Silencer for refrigerant compressor

Abstract

A refrigerant compressor includes a discharge portion and a muffler disposed at the discharge portion. The muffler includes an outer cylinder having a central axis, and a sleeve concentric with the outer cylinder and located radially inward of the outer cylinder relative to the central axis. The sleeve comprises a plurality of through holes extending in the radial direction, and a resonant cavity is formed between the sleeve and the outer cylinder in the radial direction.

Description

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 356,020, filed on June 27, 2022. Background Art

[0003] A refrigerant compressor is used to circulate the refrigerant in the cooler via a refrigerant loop. A known refrigerant loop includes a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. The compressor compresses the fluid, which then travels to the condenser, which in turn cools and condenses the fluid. The refrigerant then enters the expansion device, which reduces the pressure of the fluid, and enters the evaporator, where the fluid is vaporized, completing the refrigeration cycle. Summary of the invention

[0004] A refrigerant compressor according to an example of the present disclosure includes a discharge portion and a muffler disposed at the discharge portion. The muffler includes: an outer cylinder having a central axis, and a sleeve concentric with the outer cylinder and located radially inward of the outer cylinder relative to the central axis. The sleeve includes a plurality of through holes extending in a radial direction, and a resonance cavity is formed radially between the sleeve and the outer cylinder.

[0005] In another example of the foregoing, a muffler is attached to the exhaust portion.

[0006] In another example of any of the foregoing, the resonant cavity is sealed at each axial end thereof.

[0007] In another example of any of the foregoing, a plurality of axially spaced annular plates are positioned within the resonant cavity.

[0008] In another example of any of the foregoing, each of the plurality of annular plates includes a plurality of axially extending through holes.

[0009] In another example of any of the foregoing, the plurality of axially extending through holes are circumferentially equidistantly spaced from one another.

[0010] In another example of any of the foregoing, the radially extending through-holes form axially spaced circumferential rows of radially extending through-holes.

[0011] In another example of any of the foregoing, the plate is positioned axially between the circumferential rows and immediately adjacent to the circumferential rows radially outward of the circumferential rows.

[0012] In another example of any of the foregoing, the axially extending through holes are circumferentially aligned across two or more of the plurality of plates.

[0013] In another example of any of the foregoing, a radius of the through hole extending in the axial direction is greater than a radius of the through hole extending in the radial direction.

[0014] In another example of any of the foregoing, the radially extending through holes are circumferentially equidistantly spaced from one another.

[0015] In another example of any of the foregoing, the sleeve is welded to the barrel.

[0016] In another example of any of the foregoing, the muffler is configured to receive fluid from the discharge portion into the sleeve.

[0017] The method according to an example of the present disclosure includes: fluidly arranging a muffler between a discharge portion of a compressor and a condenser. The muffler includes an outer cylinder having an inner diameter surface and a central axis, and a sleeve concentric with the outer cylinder. The sleeve includes a plurality of through holes extending in a radial direction, and a resonance cavity is formed in a radial direction between the outer cylinder and the sleeve.

[0018] In another example described above, a plurality of annular plates spaced apart in the axial direction are located in the resonant cavity, and each of the plurality of annular plates includes a plurality of through holes extending in the axial direction.

[0019] In another example of any of the foregoing, radially extending through holes form axially spaced circumferential rows of radially extending through holes, and include the step of providing a plurality of axially spaced annular plates, the step including positioning the plurality of annular plates to be axially located between the circumferential rows and adjacent to the circumferential rows radially outside the circumferential rows.

[0020] In another example of any of the foregoing, the resonant cavity is sealed at each axial end thereof.

[0021] In another example of any of the foregoing, the sleeve is welded to the outer cylinder.

[0022] In another example of any of the foregoing, a muffler is attached to the exhaust portion.

[0023] In another example of any of the foregoing, the muffler is configured to receive fluid from the discharge portion into the sleeve.

[0024] These and other features can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description of the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Figure 1 A refrigerant system is schematically illustrated.

[0026] Figure 2 An example compressor is illustrated.

[0027] Figure 3 An example silencer is illustrated.

[0028] Figure 4 Schematically illustrates the Figure 3Example of a muffler flow.

[0029] Figure 5 Another example muffler is illustrated.

[0030] Figure 6 Schematically illustrates the Figure 5 Example of a muffler flow. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The present disclosure relates generally to refrigerant compressors, and more particularly to mufflers at the discharge portion of a refrigerant compressor. It has been found that the systems and methods disclosed herein reduce the noise output of a refrigerant compressor. The term "muffler" as used herein is intended to refer to all types of noise reduction devices, and is not limited to any size or shape.

