Accumulator, compressor, and refrigeration cycle apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional accumulators fail to effectively prevent liquid refrigerant from flowing into the compressor, leading to liquid compression, which can damage the compressor and reduce its efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The accumulator design includes a partition plate dividing the internal space into refrigerant introduction and discharge chambers, with communication and outlet pipes, and a deflection portion to redirect refrigerant flow, preventing direct passage from outlet to inlet and ensuring gas-liquid separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the inlet end of the outlet pipe is disposed in the vicinity of the bottom plate of the container, then the liquid refrigerant can be drained effectively, but liquid compression occurs in the compressor
Solution Approach 1:
The deflection portion acts as an intermediary structure between the outlet pipe inlet opening and the communication pipe outlet opening. It redirects the flow path of liquid refrigerant, causing it to flow along the inner wall of the refrigerant discharge chamber rather than directly into the outlet pipe. This mediator structure prevents direct connection between the drainage path and the compressor inlet, eliminating liquid compression while maintaining effective liquid drainage.
2Device complexity
If the outlet end of the straight pipe is disposed above the inlet end of the outlet pipe, then the structure is simple, but liquid refrigerant easily flows into the outlet pipe causing liquid compression
Solution Approach 1:
The deflection portion serves as a mediator that intercepts liquid refrigerant flowing from the communication pipe and redirects it along the chamber wall. This adds a simple deflecting structure rather than complex piping arrangements, maintaining structural simplicity while preventing liquid from reaching the outlet pipe inlet opening.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of arranging pipes vertically in a single dimension, the deflection portion utilizes the three-dimensional space within the refrigerant discharge chamber. It changes the flow dimension from a direct vertical path to a path that follows the chamber wall surface, effectively separating the liquid flow path from the gas outlet path in spatial terms.
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 design securely prevents liquid refrigerant from flowing out, thereby avoiding liquid compression in the compressor and enhancing the compressor's efficiency and capacity.
Implementation Method 1
a deflection portion that is disposed inside the refrigerant discharge chamber to block views from the outlet opening and the inlet opening, and deflects a direction of flow of a refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
a partition plate that is disposed inside the container, and divides an internal space of the container into a refrigerant introduction chamber and a refrigerant discharge chamber
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
An accumulator 7 includes: a partition plate 62 dividing an internal space S of a container 61 into a refrigerant introduction chamber IR and a refrigerant discharge chamber OR; an inlet pipe 63 connected to the refrigerant introduction chamber IR; a communication pipe 65 including an outlet opening 65o disposed in the refrigerant discharge chamber OR, passing through the partition plate 62, and connecting the refrigerant introduction chamber IR with the refrigerant discharge chamber OR; a outlet pipe 66 including an inlet opening 66i disposed in the refrigerant discharge chamber OR, and connected to the refrigerant discharge chamber OR; and a deflection portion 75 blocking views from the outlet opening 65o and the inlet opening 66i, and deflecting a flow direction of a refrigerant so as to prevent the refrigerant flowing from the outlet opening 65o into the refrigerant discharge chamber OR from directly flowing to the inlet opening 66i.