Patent ID: 9541312
Date: 2017-01-10
CPC Classifications: F01D,F25B

Claim:
1. A method of preventing the lubricant level in a turbine/compressor sump of a vapor expansion/compressor system from reaching a high level sufficient to cause a mechanical failure in the turbine/compressor rotating equipment including bearings, comprising the steps of: providing a pumped path out of the sump so that the lubricant can be removed from the oil sump at a pre-determined threshold level providing a passive or active response that causes oil removal through this path when the lubricant level reaches the pre-determined level in the sump determining when the level of lubricant in the sump reaches a predetermined threshold level which is above a minimum required level and below the high level; responsively causing lubricant to be pumped out of the sump so that the lubricant level does not substantially exceed said predetermined threshold level; and said lubricant is pumped out of the sump and into a condenser.