Refrigerant compressor with resonator downstream of volute

Abstract

A refrigerant compressor includes a volute and a resonator positioned proximate a discharge opening of the volute. The resonator includes a tube including an inlet and a plurality of plates positioned proximate the inlet. A first plate of the plurality of plates includes a first opening and a second plate of the plurality of plates includes a second opening, the second opening being sized differently than the first opening.

Description

Cross-references to related applications

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 611,968, filed on December 19, 2023. Background Technology

[0002] A refrigerant compressor is used to circulate refrigerant through a refrigerant circuit within a cooler. A refrigerant circuit is known to include a condenser, an expansion unit, and an evaporator. The compressor compresses the fluid, which then travels to the condenser, where it is cooled and condensed. The refrigerant then enters the expansion unit and subsequently the evaporator, where it reduces the fluid's pressure and evaporates, thus completing the refrigeration cycle.

[0003] Many refrigerant compressors are centrifugal compressors and have an electric motor that drives at least one impeller to compress the refrigerant. Fluid flows into the impeller in the axial direction and is discharged radially from the impeller. The fluid is then directed downstream for use in a cooler system. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a refrigerant compressor comprising: a volute; and a resonator positioned near a discharge opening of the volute. The resonator includes a tube and a plurality of plates, the tube including an inlet, the plurality of plates being positioned near the inlet. A first plate of the plurality of plates includes a first opening, and a second plate of the plurality of plates includes a second opening, the second opening being sized differently from the first opening.

[0005] In one implementation, the third plate of the plurality of plates includes a third opening.

[0006] In one embodiment, a first plate of the plurality of plates has a first thickness, and a second plate of the plurality of plates has a second thickness different from the first thickness.

[0007] In one embodiment, the tube provides a shelf, and a first of the plurality of boards is received against the shelf.

[0008] In one embodiment, the tube is positioned on a central axis, and the plurality of plates are concentric with respect to the central axis and the tube.

[0009] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a refrigerant compressor that includes a distributor located at the inlet.

[0010] In the implementation scheme, the first opening and the second opening are circular through holes.

[0011] In one embodiment, the tube is positioned on a central axis, and the plurality of plates are concentric with respect to the central axis and the tube.

[0012] In the implementation scheme, the first opening and the second opening are concentric about the second axis.

[0013] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a refrigerant compressor including a retainer that is received against a plurality of plates and includes a retainer opening.

[0014] In one embodiment, the diameter of the retainer opening increases as the retainer opening extends away from the plurality of plates.

[0015] In one embodiment, the first opening is one of four openings in a first group in the first plate of the plurality of plates, and the second opening is one of four openings in a second group in the second plate of the plurality of plates.

[0016] In one embodiment, the first opening is one of four openings in a first group in the first plate of the plurality of plates, and the second opening is one of four openings in a second group in the second plate of the plurality of plates.

[0017] In the implementation scheme, each of the four openings in the first group overlaps at least partially with a corresponding opening in the four openings in the second group.

[0018] In one embodiment, a first plate of the plurality of plates has a first thickness, and a second plate of the plurality of plates has a second thickness different from the first thickness.

[0019] In the implementation scheme, a first plate of the plurality of plates is received by abutting against a second plate of the plurality of plates.

[0020] In one embodiment, the third plate of the plurality of plates includes a third opening and is located downstream of the first and second plates of the plurality of plates, the third opening having a larger cross-sectional area than each of the first and second openings.

[0021] In the implementation scheme, the first opening, the second opening, and the third opening are all circular through holes concentric around an axis.

[0022] In one embodiment, the third plate of the plurality of plates has a thickness different from that of at least one of the first plate and the second plate of the plurality of plates. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 An exemplary refrigerant system is schematically illustrated.

[0024] Figure 2 An exemplary compressor is shown.

[0025] Figure 3 An example resonator is shown.

[0026] Figure 4 An exemplary board for an exemplary resonator is shown.

[0027] Figure 5 Another exemplary board is shown.

[0028] Figure 6 An exemplary resonator is shown that is received at the discharge opening.

[0029] Figure 7 The flow of refrigerant through an exemplary resonator is illustrated schematically.

[0030] Figure 8 The fluid domain of an exemplary resonator is shown.

[0031] Figure 9 An example of an adjacent board is shown.

[0032] Figure 10 The simulation results of exemplary noise attenuation for an exemplary resonator are shown. Detailed Implementation

[0033] This disclosure generally relates to refrigerant compressors, and more specifically to resonators for the discharge flow of centrifugal refrigerant compressors.

[0034] Figure 1 A refrigerant system 10 is illustrated. This refrigerant system 10 includes a main refrigerant loop or main refrigerant circuit 12, which is connected to a compressor 14, a condenser 16, an evaporator 18, and an expansion device 20. This refrigerant system 10 can be used, for example, in a cooler. In this example, a cooling tower may be in fluid communication with the condenser 16. While a specific example of the refrigerant system 10 is shown, this application extends to other refrigerant system configurations (including configurations without coolers). For example, the main refrigerant loop 12 may include an economizer downstream of the condenser 16 and upstream of the expansion device 20.

