Turbo compressor and method of controlling the same

摘要

A turbo compressor (21) in which a rotor (22) having impellers (31) is supported by a magnetic bearing (27) is constructed such that a control valve (30) is provided in a thrust balancing line (29) connecting a suction line (24) of the compressor to a balancing chamber (33) formed outside a balancing drum (32b) provided at one end side of a rotor (22). The control valve (30) serves to regulate a rate at which a gas flows through the thrust balancing line (29), and is adapted to be controlled in relation to a load imposed upon the magnetic thrust bearing.