0021] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of another volute assembly for a centrifugal compressor provided in an embodiment of the present application is schematically provided;

[0022] Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of another centrifugal compressor provided in an embodiment of the present application is schematically given.

[0023] In the picture:

[0024] 100. Volute assembly;

[0025] 110, Inspiratory segment;

[0026] 120, diffusion section;

[0027] 130, cochlear segment;

[0028] 140, suction chamber;

[0029] 150, diffusion channel;

[0030] 160, snail chamber;

[0031] 170, heat conduction section;

[0032] 180, annular groove;

[0033] 190, heating element;

[0034] 200, air suspension bearing;

[0035] 210, housing;

[0036] 220, bearing member;

[0037] 230, support;

[0038] 231, airflow channel;

[0039] 300, cylinder;

[0040] 310, air supply port;

[0041] 320, exhaust hole;

[0042] 330, cooling inlet;

[0043] 340, cooling outlet;

[0044] 400, stator;

[0045] 500, rotor;

[0046] 600, impeller;

[0047] 700. Spiral cooling channel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention, the following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts should fall within the scope of protection of this application.

[0049] It should be noted that the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof in the specification and claims of this application and the above-mentioned drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a system, product or device comprising a series of units is not necessarily limited to those units explicitly listed, but may include units that are not explicitly listed or are inherent to these products or devices.

[0050] In this application, terms such as "upper," "lower," "inner," "middle," and "outer" indicate positions or locations based on those shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are intended to better describe this application and its embodiments and are not intended to limit the devices, elements, or components indicated to specific positions, or to their construction or operation in a specific position.

[0051] Furthermore, some of the above terms may be used to express other meanings besides indicating a position or location. For example, the term "on" may also be used to express a dependency or connection in certain circumstances. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of these terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0052] Furthermore, the terms "disposed," "connected," and "fixed" should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connected" can mean a fixed connection, a removable connection, or an integral structure; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, an indirect connection through an intermediary, or an internal communication between two devices, elements, or components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of these terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0053] It should be noted that, unless there is any conflict, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of this application can be combined with each other.

[0054] like Figure 2-3 and Figure 5-6 As shown, an embodiment of the present application provides a volute assembly 100 of a centrifugal compressor, whose main structure includes an intake section 110, a diffuser section 120 and a volute section 130 connected in sequence, wherein the diffuser section 120 and the volute section 130 are both arranged around the intake section 110, an intake chamber 140 is formed in the intake section 110, a diffusion channel 150 is formed in the diffuser section 120, and a volute chamber 160 is formed in the volute section 130, the intake chamber 140, the diffusion channel 150 and the volute chamber 160 are connected in sequence, and a heat conduction section 170 is provided between the outer wall of the volute section 130 and the outer wall of the intake section 110, and the heat conduction section 170 is configured to transfer the heat of the volute section 130 to the intake section 110 in a heat conduction manner.

[0055] The structure of the suction section 110 is preferably set to a cylindrical or conical hollow structure, which is used to guide the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant gas to flow into the interior of the compressor and form an suction chamber 140 therein; the diffusion section 120 is used to reduce the air flow velocity and increase the pressure, and a diffusion channel 150 is formed therein; the volute section 130 is used to further collect and guide the air flow to be transported to the exhaust pipe, and a volute chamber 160 is formed in the volute section 130; the above three structures are interconnected and constitute the main flow path in the centrifugal compressor in turn.

[0056] To address the problem of liquid carryover in the suction air of centrifugal compressors in the prior art, this embodiment specifically disposes a heat transfer section 170 between the outer wall of the scroll section 130 and the outer wall of the suction section 110. This heat transfer section 170 is made of a highly thermally conductive material, such as copper, aluminum, or other materials with excellent thermal conductivity, to ensure that heat from the scroll section 130 is stably and effectively transferred to the suction section 110. In this structure, one end of the heat transfer section 170 is in thermal contact with the outer wall of the scroll section 130, while the other end extends near the suction section 110 and is in thermal contact with the outer wall of the suction section 110, thereby forming a heat transfer path. Specifically, the heat conduction section 170 in this embodiment constructs a stable thermal coupling path from the volute chamber 160 area to the suction chamber 140. When the centrifugal compressor is running, the compressed refrigerant flows at a fast speed and high pressure in the volute chamber 160, which will cause the temperature of the volute section 130 to rise. At this time, the heat of the outer wall of the volute section 130 is quickly transferred to the suction section 110 through the heat conduction section 170, so that the refrigerant sucked into the suction chamber 140 is heated. If there is still unvaporized liquid mixed in the sucked refrigerant at this time, its vaporization process can be accelerated by the temperature rise of the suction section 110.

