Compressor Fluid Guide Support for High-Pressure CO2 Welding
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of suitably fixing a fluid guide to a compressor casing arises when there is a significant difference in plate thickness between the casing and the fluid guide, particularly when using carbon dioxide as a refrigerant, which requires a thicker casing for pressure resistance, leading to welding defects.
Innovation Solution
The compressor design includes a support that fixes the fluid guide to the casing via a bearing housing, using methods such as welding, bolts, or press fitting, ensuring secure attachment even with varying plate thicknesses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If the casing plate thickness is increased to secure pressure resistance when using carbon dioxide as refrigerant, then the pressure resistance is improved, but the welding between the fluid guide and casing becomes difficult due to large thickness difference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate component (support member or adapter) between the thick casing and the thin fluid guide. This intermediary component has a thickness that is compatible with both parts, allowing for reliable welding connections on both sides while maintaining the structural integrity required for high-pressure carbon dioxide operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing structure is divided into multiple segments: the thick casing, an intermediate support member, and the thin fluid guide. This segmentation allows each component to have optimized thickness for its specific function, with the intermediate member bridging the thickness gap to enable proper welding.
2Ease of manufacture
If the fluid guide is directly welded to the casing, then the fixation is simple, but welding defects occur when there is a large difference in plate thickness
Solution Approach 1:
By introducing an intermediate support member with appropriate thickness, the patent enables welding between components of vastly different thicknesses. This intermediary absorbs the thickness mismatch, allowing both the casing-to-support and support-to-fluid guide welds to be performed with proper penetration and quality.
3Device complexity
If the fluid guide is not securely fixed to the casing, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the fluid guide cannot be suitably fixed when plate thickness difference is large
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate support member serves as a mediator that connects the fluid guide to the casing. Although it adds a component, it enables reliable fixation that would otherwise be impossible due to the large thickness difference, ensuring the fluid guide remains securely positioned during high-pressure operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are a compressor in which a fluid guide can be suitably fixed to a casing, and a refrigeration cycle apparatus using the compressor. A compressor (100) includes a casing (110), a compression mechanism (120), an electric motor (140), a fluid guide (162, 163), and a support (161). The casing (110) has a tubular shape. The compression mechanism (120) and the electric motor (140) are accommodated in the casing (110) so as to be separated from each other in an axial direction of the casing (110). The fluid guide (162, 163) is disposed in a first space (S1) located between the compression mechanism (120) and the electric motor (140), and guides a fluid flowing into the first space (S1) to an outer periphery of the compression mechanism (120) of the electric motor (140). The support (161) supports the fluid guide (162, 163) in the first space (S1). The fluid guide (162, 163) is fixed to the support (161) by welding.