Compressor cooling system

Abstract

A compressor system that includes a compressor, a refrigeration system, a drive member and a cooling passage. The compressor is operable to produce a flow of compressed fluid. The refrigeration system includes an evaporator, and a flow of refrigerant passes through the evaporator and is operable to cool the flow of compressed fluid. The drive member is coupled to the compressor and is operable to drive the compressor. The cooling passage extends from a point downstream of the evaporator to a point upstream of the compressor. At least a portion of the cooling passage is in thermal exchange relationship with the drive member.

1 . A compressor system comprising: 
 a compressor operable to produce a flow of compressed fluid;    a refrigeration system including an evaporator, the evaporator passing a flow of refrigerant therethrough and operable to cool the flow of compressed fluid;    a drive member coupled to the compressor and operable to drive the compressor; and    a cooling passage extending from a point downstream of the evaporator to a point upstream of the compressor, at least a portion of the cooling passing in thermal exchange relationship with the drive member.    
   
   
       2 . The compressor system of  claim 1 , wherein the drive member includes a motor.  
   
   
       3 . The compressor system of  claim 2 , wherein the drive member includes a variable frequency drive, and wherein at least a portion of the flow of refrigerant within the cooling passage is operable to cool at least one of the motor and the variable frequency drive.  
   
   
       4 . The compressor system of  claim 1 , wherein the compressor includes an oil cooler, and wherein at least a portion of the flow of refrigerant within the cooling passage passes through the oil cooler to cool a flow of oil.  
   
   
       5 . The compressor system of  claim 1 , wherein the compressor includes a control system, and wherein at least a portion of the flow of refrigerant within the cooling passage is operable to cool the control system.  
   
   
       6 . The compressor system of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat exchanger positioned within the cooling passage, at least a portion of the flow of refrigerant within the cooling passage passing through the heat exchanger to cool the drive member.  
   
   
       7 . A method of operating a fluid compression system, the method comprising: 
 coupling a compressor to a drive member;    operating the drive member to produce a corresponding operation of the compressor to produce a flow of compressed fluid;    passing a flow of refrigerant through an evaporator to cool the flow of compressed fluid;    passing the flow of refrigerant from the evaporator to a return line;    diverting a portion of the flow of refrigerant from the return line to the drive member to cool the drive member.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the drive member includes a motor.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising directing a portion of the refrigerant from the return line to an oil cooler to cool a flow of oil.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising directing a portion of the refrigerant from the return line to a variable frequency drive to cool the variable frequency drive.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising directing a portion of the refrigerant from the return line to a control system to cool the control system.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising directing a portion of the compressed fluid from the compressor through the refrigeration system to cool the flow of compressed fluid.  
   
   
       13 . A fluid compression system comprising: 
 a plurality of compressors operable to provide a flow of compressed fluid;    a plurality of drive members, each drive member associated with one of the compressors to drive the compressor;    a refrigeration system including a refrigerant compressor operable to compress and discharge a flow of refrigerant, the flow of refrigerant in thermal exchange relationship with the flow of compressed fluid such that the flow of refrigerant cools the flow of compressed fluid; and    a cooling passage positioned to receive a portion of the flow of refrigerant, at least a portion of the cooling passage positioned in thermal exchange relationship with at least one of the plurality of drive members to cool the at least one of the plurality of drive members.    
   
   
       14 . The fluid compression system of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the plurality of drive members includes a motor.  
   
   
       15 . The fluid compression system of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the plurality of drive members includes a variable frequency drive.  
   
   
       16 . The fluid compression system of  claim 13 , further comprising a control system operable to control the plurality of compressors and in thermal exchange relationship with at least a portion of the cooling passage to cool the control system.  
   
   
       17 . The fluid compression system of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the plurality of compressors includes an oil cooler in thermal exchange relationship with at least a portion of the cooling passage to cool a flow of oil.  
   
   
       18 . The fluid compression system of  claim 13 , further comprising a heat exchanger positioned within the cooling passage to cool at least one of the drive members.  
   
   
       19 . The fluid compression system of  claim 13 , wherein the refrigeration system includes an evaporator having an outlet.  
   
   
       20 . The fluid compression system of  claim 19 , further comprising a return passage extending from the outlet to the refrigerant compressor, the cooling passage connected to the return passage to receive the portion of the flow of refrigerant.