Air cooled helium compressor
US8978400B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 8, 2010 |
| Grant date | Mar 17, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 24, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF04B39/06
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
This invention relates generally to oil lubricated helium compressor units for use in cryogenic refrigeration systems, operating on the Gifford McMahon (GM) cycle. The objective of this invention is to keep the oil separator and absorber, which are components in an oil lubricated, helium compressor, in an indoor air conditioned environment while rejecting at least 65% of the heat from the compressor outdoors during the summer. The balance of the heat is rejected to either the indoor air conditioned air, or cooling water. This is accomplished by circulating hot oil at high pressure to an outdoor air cooled heat exchanger and returning cooled oil to the compressor inlet, while hot high pressure helium is cooled in an air or water cooled heat exchanger in an indoor assembly that includes the compressor, an oil separator, an oil absorber, and other piping and control components. It is an option to reject the heat from the oil to the indoor space during the winter to save on the cost of heating the indoor space.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.