Muffler system for a compressor

Abstract

A muffler system for a compressor includes an expansion chamber muffler for reducing pressure pulses at the compressor's fundamental pulsation frequency and a side-branch muffler for filtering high-frequency pressure pulses. The expansion muffler is positioned along the compressor discharge stream at a location that maximizes pulsation reduction at the compressor's fundamental pulsation frequency. The side-branch muffler is tuned to the frequency at which the pulsation reduction for the expansion muffler is at a minimum.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This Application is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 10 / 441,306, filed May 19, 2003.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention is directed to a muffler system for use with a compressor, and more specifically to a muffler system having an internal muffler and an external muffler for use with the high-pressure discharge side of a compressor used in refrigeration, cooling and heating systems. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Compressors are one of several components in cooling and heating systems. They are an important component as the compressor is used to compress refrigerant gas used in the system, raising the pressure and the temperature of the gas. The compressor is typically used in combination with a condenser, expansion valves, an evaporator and blowers to heat or cool a space. Depending on the direction of the refrigerant flow upon exiting the compressor, the system can be used to remove heat from a presel...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] An advantage of the present invention is the inclusion of an expansion chamber muffler exterior of the compressor housing for attenuating pressure pulses from propagating downstream in the refrigeration circuit, reducing the overall size of the compressor housing, while not adversely affecting the compressor operating efficiency. The side-branch muffler, while able to be located inside the compressor housing due to its small volume, serves to reduce pressure pulsation at the frequency not addressed by the expansion muffler, thus reducing sound radiation from the compressor housing and preventing pressure pulsation from propagating downstream in the refrigeration circuit.

Problems solved by technology

While different compressor designs may result in different noise generation mechanisms and overall different noise profiles, there are common sources of noise for the various types of compressors.

One common source of noise originates in the exhaust gas at the discharge where the noise takes the form of a pressure pulsation.

The pressure pulsation can transmit noise through the compressor housing at the point of discharge tube penetration, or can propagate further downstream and induce noise upon contacting other components of the refrigeration system.

As can be seen, this sound is particularly undesirable when the system is located within, adjacent to or near a living area or a work area.

While a muffler having an expansion chamber located adjacent to the discharge head can prevent pressure pulsation from propagating downstream, it has been found that placement of an expansion chamber muffler adjacent the discharge head reduces operating efficiency of the compressor, while also increasing the overall size of the compressor.

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