A cooling system and method for using the cooling system are described. The cooling system includes a plurality of individual piezoelectric cooling elements spatially arranged in an array extending in at least two dimensions, a communications interface and driving circuitry. The communications interface is associated with the individual piezoelectric cooling elements such that selected individual piezoelectric cooling elements within the array can be activated based at least in part on heat energy generated in the vicinity of the selected individual piezoelectric cooling elements. The driving circuitry is associated with the individual piezoelectric cooling elements and is configured to drive the selected individual piezoelectric cooling elements.

A compressor may include a compressor shell, a motor, a compression mechanism, an enclosure, a control module, a fan, and an airflow deflector. The compression mechanism is disposed within the compressor shell. The motor drives the compression mechanism. The enclosure defines an internal cavity. The control module is in communication with the motor and is configured to control operation of the motor. The fan may be disposed within the internal cavity. The airflow deflector may include a base portion, a first leg, and a second leg. The first and second legs may be spaced apart from each other and may extend from the base portion. The fan may force air against the base portion. A first portion of the air may flow from the base portion along the first leg, and a second portion of the air may flow from the base portion along the second leg.

A motor-driven compressor includes an inverter and a housing. The inverter includes three-phase switching elements and a holder that retains the switching elements. The holder is fixed to the housing with fastening members and is configured to push the three-phase switching elements toward a heat dissipating surface of the housing. The three-phase switching elements are arranged along a line segment that connects two of the fastening members. The holder includes a first accommodating portion that accommodates one of the three-phase switching elements that is located in the middle, and two second accommodating portions that respectively accommodate two of the three-phase switching elements that are located at opposite ends. Each of the two second accommodating portions includes a tongue-shaped contact portion that contacts the corresponding switching element. The contact portions are configured to be deformed to reduce a pushing force of the holder acting on the switching elements.

A compressor includes a compression mechanism, a motor, a drive shaft, and a motor cooler. The compressor is configured to compress a working fluid. The motor dives the compression mechanism and is housed within a motor housing. The drive shaft is engaged with the motor and the compression mechanism and is configured to drive operation of the compression mechanism. The motor cooler is disposed adjacent the motor and is configured to pump a cooling working fluid around the motor. The motor cooler includes a pump that pumps the cooling working fluid into the motor housing based on a rotational speed of the drive shaft.

Aspects of the present invention relate to a vacuum system. The vacuum system includes a vacuum pump; and a heat exchanger for receiving a heat transfer fluid. The heat transfer fluid comprising a gas. The heat exchanger is thermally coupled to the vacuum pump and is operable to absorb thermal energy from the vacuum pump. Aspects of the present invention also relate to a method of operating a vacuum system; and a controller for controlling operation of a vacuum system.

Aspects of the present invention relate to a vacuum system. The vacuum system includes a vacuum pump; and a heat exchanger for receiving a heat transfer fluid. The heat transfer fluid comprising a gas. The heat exchanger is thermally coupled to the vacuum pump and is operable to absorb thermal energy from the vacuum pump. Aspects of the present invention also relate to a method of operating a vacuum system; and a controller for controlling operation of a vacuum system.

A compressor includes a tubular shape casing, a compression mechanism adjacent one end of the casing in the casing, a motor arranged adjacent another end of the casing in the casing, a suction pipe opening between the compression mechanism and the motor, a gas flow path formed between the motor and an inner peripheral surface of the casing, and a gas guide facing an open end of the suction pipe. The gas flow path allows internal regions of the casing adjacent axial ends of the motor to communicate with each other. The gas guide includes a first flow path configured to guide a portion of a gas that has passed through the suction pipe toward the compression mechanism, and a second flow path configured to guide a remaining portion of the gas that has passed through the suction pipe toward the gas flow path.

A cooling system including a support structure and a cooling element are described. The cooling element has a central region, a first cantilevered arm, a second cantilevered arm, and a piezoelectric. The cooling element is supported by the support structure at the central region. The piezoelectric extends across at least half of a length of the first cantilevered arm. The first and second cantilevered arms are configured to undergo vibrational motion when actuated to drive a fluid toward a heat-generating structure.

Typically, an engine-compressor for compressing natural gas for use as a fuel has a single cooling circuit to cool both its combustion unit and compression unit. A single cooling circuit design is not ideal because the optimal temperature for the combustion unit is higher than the compression unit of the engine-compressor. The present invention provides a dual zone cooling system to cool the combustion unit separately from the compression unit.

A cylinder block for a compressor includes: a shaft support configured to support a rotary shaft of an outer rotor type motor; a first support that is arranged radially outward of the shaft support and that extends along a circumferential direction about a center of the shaft support; a second support that is arranged radially outward of the first support and that extends along the circumferential direction about the center of the shaft support; a third support that connects the first support to the second support; a cylinder portion that defines a cylindrical inner space at a position radially away from the center of the shaft support; and a noise chamber defined at at least one side of the cylinder portion.