Domestic appliance and method for oscillation and/or noise reducing operation of a domestic appliance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Household appliances with compressors experience high vibration and noise levels during startup due to inadequate oil lubrication and pressure differences, particularly at colder temperatures, leading to unpleasant sounds and increased noise levels.

Innovation Solution

A household appliance with a first and second fluid circuit, featuring a bypass that connects the high-pressure side to the low-pressure side of the compressor, allowing fluid to circulate through a bypass during startup and specific speed intervals to counteract pressure build-up and reduce noise and vibration, utilizing a controller to activate the bypass based on pressure differences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the compressor operates without a bypass during startup, then the compression function is maintained, but high vibration and noise occur due to pressure build-up on the high-pressure side

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise and vibration during startupVSAvoidfluid circuit configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fluid circuit is segmented into two separate circuits: a first fluid circuit containing the bypass and a second fluid circuit forming the actual refrigeration circuit. This segmentation allows the bypass to operate independently to reduce noise during startup without interfering with the main compression function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bypass acts as an intermediary fluid path that provides an alternative route for the refrigerant during startup conditions. By introducing this intermediate circuit with a valve, the system can manage pressure build-up separately from the main compression circuit, reducing noise and vibration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the bypass is opened during compressor operation, then pressure equalization is achieved and noise is reduced, but the compression efficiency decreases due to fluid bypassing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure build-up and associated noiseVSAvoidcompression efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The bypass valve is designed to be dynamically controllable, switching between open and closed states based on operational conditions. During startup, the valve opens to allow bypass flow for pressure equalization; during normal operation, the valve closes to maintain compression efficiency. This dynamic control resolves the contradiction between noise reduction and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Temperature

If the compressor starts at cold ambient temperatures, then the appliance can cool the environment, but the oil viscosity increases causing extended loud startup phase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling capability at low ambient temperatureVSAvoidduration of loud startup phase
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The bypass is activated preliminarily during the startup phase to equalize pressure before the compressor reaches full operating conditions. This preliminary action counteracts pressure build-up that would otherwise occur during the extended cold-temperature startup, reducing noise duration without affecting the ultimate cooling capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 bypass reduces startup noise and vibration by immediately equalizing pressure, allowing the appliance to operate quietly and stably, with reduced downtime after compressor stoppage and noise reduction at natural frequencies of the compressor.

Implementation Method 1

the bypass reduces startup noise and vibration by immediately equalizing pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure equalization: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3382301B1Domestic appliance and method for oscillation and/or noise reducing operation of a domestic appliance
Publication Date: 2021.02.17 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3382301B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3382301B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention relates to a household appliance (10) with a first fluid circuit (34) and a second fluid circuit (34) for circulating a fluid during operation of the household appliance (10), with a compressor (22) with a Low-pressure side and is provided with a high-pressure side for compressing the fluid. A bypass (28) is also provided in the first fluid circuit (20), with the compressor (22) being able to be bypassed with the bypass (28) to reduce vibration and/or noise during operation or while passing through a predetermined speed interval in order to To counteract the build-up of pressure on the high-pressure side. The invention also relates to a method for operating a household appliance (10) with reduced vibration and/or noise.