Compressor Assembly with Gas-Liquid Separator for Oil Return Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-unit heat pump air conditioning systems face challenges with insufficient gas separation volume and difficulty in recovering refrigeration oil, leading to poor compressor reliability due to differences in suction volumes among compressors of varying capacities.
Innovation Solution
A compressor assembly with a first and second compressor, oil separators, a storage container, and a gas-liquid separator, connected via balance pipes to ensure balanced refrigerant and oil return, addressing the issue of refrigeration oil recovery and compressor reliability by minimizing refrigerant distribution deviations among compressors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If parallel connection is adopted for gas separation to expand system capacity, then gas separation volume is increased, but compressor operation reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the gas separation function into multiple independent gas-liquid separators, each connected to individual compressors. This segmentation allows each compressor to have dedicated oil return pathways while maintaining overall system capacity expansion through parallel architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
Gas-liquid separators are introduced as intermediary components between compressors and the refrigerant circulation system. These separators act as mediators that facilitate oil return to compressors while enabling gas separation, thus resolving the conflict between system capacity and compressor reliability.
2Productivity
If system capacity is increased, then cooling/heating performance is improved, but refrigeration oil recovery becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary oil separation at each gas-liquid separator before refrigerant enters the expansion devices. This preliminary action ensures that oil is recovered from refrigerant streams early in the cycle, preventing oil accumulation issues that would otherwise limit system capacity expansion.
Solution Approach 2:
The system discards oil from the refrigerant stream at each gas-liquid separator and recovers it by returning it to the corresponding compressor. This discarding and recovering mechanism enables the system to handle larger refrigerant volumes without compromising oil recovery, thus allowing capacity increase while maintaining reliable oil return.
3Adaptability or versatility
If compressors of varying capacities are used, then system adaptability is improved, but refrigerant distribution deviation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the refrigerant distribution into separate pathways for each compressor, with individual gas-liquid separators and oil return lines. This segmentation allows each compressor to receive appropriately proportioned refrigerant and oil returns based on its specific capacity requirements, enabling mixed-capacity compressor configurations to operate reliably together.
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 enhances compressor reliability by ensuring consistent refrigeration oil return, reducing compressor wear, and improving the overall operational reliability of the air conditioning system.
Implementation Method 1
a gas-liquid separator (6) having a separation chamber (6011)
Implementation Method 2
a liquid balance pipe (7) and a gas balance pipe (8) above the liquid balance pipe (7), and a first end of the liquid balance pipe (7) and a first end of the gas balance pipe (8) are both connected to the accommodation chamber (5011), while a second end of the liquid balance pipe (7) and a second end of the gas balance pipe (8) are both connected to the separation chamber (6011)
Data Source
AI summary
A compressor assembly includes a first compressor, a second compressor, a first oil separator, a second oil separator, a storage container, a gas-liquid separator, a liquid balance pipe, and a gas balance pipe. The first compressor has a first air return port, and the second compressor has a second air return port. The first oil separator has a first oil outlet, the second oil separator has a second oil outlet, and the storage container has a refrigerant inlet, the first oil outlet and the second oil outlet both being in communication with the refrigerant inlet. The gas-liquid separator has a first gas separation outlet, a second gas separation outlet, a first oil return hole and a second oil return hole, the first gas separation outlet and the first oil return hole both being in communication with the first gas return port.