A volute assembly of a centrifugal compressor, a centrifugal compressor and an air conditioner

Abstract

The application 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 a suction section, a diffusion section and a volute section which are connected in sequence, the diffusion section and the volute section are arranged around the suction section, a suction chamber is formed in the suction section, a diffusion channel is formed in the diffusion section, a volute chamber is formed in the volute section, the suction chamber, the diffusion channel and the volute chamber are communicated in sequence, a heat conduction section is arranged between the outer wall of the volute section and the outer wall of the suction section, and the heat conduction section is configured to transmit the heat of the volute section to the suction section in the form of heat conduction. The volute assembly can effectively reduce the liquid suction problem of the centrifugal compressor, avoid the risk of liquid impact, and be beneficial to improving the compression efficiency and stability; the volute chamber is ingeniously used to utilize the heat resource of the volute chamber, the structure is simple, the transformability is high, the core structure of the compressor does not need to be greatly changed, the improvement can be realized only by adding the heat conduction section, and the volute assembly is suitable for new machines and old machine transformation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of compressor technology, and more particularly to a volute assembly of a centrifugal compressor, a centrifugal compressor, and an air conditioner. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, a centrifugal compressor is a fluid machine that raises low-pressure gas to high-pressure gas. It draws in low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas through the suction pipe, and after the motor drives the impeller to pressurize it, it discharges high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas through the exhaust pipe, providing power for the refrigeration cycle.

[0003] Due to various factors, liquid refrigerant may enter the compressor's suction pipe, be drawn in and participate in compression, resulting in liquid carryover in the suction gas. Centrifugal compressors, as key equipment widely used in the refrigeration field, have complex structures and operate at high speeds, making them more sensitive to the state of the intake gas. Once liquid is carried in the suction gas, it not only affects the operating efficiency of the centrifugal compressor but may also cause serious mechanical failures, such as liquid slugging on the compressor impeller, severely impacting the compressor's lifespan. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this application provides a centrifugal compressor volute assembly, a centrifugal compressor, and an air conditioner.

[0005] According to a first aspect of this application, an embodiment of this application provides a volute assembly for a centrifugal compressor, comprising an intake section, a diffuser section, and a volute section connected in sequence. The diffuser section and the volute section are both arranged around the intake section. An intake chamber is formed within the intake section, a diffuser channel is formed within the diffuser section, and a volute chamber is formed within the volute section. The intake chamber, the diffuser channel, and the volute chamber are connected in sequence. A heat-conducting section is provided between the outer wall of the volute section and the outer wall of the intake section. The heat-conducting section is configured to transfer heat from the volute section to the intake section by thermal conduction.

[0006] Furthermore, the intake section, the diffuser section, the volute section, and the heat-conducting section are integrally formed.

[0007] Furthermore, the volute segment expands and protrudes towards the side where the intake segment is located relative to the diffuser segment, and an annular groove is formed between the volute segment, the diffuser segment, and the intake segment. The heat-conducting segment is embedded and fixed in the annular groove, and the heat-conducting segment is connected to both the intake segment and the volute segment.

[0008] Furthermore, the heat-conducting section is made of a thermally conductive adhesive, which fills the annular groove.

[0009] Furthermore, the thermally conductive adhesive also coats the outer wall of the air intake section.

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

[0011] According to a second aspect of this application, an embodiment of this application provides a centrifugal compressor that includes the volute assembly provided in the first aspect of this 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 disposed in the cylinder via the air suspension bearing, and the impeller is connected to the axial end of the rotor and located within the volute assembly. The impeller is used to drive the airflow in the intake 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 has a cooling inlet connected to one end of the spiral cooling channel and a cooling outlet connected to the other end of the spiral cooling channel.

[0014] According to a third aspect of this application, an embodiment of this application provides an air conditioner that includes the centrifugal compressor provided in the second aspect of this application.

