Patent ID: 8899945

Claim:
A centrifugal compressor unit comprising: a first motor; at least one compressor comprising a drive shaft supported by two radial bearings secured to a common gas-tight housing, and being driven by a rotor of the first motor, the rotor of the first motor being supported by two end radial bearings secured to the housing; and a set of impellers mounted on the drive shaft, wherein: an assembly comprising the first motor and the compressor are mounted in the housing, the rotor of the first motor and the drive shaft are connected by a flexible coupling placed in the housing, and the centrifugal compressor unit further comprises a second motor placed in the housing, the second motor comprising a rotor supported by two end radial bearings secured to the housing and connected to the drive shaft by a second flexible coupling, the drive shaft being driven via its two ends by the first and second motors, respectively.