[0035] Figure 2An exemplary compressor 14 is shown, which includes a volute 20 and an outer casing 22 adjacent to the volute 20. One or both of the volute 20 and the casing 22 may be provided with a volute discharge opening 24, at which refrigerant exits the compressor 14.

[0036] Figure 3 An exemplary resonator 26 is shown, which can be positioned near the discharge opening 24 to receive refrigerant exiting the compressor 14. In some examples, the resonator 26 may be attached to a housing 22. The resonator 26 may include an outer tube 28 providing a through opening 30. In some examples, the tube 28 is a hollow cylinder, and the opening 30 is radially disposed inside the inner diameter of the hollow cylinder. The inlet end 32 of the resonator may be positioned closest to the discharge opening 24 (not shown).

[0037] One or more plates 34 may be positioned within openings 30. The outer tube may be centered on a central longitudinal axis 36, and the tube 28 and plates 34 may be concentric about axis 36. Plates 34 may include one or more openings 38. A diverter 40 may be positioned at the inlet end 32 to direct flow into the openings 38. In some examples, as shown, the diverter 40 may be tapered. In some examples, as shown, the diverter 40 may be tapered and centered on axis 36. As shown, the base of the cone of the diverter 40 may abut against the plate 34 closest to the inlet end 32, and the cone tapers as it extends away from the plate 34. Openings 38 may be radially outside the diverter 40 relative to axis 36.

[0038] Figure 4 An exemplary plate 34 including openings 38 is shown. In the example shown, four circular through holes are provided. As shown, the centers of adjacent openings 38 can be spaced 90° apart. In some examples, more or fewer openings 38 can be used. In some examples, openings 38 of other shapes can be used. As will be explained further, the size of the openings 38 can vary in adjacent plates within the resonator 26. As shown, the sizes of the openings 38 in plate 34 can be designed to be the same as each other. In some examples, the sizes of the openings 38 in plate 34 can be designed to be different from each other.

[0039] Figure 5 Another exemplary plate 134 is shown, which includes openings 138A and 138B. In the example shown, opening 138B is a centrally located circular through-hole, wherein a C-shaped through-hole 138A is radially positioned outside opening 138B. The applicant has discovered that the size and shape of the openings can be varied to attenuate certain acoustic frequencies.

[0040] like Figure 6 As shown, resonator 26 is received at discharge opening 24. In some examples, as shown, outer tube 28 may include a radially inwardly extending shelf 42 attached near discharge opening 24. In some examples, shelf 42 is attached to housing 22. A series of stacked plates 34A to 34I are received within the outer tube abutting shelf 42. In some examples, more or fewer plates 34 may be used. Retainer 44 may be received abutting the most downstream plate 34I, and retainer 44 may include opening 46 for refrigerant flow. In some examples, as shown, the diameter of opening 46 increases as opening 46 extends away from plate 34. Plates 34 abut their respective adjacent plates(s).

[0041] Figure 7 The flow of refrigerant through exemplary resonator 26 is schematically illustrated. As shown, the openings 38 of adjacent plates 34 may be aligned, and the diameter and / or cross-sectional area of ​​the openings 38 may vary. For example, as shown, the diameter (and therefore the cross-sectional area) of opening 38B of plate 34B may be larger than the diameter (and therefore the cross-sectional area) of openings 38A and 38C of plates 34A and 34C, in order to create a quarter-wavelength tube section 46 for noise attenuation. In some examples, additional plates 34 (such as plates 34D, 34F, and 34H) may have openings 38 with a larger diameter than their corresponding adjacent plates, in order to create additional quarter-wavelength tube sections 46. In some examples, the centers of the openings 38 from adjacent plates may be aligned. The corresponding axial thickness of plates 34 may vary. In some examples, a plate having an opening 38 larger than the openings in its adjacent plates may also have a greater thickness than one or both of its adjacent plates. A shunt 40 directs refrigerant into the openings 38.

[0042] Figure 8 The negative domain or fluid domain of an exemplary resonator 26 is shown.

[0043] Figure 9 Adjacent plates 34A and 34B are shown (not shown, see [link]). Figure 7 An example alignment. In Figure 9 In the diagram, plate 34B is located behind plate 34A, and opening 38B of plate 34B is shown in dashed lines. One or more openings 38A in plate 34A (see...) Figure 7The opening 38A overlaps with one or more openings 38B in the adjacent plate 34B to allow refrigerant to flow through the successive openings 38A, 38B. In some examples, as shown, openings 38A, 38B are circular through holes, and openings 38A, 38B are concentric around the same central axis C. In the example shown, opening 38B is larger than its adjacent opening 38A. Openings 38C in the next adjacent plate 34C (not shown, see [reference]) can be arranged in a similar manner. Figure 7 The opening 38 is aligned, and the opening 38C may be smaller than the opening 38B. Further downstream openings 38 may also be concentric about axis C. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other alignments of the openings 38 can be utilized.