[0015] The volute assembly provided in this application, when applied to a centrifugal compressor, can effectively reduce the problem of liquid carryover during the intake process. Specifically, by preheating the liquid refrigerant in the intake section, it effectively reduces the direct entry of liquid into the impeller area, avoiding the risk of liquid slugging. The pre-vaporization of the entrained liquid refrigerant also helps improve compression efficiency and stability. Furthermore, without altering the basic flow path structure of the centrifugal compressor, this embodiment cleverly utilizes the volute's own heat resources through structural thermal management design to achieve refrigerant vaporization pretreatment along the intake path. The structure is simple, highly modifiable, and requires no major modifications to the compressor's core structure; improvements can be achieved simply by adding a heat-conducting section. It is suitable for both new and retrofitting existing compressors. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this application, are used to provide a further understanding of the application and to make other features, objects, and advantages of the application more apparent. The illustrative embodiments and descriptions of this application are used to explain the application and do not constitute an undue limitation of the 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 shown;

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

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

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

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

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

[0023] In the picture:

[0024] 100. Volute assembly;

[0025] 110. Inhalation phase;

[0026] 120. Diffusion section;

[0027] 130. Coil tube segment;

[0028] 140. Inhalation chamber;

[0029] 150. Diffusion channel;

[0030] 160. Colic;

[0031] 170. Heat conduction section;

[0032] 180. Annular groove;

[0033] 190. Heating element;

[0034] 200. Air suspension bearing;

[0035] 210. Shell;

[0036] 220. Load-bearing components;

[0037] 230. Support;

[0038] 231. Airflow channel;

[0039] 300. Cylinder body;

[0040] 310. Gas supply port;

[0041] 320. Vent hole;

[0042] 330. Cooling inlet;

[0043] 340. Cooling outlet;

[0044] 400. Stator;

[0045] 500, Rotor;

[0046] 600. Impeller;

[0047] 700, Spiral Cooling Channel. Detailed Implementation

[0048] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

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

[0050] In this application, the terms "upper," "lower," "inner," "middle," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are primarily for the purpose of better describing this application and its embodiments, and are not intended to limit the indicated device, element, or component to having a specific orientation, or to be constructed and operated in a specific orientation.

[0051] Furthermore, in addition to indicating location or positional relationship, some of the aforementioned terms may also have other meanings. For example, the term "above" may also be used in some cases to indicate a certain dependency or connection relationship. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0052] Furthermore, the terms "set up," "connect," and "fix" should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral structure; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or it can be an internal connection between two devices, components, or parts. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0053] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be combined with each other.

[0054] like Figure 2-3 and Figure 5-6 As shown in the figure, this application provides a volute assembly 100 for a centrifugal compressor. Its main structure includes an intake section 110, a diffuser section 120, and a volute section 130 connected in sequence. 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 diffuser 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 diffuser channel 150, and the volute chamber 160 are connected in sequence. A heat-conducting section 170 is provided between the outer wall of the volute section 130 and the outer wall of the intake section 110. The heat-conducting section 170 is configured to transfer the heat of the volute section 130 to the intake section 110 by thermal conduction.

[0055] The intake section 110 is preferably configured as a cylindrical or conical hollow structure to guide low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas into the compressor and form an intake chamber 140 therein; the diffuser section 120 is used to reduce the airflow velocity and increase the pressure, and a diffuser channel 150 is formed therein; the volute section 130 is used to further collect and guide the airflow to the exhaust pipe, and a volute chamber 160 is formed therein; the above three parts are interconnected and sequentially constitute the main flow path in the centrifugal compressor.

[0056] To address the issue of liquid carryover during suction in existing centrifugal compressors, this embodiment specifically incorporates a heat-conducting section 170 between the outer wall of the volute section 130 and the outer wall of the suction section 110. This heat-conducting section 170 is made of a highly thermally conductive material, such as copper, aluminum, or other materials with excellent thermal conductivity, thereby ensuring that heat from the volute section 130 can be stably and effectively conducted to the suction section 110. In this structure, one end of the heat-conducting section 170 is in thermal contact with the outer wall of the volute section 130, and the other end extends to the vicinity of the suction section 110 and is in thermal contact with its outer wall, thus forming a heat conduction path. Specifically, in this embodiment, the heat-conducting section 170 constructs a stable thermal coupling path from the volute 160 region to the suction chamber 140. When the centrifugal compressor is running, the temperature of the volute section 130 will rise due to the high flow speed and pressure of the compressed refrigerant in the volute 160. At this time, the heat of the outer wall of the volute section 130 is quickly conducted to the suction section 110 through the heat-conducting section 170, so that the refrigerant in the suction chamber 140 is heated. If there is still unvaporized liquid mixed in the suction refrigerant at this time, its vaporization process can be accelerated by the temperature rise of the suction section 110.

