Labyrinth seals for compressor

Abstract

A compressor is configured to increase the pressure of a vapor. The compressor includes one or more labyrinth seals configured to prevent leakage of the vapor. Each of the one or more labyrinth seals includes a first stepped portion and a second stepped portion. Each of the first stepped portion and the second stepped portion includes a plurality of canted teeth.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A compressor configured to increase pressure of a vapor comprising:
 one or more labyrinth seals configured to prevent leakage of the vapor, wherein each of the one or more labyrinth seals is a ring-shaped member and includes a first stepped portion and a second stepped portion, each of the first stepped portion and the second stepped portion including a plurality of canted teeth.   
     
     
         2 . The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more labyrinth seals are made of a high performance plastic material. 
     
     
         3 . The compressor of  claim 2 , wherein the high performance plastic material is polyether ether ketone (PEEK). 
     
     
         4 . The compressor of  claim 2 , wherein the high performance plastic material is polyamide-imide (PAI). 
     
     
         5 . The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the second stepped portion is elevated from the first stepped portion. 
     
     
         6 . The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the compressor operates as part of a chiller assembly, the chiller assembly including an evaporator configured to convert a liquid refrigerant into the vapor and a condenser configured to convert the vapor into the liquid refrigerant. 
     
     
         7 . The compressor of  claim 6 , wherein the chiller assembly further includes a suction line configured to transfer the vapor from the evaporator to the compressor and a discharge line configured to transfer the vapor from the compressor to the condenser. 
     
     
         8 . The compressor of  claim 7 , wherein the compressor further includes an impeller, the impeller driven by a motor and configured to rotate at a high speed in order to increase the pressure of the vapor. 
     
     
         9 . The compressor of  claim 8 , wherein the chiller assembly further includes a variable speed drive (VSD) configured to provide the AC power to the motor. 
     
     
         10 . The compressor of  claim 9 , wherein the refrigerant is a low pressure refrigerant having an operating pressure of less than 400 kPa. 
     
     
         11 . The compressor of  claim 10 , wherein the low pressure refrigerant is R1233zd. 
     
     
         12 . The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein a flow path through the one or more labyrinth seals ranges from 50-100 microns. 
     
     
         13 . The compressor of  claim 12 , wherein the flow path includes a perpendicular change of direction resulting from the first stepped portion and the second stepped portion. 
     
     
         14 . The compressor of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of canted teeth increase a level of resistance associated with the flow path. 
     
     
         15 . The compressor of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of canted teeth include an angular deviation from a vertical plane. 
     
     
         16 . A chiller assembly comprising:
 an evaporator configured to convert a liquid refrigerant into a refrigerant vapor;   a condenser configured to convert the refrigerant vapor into the liquid refrigerant;   a compressor including one or more labyrinth seals configured to prevent leakage of the refrigerant vapor, wherein each of the one or more labyrinth seals includes a first stepped portion and a second stepped portion, each of the first stepped portion and the second stepped portion including a plurality of canted teeth;   a suction line configured to transfer the refrigerant vapor from the evaporator to the compressor;   a discharge line configured to transfer the refrigerant vapor from the compressor to the condenser; and   a motor assembly including a motor configured to drive the compressor, the motor assembly including a shaft supported by one or more bearings.   
     
     
         17 . The chiller assembly  claim 16 , wherein the one or more bearings are lubricated with a lubricant. 
     
     
         18 . The chiller assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the motor assembly further includes one or more bearing labyrinth seals configured to prevent leakage of the lubricant. 
     
     
         19 . The chiller assembly of  claim 18 , wherein each of the one or more bearing labyrinth seals includes a first stepped portion and a second stepped portion, each of the first stepped portion and the second stepped portion including a plurality of canted teeth. 
     
     
         20 . A method comprising:
 providing a compressor configured to increase pressure of a vapor, the compressor comprising:   one or more labyrinth seals configured to prevent leakage of the vapor, wherein each of the one or more labyrinth seals is a ring-shaped member and includes a first stepped portion and a second stepped portion, each of the first stepped portion and the second stepped portion including a plurality of canted teeth.