Compressor Flow Path Guide for Oil Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
In lower compression type compressors, oil recovery is hindered due to oil mixing with refrigerant, leading to decreased oil supply, increased friction loss, and oil accumulation issues, which are not effectively addressed by existing flow path guides that can cause oil stagnation and interference with balance weights.
Innovation Solution
A compressor design featuring a flow path guide with a ring-shaped structure and partition walls to separate refrigerant and oil flow paths, incorporating an oil discharge port that directs oil downward to an oil storage space, preventing accumulation and ensuring efficient oil recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flow path guide is provided to separate discharge paths of refrigerant gas and oil, then oil recovery is improved, but the flow path guide defines a closed space that causes oil to accumulate and prevents recovery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful effect of closed space by providing openings in the flow path guide. The guide body has multiple openings that allow oil to pass through rather than accumulate, while still maintaining the separation function. This converts the closed space into an open flow path that enables continuous oil recovery without accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow path guide is segmented into multiple sections with openings distributed along its length. This segmentation allows oil to be recovered at multiple points rather than requiring a single large opening, maintaining separation effectiveness while preventing accumulation in any single location.
2Reliability
If oil accumulates in the flow path guide, then oil recovery is hindered, but oil may flow to the balance weight and be splattered, making recovery more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the condition that leads to splattering by extracting oil from the flow path guide through multiple openings before it can reach the balance weight. The openings are positioned to intercept oil flow and redirect it to the oil storage space, preventing oil from contacting the rotating balance weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow path guide acts as an intermediary structure with openings that mediate between the discharge space and oil storage space. It provides a controlled path for oil to flow downward through the openings rather than freely moving to the balance weight, thus preventing splattering while enabling recovery.
3Quantity of substance
If oil mixed with refrigerant passes through the electric motor, then oil may flow to upper or lower portions of the motor, but high-pressure refrigerant may prevent oil from reaching the lower side, decreasing oil supply to compression device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts oil from the refrigerant-oil mixture at multiple points using the flow path guide with openings. By providing multiple extraction points along the guide, oil can be recovered even when refrigerant pressure varies, ensuring continuous oil supply to the compression device regardless of refrigerant flow conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow path guide performs preliminary separation of oil from refrigerant before the mixture reaches areas where refrigerant pressure might block oil flow. The openings are positioned to capture oil early in the flow path, preventing the blocking effect from occurring and ensuring oil reaches the storage space.
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 effectively separates refrigerant and oil flow paths, enhancing oil recovery and reducing friction loss, ensuring a consistent oil supply and preventing oil splattering by balance weights, thus improving compressor durability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
incorporating an oil discharge port that directs oil downward to an oil storage space
Data Source
AI summary
A compressor may include a casing; an electric motor provided in the casing and that operates a rotational shaft; and a compression device. A flow path guide may be installed between the electric motor and the compression device, and may separate a refrigerant flow path from an oil flow path. The flow path guide may have a first partition wall and a second partition wall which are spaced apart from each other. In addition, the flow path guide may have an oil discharge port formed in at least a section of the flow path guide along a circumferential direction thereof, the oil discharge port allowing a guide space between the first partition wall and the second partition wall to be open toward the inner surface of the casing.