Check valve assembly including resonator for refrigerant compressor

Abstract

A refrigerant system including a refrigerant compressor. The refrigerant system includes a check valve assembly (22) downstream of the refrigerant compressor. The check valve assembly includes a resonator (50) configured to attenuate noise.

Description

CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING RESONATORFOR REFRIGERANT COMPRESSORRELATED APPLICATION(S)

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.63 / 762,123, filed February 24, 2025, the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND

[0002] Refrigerant compressors are used to circulate refrigerant in a chiller via a refrigerant loop. Refrigerant loops are known to include a compressor, 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 goes to the expansion device, which decreases the pressure of the fluid, and to the evaporator, where the fluid is vaporized, completing a refrigeration cycle.SUMMARY

[0003] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a refrigerant system, including: a refrigerant compressor; and a check valve assembly downstream of the refrigerant compressor, wherein the check valve assembly includes a resonator configured to attenuate noise.

[0004] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a refrigerant system, wherein the check valve assembly includes: a housing defining an inlet configured to receive fluid from the refrigerant compressor and an outlet, and a check valve supported within the housing.

[0005] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a refrigerant system, wherein the check valve assembly includes a flow guide disposed within the housing, and wherein the flow guide establishes a boundary of a flow path through the housing.

[0006] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a refrigerant system, wherein the check valve includes a disc, a stem projecting from the disc into a guide surrounded by the flow guide, a spring biasing the disc toward a closed position, and a seal supported by the disc.

[0007] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a refrigerant system, wherein the resonator is integrally formed with at least one of the housing and the flow guide.

[0008] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a refrigerant system, wherein the resonator includes a plurality of grooves formed in at least one of an exterior surface of the flow guide and an interior surface of the housing.

[0009] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a refrigerant system, wherein the grooves formed in the exterior surface of the flow guide extend continuously about a circumference of the flow guide and the grooves formed in the interior surface of the housing extend continuously about a circumference of the interior surface of the housing.

[0010] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a refrigerant system, wherein the plurality of grooves are spaced apart from one another along a flow path through the housing.

[0011] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a refrigerant system, wherein the plurality of grooves exhibit rectangular cross-sectional shapes.

[0012] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a refrigerant system, wherein at least some of the plurality of grooves exhibit unique depths configured toattenuate different noise frequencies, and wherein the resonator is configured to attenuate noise frequencies within a range from 3500 Hz to 9000 Hz by at least 16 dB.

[0013] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a check valve assembly for use in a refrigerant system, including: a housing defining an inlet and an outlet; a check valve supported within the housing and configured to permit fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet and to prevent fluid flow from the outlet toward the inlet; and a resonator configured to attenuate noise.

[0014] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a check valve assembly, wherein the check valve assembly includes a flow guide disposed within the housing, wherein the flow guide establishes a boundary of a flow path through the housing, and wherein the resonator is integrally formed with at least one of the housing and the flow guide.

[0015] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a check valve assembly, wherein the resonator includes a plurality of grooves formed in at least one of an exterior surface of the flow guide and an interior surface of the housing.

[0016] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a check valve assembly, wherein the plurality of grooves are spaced apart from one another along a flow path through the housing.

[0017] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a check valve assembly, wherein the plurality of grooves exhibit rectangular cross-sectional shapes.

[0018] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a check valve assembly, wherein at least some of the plurality of grooves exhibit unique depths configured to attenuate different noise frequencies, and wherein the resonator is configured to attenuate noise frequencies within a range from 3500 Hz to 9000 Hz by at least 16 dB.

[0019] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method of attenuating noise in a refrigerant system, including: flowing refrigerant from a refrigerantcompressor through a check valve assembly disposed downstream of the refrigerant compressor, wherein the check valve assembly includes a resonator configured to attenuate noise.

[0020] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method, wherein the resonator attenuates noise frequencies within a range from 3500 Hz to 9000 Hz by at least 16 dB.

[0021] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method, wherein the resonator includes a plurality of grooves formed in at least one of an exterior surface of a flow guide and an interior surface of a housing of the check valve assembly, and refrigerant flowing through the check valve assembly enters the plurality of grooves to generate interference leading to a reduction in amplitude of sound waves.

