Compressor system

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing compressor systems face reduced efficiency due to heat transfer from the high-temperature compressor to the low-temperature accumulator, and maintenance workability is impaired by the need to remove and reattach insulation materials like glass wool, which contaminates the environment with fine particles.

Innovation Solution

A compressor system using a separable insulation member made of a material that holds a fixed shape, such as urethane resin or styrene foam, to reduce heat exchange between the compressor and accumulator, allowing easy maintenance by separating and reattaching the insulation without gaps, and minimizing apparatus size by covering either the compressor or accumulator.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If insulation material like glass wool or rock wool is used to cover the compressor and accumulator, then heat exchange between the compressor and accumulator is reduced, but maintenance workability is impaired and fine particles contaminate the working environment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat exchange lossVSAvoidmaintenance workability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The insulation member is divided into a first insulation member covering the compressor and a second insulation member covering the accumulator, allowing independent access to each component for maintenance while maintaining insulation performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The insulation members are designed as flexible covering structures that can be easily attached and detached, replacing rigid amorphous insulation materials with structured foam materials that maintain shape while allowing easy maintenance access

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Loss of energy

If amorphous insulation materials like glass wool or rock wool are used, then insulation performance is achieved, but a large amount of fine particles is generated during maintenance work

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat exchange lossVSAvoidfine particle contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The insulation members are designed as flexible covering structures that can be easily attached and detached, replacing rigid amorphous insulation materials with structured foam materials that maintain shape while allowing easy maintenance access

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses foam insulation materials (first and second foam materials) with different thermal conductivities for different parts of the insulation system, creating a composite insulation structure that reduces particle generation while maintaining insulation performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Loss of energy

If both the compressor and accumulator are covered with insulation material, then heat exchange is reduced, but the dimensional size of the apparatus increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat exchange lossVSAvoidapparatus size
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different insulation strategies to different components: the compressor is covered with a first foam material and the accumulator with a second foam material, allowing optimized insulation performance with minimized overall apparatus volume

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

Ensures efficient insulation properties while allowing safe and easy maintenance, reducing overheating loss and improving workability by using a material that maintains its shape and reduces environmental contamination.

Implementation Method 1

the insulation member reduces heat exchange between the compressor and the accumulator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP3550224B1Compressor system
Publication Date: 2021.12.08 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND THERMAL SYST
  • EP3550224B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3550224B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3550224B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A compressor system (100) includes an accumulator (24) that is configured to separate a refrigerant into a liquid-phase component and a gas-phase component, suction pipes (26A) and (26B), one end of which is connected to the accumulator (24) so as to circulate the gas-phase component therethrough, a compressor (10) that is connected to the other end of the suction pipes (26A) and (26B) so as to compress the gas-phase component, and an insulation member (32) that covers an entity of at least one of the accumulator (24) and the compressor (10) from an outside. The insulation member (32) has at least a pair of separable bodies (32H) coming into contact with each other via a contact surface (St).