Compressor Discharge Chamber Segmentation for Oil Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current compressors fail to completely separate refrigerant gas and oil, resulting in a small amount of oil being discharged into the refrigeration cycle, which reduces refrigeration capacity.
Innovation Solution
A compressor design featuring a discharge chamber divided into first and second chambers by a vertical dividing wall, with a passage allowing communication between them, and an oil storage chamber, where oil is separated and stored to reduce oil flow into the refrigeration cycle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an oil separator is used to separate oil from refrigerant gas, then oil separation is achieved, but complete separation is impossible and a small amount of oil is discharged into the refrigeration cycle
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge chamber is divided into a first discharge chamber and a second discharge chamber by a dividing wall. The first discharge chamber receives the medium from the compression mechanism, while the second discharge chamber communicates with the oil separator. This segmentation allows oil to be separated in the first chamber before the refrigerant gas enters the oil separator, achieving more complete oil removal and preventing oil from entering the refrigeration cycle.
2Reliability
If oil is separated and stored in an oil storage chamber, then oil is removed from the refrigeration cycle, but the oil needs to be guided back for lubrication
Solution Approach 1:
The oil storage chamber is configured to automatically return separated oil to the compression mechanism for lubrication. This self-service function eliminates the need for complex external oil return systems, as the oil naturally flows back to where it is needed through gravity or pressure differential, maintaining reliable lubrication while keeping the system simple.
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 design enhances oil separation capacity, reducing oil flow into the refrigeration cycle and improving refrigeration capacity by effectively separating oil from refrigerant gas and guiding it for lubrication.
Implementation Method 1
as a result of the medium, which is a mixture of the refrigerant gas compressed by the compression mechanism and the oil, being temporarily discharged into the first discharge chamber, a certain amount of oil is separated from the medium in the first discharge chamber
Implementation Method 2
an oil separator that separates the oil from the medium introduced into an oil separation chamber from the discharge chamber through an introduction passage
Data Source
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AI summary
A compressor that reduces the amount of oil circulating in a refrigeration cycle by improving the function of separating oil from a medium in the compressor is provided. [Solution to Problem] A discharge chamber 24 is divided, by a dividing wall 6d formed in a rear housing 6 in a vertical direction, into a first discharge chamber 24a in which a discharge outlet 18d is formed and a second discharge chamber 24b in which an introduction passage 25 to an oil separation chamber 28a of an oil separator 28 is formed. A passage 27 that makes the first discharge chamber 24a and the second discharge chamber 24b communicate with each other is formed in an upper part of the discharge chamber 24.