A Miniature 500 000-r/min Electrically Driven Turbocompressor

The trend in compressors for fuel cells, heat pumps, aerospace, and automotive heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems is toward ultracompact size and high efficiency. This can be achieved by using turbocompressors instead of scroll, lobe, or screw compressors, increasing the rotational speed and employing new electrical drive system technology and materials. This paper presents a miniature electrically driven two-stage turbocompressor system running at a rated speed of 500 000 r/min. The design includes the thermodynamic analysis, the electric motor, the inverter, the control, and the system integration with rotor dynamics and thermal considerations. Experimental measurements such as the compressor map are presented for air under laboratory conditions. The two-stage turbocompressor has been tested up to a speed of 600 000 r/min, where a maximal pressure ratio of 2.3 at a mass flow of 0.5 g/s has been reached. To the authors' knowledge, this is the highest rotational speed achieved with an electrically driven turbocompressor.