Multi-Compressor Accumulator Layout for Stable Refrigerant Outflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional accumulators in refrigeration systems with multiple compressors experience variations in gas refrigerant outflow rates due to swirl flows and turbulence, leading to instability in refrigerant distribution and storage performance.
Innovation Solution
An accumulator design with a perpendicular inlet pipe and outlet ports concentrated in the central part of the container, eliminating swirl flows and turbulence by reducing the velocity of the gas-liquid mixed refrigerant, thereby stabilizing the liquid surface and ensuring consistent gas refrigerant distribution to compressors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the inlet pipe is inserted from the upper surface and inclined to the inner circumferential surface to generate swirl flow for liquid-gas separation, then the separation of liquid and gas is improved, but turbulence and vortex occur on the liquid surface causing variations in outflow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful swirl flow and turbulence from the system by changing the inlet pipe configuration. Instead of generating swirl flow through an inclined inlet, the new design uses a perpendicular inlet pipe that directs flow straight into the container, eliminating the vortex formation and liquid surface turbulence while maintaining effective liquid-gas separation through a different mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional approach to liquid-gas separation. Rather than using swirl flow generated by an inclined inlet pipe, the invention uses a perpendicular inlet pipe combined with strategically positioned outlet ports concentrated in the central part of the container. This inverted configuration achieves separation through centralized outlet positioning rather than peripheral swirl flow, thereby eliminating the harmful turbulence while maintaining separation effectiveness.
2Productivity
If swirl flow is generated to separate liquid and gas, then separation efficiency is improved, but variations in gas refrigerant outflow rates occur due to turbulence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the swirl flow mechanism that causes turbulence. By using a perpendicular inlet pipe instead of an inclined one, the design extracts the harmful rotational flow component while maintaining the essential liquid-gas separation function through centralized outlet ports positioned in the middle of the container.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the flow parameters by altering the inlet pipe angle from inclined to perpendicular. This parameter change transforms the flow pattern from rotational swirl flow to a more direct, stable flow that reduces turbulence and vortex formation, thereby improving outflow rate consistency while maintaining separation efficiency through strategic outlet port positioning.
3Strength
If the inlet pipe is configured to create swirl flow, then liquid adhesion to the inner circumferential surface is enhanced, but turbulence on the liquid surface causes variations in outflow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful turbulence effect from the system while preserving the beneficial liquid adhesion. The perpendicular inlet pipe configuration eliminates the swirl-induced turbulence that causes outflow variations, while the centralized outlet ports maintain effective liquid-gas separation without requiring strong swirl flow for liquid adhesion.
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 reduces variations in gas refrigerant outflow rates, stabilizes the liquid surface, and improves storage performance by preventing turbulence and vortex formation, resulting in uniform distribution of oil-containing gas refrigerant to each compressor.
Implementation Method 1
reducing the velocity of the gas-liquid mixed refrigerant, thereby stabilizing the liquid surface
Implementation Method 2
the outlet port of each of the plurality of outlet pipes is concentrated in a central part of the container
Data Source
AI summary
An accumulator that is used in a refrigeration apparatus including a plurality of compressors and is provided for the plurality of compressors, the accumulator including an inlet pipe that penetrates a cylindrical container perpendicularly to a central axis of the cylindrical container and conveys gas-liquid mixed refrigerant into the container and a plurality of outlet pipes connected to respective suction sides of the plurality of compressors, wherein the plurality of outlet pipes each have one end located in the container and forming outlet port for conveying gas refrigerant in the container toward the plurality of compressors, and wherein the outlet port of each of the plurality of outlet pipes is concentrated in a central part of the container.