Oil-free phase separating compressor

Abstract

An oil-free compressor includes a compressor housing with a suction inlet and a discharge outlet, a compression mechanism and a liquid-vapor separation volume disposed within the compressor housing, a crankshaft. The compression mechanism has an inlet fluidly connected to the suction inlet and a discharge volume fluidly connected to the discharge outlet. The crankshaft is engaged with the compression mechanism. The liquid-vapor separation volume is configured to separate a mixed phase of working fluid into liquid working fluid and gaseous working fluid. The liquid working fluid is supplied to the bearing. A heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) system includes a refrigerant circuit with an oil-free compressor, a condenser, one or more expanders, and an evaporator.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An oil-free scroll compressor, comprising:
 a compressor housing including a suction inlet and a discharge outlet;   a pair of intermeshed scroll members disposed within the compressor housing, the pair of intermeshed scroll members having an inlet fluidly connected to the suction inlet and a discharge volume fluidly connected to the discharge outlet;   a crankshaft engaged with the pair of intermeshed scroll members, rotation of the crankshaft configured to drive the pair of intermeshed scroll members to provide compression;   an alignment coupler for the pair of intermeshed scroll members; and   a liquid-vapor separation volume disposed within the compressor housing, the liquid-vapor separation volume configured to separate a mixed phase of working fluid into liquid working fluid and gaseous working fluid, wherein the liquid working fluid is supplied to the alignment coupler.   
     
     
         22 . The oil-free scroll compressor of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 one or more fluid passages configured to supply the liquid working fluid from the liquid-vapor separation volume to the alignment coupler.   
     
     
         23 . The oil-free scroll compressor of  claim 22 , wherein the one or more fluid passages extend through the pair of the intermeshed scroll members. 
     
     
         24 . The oil-free scroll compressor of  claim 22 , wherein the alignment coupler is disposed in a groove in the pair of the intermeshed scroll members, the one or more fluid passages extending to the groove in the pair of the intermeshed scroll members and configured to supply the liquid working fluid to the groove in the pair of the intermeshed scroll members. 
     
     
         25 . The oil-free scroll compressor of  claim 22 , wherein the pair of intermeshed scroll members include a non-fixed scroll member, the one or more fluid passages extending through the non-fixed scroll member. 
     
     
         26 . The oil-free scroll compressor of  claim 22 , wherein the one or more fluid passages include an interior gallery of the crankshaft. 
     
     
         27 . The oil-free scroll compressor of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 a motor configured to rotate the crankshaft, and the rotation of the crankshaft is configured to supply a portion of the liquid working fluid through the one or more fluid passages to the alignment coupler.   
     
     
         28 . The oil-free scroll compressor of  claim 21 , wherein the alignment coupler is an Oldham coupling. 
     
     
         29 . The oil-free scroll compressor of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a bearing for supporting the crankshaft, wherein a first stream of the liquid working fluid is supplied to the alignment coupler and a second stream of the liquid working fluid is supplied to the bearing.   
     
     
         30 . The oil-free scroll compressor of  claim 21 , wherein the crankshaft is engaged with a non-fixed scroll member in the pair of intermeshed scroll members. 
     
     
         31 . A heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) system comprising:
 a refrigerant circuit including:
 an oil-free scroll compressor configured to compress a working fluid, the oil-free compressor including:
 a compressor housing including a suction inlet and a discharge outlet, 
 a pair of intermeshed scroll members disposed within the compressor housing, the pair of intermeshed scroll members having an inlet fluidly connected to the suction inlet and a discharge volume fluidly connected to the discharge outlet, 
 a crankshaft engaged with the pair of intermeshed scroll members, rotation of the crankshaft configured to drive the pair of intermeshed scroll members to compress the working fluid, 
 an alignment coupler for the pair of intermeshed scroll members, and 
 a liquid-vapor separation volume disposed within the compressor housing, the liquid-vapor separation volume configured to separate a mixed phase of the working fluid into liquid working fluid and a gaseous working fluid, wherein the liquid working fluid is supplied to the alignment coupler; 
 
 a condenser configured to cool the working fluid compressed by the oil-free scroll compressor; 
 one or more expanders configured to expand the working fluid cooled by the condenser; and 
 an evaporator configured to cool a second process fluid using the working fluid expanded by the one or more expanders. 
   
     
     
         32 . The HVACR system of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 one or more fluid passages configured to supply the liquid working fluid from the liquid-vapor separation volume to the alignment coupler.   
     
     
         33 . The HVACR system of  claim 32 , wherein the one or more fluid passages extend through the pair of the intermeshed scroll members. 
     
     
         34 . The HVACR system of  claim 32 , wherein the alignment coupler is disposed in a groove in the pair of the intermeshed scroll members, the one or more fluid passages extending to the groove in the pair of the intermeshed scroll members and configured to supply the liquid working fluid to the groove in the pair of the intermeshed scroll members. 
     
     
         35 . The HVACR system of  claim 32 , wherein the pair of intermeshed scroll members include a non-fixed scroll member, the one or more fluid passages extending through the non-fixed scroll member. 
     
     
         36 . The HVACR system of  claim 32 , wherein the one or more fluid passages include an interior gallery of the crankshaft. 
     
     
         37 . The HVACR system of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 a motor configured to rotate the crankshaft, and the rotation of the crankshaft is configured to supply a portion of the liquid working fluid through the one or more fluid passages to the alignment coupler.   
     
     
         38 . The HVACR system of  claim 31 , wherein the alignment coupler is an Oldham coupling. 
     
     
         39 . The HVACR system of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 a bearing for supporting the crankshaft, wherein a first stream of the liquid working fluid is supplied to the alignment coupler and a second stream of the liquid working fluid is supplied to the bearing.   
     
     
         40 . The HVACR system of  claim 31 , wherein the crankshaft is engaged with a non-fixed scroll member in the pair of intermeshed scroll members.