Capacity Control Valve With Differential Pressure Startup Exhaust

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing capacity control valves for variable displacement compressors face challenges in startup responsiveness and operational efficiency due to slow liquefied fluid exhaustion and pressure differential issues, leading to decreased maximum displacement state maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A capacity control valve design incorporating a differential pressure valve that opens based on pressure differences between the control and suction pressures, enhancing fluid exhaustion during startup and maintaining equal pressures for efficient operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a single pressure-sensitive valve is used to exhaust liquefied fluid during startup, then the valve structure is simple, but the fluid exhaustion speed is insufficient and startup responsiveness is slow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid exhaustion speedVSAvoidvalve structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The single pressure-sensitive valve is divided into two separate valves: a first pressure-sensitive valve and a second pressure-sensitive valve. Each valve has its own valve body, valve seat, and pressure-sensitive chamber configuration. This segmentation increases the total fluid exhaustion speed by providing two parallel flow paths while keeping each individual valve structure relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The two pressure-sensitive valves are combined within the same valve housing and operate simultaneously during startup. Their pressure-sensitive chambers are connected to the control chamber through different communication passages, creating a merged system that achieves rapid fluid exhaustion through coordinated operation of both valves.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the suction pressure is lowered to maintain maximum displacement state, then the maximum displacement can be maintained, but the pressure differential causes piston stroke wobbles and reduces operational efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaximum displacement state stabilityVSAvoidoperational efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The second pressure-sensitive valve provides feedback control by monitoring the pressure difference between the control chamber and suction chamber. When the suction pressure drops too low during maximum displacement state, the second valve opens to allow suction pressure into the control chamber, preventing excessive pressure differential and stabilizing piston stroke without significantly reducing operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the pressure parameters in the control chamber by using the second pressure-sensitive valve to introduce suction pressure when needed. This parameter change prevents the suction pressure from dropping too low, maintaining operational efficiency while still allowing the system to operate in maximum displacement state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the control pressure is kept much higher than suction pressure during startup, then the liquefied fluid can be exhausted, but it takes a long time to reach maximum displacement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquefied fluid exhaustion effectivenessVSAvoidtime to reach maximum displacement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The exhaust function is segmented between two pressure-sensitive valves with different characteristics. The first valve handles the primary exhaust function with a larger opening area for rapid fluid removal, while the second valve provides supplementary exhaust and pressure balancing. This segmentation enables much faster achievement of maximum displacement compared to a single valve system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

Improves startup responsiveness by rapid liquefied fluid exhaustion and maintains maximum displacement state efficiency by equalizing control and suction pressures, enhancing operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a pressure-sensitive body 160 that is disposed in the third valve chamber 140 to apply a biasing force to the main valve body 151 in a valve opening direction of a main valve according to a surrounding fluid pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

a main valve body 151 that integrally includes a first valve portion 151a which comes into contact with and separates from the first valve seat 110a in the first valve chamber 120 to open and close a communication between the discharge chamber and the control chamber, and a second valve portion 151b which comes into contact with and separates from the second valve seat 182a in the second valve chamber 130 to open and close a communication between the control chamber and the suction chamber, and that reciprocates to perform opening and closing operations in opposite directions;

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic force: Electromagnet

Implementation Method 3

a differential pressure valve that is capable of opening and closing, depending on a pressure difference between the pressure of the pressure-sensitive chamber and the pressure of the Ps port which act opposite to each other

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure difference: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3744978B1Capacity control valve
Publication Date: 2023.11.15 EAGLE INDS
  • EP3744978B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3744978B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3744978B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a capacity control valve having a good startup responsiveness and a good operational efficiency. A capacity control valve V includes a valve housing 10 provided with a Pc port, a Pd port and a Ps port; a main valve body 51 that includes a main valve portion 51a which comes into contact with and separates from a main valve seat 10a to close and open a communication between a Pd port and the Pc port using a driving force of a solenoid 80; a pressure-sensitive valve 53 that is capable of opening and closing, depending on a surrounding pressure, a first communication passage 55 through which the Pc port and the Ps port are communicable with each other; and a differential pressure valve 90 that is capable of opening and closing, depending on a pressure difference, a second communication passage through which the Pc port and the Ps port are communicable with each other.