Screw compressor with economizer port

Abstract

A screw compressor includes a screw compressor rotor ( 32 ). The rotor ( 32 ) includes a helical flute ( 36 ) extending outwardly from a rotor axis ( 38 ). A compressor housing ( 34 ) surrounds the rotor ( 32 ) and including a suction port ( 40 ) and a discharge port ( 42 ). The housing ( 34 ) has an inner housing wall ( 46 ) abutting the rotor ( 32 ) and an outer housing wall ( 50 ) forming an exterior of the compressor. A housing pocket ( 44 ) is located between the outer housing wall ( 50 ) and the inner housing wall ( 46 ). An economizer port ( 30 ) extends from the housing pocket ( 44 ) through the inner housing wall ( 46 ) to direct a flow of gaseous refrigerant into the compressor.

1 . A screw compressor comprising:
 a screw compressor rotor, the rotor including a helical flute extending outwardly from a rotor axis;   a compressor housing surrounding the rotor and including a suction port and a discharge port, the housing having an inner housing wall abutting the rotor and an outer housing wall forming an exterior of the compressor, a housing pocket disposed between the outer housing wall and the inner housing wall; and   an economizer port extending from the housing pocket through the inner housing wall to direct a flow of gaseous refrigerant into the compressor.   
     
     
         2 . The screw compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the economizer port is slot shaped and extends circumferentially parallel to the helical flute. 
     
     
         3 . The screw compressor of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the economizer port is between 1 millimeter and 6 millimeters. 
     
     
         4 . The screw compressor of  claim 1 , comprising at least two rotors disposed in the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The screw compressor of  claim 4 , wherein the helical flutes of the at least two rotors intermesh. 
     
     
         6 . The screw compressor of  claim 1 , comprising two or more economizer ports extending through the inner housing wall. 
     
     
         7 . The screw compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the economizer port is formed by one of plasma cutting or water jet. 
     
     
         8 . A refrigerant system comprising:
 an evaporator;   a compressor operably connected to the evaporator, the compressor including:
 a screw compressor rotor, the rotor including a helical flute extending outwardly from a rotor axis; 
 a compressor housing surrounding the rotor and including a suction port to receive refrigerant from the evaporator and a discharge port to convey refrigerant toward a condenser, the housing having an inner housing wall abutting the rotor and an outer housing wall forming an exterior of the compressor, a housing pocket disposed between the outer housing wall and the inner housing wall; and 
 an economizer port extending from the housing pocket through the inner housing wall to direct a flow of gaseous refrigerant into the compressor from an economizer. 
   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerant system of  claim 8 , wherein the economizer is disposed between the condenser and the evaporator. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerant system of  claim 8 , wherein the economizer port is slot shaped and extends circumferentially parallel to the helical flute. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerant system of  claim 8 , wherein a width of the economizer port is between 1 millimeter and 6 millimeters. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerant system of  claim 8 , comprising at least two rotors disposed in the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerant system of  claim 12 , wherein the helical flutes of the at least two rotors intermesh. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerant system of  claim 8 , comprising two or more economizer ports extending through the inner housing wall. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerant system of  claim 8 , wherein the economizer port is formed by one of plasma cutting or water jet.