[0057] Through the above-mentioned structural setting, the problem of liquid carryover in the suction of the centrifugal compressor can be effectively reduced, that is, by pre-heating the liquid refrigerant in the suction section 110, the liquid can be effectively reduced from directly entering the impeller 600 area, avoiding the risk of liquid hammer, and the early vaporization of the entrained liquid refrigerant is also beneficial to improving the compression efficiency and stability; in addition, the embodiment of the present application, on the basis of not changing the basic flow path structure of the centrifugal compressor, cleverly utilizes the own heat resources of the volute 160 through structural thermal management design to realize the refrigerant vaporization pretreatment on the suction path. It has a simple structure and strong modifiability. There is no need to make major changes to the core structure of the compressor. Improvements can be achieved only by adding a heat conduction section 170. It is suitable for the modification of new and old machines.

[0058] In some embodiments, as Figure 2 and 3 As shown, the intake section 110, the diffusion section 120, the volute section 130 and the heat conduction section 170 are integrally formed, that is, the above-mentioned structures can be formed at one time by integral casting, integral forging or integral molding processing technology, thereby avoiding the splicing or assembly operations between multiple structural parts. Through the one-piece molding method, not only can the manufacturing process be simplified and the assembly cost be reduced, but the structural strength and sealing performance of the volute assembly 100 can also be significantly improved. In particular, the heat conduction section 170, as part of the thermal coupling path, has a higher thermal contact efficiency with the volute section 130 and the intake section 110 under the condition of one-piece molding, further improving the stability and uniformity of heat conduction, thereby more effectively preheating the inhaled refrigerant and reducing the risk of liquid refrigerant entering the compression chamber.

[0059] For centrifugal compressors with small cooling capacity, the intake section 110, diffusion section 120, volute section 130 and heat transfer section 170 preferably adopt an integrally formed structure. At this time, since the outer wall size of the volute section 130 is slightly different from that of the intake section 110, the above structures can be integrated into an integrated volute assembly 100 by integral casting, forging or precision machining. Not only is the processing technology relatively simple, but the heat conduction efficiency is high and the structural stability is strong. However, in centrifugal compressors with large cooling capacity, due to more stringent compression conditions and larger structural dimensions, the outer diameter of the intake section 110 is significantly different from the outer wall size of the volute section 130. At this time, if an integrally formed structure is still used, it is often easy to form defects such as shrinkage cavities and shrinkage during the casting process due to large changes in local wall thickness, thereby reducing the structural strength and significantly weakening the continuity and stability of heat transfer.

[0060] Therefore, in response to the practical application requirements of large-capacity centrifugal compressors, in some embodiments, the heat transfer section 170 preferably adopts a structural solution that is independently manufactured and then assembled. That is, the intake section 110, diffusion section 120, and volute section 130 are first integrally machined or cast, and then a heat transfer section 170 made of a high thermal conductivity material is positioned between the intake section 110 and the volute section 130. The heat transfer section 170 is then attached to the outer walls of the intake section 110 and the outer walls of the volute section 130, respectively, to form an effective heat conduction path. This split structure not only facilitates process control and avoids defects encountered during large-scale casting, but also allows for flexible selection of the material and structural form of the heat transfer section 170 according to different operating conditions, resulting in greater adaptability and ease of maintenance.

[0061] Alternatively, as Figure 1 and 3 As shown, the scroll section 130 is enlarged and protrudes toward the side where the air intake section 110 is provided relative to the diffuser section 120. An annular groove 180 is formed between the scroll section 130, the diffuser section 120 and the air intake section 110. Figure 5 and 6 As shown, the heat conducting section 170 is embedded and fixed in the annular groove 180, and the heat conducting section 170 is connected to both the suction section 110 and the scroll section 130. Specific implementations of embedding and fixing the heat conducting section 170 in the annular groove 180 include, but are not limited to, mechanical embedding, welding, or bonding with thermally conductive adhesive to securely position the heat conducting section 170 in the annular groove 180.

