Importance

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Abstract

To realize a reduction in cost and extension of the lifespan of a auxiliary bearing which is disposed adjacent to a non-contact bearing supporting a rotor shaft of a centrifugal compressor. A centrifugal compressor (2) includes: a rotor shaft (15); an electric motor (14) provided at an intermediate portion of the rotor shaft (15) in a coaxial manner with the rotor shaft (15), the electric motor (14) being configured to rotationally drive the rotor shaft (15); an impeller (16) fixed to one end of the rotor shaft (15) and forming a refrigerant compressing unit (7) which compresses a refrigerant; main bearings (18a, 18b) formed of non-contact bearings pivotally supporting the rotor shaft (15) at a portion between the electric motor (14) and the impeller (16), and at another end of the rotor shaft (15); auxiliary bearings (19a, 19b) disposed adjacent to the main bearings (18a, 18b), the auxiliary bearings being configured to pivotally support the rotor shaft (15) in place of the main bearings (18a, 18b) in a state where functioning of the main bearings (18a, 18b) stops; and a lubricating refrigerant supply unit (25) configured to supply the refrigerant as a lubricant to an inside of the auxiliary bearings (19a, 19b) in the state where the functioning of the main bearings (18a, 18b) stops.

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First Claim