[0044] Figure 10 Exemplary noise attenuation simulation results for exemplary resonator 26 are shown. The graph illustrates the resonator's transmission loss performance at each frequency from 0 Hz to 15000 Hz. The graph shows that at frequencies from 4900 Hz to 10000 Hz, at least 11 dB of acoustic noise reduction will be experienced.

[0045] The examples disclosed in this paper demonstrate how the acoustic level of the discharge flow of a given centrifugal refrigerant compressor system can be reduced by using a quarter-wavelength tube in a resonator to attenuate specific acoustic frequencies in the discharged refrigerant.

[0046] An exemplary resonator can be implemented at the discharge line of the centrifugal compressor. At this location, the pressurized refrigerant flow leaving the compressor will be directed into the configurable resonator.

[0047] A configurable resonator can consist of a series of plates having openings of different sizes machined therein. These plates can have different sizes and opening configurations. The opening configurations and sizes of the plates can be varied to accommodate different refrigerants and volumetric flow rates. When several plates with openings of different sizes are stacked in series inside a tube with retainers, they can create a resonator with a quarter-wavelength tube. When the plates are arranged in a straight line in series, the openings of different sizes create a quarter-wavelength tube that operates to attenuate certain acoustic frequencies present in the discharge flow of the refrigerant compressor. The size of the plates can be configured for different refrigerants and volumetric flow rates. The number of plates can be configured to cover smaller or larger frequency bands.

[0048] The length of these quarter-wavelength tubes, or the size of the openings in each plate, can be determined by the wavelength of the desired frequency to be attenuated in the compressor's exhaust stream. The number of plates in the resonator can be configured to cover a larger or smaller frequency band.

[0049] An exemplary refrigerant compressor may be described as including a volute and a resonator positioned near a discharge opening in the volute. The exemplary resonator may include a tube and a plurality of plates, the tube including an inlet, the plurality of plates being positioned near the inlet. A first plate of the plurality of plates may include a first opening, and a second plate of the plurality of plates may include a second opening, the second opening being sized differently from the first opening.

[0050] Although different examples are shown with specific components, the examples in this disclosure are not limited to those specific combinations. Some components or features from any embodiment may be used in combination with features or components from any other embodiment.

[0051] The foregoing description should be interpreted as illustrative and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art will understand that certain modifications may fall within the scope of this disclosure. For these reasons, the appended claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A refrigerant compressor, comprising: Snail shell; as well as A resonator, positioned near the discharge opening of the volute, comprising: The pipe includes an inlet; and Multiple plates are positioned near the entrance, wherein a first plate of the multiple plates includes a first opening, and a second plate of the multiple plates includes a second opening, the size of which is designed to be different from that of the first opening.

2. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 1, wherein, The third plate of the plurality of plates includes a third opening.

3. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 1, wherein, The first plate of the plurality of plates has a first thickness, and the second plate of the plurality of plates has a second thickness different from the first thickness.

4. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 1, wherein, The tube provides a shelf, and the first of the plurality of plates is received against the shelf.

5. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 1, wherein, The tube is positioned on a central axis, and the plurality of plates are concentric with respect to the central axis and the tube.

6. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerant compressor includes a distributor disposed at the inlet.

7. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 1, wherein, The first opening and the second opening are circular through holes.

8. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 7, wherein, The tube is positioned on a central axis, and the plurality of plates are concentric with respect to the central axis and the tube.

9. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 8, wherein, The first opening and the second opening are concentric around the second axis.

10. The refrigerant compressor of claim 1, wherein the refrigerant compressor includes a retainer that is received against a plurality of plates, the retainer including a retainer opening.

11. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 10, wherein, The diameter of the retainer opening increases as the retainer opening extends away from the plurality of plates.

12. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 1, wherein, The first opening is one of four openings in the first group of the plurality of plates, and the second opening is one of four openings in the second group of the plurality of plates.

13. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 1, wherein, The first opening is one of four openings in the first group of the plurality of plates, and the second opening is one of four openings in the second group of the plurality of plates.

14. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 13, wherein, Each of the four openings in the first group overlaps at least partially with the corresponding opening in the four openings in the second group.

15. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 14, wherein, The first plate of the plurality of plates has a first thickness, and the second plate of the plurality of plates has a second thickness different from the first thickness.

16. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 15, wherein, The first plate of the plurality of plates is received by abutting against the second plate of the plurality of plates.

17. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 1, wherein, The third plate of the plurality of plates includes a third opening and is located downstream of the first and second plates of the plurality of plates, the third opening having a larger cross-sectional area than each of the first and second openings.

18. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 17, wherein, The first opening, the second opening, and the third opening are all circular through holes concentric around an axis.

19. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 18, wherein, The third plate of the plurality of plates has a thickness different from the thickness of at least one of the first plate and the second plate of the plurality of plates.

20. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 19, wherein, The tube provides a shelf, and the first of the plurality of plates is received against the shelf.

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