Accumulator with Porous Outer Wrap to Suppress Bumping Noise
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat pump systems experience bumping phenomena and associated impact noise during compressor startup due to rapid pressure drops, which complicate the structure and increase costs when trying to suppress these issues with additional agitation mechanisms or complex configurations.
Innovation Solution
An accumulator with a cloth member or foam material wound around the outer pipe, incorporating a desiccant storage part to absorb and remove water, facilitating gentle vaporization of the liquid-phase refrigerant and reducing explosive boiling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional agitation mechanisms or complex configurations are added to suppress bumping phenomena, then the bumping suppression effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous boiling stone member with numerous micro-pores that facilitate controlled bubble formation and gradual vaporization of liquid-phase refrigerant. This porous structure suppresses bumping phenomena by providing nucleation sites for gentle boiling, eliminating the need for complex agitation mechanisms while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The boiling stone member acts as an intermediary between the liquid-phase refrigerant and the gas phase, mediating the phase change process. It provides a surface for controlled evaporation and prevents direct explosive boiling, thereby suppressing bumping without requiring complex mechanical agitation systems.
2Reliability
If a boiling stone member is added to suppress bumping phenomena, then the bumping suppression effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The boiling stone member is specifically designed as a porous material with micro-pores that enable controlled bubble formation. This simple yet effective approach suppresses bumping phenomena through physical properties of the porous structure itself, avoiding the need for complex mechanical or electronic agitation systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The boiling stone member is a simple, inexpensive passive component that can be easily replaced if needed. Its simplicity and low cost make it an attractive solution compared to complex, expensive agitation mechanisms, aligning with the principle of using simple, replaceable components for reliability.
3Reliability
If the accumulator is designed to handle two-layer separation of oil and refrigerant, then the system reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning the boiling stone member specifically in the lower portion of the separator where liquid-phase refrigerant and oil accumulate. This localized placement addresses the two-layer separation issue at the critical location without requiring complex overall structural changes to the separator.
Solution Approach 2:
The boiling stone member passively facilitates the separation and controlled vaporization process without requiring external control systems or complex mechanisms. The system utilizes natural convection and density differences for separation, with the boiling stone automatically providing nucleation sites for gentle boiling, thereby maintaining reliability without increasing complexity.
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
The solution effectively suppresses bumping and impact noise by promoting gradual vaporization, maintaining a simple and cost-effective configuration without increasing the accumulator's complexity or size.
Implementation Method 1
a cylindrical desiccant storage part for storing a desiccant to absorb and remove water in refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
the liquid-phase refrigerant boils suddenly and vigorously (hereinafter called bumping)
Implementation Method 3
facilitating gentle vaporization of the liquid-phase refrigerant and reducing explosive boiling
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
Provided is an accumulator (1; 2) capable of effectively suppressing a bumping phenomenon and the following impact noise during the starting of a compressor without making the structure of the accumulator complicated or increasing the cost and the size thereof, and so having cost-effectiveness. An accumulator includes: a tank (10) having an inflow port (15) and an outflow port (16)); a double-pipe structured outflow pipe (30) including an inner pipe (31) joined to the outflow port (16) and hanging inside of the tank (10), and an outer pipe (32) disposed outside of the inner pipe (31); and a cloth member or the like such as felt or a foam material (60) wound around or externally inserted to the outer pipe (32).