[0022] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method, wherein the plurality of grooves are spaced apart along a flow path, and at least some of the plurality of grooves exhibit unique depths corresponding to different target noise frequencies.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a refrigerant system.

[0024] Figure 2 is a perspective view of an example check valve assembly.

[0025] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the check valve assembly.

[0026] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the check valve assembly, and in particular is a close-up view of a portion of the check valve assembly including a resonator.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] This disclosure relates generally to refrigerant compressors, and more particularly to a check valve assembly including a resonator. The assemblies, systems, and methods disclosed herein have been found to attenuate noise in refrigerant systems.

[0028] Figure 1 illustrates a refrigerant system 10. The refrigerant system 10 includes a main refrigerant loop, or circuit, 12 in communication with a compressor 14, a condenser 16, an evaporator 18, and an expansion device 20. This refrigerant system 10 may be used in a chiller, for example. In that example, a cooling tower may be in fluid communication with the condenser 16. While a particular example of the refrigerant system 10 is shown, this application extends to other refrigerant system configurations, including configurations that do not include a chiller. For instance, the main refrigerant loop 12 can include an economizer downstream of the condenser 16 and upstream of the expansion device 20. The refrigerant system 10 may be an oil-free refrigerant system in one implementation. Further, the compressor 14 may be an oil-free compressor.

[0029] Figure 2 illustrates an example check valve assembly 22. The check valve assembly 22 includes a housing 24 defining an inlet 26 and an outlet 28. In this example, the housing 24 is provided as a one-piece structure. The housing 24 may include two or more structures that are connected together to establish the housing, in other examples. The housing 24 defines a flow path for fluid F exiting the compressor 14 to flow relative to a check valve 30 (Figure 3). The housing 24 supports the check valve 30 relative to the fluid F flowing downstream of the compressor 14.

[0030] The housing 24 is configured so as to facilitate mounting of the check valve assembly 22 to downstream of the compressor 14. In an example, the housing 24 is configured to be directly attached to an exterior housing of the compressor 14.

[0031] During normal operating conditions, fluid F, which in this example is refrigerant, exits the compressor 14, enters the check valve assembly 22 via inlet 26, flows through a flow path defined by the housing 24, and exits the check valve assembly 22 via outlet 28. In these normal conditions, the check valve 30 is in an open position.

[0032] In some conditions, fluid F may tend to flow in an opposite direction, such as by entering the check valve assembly 22 via outlet 28. The check valve 30 is configured to move to a closed position to prevent such flow from reaching the compressor 14. The check valve 30 is therefore configured to permit fluid F to flow from the inlet 26 to the outlet 28, and to prevent fluid F from flowing from the outlet 28 toward the inlet 26.

[0033] In Figure 3, a flow path 32 fluidly coupling the inlet 26 to the outlet 28 is visible. The flow path 32 exhibits a gradual curvature such that fluid F exiting the outlet 28 has turned substantially 90°, relative to the direction of flow as the fluid F enters the inlet 26. The outlet 28 is fluidly coupled to a location, other than the compressor 14, within the refrigerant circuit 12.

[0034] The check valve 30 is shown in a closed position in Figure 3. The check valve 30 includes a disc 34, a stem 36 projecting from the disc 34 and into a guide 38, and a spring 40 biasing the disc 34 toward a seat portion 42 of the housing 24, which is configured to abut a seal 44 supported by the disc 34 when the check valve 30 is in the closed position. In the closed position, fluid F cannot flow from the outlet 28 toward the inlet 26 past the disc 34. During normal operation of the compressor 14, the force of the fluid F overcomes the bias of the spring 40 such that the disc 34 is not in contact with the seat portion 42, and such that fluid F can flow past the check valve 30 toward the outlet 28.

[0035] The guide 38 is surrounded by a flow guide 46. The flow guide 46 supports the guide 38 and establishes a boundary of the flow path 32. Specifically, the flow path 32 is bound between an exterior surface 47 of the flow guide 46 and an interior surface 49 of thehousing 24. The flow guide 46 is supported relative to the housing 24 via one or more arms. In this example, there are two arms 48 projecting between the exterior and interior surfaces 47, 49.

