PRESSURE EQUALIZER

摘要

Systems and methods for maintaining a desired differential pressure between a cooling oil of an electric motor and a process gas working fluid of a compressor connected axially to the electric motor. The cooling oil acts as a coolant for the motor compartment of the electric motor and the gas working fluid acts as a coolant for the rotor compartment of the electric motor. At least one bellow is configured to provide two sealed compartments in a pressure equalizer and a spring means is configured to add a differential pressure to the cooling oil, assuring no leaks between the two fluids flows from the cooling oil to the process gas working fluid and no contact of the process gas working fluid with the electric motor stator, in particular electric motor laminations and electric motor windings.

主权项

1. An apparatus, comprising:
an electric motor comprising a can for separating a process gas, flowing inside the can and external to an electric motor rotor, from a cooling oil contained in an electric motor stator compartment surrounding the electric motor rotor; a compressor comprising a rotor connected to the electric motor rotor wherein a part of the compressor's process gas is diverted through the can of the electric motor; and a pressure equalizer comprising:
at least one bellow hermetically connected to a housing in order to create a first reservoir of the cooling oil and a second reservoir of the process gas inside the housing and to prevent the mixing of the process gas with the cooling oil inside the housing;at least one spring configured to provide compression on the cooling oil such that the cooling oil pressure in the first reservoir is greater than the process gas pressure in the second reservoir;a first connection from the first reservoir to the electric motor stator compartment outside of the can of the electric motor; anda second connection from the second reservoir to the process gas inside of the can of the electric motor, wherein the process gas cannot come into contact with the electric motor stator.