[0057] The above structural design effectively reduces the problem of liquid carryover in the intake of centrifugal compressors. By preheating the liquid refrigerant in the intake section 110, the direct entry of liquid into the impeller 600 area is effectively reduced, avoiding the risk of liquid slugging. The pre-vaporization of the entrained liquid refrigerant also helps to improve compression efficiency and stability. In addition, this embodiment, without changing the basic flow path structure of the centrifugal compressor, cleverly utilizes the heat resources of the volute 160 itself through structural thermal management design to achieve refrigerant vaporization pretreatment in the intake path. The structure is simple and highly modifiable, requiring no major modifications to the core structure of the compressor. Improvement can be achieved simply by adding a heat conduction section 170, making it suitable for both new and old machine retrofits.

[0058] In some implementations, such as Figure 2 and 3 As shown, the intake section 110, the diffuser section 120, the volute section 130, and the heat-conducting section 170 are integrally formed. This means that all the above structures can be formed in one piece through integral casting, integral forging, or integral molding processes, avoiding splicing or assembly operations between multiple structural components. This integral molding method not only simplifies the manufacturing process and reduces assembly costs but also significantly improves the structural strength and sealing performance of the volute assembly 100. In particular, the heat-conducting section 170, as part of the thermal coupling path, has higher thermal contact efficiency with the volute section 130 and the intake section 110 under integral molding conditions, further improving the stability and uniformity of heat conduction. This allows for more effective preheating of the intake refrigerant, reducing the risk of liquid refrigerant entering the compression chamber.

[0059] For centrifugal compressors with small cooling capacity, the suction section 110, diffuser section 120, volute section 130, and heat-conducting section 170 are preferably integrally molded. In this case, since the outer wall dimensions of the volute section 130 and the suction section 110 are relatively similar, the above structures can be integrated into an integral volute assembly 100 through integral casting, forging, or precision machining. This not only simplifies the manufacturing process but also provides high heat transfer efficiency and strong structural stability. However, in centrifugal compressors with large cooling capacity, due to more stringent compression conditions and larger structural dimensions, the outer diameter of the suction section 110 differs significantly from the outer wall dimensions of the volute section 130. If an integrally molded structure is still used in this case, large local wall thickness variations often lead to defects such as shrinkage cavities and porosity during the casting process, thereby reducing structural strength and significantly weakening the continuity and stability of heat transfer.

[0060] Therefore, considering the practical application requirements of large-capacity centrifugal compressors, in some embodiments, the heat-conducting section 170 preferably adopts a structure that is manufactured separately and then assembled. That is, the intake section 110, diffuser section 120, and volute section 130 are first integrally machined or cast, and then the heat-conducting section 170, made of a high thermal conductivity material, is placed between the intake section 110 and the volute section 130, so that the heat-conducting section 170 fits against the outer walls of the intake section 110 and the volute section 130 respectively, forming an effective heat conduction path. This split structure not only facilitates process control and avoids defects caused by large-size casting, but also allows for flexible selection of the material and structural form of the heat-conducting section 170 according to different operating conditions, resulting in higher adaptability and ease of maintenance.

[0061] Optionally, such as Figure 1 and 3 As shown, the volute segment 130 protrudes and expands relative to the diffuser segment 120 toward the side where the intake segment 110 is located. An annular groove 180 is formed between the volute segment 130, the diffuser segment 120, and the intake segment 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 intake section 110 and the volute section 130. Specific methods for embedding and fixing the heat-conducting section 170 in the annular groove 180 include, but are not limited to, mechanical embedding, welding, or thermally conductive adhesive bonding to securely mount it within the annular groove 180.

[0062] By embedding the heat-conducting section 170 in the annular groove 180, not only is the thermal coupling efficiency improved, but also, due to the constraint of the annular groove 180, the heat-conducting section 170 is firmly installed and not easily detached, which is beneficial to improving the thermal stability and operational reliability of the entire volute assembly 100. At the same time, this structure also facilitates later maintenance and replacement, and has good engineering applicability and structural versatility.