[0062] By embedding the heat conducting segment 170 within the annular groove 180, not only is thermal coupling efficiency improved, but due to the constraints of the annular groove 180, the heat conducting segment 170 is securely mounted and not easily removed, thereby improving the thermal stability and operational reliability of the entire volute assembly 100. This structure also facilitates subsequent maintenance and replacement, demonstrating excellent engineering applicability and structural versatility.

[0063] In some embodiments, the material of the heat-conducting section 170 is a heat-conducting colloid, and the heat-conducting colloid is filled in the annular groove 180. During the processing, the volute section 130 and the intake section 110 can be connected as one by performing a process of perfusion of the heat-conducting colloid. Specifically, during the processing of the volute assembly 100 of the centrifugal compressor, an annular groove 180 formed by the intake section 110, the volute section 130, and the diffusion section 120 can be formed first. Subsequently, a heat-conducting colloid with high thermal conductivity is injected into the annular groove 180 through a perfusion process. After the heat-conducting colloid is solidified, a tightly fitting heat-conducting connection structure is formed. The heat-conducting colloid not only effectively fixes the volute section 130 and the intake section 110 together in structure, but also provides a stable heat conduction path to transfer the high-temperature heat of the volute chamber 160 to the intake chamber 140 in a timely manner. The thermal conductive colloid infusion process can adapt to the volute assembly 100 structures of different specifications and shapes, and is especially suitable for the situation where the size difference between the suction section 110 and the volute section 130 in the large cooling capacity centrifugal compressor is large; silicone, polymer composite materials, etc. with high thermal conductivity can be selected as thermal conductive colloid to ensure that the volute assembly 100 still has good heat transfer capabilities under long-term high temperature conditions; the thermal conductive colloid material can absorb vibration and stress to a certain extent, and can avoid manufacturing defects such as shrinkage cavities and shrinkage in the one-piece casting process.

[0064] In some embodiments, as Figure 5 and 6 As shown, the thermally conductive colloid also covers the outer wall of the intake section 110. Specifically, when the axial dimension of the intake section 110 is long, the thermally conductive colloid not only fills the annular groove 180 formed between the volute section 130, the diffuser section 120, and the intake section 110, but also extends to the outer wall portion of the intake section 110 protruding outside the annular groove 180, thereby covering it. This extended covering portion forms a larger area of thermally conductive covering layer, allowing the heat in the volute section 130 to contact and conduct with the outer wall of the intake section 110 over a wider area, thereby improving the vaporization efficiency of the liquid refrigerant in the intake chamber 140 and effectively alleviating the risk of liquid hammer caused by incomplete vaporization of the liquid refrigerant.

[0065] This embodiment significantly expands the contact area between the thermally conductive colloid and the intake section 110 by coating the outer wall of the intake section 110, which is beneficial to the increase of the overall temperature of the intake section 110; the extended coating avoids heat concentration in the single annular groove 180 area, avoids local overheating or heating dead corners, and improves the uniformity of the gasification of the intake medium; the thermally conductive colloid can be flexibly coated to different degrees through casting, coating, etc., and is suitable for centrifugal compressors with different structural complexities and spatial arrangements.

[0066] In some embodiments, as Figure 5 and 6As shown, a heating element 190 is provided on the outer wall of the intake section 110 and embedded between the heat conducting section 170 and the intake section 110. The heating element 190 is used to actively heat the intake section 110 during the initial operation or when necessary, further improving the pre-gasification capability of the intake medium.

[0067] Specifically, the heating element 190 is preferably an electric heating wire, which is spirally or corrugatedly wound around the outer wall surface of the air intake section 110 and is arranged in close contact with the surface of the air intake section 110 to efficiently conduct heat to the interior of the air intake chamber 140. The heating wire is arranged between the heat conducting section 170 and the air intake section 110. After being coated and fixed with a thermally conductive adhesive, it can achieve a stable structure and good heat conduction effect.

[0068] Compared with the natural conduction method that only relies on the heat of the volute chamber 160, the electric heating wire can actively and quickly increase the temperature of the intake section 110 at the initial startup or in a low-temperature environment, effectively coping with the working condition where the liquid refrigerant has not completely evaporated; the heating element 190 and the heat-conducting section 170 work together to form a dual-path heating mode of passive heat conduction and active electric heating, which significantly improves the gasification efficiency; the electric heating wire is embedded in the heat-conducting gel layer and can be integrated with the heat-conducting section 170, without taking up additional space and without affecting the overall compactness of the volute assembly 100 structure.

