Turbocompressor and Use

Abstract

A radial turbocompressor having at least two compressor stages is provided. A motor is co-axially located on a shaft with radial impellers of the compressor stages, and the motor and the compressor stages are arranged in a common, vertically-split housing. The medium to be compressed enters the housing through an intake opening in the housing, flows past and/or through the motor, and then is compressed in the compressor stages. The medium leaves the housing through an discharge opening that is arranged co-axially with the shaft, thereby minimizing axial forces in the turbocompressor.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A radial turbocompressor, comprising:
 at least two compressor stages having radial impellers;   a motor having a shaft on which the radial impellers are arranged; and   a common housing in which the motor and the at least two compressor stages are arranged, the housing including an intake opening configured to receive a medium and a discharge opening arranged co-axially with the shaft;   wherein the housing, motor and at least two compressors stages are arranged to
 split the medium entering the housing through the intake opening into a first partial flow outside the motor and a second partial flow through a gap between a rotor and a stator of the motor, and 
 reunite the first and second partial flows before the medium enters the first compressor stage of the at least two compressor stages, and 
   wherein the medium is discharged from the housing through the discharge opening.   
     
     
         11 . The turbocompressor as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein in the final compressor stage of the at least two compressor stages the housing, motor and at least two compressors stages are arranged to cause the medium first to flow through a radial impeller, then into a diffuser and then into a return duct that is arranged to feed the medium directly to the discharge opening. 
     
     
         12 . The turbocompressor as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the intake opening is arranged co-axially with the shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The turbocompressor as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the shaft on which the rotor of the motor and the radial impellers are arranged is a common shaft. 
     
     
         14 . The turbocompressor as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein radial bearings and axial bearings are arranged on the shaft between the motor and the radial impellers such that the medium flows through the radial bearings and axial bearings. 
     
     
         15 . The turbocompressor as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein at least one of a surface of the shaft and a region between the motor and the radial impellers includes an enhanced heat transfer surface. 
     
     
         16 . The turbocompressor as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the enhanced heat transfer surface is a surface having an increased surface area. 
     
     
         17 . The turbocompressor as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the housing is a vertically-split housing. 
     
     
         18 . A heat pump comprising a turbocompressor as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the medium is a heat transfer medium of the heat pump and heat produced by the motor is supplied to the heat transfer medium. 
     
     
         19 . The heat pump as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the heat transfer medium is compressed after receiving heat from the motor.