Hermetic Compressor Fluid Expansion Chamber Relocation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hermetic compressors with fluid expansion chambers within the airtight housing face issues of thermal exchange, dimensional constraints, and reliability due to the internal placement of these chambers, leading to reduced energy efficiency, increased suction temperature, and potential for mechanical stress during transport and operation.

Innovation Solution

The fluid expansion chamber is repositioned to be formed between a section of the airtight housing and an adjacently attached wall section, either internally or externally, reducing thermal exchange and occupying less internal volume, and allowing for the use as both discharge and suction mufflers with fluidly aligned or misaligned paths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the fluid expansion chamber is arranged within the airtight housing, then the compressor structure is compact, but thermal exchange increases and energy efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompressor housing volumeVSAvoidenergy efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The fluid expansion chamber is extracted from the internal environment of the airtight housing and repositioned to be formed between the airtight housing and an adjacently attached wall section. This extraction removes the chamber from the thermal environment that causes harmful heat exchange with the suction fluid, thereby resolving the contradiction between compact structure and energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Device complexity

If the fluid expansion chamber is arranged within the airtight housing, then the structure is integrated, but suction temperature increases and volumetric efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrationVSAvoidsuction temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The fluid expansion chamber is extracted from the airtight housing's internal environment and repositioned externally. This removes the source of thermal contamination that heats the suction fluid, thereby resolving the contradiction between structural integration and suction temperature control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If the fluid expansion chamber occupies internal volume, then the chamber is protected, but the compressor housing cannot be miniaturized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechamber protectionVSAvoidhousing volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The fluid expansion chamber is relocated from the internal three-dimensional space of the airtight housing to an external position between the housing and an adjacently attached wall section. This dimensional relocation frees up internal volume for miniaturization while maintaining the chamber's protected status through its new integrated position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Volume of moving object

If the fluid expansion chamber is internally arranged, then the structure is compact, but mechanical stress and reliability issues increase during transport and operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompressor volumeVSAvoidmechanical stress resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fluid expansion chamber is relocated to an external position between the airtight housing and an adjacently attached wall section. This new position reduces mechanical stress during transport and operation while maintaining compact overall dimensions, thereby resolving the contradiction between compactness and mechanical reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 configuration enhances energy efficiency, reduces mechanical stress, and facilitates miniaturization of the compressor, improving reliability and safety, especially for high-pressure refrigerants like CO2, by minimizing internal volume and thermal exchange.

Implementation Method 1

the functional principles which governs the passive operation of the fluid expansion chambers are widely known to professionals and theoreticians in the area of acoustics

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic attenuation: Acoustics

Implementation Method 2

the internal environment of the housing of the compressor (suction fluid) suffers severe thermal exchange, after all, its temperature is pejoratively influenced by the temperature of the circulating discharge fluid through the discharge expansion chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal exchange: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3336355B1Hermetic compressor
Publication Date: 2022.05.11 NIDEC GLOBAL APPLIANCE BRASIL LTDA
  • EP3336355B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3336355B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3336355B1 patent drawingFigure 2C~1B

AI summary

The invention in question relates to the technological field of reciprocating compressors and acoustic muffler filters. It is disclosed a hermetic compressor, provided with at least one fluid expansion chamber, whose useful volume is narrowly defined between a section of one of the faces (inner or outer) of the airtight housing of the compressor and at least one wall section adjacently attached to one of the faces of the airtight housing of the compressor.