[0069] Preferably, the heating element 190 is led out to the outside of the compressor through a wire, and the controller cooperates with the temperature sensor to control the heating to achieve intelligent start and stop and over-temperature protection, thereby improving the intelligence level and service life of the system operation.

[0070] like Figure 3 and 6 As shown, the present application also correspondingly protects a centrifugal compressor, which includes the volute assembly 100 provided in the aforementioned embodiment of the present application, so as to effectively alleviate the liquid hammer problem caused by liquid in the suction air in the prior art and improve the stability and service life of the centrifugal compressor. Figure 3 To adopt Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a centrifugal compressor of a volute assembly 100 is shown, Figure 6 To adopt Figure 5The schematic diagram of the centrifugal compressor of the volute assembly 100 is shown. Specifically, the main structure of the volute assembly 100 includes an intake section 110, a diffuser section 120 and a volute section 130 connected in sequence, wherein the diffuser section 120 and the volute section 130 are both arranged around the intake section 110, an intake chamber 140 is formed in the intake section 110, a diffusion channel 150 is formed in the diffuser section 120, and a volute chamber 160 is formed in the volute section 130. The intake chamber 140, the diffusion channel 150 and the volute chamber 160 are connected in sequence, and a heat conduction section 170 is provided between the outer wall of the volute section 130 and the outer wall of the intake section 110. The heat conduction section 170 is configured to transfer heat from the volute section 130 to the intake section 110 by heat conduction. The intake section 110 receives heat from the volute 160 through the heat conducting section 170, and heats and vaporizes the liquid refrigerant that may be entrained therein, thereby preventing the refrigerant from entering the impeller 600 in liquid form and avoiding impact damage; the intake section 110 and the volute 160 are effectively thermally coupled through the heat conducting section 170, and there is no need to set up an independent heating device separately, thereby maintaining the compactness of the overall structure.

[0071] Since the centrifugal compressor adopts the volute assembly 100 provided in the aforementioned embodiment of the present application, the specific structural setting of the volute assembly 100 and the corresponding technical effects achieved can refer to the specific embodiments of the volute assembly 100. For example, for a small-capacity centrifugal compressor, an integrally molded heat-conducting section 170 can be used. For a large-capacity centrifugal compressor, a heat-conducting section 170 made of a material such as a heat-conducting colloid can be used as an independent thermal connection structure to meet the manufacturing and thermal management requirements of equipment of different sizes, which will not be repeated here.

[0072] To reduce friction, existing centrifugal compressors often consider using air bearings 200. Air bearings 200 utilize an air film formed by gas to bear loads and significantly reduce friction. Compared to other bearing types, air bearings 200 offer numerous advantages, including being oil-free, pollution-free, offering low operating resistance, a simple structure, and low mechanical losses. Air bearing technology overcomes many shortcomings of traditional liquid bearings, sliding bearings, and rolling bearings, and has been widely used in high-speed rotating machinery and precision machining equipment, particularly in the food, brewing, and data center industries. However, the ability of the air suspension bearing 200 to resist system disturbances is significantly inferior to that of the oil sliding bearing. During operation, when the compressor suction superheat is too low, liquid hammer is very likely to occur at the compressor suction port. At this time, under the impact of the liquid refrigerant, the impeller 600 and the rotor supported by the air suspension bearing 200 are very likely to become unstable during high-speed rotation. At this time, the unstable rotor is very likely to cause abnormal wear of the air suspension bearing load-bearing area. For example, the dynamic pressure air suspension bearing may have abnormal wear of the top foil coating, and even worse, it may directly cause permanent plastic deformation of the vibration-damping foil, causing damage to the compressor. For example, when the rotor and the carrier of the static pressure air suspension bearing collide unstably, the carrier may be permanently scratched, affecting the air permeability of the carrier, thereby affecting the bearing load and reducing the service life of the bearing.

