Accumulator Gas-Liquid Separator for Compressor Start-Up Bumping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat pump systems experience shock sounds due to bumping during compressor start-up, which is not adequately addressed by existing solutions, leading to increased complexity, cost, and size due to the need for additional components like stirring blades and bypass flow paths.
Innovation Solution
The accumulator incorporates an elastically deformable gas-liquid separator, supported by a holding member, which reduces shock and vibration by deforming under the pressure of boiling refrigerant during bumping, thereby suppressing the shock sound without requiring additional complex components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a rigid gas-liquid separator is used, then the separator can maintain its shape and provide stable separation, but it generates shock sounds during bumping events
Solution Approach 1:
The gas-liquid separator is designed as an elastically deformable member that can flex and deform during bumping events to reduce shock transmission. The separator maintains its gas-liquid separation function while adapting its shape to absorb pressure fluctuations, thereby reducing shock sounds without compromising structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator's physical parameters (shape, volume, position) are allowed to change dynamically in response to pressure variations. During normal operation, the separator maintains a stable configuration for effective separation, but during bumping, it deforms to cushion the shock, thus reducing harmful sounds while maintaining functional performance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If additional components like stirring blades and bypass flow paths are added, then bumping can be suppressed, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The elastically deformable separator serves dual functions: it performs gas-liquid separation during normal operation and automatically suppresses bumping shocks during pressure fluctuations. The separator's inherent elasticity allows it to respond autonomously to bumping events without requiring external control systems or additional active components, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas-liquid separator is designed to perform multiple functions: separating gas and liquid phases during normal operation, suppressing bumping shocks during start-up, and reducing shock sounds during pressure fluctuations. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated components for each function, simplifying the overall device structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively reduces shock sounds during compressor start-up, simplifies the accumulator design, and decreases costs and size by using a cheap and simple elastically deformable member instead of complex stirring mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
the gas-liquid separator is formed as an elastically deformable member and the elastically deformable member is elastically deformed upward by (the pressing force of) the liquid-phase refrigerant boiled inside the tank in the event of bumping
Implementation Method 2
the pressure inside the tank suddenly decreases when the system (the compressor) is started. For this reason, a problem arises in that the liquid-phase refrigerant is boiled suddenly and fiercely (hereinafter, referred to as bumping)
Implementation Method 3
the oil layer serves as a lid of the refrigerant layer (so that bumping does not occur in the oil layer) to a certain time point
Data Source
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AI summary
[Object] To provide an accumulator capable of effectively suppressing a shock sound accompanied by bumping during a start-up of a compressor without causing complexity, high cost, large size, and the like. [Solving Means] An entirety or a part of a gas-liquid separator 18 is formed as an elastically deformable member and the elastically deformable member is elastically deformed upward in the event of bumping. An entirety of the gas-liquid separator 18 is formed as an elastically deformable member and a holding plate 20 is provided to hold the gas-liquid separator 18 from below. Alternatively, the gas-liquid separator 18 includes a ceiling plate portion 25a provided with one or a plurality of openings, a peripheral wall portion 25b provided at an outer end of the ceiling plate portion 25a, and a cover member (an elastically deformable member) 29 covering the openings of the ceiling plate portion 25a.