[0032] Figure 1 A refrigerant cooling system 10 is schematically illustrated. The refrigerant system 10 includes a main refrigerant loop or circuit 12 in communication with a compressor or compressors 14, a condenser 13, an evaporator 15, and an expansion device 17. The refrigerant system 10 may be used, for example, in a chiller or a heat pump. Although a specific example of a refrigerant system 10 is shown, the present disclosure may extend to other refrigerant system configurations. For example, the main refrigerant loop 12 may include an economizer downstream of the condenser 13 and upstream of the expansion device 17. The refrigerant cooling system 10 may be, for example, an air conditioning system.

[0033] Figure 2 The illustrated example compressor 14 includes a discharge portion 20 from which the refrigerant exits the compressor 14 and then flows to the condenser 13 (see Figure 1 ). The example discharge portion 20 is where the refrigerant exits the compressor 14, rather than between stages of the compressor. Although an example compressor 14 is shown, other types of compressors may benefit from the present disclosure.

[0034] Figure 3 An example muffler 22 is illustrated, which may be fluidly disposed in region A ( ) between the compressor 14 and the condenser 13. Figure 1 In some examples, a muffler 22 may be attached to the discharge portion 20 of the compressor 14 ( Figure 2) or otherwise positioned near the discharge portion 20 of the compressor 14. The example muffler 22 includes a hollow outer cylinder 24 having a central axis 26. The outer cylinder 24 is shown as transparent to facilitate viewing of other components of the example muffler 22. A cylindrical sleeve 28 is concentric with the outer cylinder 24 and is located radially inward of the outer cylinder 24. The sleeve 28 includes a plurality of radially extending through holes 30. An axially extending annular resonant cavity 32 is radially disposed between a radially inner surface 34 of the outer cylinder 24 and a radially outer surface 36 of the sleeve. The example resonant cavity 32 is sealed at each axial end of the cylinder 24 and the sleeve 28.

[0035] like Figure 4 Schematically shown in FIG. Figure 3 , the discharge flow from the discharge portion 20 of the compressor 14 enters the muffler 22 together with the residual vortex from the input rotational energy generated by the compressor impeller. The flow enters the muffler 22 into the sleeve 28. As the flow enters the muffler 22 and flows axially through the muffler 22, a portion of the fluid is directed radially outward through the radially extending through holes 30, is redirected to the resonance cavity 32 and produces a pressure wave reflection in the flow, which in turn produces a reflected wave that cancels the natural incoming pressure wave. The result is a reduction in the overall noise generated by the compressor 14.

[0036] Refrigerant enters the muffler 22 at one axial end 40 of the sleeve 28 and exits the muffler 22 at the opposite axial end 42 of the sleeve 28. Because the resonance chamber 32 is sealed at each axial end, the refrigerant flows back radially inward from the radial inner surface 44 of the sleeve 28 before exiting the muffler 22 at the axial end 42. In some examples, as shown, the resonance chamber 32 is sealed at each axial end thereof by an annular radially inwardly extending extension 43 received against the sleeve 28. In this example, the resonance chamber 32 receives fluid through the through hole 30 of the sleeve 28, rather than being fed with fluid directly from the discharge portion 20 at its axial ends.

[0037] The muffler 22 design can be fine-tuned to reflect specific wavelengths that exhibit the highest noise levels in compressor operation, such as by adjusting the size of the holes 30 and their spacing to produce noise at the desired frequency. In some examples, the radially extending through holes 30 are equally spaced circumferentially from one another.

[0038] In some examples, sleeve 28 is manufactured separately depending on the desired application and is secured to barrel 24 , such as by mechanical connection or welding in some examples.

[0039] Figure 5 and Figure 6Another example muffler 122 is illustrated that is substantially similar to the muffler 122, except that a plurality of axially spaced annular plates 146 are disposed within the resonant cavity 132. It should be understood that similar reference numerals represent corresponding or similar elements throughout the several figures. One or more or each of the various example plates 146 includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially extending through holes 148. In some examples, as shown, the radially extending through holes 130 of the sleeve 128 form axially spaced circumferential rows of through holes 130, and the plates 146 are axially positioned between and radially outward of the immediately adjacent rows. The example plates 146 are disc-shaped and extend across the entire circumference.

[0040] The use of the additional plate 146 allows more frequencies to resonate within the system and reduces noise generation at multiple frequencies. The muffler 122 design can be fine-tuned to reflect specific wavelengths that exhibit the highest noise levels in compressor operation. This is achieved by adjusting the size of the holes in the sleeve 128 and plate 146 and their spacing to produce noise at the desired frequency.