[0073] In view of the risk points of the air suspension bearing 200 during the use of the refrigeration system, the embodiment of the present application provides a volute assembly 100 for application in a centrifugal compressor to achieve corresponding solutions. Specifically, in some embodiments, the centrifugal compressor includes a volute assembly 100, a cylinder 300, a stator 400, a rotor 500, an impeller 600 and an air suspension bearing 200, wherein the volute assembly 100 is connected to the axial end of the cylinder 300, the rotor 500 is rotatably arranged in the cylinder 300 through the air suspension bearing 200, the impeller 600 is connected to the axial end of the rotor 500 and is located in the volute assembly 100, and the impeller 600 is used to drive the airflow in the suction section 110 through the diffuser section 120 into the volute chamber 160.

[0074] In the embodiment of the present application, the volute assembly 100 is provided with a heat conduction section 170 structure, which can conduct the heat of the volute section 130 (especially the volute chamber 160) area to the suction section 110, effectively preheating the inhaled refrigerant, ensuring that the liquid refrigerant can be fully vaporized before entering the impeller 600, avoiding liquid hammer caused by the liquid refrigerant directly entering the impeller 600 area, reducing the impact risk on the air suspension bearing 200, and avoiding the rupture of the air film of the air suspension bearing 200 or the sudden change of the air film pressure due to liquid hammer; for the dynamic pressure air suspension bearing, it can prevent the coating peeling or wear of the foil surface during the impact process; for the static pressure air suspension bearing, it can prevent the impact caused by instability from damaging the breathable carrier, ensuring that the bearing continues to provide support force.

[0075] Optionally, the air bearing 200 includes a housing 210, a support 220, and a support 230. The support 230 is sleeved within the housing 210, which in turn is sleeved within the support 220. The support 230 has an axial hole formed within the support 220 for the rotor 500 to pass through, and the support 230 is connected to the interior of the cylinder 300. The support 230 is used to provide rigid support for the housing 210 and the support 220. The housing 210 is located outside the support 220, protecting the support 220 and providing strength to the support 220. The support 220 is made of a porous material and is used on the bearing surface to form a consistent lubricating air film between the rotor 500 and the air bearing 200. For example, the support 220 can be a porous graphite support 220 or a porous sintered bronze support 220.

[0076] Air suspension bearings 200 are respectively provided at both ends of the rotor 500 of the centrifugal compressor. The air suspension bearings 200 are fixedly connected to the cylinder 300. An air supply port 310 is provided on the cylinder 300. An air flow channel 231 connected to the air supply port 310 is provided inside the support 230. The gas from the external air source is supplied to the air suspension bearing 200 through the air supply port 310 and the air flow channel 231 in sequence to form an air film.

[0077] In some embodiments, an exhaust hole 320 is opened on the cylinder 300, and the exhaust hole 320 is connected to the interior of the cylinder 300 for discharging the gas inside the cylinder 300 to prevent the external gas source from continuously supplying gas to the air suspension bearing 200, causing the leaked gas to continuously accumulate inside the cylinder 300 and the internal pressure of the cylinder 300 to continuously increase.

[0078] In some embodiments, a spiral cooling channel 700 is provided between the stator 400 and the cylinder 300, and the cylinder 300 is provided with a cooling inlet 330 connected to one end of the spiral cooling channel 700 and a cooling outlet 340 connected to the other end of the spiral cooling channel 700. After the cooling medium (such as a gaseous or liquid refrigerant) enters from the cooling inlet 330, it flows along a spiral path in the spiral cooling channel 700 between the stator 400 and the cylinder 300, forming a cooling channel surrounding the stator 400. During the flow, the working heat of the stator 400 and its nearby components is taken away, and finally discharged from the cooling outlet 340, forming an independent closed cooling cycle. In order to improve the heat exchange efficiency, in some preferred structures, the wall surface of the spiral cooling channel 700 is a corrugated structure or is provided with guide ribs to increase the heat exchange area and disturb the fluid boundary layer, thereby enhancing the heat exchange effect between the cooling medium and the channel wall.

[0079] The spiral cooling channel 700 is not connected to the inner cavity of the barrel 300, forming an independent cooling system. This effectively prevents contamination and pressure fluctuations in the refrigerant's main flow path from affecting the cooling path, ensuring stable and controllable cooling of the stator 400. The spiral cooling channel 700 is arranged in close contact with the outer wall of the stator 400, forming an efficient heat conduction path, effectively controlling the temperature rise of the motor stator 400 under high-frequency and high-speed operating conditions, thereby ensuring its performance and service life.