[0063] In some embodiments, the heat-conducting section 170 is made of a thermally conductive adhesive, which fills the annular groove 180. During processing, the volute section 130 and the intake section 110 can be integrated by a process of injecting the thermally conductive adhesive. Specifically, during the processing of the centrifugal compressor volute assembly 100, an annular groove 180 formed by the intake section 110, the volute section 130, and the diffuser section 120 can be formed first. Then, a thermally conductive adhesive with high thermal conductivity is injected into the annular groove 180 through an injection process. After the thermally conductive adhesive cures, a tightly fitted thermally conductive connection structure is formed. The thermally conductive adhesive not only effectively fixes the volute section 130 and the intake section 110 into one structure, but also provides a stable heat conduction path, transferring the high-temperature heat of the volute chamber 160 to the intake chamber 140 in a timely manner. The thermally conductive adhesive infusion process can be adapted to the structure of the volute assembly 100 with different specifications and shapes, and is especially suitable for situations where there is a large difference in size between the suction section 110 and the volute section 130 in a large-capacity centrifugal compressor. High thermal conductivity materials such as silicone and polymer composite materials can be used as thermally conductive adhesives to ensure that the volute assembly 100 still has good heat transfer capacity under long-term high-temperature conditions. The thermally conductive adhesive material can absorb vibration and stress to a certain extent, which can avoid manufacturing defects such as shrinkage cavities and porosity that exist in the one-piece casting process.

[0064] In some implementations, such as Figure 5 and 6 As shown, the thermally conductive adhesive also coats the outer wall of the intake section 110. Specifically, when the axial dimension of the intake section 110 is long, the thermally conductive adhesive 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 that protrudes beyond the annular groove 180, thus coating it. This extended coating portion forms a larger area of ​​thermally conductive covering layer, allowing 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 mitigating the risk of liquid slugging caused by incomplete vaporization of the liquid refrigerant.

[0065] This embodiment significantly expands the contact area between the thermally conductive adhesive and the intake section 110 by covering the outer wall of the intake section 110, which is beneficial to the overall temperature rise of the intake section 110. The extended coverage avoids heat concentration in a single annular groove 180 area, avoids local overheating or heating dead zones, and improves the uniformity of vaporization of the intake medium. The thermally conductive adhesive can be flexibly covered to different degrees by pouring, coating, etc., to adapt to centrifugal compressors with different structural complexities and spatial arrangements.

[0066] In some implementations, such as Figure 5 and 6As shown, a heating element 190 is provided on the outer wall of the intake section 110, and the heating element 190 is 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 stage of operation or when needed, to further improve the pre-vaporization 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 intake section 110 and arranged in a close-fitting manner to ensure full contact with the surface of the intake section 110, so as to efficiently conduct heat to the interior of the intake chamber 140. The heating wire is located between the heat-conducting section 170 and the intake section 110. After being covered and fixed by the heat-conducting adhesive, it can achieve the effect of structural stability and good heat conduction.

[0068] Compared to the natural conduction method that relies solely on the heat of the volute 160, the electric heating wire can actively and rapidly increase the temperature of the intake section 110 at the initial stage of startup or in low-temperature environments, effectively addressing the situation where the liquid coolant is 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, significantly improving vaporization efficiency; the electric heating wire is embedded in the heat-conducting adhesive layer and can be integrally formed with the heat-conducting section 170 without occupying 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 via a wire, and the controller, in conjunction with a temperature sensor, controls the heating to achieve intelligent start-stop and over-temperature protection, thereby improving the intelligence level and service life of the system.

[0070] like Figure 3 and 6 As shown, this application also protects a centrifugal compressor, which includes the volute assembly 100 provided in the foregoing embodiments of this application, to effectively alleviate the liquid slugging problem caused by liquid carryover during suction in the prior art, and improve the stability and service life of the centrifugal compressor. Figure 3 For adopted Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a centrifugal compressor with a volute assembly 100 shown. Figure 6 For adopted Figure 5The diagram shows a centrifugal compressor with a volute assembly 100. 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. 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 diffuser 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 diffuser channel 150, and the volute chamber 160 are connected in sequence. A heat-conducting section 170 is provided between the outer wall of the volute section 130 and the outer wall of the intake section 110. The heat-conducting section 170 is configured to transfer the heat of the volute section 130 to the intake section 110 by thermal conduction. The intake section 110 receives heat from the volute 160 through the heat conduction section 170, which heats and vaporizes any liquid refrigerant that may be entrained therein, thereby preventing the refrigerant from entering the impeller 600 in liquid form and avoiding impact damage. The heat conduction section 170 effectively thermally couples the intake section 110 and the volute 160, eliminating the need for a separate heating device and maintaining the compactness of the overall structure.

