Screw Compressor Bearing Bypass Fluid Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Screw compressors face challenges with integrated cooling and lubrication circuits that result in uneven fluid flow and reduced cooling capacity due to preheated fluid supply to suction-side bearings, leading to maintenance issues and reduced service life.
Innovation Solution
A screw compressor design with a bearing bypass section that directs fluid from the motor bearing directly into the compression chamber, bypassing suction-side bearings, allowing for separate and tailored fluid flow for each bearing type, ensuring optimal cooling and lubrication based on their specific needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a common cooling and lubricating circuit is used for motor and compressor bearings, then device complexity is reduced, but cooling capacity for suction-side bearings is reduced due to preheated fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid circuit is segmented into separate circuits: a first circuit for motor bearings and a second circuit for suction-side bearings. This allows independent control of fluid flow and temperature for each bearing type, ensuring optimal cooling without preheating the suction-side bearings.
Solution Approach 2:
Different cooling requirements for different bearings are met by providing location-specific cooling circuits. The motor bearing circuit and suction-side bearing circuit are independently designed to match the specific thermal and lubrication needs of each bearing location.
2Device complexity
If series connection of bearings in fluid circuit is used, then device complexity is reduced, but volume flow cannot be optimized for each bearing type
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid circuit is divided into separate parallel circuits for motor bearings and suction-side bearings, allowing independent optimization of volume flow for each bearing type according to its specific requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Each bearing location receives tailored fluid flow optimized for its specific requirements through separate feed lines, enabling independent control of flow rate and characteristics for motor and suction-side bearings.
3Ease of manufacture
If integrated cooling circuit is used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but service life is reduced due to inadequate lubrication
Solution Approach 1:
Separate cooling and lubrication circuits are provided for motor and suction-side bearings, allowing optimized lubrication delivery to each bearing type to extend service life while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
Lubrication is optimized for each bearing location with dedicated feed lines that deliver appropriate fluid quantities and qualities to motor and suction-side bearings, extending component life through localized optimization.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enables differential fluid flow management, extending the service life and reducing maintenance needs by providing fresh fluid to suction-side bearings and optimizing cooling/lubrication for both motor and suction-side bearings, thus enhancing the overall performance and longevity of the compressor.
Implementation Method 1
a first feed line (54) for a fluid for cooling and/or lubricating the motor bearing (61), a second feed line (57) for a fluid for cooling and/or lubrication of at least one of the suction-side bearings (62a, 62b)
Implementation Method 2
the discharge line (55) has a bearing bypass section (56) which opens into the compression chamber (11) bypassing the suction-side bearings (62a, 62b)
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
Screw compressor (1) comprising a housing (60) forming a compressor chamber (11) and a motor chamber (31), a pair of interlocking compressor rotors (13, 14) with rotor shafts (15, 16), wherein the compressor rotors (13, 14) are arranged in the compressor chamber (11) and the axes of rotation (R1, R2) of the rotor shafts (15, 16) are parallel to each other, a drive motor (40) arranged in the motor chamber (31) and having a motor shaft (37) for driving at least one of the compressor rotors (13, 14), wherein the motor shaft (37) and at least one of the rotor shafts (15, 16) are coupled to each other by a through-opening (21) between the motor chamber (31) and the compressor chamber (11), wherein the drive motor (40) and the pair of compressor rotors (13, 14) are in normal operation of the screw compressors (1) are arranged one above the other, suction-side bearings (62a, 62b) to mount the compressor rotors (13, 14) rotatably in the housing (60),at least one motor bearing (61) to rotatably support the motor shaft (37) at its end in the housing (60), a first supply line (54) for a fluid for cooling and/or lubricating the motor bearing (61), a second supply line (57) for a fluid for cooling and/or lubricating at least one of the suction-side bearings (62a, 62b), a discharge line (55) for the fluid from the motor bearing (61) into the compressor chamber (11), wherein the discharge line (55) has a bearing bypass section (56) which opens into the compressor chamber (11) bypassing the suction-side bearings (62a, 62b).