[0080] The present application also provides protection for an air conditioner, which includes the centrifugal compressor provided in the aforementioned embodiment of the present application. As the core power component in the refrigeration cycle system of the air conditioner, the centrifugal compressor is used to compress the low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant returned from the evaporator into a high-temperature, high-pressure state and transport it to the condenser for heat exchange. The centrifugal compressor includes a volute assembly 100, a cylinder 300, a stator 400, a rotor 500, an impeller 600, and an air suspension bearing 200. The structure of the volute assembly 100 includes an intake section 110, a diffuser section 120, and a volute section 130, which are connected in sequence to guide the flow of refrigerant. A heat conduction section 170 is provided in the volute assembly 100. The heat conduction section 170 can conduct the heat generated by the volute chamber 160 to the intake section 110, effectively heating the inhaled refrigerant and avoiding liquid hammer, thereby improving compression efficiency and system stability. The rotor 500 is supported inside the cylinder 300 by the air suspension bearing 200 to achieve high-speed rotation. The impeller 600 is connected to the front end of the rotor 500 and is disposed inside the volute assembly 100 for accelerating and pressurizing the refrigerant.

[0081] Preferably, the control system of the air conditioner is linked with the motor circuit of the centrifugal compressor and the circuit of the heating element 190 to intelligently regulate the heating element 190 and the heat-conducting section 170 in the volute assembly 100, so that the compressor can maintain the thermal balance of the suction section 110 under different load conditions, preventing liquid refrigerant from entering the compression chamber and causing liquid hammer. It is particularly suitable for high-speed centrifugal compressor structures using air-suspended bearings 200, effectively avoiding risks such as bearing instability and wear.

[0082] Some embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive or parallel manner. Each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments, and the same or similar parts between the embodiments can be referenced to each other.

[0083] The above are merely specific embodiments of the present application to enable those skilled in the art to understand or implement the present application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present application. Therefore, the present application will not be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but rather is intended to conform to the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features of the present application.

Claims

1. A volute assembly of a centrifugal compressor, characterized in that: The air intake section comprises an intake section, a diffusion section and a volute section connected in sequence, the diffusion section and the volute section are both arranged around the intake section, an intake chamber is formed in the intake section, a diffusion channel is formed in the diffusion section, a volute chamber is formed in the volute section, the intake chamber, the diffusion channel and the volute chamber are connected in sequence, a heat conduction section is provided between the outer wall of the volute section and the outer wall of the intake section, the heat conduction section is configured to transfer the heat of the volute section to the intake section by heat conduction.

2. The volute assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that The air intake section, the diffusion section, the scroll section and the heat conduction section are integrally formed.

3. The volute assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that The volute section bulges and protrudes toward the side where the intake section is provided relative to the diffuser section. An annular groove is formed between the volute section, the diffuser section and the intake section. The heat conduction section is embedded and fixed in the annular groove. The heat conduction section is connected to the intake section and the volute section at the same time.

4. The volute assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that The heat-conducting section is made of heat-conducting glue, and the heat-conducting glue is filled in the annular groove.

5. The volute assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that The heat-conducting colloid also covers the outer wall of the air suction section.

6. The volute assembly according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that: A heating element is provided on the outer wall of the air suction section, and the heating element is embedded between the heat conduction section and the air suction section.

7. A centrifugal compressor, characterized in that: Comprising the volute assembly according to any one of claims 1-6.

8. The centrifugal compressor according to claim 7, characterized in that It also includes a cylinder, a stator, a rotor, an impeller and an air suspension bearing. The volute assembly is connected to the axial end of the cylinder. The rotor is rotatable in the cylinder through the air suspension bearing. The impeller is connected to the axial end of the rotor and is located in the volute assembly. The impeller is used to drive the airflow in the suction section through the diffusion section into the volute chamber.

9. The centrifugal compressor according to claim 8, characterized in that A spiral cooling channel is provided between the stator and the cylinder. The cylinder is provided with a cooling inlet communicating with one end of the spiral cooling channel and a cooling outlet communicating with the other end of the spiral cooling channel.

10. An air conditioner, characterized in that: Comprising the centrifugal compressor of claim 9.

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