Refrigerant Lubricated Bearings

Abstract

A cooling system and methods of employing the same includes a refrigerant cycle for cycling refrigerant from a compressor to a condenser and from the condenser an evaporator, and a lubrication cycle having at least one lubricating refrigerant supply line for providing refrigerant as lubricant to a bearing assembly. The lubricating refrigerant supply line including one or more filters, such as particle filters, acid filters, or desiccant filters.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A cooling system comprising
 a refrigerant cycle for cycling refrigerant from a compressor to a condenser via and from the condenser an evaporator;   a lubrication cycle having at least one lubricating refrigerant supply line for providing refrigerant as lubricant to a bearing assembly; and   at least one filter coupled to the refrigerant supply line for filtering the refrigerant upstream from the bearing assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one filter comprises at least one of an acid filter, a desiccant filter, and a particle filter. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one filter is a combined filter unit of at least an acid filter and a desiccant filter for filtering acid and moisture from the refrigerant. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one filter unit is a filter arrangement of a plurality of filter elements comprising an acid filter, a desiccant filter, and a particle filter,
 wherein the acid filter is arranged upstream of the desiccant filter and the particle filter and the desiccant filter is arranged upstream of the particle filter.   
     
     
         5 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the filter unit is adapted to absorb, catch, or trap certain molecules from the refrigerant by chemical or physical adsorption. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the filter unit comprises an acid filter for filtering hydrofluoric acids and/or hydrochloric acids from the refrigerant, wherein a filtering material of the acid filter comprises at least one of Alumina (Al 2 O 3 ), Silica (SiO2), Graphite Oxide, Graphene Oxide, Manganese Oxide (MgO), or Aluminosilicate (Al2SiO5). 
     
     
         7 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the filter unit comprises a desiccant filter for filtering dissolved water or free water from the refrigerant, wherein a filtering material of the desiccant filter is one or more filtering materials selected from the group of Zeolite Scavenger sorbents, calcium zeolites, sodium zeolites, potassium zeolites, magnesium zeolites, graphene oxide, and polymers. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the filter unit comprises a particle filter for filtering particles from the refrigerant, wherein the particle filter is a stainless steel mesh or a magnet. 
     
     
         9 . A cooling system comprising a refrigerant cycle line for cycling refrigerant from at least a compressor unit for compressing gaseous refrigerant to a condenser unit for condensing gaseous refrigerant to liquid refrigerant, from the condenser unit to an expansion unit for expanding the liquid refrigerant, from the expansion unit to an evaporator unit for evaporating the liquid refrigerant to gaseous refrigerant, and from the evaporating unit back to the compressor unit, wherein at least the compressor unit comprises a refrigerant lubricated bearing arrangement. 
     
     
         10 . The cooling system of  claim 10 , wherein the refrigerant supply line branches off from the refrigerant cycle line. 
     
     
         11 . The cooling system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one filter comprises at least one of an acid filter, a desiccant filter, and a particle filter. 
     
     
         12 . The cooling system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one filter is a combined filter unit of at least an acid filter and a desiccant filter for filtering acid and moisture from the refrigerant. 
     
     
         13 . The cooling system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one filter unit is a filter arrangement of a plurality of filter elements comprising an acid filter, a desiccant filter, and a particle filter,
 wherein the acid filter is arranged upstream of the desiccant filter and the particle filter and the desiccant filter is arranged upstream of the particle filter.   
     
     
         14 . The cooling system of  claim 10 , wherein the filter unit is adapted to absorb, catch, or trap certain molecules from the refrigerant by chemical or physical adsorption. 
     
     
         15 . The cooling system of  claim 10 , wherein the filter unit comprises an acid filter for filtering hydrofluoric acids and/or hydrochloric acids from the refrigerant, wherein a filtering material of the acid filter comprises at least one of Alumina (Al 2 O 3 ), Silica (SiO2), Graphite Oxide, Graphene Oxide, Manganese Oxide (MgO), or Aluminosilicate (Al2SiO5). 
     
     
         16 . The cooling system of  claim 10 , wherein the filter unit comprises a desiccant filter for filtering dissolved water or free water from the refrigerant, wherein a filtering material of the desiccant filter is one or more filtering materials selected from the group of Zeolite Scavenger sorbents, calcium zeolites, sodium zeolites, potassium zeolites, magnesium zeolites, graphene oxide, and polymers. 
     
     
         17 . The cooling system of  claim 10 , wherein the filter unit comprises a particle filter for filtering particles from the refrigerant, wherein the particle filter is a stainless steel mesh or a magnet.