Hermetic Compressor Inlet Muffler Oil Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The efficiency of hermetic compressors in refrigeration systems is reduced due to overheating of refrigerant gas, which decreases the mass flow rate and leads to lower freezing capacity, noise generation, and performance degradation of heat exchangers, primarily caused by lubricating oil entering the compression chamber.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an inclined inlet pipe and an outlet pipe with a guide wall to prevent lubricating oil from flowing into the compression chamber, while using the potential energy of refrigerant gas to enhance its flow efficiency and reduce heat transfer, thereby maintaining a higher mass flow rate and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a conventional inlet muffler is used, then noise is damped, but lubricating oil flows into the compression chamber causing overheating and efficiency reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet muffler is segmented into distinct functional zones: a sound absorbing space for noise damping, a separation space for oil-refrigerant separation, and a flow path designed to prevent oil from reaching the compression chamber. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function without interfering with others, solving the contradiction between noise control and efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
A separation space acts as an intermediary zone between the sound absorbing space and the compression chamber. This intermediate space allows lubricating oil to be separated from the refrigerant gas before it enters the compression chamber, preventing oil-related overheating and efficiency loss while maintaining the noise damping function.
2Quantity of substance
If the outlet pipe inlet is positioned at the bottom of the muffler body, then oil separation is improved, but oil flows into the compression chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet pipe inlet is extracted from the bottom position and relocated to the upper wall of the muffler body. This extraction removes the source of the problem (oil accumulation at the bottom) from the flow path, allowing oil to be separated and collected at the bottom while preventing it from entering the compression chamber through the outlet.
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet pipe inlet is positioned on the upper wall rather than at the bottom, changing the spatial dimension of oil discharge. This dimensional change allows the system to maintain effective oil separation at the bottom while preventing oil from reaching the compression chamber through a different spatial pathway.
3Ease of manufacture
If the inlet pipe is horizontal, then manufacturing is simplified, but refrigerant gas flow efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet pipe is designed with a downward inclination rather than being horizontal or upward-sloping. This dynamic angle optimization balances manufacturing simplicity with improved refrigerant gas flow efficiency, allowing the refrigerant to flow more effectively into the sound absorbing space while preventing oil from being carried into the compression chamber.
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 improves the refrigerant gas flow efficiency, reduces suction loss, and prevents lubricating oil from entering the compression chamber, resulting in increased compressor performance and reduced noise and heat exchanger degradation.
Implementation Method 1
The inlet pipe is provided so as to be inclined downward from the inlet-pipe inlet having an opening open into a space inside the hermetic enclosure toward the inlet-pipe outlet having an opening open into the sound absorbing space
Implementation Method 2
inlet muffler forming an sound absorbing space communicating with the compression chamber
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
Inlet pipe (151) communicating the space inside the hermetic enclosure with sound absorbing space (147) of inlet muffler (145) is provided so as to be inclined downward from inlet-pipe inlet (155) toward inlet-pipe outlet (157). Outlet pipe (153) communicating sound absorbing space (147) with an inlet valve includes outlet-pipe inlet (161) and outlet-pipe outlet (163). Inlet-pipe inlet (155) and outlet-pipe inlet (161) are formed at substantially same height. Herewith, introducing a refrigerant gas to outlet-pipe inlet (161) making efficient use of potential energy of the refrigerant improves the compression efficiency and stabilizes the performance of the compressor.