[0071] Since the centrifugal compressor uses the volute assembly 100 provided in the aforementioned embodiments of this application, the specific structural settings and corresponding technical effects of the volute assembly 100 can be referred to in 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, while for a large-capacity centrifugal compressor, a heat-conducting section 170 made of heat-conducting adhesive or other materials can be used as an independent thermal connection structure to meet the manufacturing and thermal management needs of equipment of different scales. This will not be elaborated here.

[0072] In existing centrifugal compressors, air suspension bearings (200) are often used to reduce friction. Air suspension bearings (200) utilize a gas film to bear the load and significantly reduce friction. Compared to other types of bearings, air suspension bearings (200) offer numerous advantages, including being oil-free, pollution-free, having low operating resistance, simple structure, and low mechanical loss. Air suspension 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 machinery, especially favored by manufacturers in the food, brewing, and data center industries. However, the air suspension bearing 200 has a significantly lower ability to resist system disturbances compared to the oil sliding bearing. During operation, when the compressor suction superheat is too low, liquid slugging is very likely to occur at the compressor suction port. At this time, under the impact of liquid refrigerant, the rotor supported by the air suspension bearing 200 is very prone to instability during high-speed rotation. This unstable rotor is very likely to cause abnormal wear in the bearing area of ​​the air suspension bearing. For example, the top foil coating of the dynamic pressure air suspension bearing may be abnormally worn, and in some cases, it may even directly lead to permanent plastic deformation of the damping foil, resulting in compressor damage. Similarly, when the rotor and the bearing body of the static pressure air suspension bearing collide with each other due to instability, permanent scratches may occur on the bearing body, affecting the air permeability of the bearing body, thereby affecting the bearing load and reducing the bearing service life.

[0073] Considering the risks associated with the use of the air suspension bearing 200 in a refrigeration system, the volute assembly 100 provided in this application can be used in a centrifugal compressor to address these risks. 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. The volute assembly 100 is connected to the axial end of the cylinder 300. The rotor 500 is rotatably mounted within the cylinder 300 via the air suspension bearing 200. The impeller 600 is connected to the axial end of the rotor 500 and located within the volute assembly 100. The impeller 600 drives the airflow in the suction section 110 through the diffuser section 120 into the volute chamber 160.

[0074] In this embodiment, the volute assembly 100 is provided with a heat-conducting section 170 structure, which can conduct heat from the volute section 130 (especially the volute chamber 160) to the intake section 110, effectively preheating the intake refrigerant and ensuring that the liquid refrigerant can be fully vaporized before entering the impeller 600. This avoids liquid refrigerant directly entering the impeller 600 area and causing liquid slugging, reducing the impact risk on the air suspension bearing 200 and preventing air film rupture or sudden changes in air film pressure caused by liquid slugging. For dynamic pressure air suspension bearings, it can prevent coating peeling or wear on the foil surface during impact. For static pressure air suspension bearings, it can prevent impact damage to the permeable bearing body caused by instability and ensure that the bearing continuously provides support force.

[0075] Optionally, the air suspension bearing 200 includes a housing 210, a carrier 220, and a support 230. The support 230 is fitted onto the housing 210, and the housing 210 is fitted onto the carrier 220. A shaft hole for the rotor 500 to pass through is formed within the carrier 220. The support 230 is connected to the interior of the cylinder 300. The support 230 provides rigid support for the housing 210 and the carrier 220. The housing 210 is located outside the carrier 220, protecting it and providing strength. The carrier 220 is made of a porous material and is used on the bearing surface to form a consistent lubricating film between the rotor 500 and the air suspension bearing 200. For example, the carrier 220 can be a porous graphite carrier 220 or a carrier 220 made of porous sintered bronze material.

[0076] The centrifugal compressor rotor 500 is fitted with air suspension bearings 200 at both ends. The air suspension bearings 200 are fixedly connected to the cylinder 300. The cylinder 300 is provided with an air supply port 310. The support 230 is provided with an airflow channel 231 that connects to the air supply port 310. The gas from the external air source is supplied to the air suspension bearing 200 through the air supply port 310 and the airflow channel 231 in sequence to form an air film.

