Trane International Inc.

Jacob T Helgerson

Jay H Johnson

Robert S Bakkestuen

A heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) system includes a compressor with a gas bearing supplied with compressed gas and a controller. The controller is configured to determine an inlet pressure and outlet pressure of the gas bearing, determine a maximum speed limit based on the inlet pressure and the outlet pressure, and prevent the compressor from operating at a speed that is greater than the maximum speed limit. A method of controlling a compressor includes calculating a maximum speed limit based on an inlet pressure and an outlet pressure of the gas bearing. The method also includes in response to determining that a speed setting is greater than the maximum speed limit, adjusting operation of the compressor such that a speed of the compressor is at or below the maximum speed limit.

Gas bearing management for a compressor

A method is described for operating a refrigerant circuit that includes a compressor with a driveshaft and one or more gas bearings for supporting the driveshaft. The method includes operating the refrigerant circuit in a first mode which includes supplying gaseous working fluid compressed by the compressor to the one or more gas bearings of the compressor, and the one or more gas bearings using the compressed gaseous working fluid to support the driveshaft. The method includes operating the refrigerant circuit in a second mode which includes supplying liquid working fluid to the one or more gas bearings of the compressor, and the one or more gas bearings using the liquid working fluid to support the driveshaft. A refrigerant circuit includes a compressor, a condenser, an expander, an evaporator, and a controller configured to selectively operate the refrigerant circuit in a least a first mode and a second mode.

Refrigerant circuit compressor gas bearing feed

A heat transfer circuit includes a compressor, a condenser, an expander, and an evaporator that are fluidly connected together. The compressor includes a housing and a shaft rotatable relative to the housing to compress a working fluid received at a suction inlet, in which the shaft is supported by a gas bearing, and the gas bearing including a bearing housing having a fluid inlet and an outlet. A high pressure gas source is fluidly connected to the fluid inlet of the bearing housing for supplying high pressure fluid to the fluid inlet of the gas bearing such that the gas bearing supports the shaft when the shaft is rotating. A pressure reducer is connected to the outlet of the gas bearing is provided for reducing a vent pressure of the gas bearing.

Method and system for controlling differential pressure for an externally pressurized gas bearing apparatus

A heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) system includes a compressor with a gas bearing supplied with compressed gas and a controller. The controller is configured to determine an inlet pressure and outlet pressure of the gas bearing, determine a maximum speed limit based on the inlet pressure and the outlet pressure, and prevent the compressor from operating at a speed that is greater than the maximum speed limit A method of controlling a compressor includes calculating a maximum speed limit based on an inlet pressure and an outlet pressure of the gas bearing. The method also includes in response to determining that a speed setting is greater than the maximum speed limit, adjusting operation of the compressor such that a speed of the compressor is at or below the maximum speed limit.

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La Crosse, WI, United States of America

Jacob T Helgerson