[0036] In this disclosure, the check valve assembly 22 includes a resonator configured to attenuate noise. In particular, the check valve assembly 22 includes a resonator configured to attenuate noises of certain frequencies, which correspond to known noise frequencies associated with operation of the compressor 14.

[0037] In an example, the check valve assembly 22 includes a resonator adjacent the check valve 30, which is located adjacent the outlet 28. The resonator could be provided in another location along the flow path 32, including in a location adjacent the inlet 26 or at a location between the inlet 26 and outlet 28. Further, while one resonator is shown, the check valve assembly 22 could include more than one resonator. In that case, each of the plurality of resonators may be configured to attenuate noises of a unique frequency or set of frequencies. Providing the resonator in the check valve assembly 22 attenuates noise within the fluid F that has exited from the compressor 14, without requiring a modification to the design of the compressor 14 itself.

[0038] With reference to Figures 3 and 4, an example resonator 50 is shown. The resonator 50 is located downstream of the disc 34 and upstream of the outlet 28. The resonator 50 is integrally-formed into the housing 24 and the flow guide 46, in this example. While the resonator 50 is shown integrally-formed relative to the housing 24 and flow guide 46, the resonator 50 could be formed in one or more separate structures that are then attached to the housing 24 and / or flow guide 46.

[0039] The resonator 50, in this example, includes grooves 52A-52D formed in exterior surface 47 and grooves 54A-54D formed in interior surface 49. In an example, grooves 52A-52D are machined into surface 47, and grooves 54A-54D are machined into surface 49.While four grooves 52A-52D are shown relative to the exterior surface 47 and four grooves 54A-54D are shown relative to the interior surface 49, the resonator 50 could include one or more grooves formed in each of the surfaces 47, 49. Further, while there is an equal quantity of grooves formed in the surfaces 47, 49, the surfaces 47, 49 could include differing quantities of grooves. Additionally, while there are grooves in both surfaces 47 and 49, this disclosure extends to configurations where only one of the surfaces 47, 49 includes grooves. In this example, the grooves 52A-52D extend continuously about a circumference of the flow guide 46, and grooves 54A-54D extend continuously about a circumference of the interior surface 49.

[0040] The grooves 52A-52D are spaced-apart from one another along the flow path 32 (i.e., in the up-and-down direction, relative to Figure 4). Likewise, grooves 54A-54D are spaced-apart from one another along the flow path 32. In this example, grooves 52A and 54A are aligned with one another relative to the flow path 32. Likewise, grooves 52B, 54B, grooves 52C, 54C, and grooves 52D, 54D are aligned relative to flow path 32. These groove pairs could be offset relative to the flow path in other examples.

[0041] Each of the grooves 52A-52D, 54A-54D may be configured to attenuate noise of a different frequency. In particular, each of the grooves 52A-52D, 54A-54D may exhibit a unique depth relative to the other grooves 52A-52D, 54A-54D, and the depth of each groove 52A-52D, 54A-54D corresponds to the frequency of noise that the groove is configured to attenuate. As fluid F passes through the resonator 50, some of that fluid enters grooves 52A-52D, 54A-54D, and the sound waves inside the grooves 52A-52D, 54A-54D interfere with the incoming sound waves from the fluid flow, leading to destructive interference and a reduction in the overall amplitude of the sound waves. The resonator 50 may be referred to as a noise attenuator.

[0042] Each of the grooves 52A-52D, 54A-54D exhibits a rectangular cross-sectional shape, in this example. This disclosure extends to grooves 52A-52D, 54A-54D of different cross-sectional shapes.

[0043] The resonator 50 may be configured to attenuate noise frequencies within a range from 3500 Hz to 9000 Hz. Such frequencies may experience at least a 16 dB reduction in acoustic noise. Such noise frequencies are known to occur in certain centrifugal refrigerant compressors. In particular, the range of noise frequencies targeted by the above-discussed arrangement corresponds to the noises generated based on the speeds, capacity, etc., corresponding to centrifugal refrigerant compressors, as opposed to other types of compressors, such as those associated with turbochargers, which operate at significantly higher speeds, among other differences.

[0044] It should be understood that directional terms such as “axial,” “radial,” and “circumferential” are used above with reference to the normal operational attitude of the compressor 14 and / or the check valve assembly 22. Further, these terms have been used herein for purposes of explanation, and should not be considered otherwise limiting. Terms such as “generally,” “substantially,” and “about” are not intended to be boundaryless terms, and should be interpreted consistent with the way one skilled in the art would interpret those terms.

