Vapor cycle compressor with variable inlet/outlet geometry

Abstract

A vapor cycle compressor includes a controller section, a drive section in communication with the controller section, and a compression section operatively engaged with the drive section. The compression section includes: an inlet guide vane assembly, wherein the inlet guide vane assembly includes inlet vanes that are configured to adjust their angle of orientation; a first stage diffuser assembly downstream of the inlet guide vane assembly, wherein the first stage diffuser assembly includes first diffuser vanes that are configured to adjust their angle of orientation; a return channel assembly downstream of the first stage diffuser assembly, wherein the return channel assembly includes return channel vanes that are configured to adjust their angle of orientation; and a second stage diffuser assembly downstream of the return channel assembly, wherein the second stage diffuser assembly includes second diffuser vanes that are configured to adjust their angle of orientation.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A vapor cycle compressor, comprising:
 a controller section;   a drive section in communication with the controller section; and   a compression section operatively engaged with the drive section, wherein the compression section includes:
 an inlet guide vane assembly; 
 wherein the inlet guide vane assembly includes inlet vanes that are configured to adjust their angle of orientation; 
 a first stage diffuser assembly downstream of the inlet guide vane assembly; 
 wherein the first stage diffuser assembly includes first diffuser vanes that are configured to adjust their angle of orientation; 
 a return channel assembly downstream of the first stage diffuser assembly; 
 wherein the return channel assembly includes return channel vanes that are configured to adjust their angle of orientation 
 a second stage diffuser assembly downstream of the return channel assembly; 
 wherein the second stage diffuser assembly includes second diffuser vanes that are configured to adjust their angle of orientation. 
   
     
     
         2 . The compressor of  claim 1 , further comprising a stepper motor assembly operatively engaged with the inlet guide vane assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The compressor of  claim 1 , further comprising a stepper motor assembly operatively engaged with the first stage diffuser assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The compressor of  claim 1 , further comprising a stepper motor assembly operatively engaged with the return channel assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The compressor of  claim 1 , further comprising a stepper motor assembly operatively engaged with the second stage diffuser assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The compressor of  claim 1 , further comprising a first stage impeller assembly intermediate the inlet guide vane assembly and the first stage diffuser assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The compressor of  claim 1 , further comprising a second stage impeller assembly intermediate the return channel assembly and the second stage diffuser assembly. 
     
     
         8 . A vapor cycle compressor, comprising:
 a controller section;   a drive section in communication with the controller section;   wherein the drive section includes a plurality of stepper motors; and   a compression section operatively engaged with the drive section, wherein the compression section includes:
 an inlet guide vane assembly operatively engaged with a first stepper motor; 
 a first stage diffuser assembly downstream of the inlet guide vane assembly and operatively engaged with a second stepper motor; 
 a return channel assembly downstream of the first stage diffuser assembly and operatively engaged with a third stepper motor; 
 a second stage diffuser downstream of the return channel assembly and operatively engaged with a fourth stepper motor. 
   
     
     
         9 . The compressor of  claim 8 , wherein the inlet guide vane assembly includes a plurality of inlet vanes, at least one of which has an angle of orientation that is adjustable by the first stepper motor. 
     
     
         10 . The compressor of  claim 8 , wherein the first stage diffuser assembly includes a plurality of first diffuser vanes, at least one of which has an angle of orientation that is adjustable by the second stepper motor. 
     
     
         11 . The compressor of  claim 8 , wherein the return channel assembly includes a plurality of return channel vanes, at least one of which has an angle of orientation that is adjustable by the third stepper motor. 
     
     
         12 . The compressor of  claim 8 , wherein the second stage diffuser assembly includes a plurality of second diffuser vanes, at least one of which has an angle of orientation that is adjustable by the fourth stepper motor. 
     
     
         13 . The compressor of  claim 8 , wherein the drive section is hermetically sealed. 
     
     
         14 . The compressor of  claim 8 , wherein the compression section is hermetically sealed. 
     
     
         15 . A vapor cycle compressor, comprising:
 a controller section;   a drive section in communication with the controller section; and   a hermetically sealed compression section operatively engaged with the drive section, wherein the compression section includes:
 an inlet guide vane assembly; 
 a first stage diffuser assembly downstream of the inlet guide vane assembly; 
 a return channel assembly downstream of the first stage diffuser assembly; 
 a second stage diffuser assembly downstream of the return channel assembly; 
   wherein the inlet guide vane assembly, the first stage diffuser assembly, the return channel assembly, and the second stage diffuser assembly each have a respective set of vanes;   wherein each respective set of vanes is configured with a respective orientation angle that can be varied independently of one another.   
     
     
         16 . The compressor of  claim 15 , wherein the drive section includes a stepper motor assembly operatively engaged with the respective sets of vanes of the inlet guide vane assembly, the first stage diffuser assembly, the return channel assembly, and the second stage diffuser assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The compressor of  claim 15 , wherein the drive section is hermetically sealed. 
     
     
         18 . The compressor of  claim 15 , wherein the controller section is hermetically sealed. 
     
     
         19 . The compressor of  claim 15 , wherein at least one the inlet guide vane assembly, the first stage diffuser assembly, the return channel assembly, and the second stage diffuser assembly includes:
 a unison ring operatively engaged to the drive section;   a plurality of driver arms operatively engaged with the unison ring and with the respective set of vanes;   wherein, when the drive section is activated, the plurality of driver arms activate the respective set of vanes.   
     
     
         20 . The compressor of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the drive section includes a stepper motor assembly;   wherein the stepper motor assembly includes at least one pair of stepper motors;   wherein the at least one pair of stepper motors is operatively engaged to one of the inlet guide vane assembly, the first stage diffuser assembly, the return channel assembly, and the second stage diffuser assembly.