Electric Compressor Inverter Cooling via Internal Flow Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric compressors fail to sufficiently cool the elements of the inverter, leading to temperature deviations and potential damage by fire, operation stops, and increased maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
The electric compressor design includes a housing with specific configurations of internal flow paths, suction ports, and ribs to enhance cooling efficiency, ensuring uniform cooling of inverter elements by increasing refrigerant flow distance and residence time within the motor receiving space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the conventional housing structure with suction port and internal flow paths is used, then the refrigerant flow path is established, but the inverter elements are not sufficiently cooled and temperature deviation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into multiple sections with separate suction ports and internal flow paths for different inverter elements. Each inverter element has its own dedicated cooling channel, allowing independent temperature control and uniform cooling across all elements, preventing temperature deviation that could lead to reliability issues
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is customized with locally adapted flow paths and suction ports positioned to deliver refrigerant directly to each inverter element's heat-generating components. This localized cooling approach ensures each element receives adequate cooling according to its specific thermal requirements, improving both temperature uniformity and reliability
2Temperature
If the refrigerant flow distance is increased to improve cooling, then cooling efficiency improves, but the residence time within motor receiving space needs optimization
Solution Approach 1:
The internal flow paths are designed to extend the refrigerant flow distance by utilizing three-dimensional routing through the housing structure. The refrigerant travels through multiple directional changes and extended channels, increasing the heat exchange path length without proportionally increasing the motor receiving space volume, thus improving cooling efficiency while optimizing residence time
Solution Approach 2:
The suction ports are positioned to introduce refrigerant into the motor receiving space before the inverter elements, allowing the refrigerant to be pre-cooled and pressurized. This preliminary action ensures that when the refrigerant reaches the inverter elements, it is already in optimal condition for heat absorption, improving cooling efficiency while managing residence time effectively
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 effectively suppresses temperature deviations among inverter elements, preventing damage by fire and reducing maintenance costs through improved cooling efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
heat-generating devices 84 of an inverter 8 are cooled by a refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
the refrigerant in the motor receiving space S1 is introduced into the compression mechanism 4 through a plurality of internal flow paths 2444
Data Source
AI summary
An electric compressor including: a compression mechanism that receives power from a motor and compresses refrigerant; and an inverter that controls the motor. The housing receiving the motor and the inverter includes a partition wall that divides a motor receiving space and an inverter receiving space, and a suction port that introduces refrigerant from the outside to the motor receiving space. At least one internal flow path is formed between an inner circumferential surface of the housing and an outer circumferential surface of the motor. The internal flow path and the suction port are formed on opposite sides of each other with respect to a first plane, that is, an imaginary plane which includes a central axis of the housing and is perpendicular to the ground.