Liquid cooling of a scroll device with liquid supply through integrated rotary unions

Abstract

A co-rotating scroll device includes a housing, a first scroll positioned in the housing and having a first involute, a second scroll positioned in the housing and having a second involute, and one or more integrated rotary unions that transmit coolant from the housing to the first scroll and/or the second scroll. The arrangement of the co-rotating scroll defines an integrated cooling system that supplies liquid coolant to portions of the scroll device rather than relying on air cooling. The liquid cooling of the scroll device is provided by supplying liquid coolant through the scroll shafts via the integrated rotary unions. At least one rotary union is provided for each scroll/scroll shaft combination of the co-rotating scroll device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A co-rotating scroll device, comprising:
 a housing extending a length from a first end of the co-rotating scroll device to a second end of the co-rotating scroll device;   a first scroll comprising a first involute disposed in the housing;   a first scroll shaft comprising a first shaft axis, wherein the first scroll shaft is rotationally fixed to the first scroll, wherein the first scroll is configured to rotate about the first shaft axis relative to the housing;   a second scroll comprising a second involute disposed in the housing;   a second scroll shaft comprising a second shaft axis, wherein the second scroll shaft is rotationally fixed to the second scroll, wherein the second scroll is configured to rotate about the second shaft axis relative to the housing, wherein the first involute and the second involute are enmeshed with one another, wherein the first shaft axis is parallel to and offset from the second shaft axis; and   an integrated rotary union arranged between the housing and the first scroll shaft, wherein the integrated rotary union is configured to transmit coolant through a sealed fluid flow path running from an inflow channel of the housing to a shaft inflow channel of the first scroll shaft, through a scroll coolant channel of the first scroll, through a shaft outflow channel of the first scroll shaft, and to an outflow channel of the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The co-rotating scroll device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second integrated rotary union arranged between the housing and the second scroll shaft, wherein the second integrated rotary union is configured to transmit a second coolant through a second sealed fluid flow path running from a second inflow channel of the housing to a shaft inflow channel of the second scroll shaft, through a scroll coolant channel of the second scroll, through a shaft outflow channel of the second scroll shaft, and to a second outflow channel of the housing.   
     
     
         3 . The co-rotating scroll device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first shaft seal arranged on a first side of the inflow channel of the housing;   a second shaft seal arranged on a second side of the inflow channel of the housing, wherein the first shaft seal is offset a first axial distance from the second shaft seal defining a first sealed space between the first shaft seal and the second shaft seal; and   a third shaft seal arranged on a first side of the outflow channel of the housing, wherein the third shaft seal is offset a second axial distance from the first shaft seal defining a second sealed space between the third shaft seal and the first shaft seal, and wherein a portion of the first shaft seal, the second shaft seal, and the third shaft seal simultaneously contacts an outer diameter of the first scroll shaft and an inner diameter of the housing.   
     
     
         4 . The co-rotating scroll device of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first shaft seal, the second shaft seal, and the third shaft seal is configured as a rotary shaft seal. 
     
     
         5 . The co-rotating scroll device of  claim 1 , wherein the inflow channel of the housing is arranged orthogonal to the shaft inflow channel of the first scroll shaft, and wherein the outflow channel of the housing is arranged orthogonal to the shaft outflow channel of the first scroll shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The co-rotating scroll device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first bearing arranged inside the housing; and   a second bearing arranged inside the housing, wherein the first bearing is offset from the second bearing by a first axial distance, wherein the inflow channel of the housing and the outflow channel of the housing are arranged in a space between the first bearing and the second bearing, and wherein the first bearing and the second bearing rotationally support the first scroll shaft about the first shaft axis.   
     
     
         7 . The co-rotating scroll device of  claim 1 , wherein the first scroll comprises a scroll inflow hole and a scroll inflow channel arranged between the shaft inflow channel of the first scroll shaft and the scroll coolant channel of the first scroll. 
     