[0041] In some examples, the axially extending through holes 148 are circumferentially spaced equidistant from one another. In some examples, as shown, the axially extending through holes 148 are circumferentially aligned across two or more of the plates 146. In some examples, as shown, the axially extending through holes 148 are circumferentially aligned with adjacent radially extending through holes 130. In some examples, as shown, the radius of the axially extending through holes 148 is greater than the radius of the radially extending through holes 130. Applicants have discovered that the above examples can be used to resonate noise at certain frequencies.

[0042] Figure 6 Schematically illustrates the Figure 5 Example of a muffler flow.

[0043] Considering the above example method can be described as including fluidly disposing a muffler 22 / 122 between the discharge portion of the compressor and the condenser, the muffler includes a hollow outer cylinder and a hollow inner cylinder or sleeve, the hollow outer cylinder including an inner diameter surface and a central axis, the hollow inner cylinder or sleeve is concentric with the outer cylinder and includes a plurality of radially extending through holes.

[0044] An example refrigerant compressor can be described as including a discharge portion and a muffler at the discharge portion. The muffler includes an outer cylinder having a central axis, and a sleeve concentric with the outer cylinder and located radially inward of the outer cylinder relative to the central axis. The sleeve includes a plurality of through holes extending radially, and a resonance cavity is radially arranged between the sleeve and the outer cylinder.

[0045] The foregoing description should be interpreted as illustrative. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that certain modifications may fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Various examples of the present disclosure have been described. Any combination of the described systems, operations, or functions is contemplated. It is possible to use some components or features from any of these examples in combination with features or components from any of the other examples. These and other illustrative examples are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A refrigerant compressor, comprising: Emissions section; as well as a muffler disposed at the discharge portion, the muffler comprising an outer cylinder having a central axis, and A sleeve is concentric with the outer cylinder and is located radially inward of the outer cylinder relative to the central axis and comprises a plurality of through holes extending in the radial direction, and a resonance cavity is formed in the radial direction between the sleeve and the outer cylinder.

2. The compressor according to claim 1, wherein: The muffler is attached to the exhaust portion.

3. The compressor according to claim 1, wherein: The resonant cavity is sealed at each axial end thereof.

4. The compressor according to claim 1, further comprising: A plurality of axially spaced annular plates are provided within the resonant cavity.

5. The compressor according to claim 4, wherein: Each of the plurality of annular plates includes a plurality of through holes extending in the axial direction.

6. The compressor according to claim 5, wherein: The plurality of axially extending through holes are equidistantly spaced from one another in the circumferential direction.

7. The compressor according to claim 5, wherein: The radially extending through-holes form axially spaced circumferential rows of radially extending through-holes.

8. The compressor according to claim 7, wherein: The plates are positioned axially between the circumferential rows and immediately adjacent to the circumferential rows radially outwardly of the circumferential rows.

9. The compressor according to claim 5, wherein: The axially extending through holes are circumferentially aligned across two or more of the plurality of plates.

10. The compressor according to claim 5, wherein: The radius of the through hole extending in the axial direction is greater than the radius of the through hole extending in the radial direction.

11. The compressor according to claim 1, wherein: The radially extending through holes are equidistantly spaced from each other in the circumferential direction.

12. The compressor according to claim 1, wherein: The sleeve is welded to the cylinder.

13. The compressor of claim 1, wherein the muffler is configured to receive fluid from the discharge portion into the sleeve.

14. A method comprising: A muffler is fluidly disposed between a discharge portion of the compressor and the condenser, the muffler comprising: an outer cylinder including an inner diameter surface and a central axis, and The sleeve is concentric with the outer cylinder and comprises a plurality of through holes extending in the radial direction, and a resonance cavity is formed between the outer cylinder and the sleeve in the radial direction.

15. The method according to claim 14, comprising: A plurality of annular plates spaced apart in the axial direction are arranged in the resonant cavity, and each of the plurality of annular plates comprises a plurality of through holes extending in the axial direction.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein: The radially extending through holes form axially spaced circumferential rows of radially extending through holes, and the step of providing a plurality of axially spaced annular plates includes positioning the plurality of annular plates axially between and radially outwardly from the circumferential rows.

17. The method according to claim 14, comprising: The resonant cavity is sealed at each axial end of the resonant cavity.

18. The method according to claim 14, comprising: The sleeve is welded to the outer cylinder.

19. The method according to claim 14, comprising: Attach the muffler to the exhaust section.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein: The muffler is configured to receive fluid from the discharge portion into the sleeve.

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