[0077] In some embodiments, the cylinder 300 is provided with an exhaust port 320, which is connected to the interior of the cylinder 300 and is used to discharge the gas inside the cylinder 300. This prevents the external gas source from continuously supplying gas to the air suspension bearing 200, which would cause the leaked gas to continuously accumulate inside the cylinder 300 and increase the internal pressure of the cylinder 300.

[0078] In some embodiments, a spiral cooling channel 700 is provided between the stator 400 and the cylinder 300. The cylinder 300 has a cooling inlet 330 communicating with one end of the spiral cooling channel 700 and a cooling outlet 340 communicating with the other end of the spiral cooling channel 700. The cooling medium (e.g., gaseous or liquid refrigerant) enters through the cooling inlet 330 and 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, it carries away the working heat of the stator 400 and its nearby components and finally exits from the cooling outlet 340, forming an independent and closed cooling cycle. To improve heat exchange efficiency, in some preferred structures, the wall of the spiral cooling channel 700 is corrugated or has 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 cylinder 300, forming an independent cooling system. This effectively avoids the impact of contamination and pressure fluctuations in the main refrigerant path on the cooling path, ensuring the stability and controllability of the stator 400's cooling. The spiral cooling channel 700 is arranged close to the outer wall of the stator 400, forming a highly efficient heat conduction path. This effectively controls the temperature rise of the motor stator 400 under high-frequency, high-speed operation, ensuring its performance and service life.

[0080] This application also protects an air conditioner that includes the centrifugal compressor provided in the foregoing embodiments of this application. The centrifugal compressor, as the core power component of the air conditioner's refrigeration cycle system, is used to compress the low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant returning from the evaporator into a high-temperature, high-pressure state and deliver 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 volute assembly 100 includes an intake section 110, a diffuser section 120, and a volute section 130, which are connected sequentially to guide the refrigerant flow. A heat-conducting section 170 is provided in the volute assembly 100, which can conduct the heat generated by the volute chamber 160 to the intake section 110, effectively heating the intake refrigerant, avoiding liquid slugging, and thus improving compression efficiency and system stability. The rotor 500 is supported inside the cylinder 300 by the air suspension bearing 200, achieving high-speed rotation. The impeller 600 is connected to the front end of the rotor 500 and is located inside the volute assembly 100, and is used to accelerate and pressurize 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, which can intelligently regulate the heating element 190 and the heat conduction 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, and prevent liquid refrigerant from entering the compression chamber and causing liquid slugging. It is especially suitable for high-speed centrifugal compressor structures using air suspension 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 referred to each other.

[0083] The above are merely specific embodiments of this application, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement this application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily 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 this application. Therefore, this application is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features claimed herein.

Claims

1. A volute assembly for a centrifugal compressor, characterized in that, The device includes an intake section, a diffuser section, and a volute section connected in sequence. The diffuser section and the volute section are both arranged around the intake section. An intake chamber is formed in the intake section, a diffuser channel is formed in the diffuser section, and a volute chamber is formed in the volute section. The intake chamber, the diffuser channel, and the volute chamber are connected in sequence. A heat-conducting section is provided between the outer wall of the volute section and the outer wall of the intake section. The heat-conducting section is configured to transfer the heat of the volute section to the intake section by thermal conduction.

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

3. The volute assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The volute segment expands and protrudes towards the side where the intake segment is located relative to the diffuser segment. An annular groove is formed between the volute segment, the diffuser segment, and the intake segment. The heat-conducting segment is embedded and fixed in the annular groove and is connected to both the intake segment and the volute segment.

4. The volute assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The heat-conducting section is made of thermally conductive adhesive, which fills the annular groove.

5. The volute assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The thermally conductive adhesive also coats the outer wall of the intake section.

6. The volute assembly according to any one of claims 3-5, characterized in that, 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.

7. A centrifugal compressor, characterized in that, Includes the volute assembly as described in 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 rotatably disposed in the cylinder via the air suspension bearing. The impeller is connected to the axial end of the rotor and located inside the volute assembly. The impeller is used to drive the airflow in the intake section through the diffuser 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 has a cooling inlet connected to one end of the spiral cooling channel and a cooling outlet connected to the other end of the spiral cooling channel.

10. An air conditioner, characterized in that, Includes the centrifugal compressor as described in claim 9.

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