     
         8 . The co-rotating scroll device of  claim 1 , wherein the first scroll comprises a scroll outflow channel and a scroll outflow hole arranged between the scroll coolant channel of the first scroll the shaft outflow channel of the first scroll shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The co-rotating scroll device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises:
 a scroll housing comprising a hollow interior space; and   a bearing housing attached to the scroll housing at the first end of the co-rotating scroll device, wherein the bearing housing closes the hollow interior space at the first end of the co-rotating scroll device, and wherein the integrated rotary union is formed at an inner diameter of the bearing housing and an outer diameter of the first scroll shaft.   
     
     
         10 . The co-rotating scroll device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first coolant transfer conduit extending from the first scroll to the second scroll, wherein the first coolant transfer conduit is arranged in fluid communication with the scroll coolant channel of the first scroll and with a scroll coolant channel of the second scroll; and   a second coolant transfer conduit extending from the second scroll to the first scroll, wherein the second coolant transfer conduit is arranged in fluid communication with the scroll coolant channel of the second scroll and with the scroll coolant channel of the first scroll, and wherein the sealed fluid flow path extends through the first coolant transfer conduit and the second coolant transfer conduit.   
     
     
         11 . The co-rotating scroll device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an aftercooler device arranged at least partially in a working fluid path of the co-rotating scroll device, the working fluid path comprising at least one of the shaft inflow channel of the first scroll shaft, a gas discharge channel of the first scroll shaft, and a fluid exit port of the co-rotating scroll device.   
     
     
         12 . A co-rotating scroll device, comprising:
 a housing extending a length from a first end of the co-rotating scroll device to a second end of the co-rotating scroll device;   a first scroll comprising a first involute disposed in the housing;   a first scroll shaft comprising a first shaft axis, wherein the first scroll shaft is rotationally fixed to the first scroll, wherein the first scroll is configured to rotate about the first shaft axis relative to the housing;   a second scroll comprising a second involute disposed in the housing;   a second scroll shaft comprising a second shaft axis, wherein the second scroll shaft is rotationally fixed to the second scroll, wherein the second scroll is configured to rotate about the second shaft axis relative to the housing, wherein the first involute and the second involute are enmeshed with one another, wherein the first shaft axis is parallel to and offset from the second shaft axis;   a first integrated rotary union arranged between the housing and the first scroll shaft, wherein the first integrated rotary union is configured to transmit a first coolant through a first sealed fluid flow path running from an inflow channel of the housing to a shaft inflow channel of the first scroll shaft, through a scroll coolant channel of the first scroll, through a shaft outflow channel of the first scroll shaft, and to a first outflow channel of the housing; and   a second integrated rotary union arranged between the housing and the second scroll shaft, wherein the second integrated rotary union is configured to transmit a second coolant through a second sealed fluid flow path running from a second inflow channel of the housing to a shaft inflow channel of the second scroll shaft, through a scroll coolant channel of the second scroll, through a shaft outflow channel of the second scroll shaft, and to a second outflow channel of the housing.   
     
     
         13 . A co-rotating scroll device, comprising:
 a housing;   a first scroll positioned in the housing and having a first involute;   a second scroll positioned in the housing and having a second involute; and   one or more integrated rotary unions configured to transmit coolant from the housing to the first scroll and/or the second scroll.   
     
     
         14 . The co-rotating scroll device of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 integrated cooling channels to exchange heat from the first scroll or the second scroll to the coolant.   
     
     
         15 . The co-rotating scroll device of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 at least one flexible tube extending between the first scroll and the second scroll to transfer the coolant between the first scroll and the second scroll.   
     
     
         16 . The co-rotating scroll device of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an integrated aftercooler positioned on a back side of the first scroll and/or the second scroll, wherein the integrated aftercooler uses the coolant to remove heat from gas discharged by the co-rotating scroll device.   
     
     
         17 . The co-rotating scroll device of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an integrated aftercooler attached to the housing, wherein the integrated aftercooler uses the coolant to remove heat from a discharge gas.   
     
     
         18 . The co-rotating scroll device of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an integrated air-to-liquid pre-cooler heat exchanger configured to lower an inlet gas temperature.   
     
     
         19 . The co-rotating scroll device of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 at least one integrated motor cooling channel.   
     
     
         20 . The co-rotating scroll device of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 at least one integrated motor controller cooling channel.