Patent ID: 6564560
Filing Date: 2003-05-20
Classification: F04D,F05D,F16C,F25B,H02K,Y10S

Abstract:
A liquid chiller comprising:a condenser, said condenser condensing refrigerant gas to the liquid state when said chiller is in operation; a metering device, said metering device receiving refrigerant from said condenser and reducing the pressure thereof; an evaporator, said evaporator receiving refrigerant from said metering device and causing liquid refrigerant to vaporize when said chiller is in operation; a compressor, said compressor receiving refrigerant from said evaporator and delivering refrigerant in the gaseous state to said condenser when said chiller is in operation, said compressor having a shaft, at least one compressive element being mounted on said shaft, said shaft being rotatably supported by at least one bearing, said at least one bearing being a rolling element bearing, the rolling elements of said bearing being fabricated from a non-metallic material, said at least one bearing being lubricated by refrigerant in the absence of oil, refrigerant delivered to said at least one bearing for lubrication purposes being at least primarily in the liquid state, heat from said at least one bearing being rejected to and vaporizing a portion of the refrigerant delivered thereto at the location of said at least one bearing as a result of the bearing lubrication process; and a source location for liquid refrigerant, discrete from said evaporator and condenser, from which liquid refrigerant is supplied to said at least one bearing for bearing lubrication purposes.