[0045] Although the different examples have the specific components shown in the illustrations, embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to those particular combinations. It is possible to use some of the components or features from one of the examples in combination with features or components from another one of the examples. In addition, the various figures accompanying this disclosure are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show certain details of a particular component or arrangement.

[0046] One of ordinary skill in this art would understand that the above-described embodiments are exemplary and non-limiting. That is, modifications of this disclosure would come within the scope of the claims. Accordingly, the following claims should be studied to determine their true scope and content.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A refrigerant system, comprising:a refrigerant compressor; anda check valve assembly downstream of the refrigerant compressor, wherein the check valve assembly includes a resonator configured to attenuate noise.

2. The refrigerant system of claim 1, wherein the check valve assembly includes:a housing defining an inlet configured to receive fluid from the refrigerant compressor and an outlet, anda check valve supported within the housing.

3. The refrigerant system of claim 2, wherein the check valve assembly includes a flow guide disposed within the housing, and wherein the flow guide establishes a boundary of a flow path through the housing.

4. The refrigerant system of claim 3, wherein the check valve includes a disc, a stem projecting from the disc into a guide surrounded by the flow guide, a spring biasing the disc toward a closed position, and a seal supported by the disc.

5. The refrigerant system of claim 3, wherein the resonator is integrally formed with at least one of the housing and the flow guide.

6. The refrigerant system of claim 5, wherein the resonator comprises a plurality of grooves formed in at least one of an exterior surface of the flow guide and an interior surface of the housing.

7. The refrigerant system as recited in claim 6, wherein the grooves formed in the exterior surface of the flow guide extend continuously about a circumference of the flow guide and the grooves formed in the interior surface of the housing extend continuously about a circumference of the interior surface of the housing.

8. The refrigerant system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of grooves are spaced apart from one another along a flow path through the housing.

9. The refrigerant system as recited in claim 8, wherein the plurality of grooves exhibit rectangular cross-sectional shapes.

10. The refrigerant system as recited in claim 9, wherein at least some of the plurality of grooves exhibit unique depths configured to attenuate different noise frequencies, and wherein the resonator is configured to attenuate noise frequencies within a range from 3500 Hz to 9000 Hz by at least 16 dB.

11. A check valve assembly for use in a refrigerant system, comprising:a housing defining an inlet and an outlet;a check valve supported within the housing and configured to permit fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet and to prevent fluid flow from the outlet toward the inlet; anda resonator configured to attenuate noise.

12. The check valve assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein the check valve assembly includes a flow guide disposed within the housing, wherein the flow guide establishes a boundary of a flow path through the housing, and wherein the resonator is integrally formed with at least one of the housing and the flow guide.

13. The check valve assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the resonator comprises a plurality of grooves formed in at least one of an exterior surface of the flow guide and an interior surface of the housing.

14. The check valve assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein the plurality of grooves are spaced apart from one another along a flow path through the housing.

15. The check valve assembly as recited in claim 14, wherein the plurality of grooves exhibit rectangular cross-sectional shapes.

16. The check valve assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein at least some of the plurality of grooves exhibit unique depths configured to attenuate different noise frequencies, and wherein the resonator is configured to attenuate noise frequencies within a range from 3500 Hz to 9000 Hz by at least 16 dB.

17. A method of attenuating noise in a refrigerant system, comprising:flowing refrigerant from a refrigerant compressor through a check valve assembly disposed downstream of the refrigerant compressor, wherein the check valve assembly includes a resonator configured to attenuate noise.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the resonator attenuates noise frequencies within a range from 3500 Hz to 9000 Hz by at least 16 dB.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the resonator comprises a plurality of grooves formed in at least one of an exterior surface of a flow guide and an interior surface of a housing of the check valve assembly, and refrigerant flowing through the check valve assembly enters the plurality of grooves to generate interference leading to a reduction in amplitude of sound waves.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the plurality of grooves are spaced apart along a flow path, and at least some of the plurality of grooves exhibit unique depths corresponding to different target noise frequencies.

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