Vertical Axial-Flow Oil Pump for Scroll Compressor Low-Speed Lubrication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing variable speed scroll compressors face issues with insufficient oil supply at low speeds and increased power consumption and production costs due to the need for an oil injection system, which complicates assembly and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A vertical axial-flow oil pump with a cylindrical casing and an integral impeller is developed, capable of providing high oil pressure at low speeds and reducing mass flow rate at high speeds, eliminating the need for an additional oil injection system, and manufactured using 3D printing or injection molding for cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a gear oil pump is used to supply oil, then the oil pump can operate at various speeds, but the oil supply is insufficient at low speeds requiring an additional oil injection system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental operating parameters of the oil pump by switching from a gear pump mechanism to a centrifugal pump mechanism with an impeller. This allows the pump to generate sufficient oil pressure and flow at low speeds through centrifugal force, eliminating the need for an additional oil injection system while maintaining reliable oil supply across the full speed range.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the gear pump mechanical system with a centrifugal pump system that uses rotational kinetic energy to move oil. The impeller design with specific blade geometry substitutes the gear meshing mechanism, enabling the pump to deliver adequate oil supply at low speeds without requiring supplemental injection systems.
2Reliability
If the rotating speed of the oil pump increases to improve oil supply, then the oil circulation rate increases, but the input power increases and economy worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the pump's performance parameters by using a centrifugal impeller design with specific blade angles and dimensions. This allows the system to achieve the required oil circulation rate at lower input power compared to a gear pump operating at high speeds, improving the economy of the oil circulation system while maintaining adequate lubrication.
3Reliability
If an oil injection system is added to compensate for low-speed oil supply, then oil supply sufficiency is improved, but the production cost and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the unnecessary oil injection system from the overall oil circulation system. By designing a centrifugal oil pump that can provide sufficient oil supply at low speeds through its impeller design, the system removes the complexity of additional injection components, reducing production cost and assembly difficulty while maintaining reliable oil supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The centrifugal oil pump is designed to perform multiple functions across the entire operating speed range. The impeller geometry is optimized to provide adequate oil pressure and flow at both low and high speeds, making the single pump unit universal enough to replace the need for separate low-speed injection systems and high-speed circulation systems.
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 provides improved energy efficiency and reduced production and maintenance costs by ensuring adequate oil circulation without an oil injection system, with a 52.4% decline in production costs and enhanced operational economy.
Implementation Method 1
an impeller, provided in and formed integrally with the casing, wherein, the impeller rotates together with the casing when the casing rotates, so that the oil is flowed from the suction port to the discharge port
Implementation Method 2
The plurality of blades are arranged at equal intervals on an outer circumference of the central body, and a surface of each blade is inclined with respect to the central axis of the casing
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a vertical, axial flow oil pump (10). The oil pump includes: a casing (11), the casing having a cylindrical shape as a whole and being able to rotate around its own central axis (O); a suction port (12), located at a lower end of the casing in an axial direction, and configured to suck oil into the oil pump; a discharge port (13), located at an upper end of the casing in the axial direction, and configured to discharge the oil from the oil pump to outside; and an impeller (14), provided in and formed integrally with the casing. The impeller rotates together with the casing when the casing rotates, so that the oil is flowed from the suction port to the discharge port. The present invention also provides a scroll compressor having the oil pump.