US 12,305,701 B2
Compressor and chiller system having the same
Byoungjun Jeon, Seoul (KR); Yoonjei Hwang, Seoul (KR); and Kyeongseok Oh, Seoul (KR)
Assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC., Seoul (KR)
Filed by LG ELECTRONICS INC., Seoul (KR)
Filed on Feb. 10, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/172,678.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2020-0019269 (KR), filed on Feb. 17, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0254876 A1, Aug. 19, 2021
Int. Cl. F16C 17/24 (2006.01); F04D 27/00 (2006.01); F04D 29/051 (2006.01); F04D 29/056 (2006.01)
CPC F16C 17/246 (2013.01) [F04D 27/001 (2013.01); F04D 27/004 (2013.01); F04D 27/008 (2013.01); F04D 27/009 (2013.01); F04D 29/051 (2013.01); F04D 29/056 (2013.01); F05D 2240/50 (2013.01); F05D 2270/30 (2013.01); F16C 2233/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A compressor comprising:
one or more impellers configured to draw a refrigerant in an axial direction and to compress the refrigerant in a centrifugal direction;
a rotary shaft, to which the one or more impellers and a motor that rotates the one or more impellers are coupled;
a thrust bearing that supports the rotary shaft;
a bearing state sensor configured to detect a surface roughness of the thrust bearing; and
a controller configured to control the motor based on the surface roughness of the thrust bearing, wherein, in response to a surface roughness value of the thrust bearing exceeding a first reference roughness value, the controller sets an RPM of the motor to be less than a normal RPM.