Compressor for refrigeration machine

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Refrigerating machine compressors face high costs due to inefficient use of metallic materials in thermal spraying, leading to increased corrosion in harsh environments.

Innovation Solution

A compressor design with a metallic coating applied via thermal spraying, varying in thickness based on the likelihood of corrosion, where the high-pressure part coating is thinner to prevent moisture freezing and the low-pressure and welded parts have thicker coatings for enhanced protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a uniform thick metallic coating is applied to the entire casing via thermal spraying, then corrosion protection is improved, but material cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrosion protectionVSAvoidmetallic material waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different coating thicknesses to different parts of the casing based on their specific corrosion risks. The low-pressure casing part receives a thicker coating (50-100 μm) because it is more prone to corrosion from moisture adhesion and freezing, while the high-pressure casing part receives a thinner coating (10-30 μm) as it is less susceptible to these effects. This local differentiation optimizes material usage while maintaining adequate protection where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If thermal spraying is used to apply metallic coating, then corrosion resistance is improved, but the proportion of attached material to total sprayed material is small leading to high cost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrosion resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by specifying different coating thicknesses for different casing parts. The low-pressure casing part has a thicker coating (50-100 μm) to protect against corrosion from moisture adhesion and freezing, while the high-pressure casing part has a thinner coating (10-30 μm) since it is less prone to these issues. This approach reduces overall material consumption and cost while maintaining necessary protection levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If thick metallic coating is applied to high-pressure casing part, then corrosion protection is improved, but material usage and cost increase unnecessarily

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrosion protectionVSAvoidmetallic coating material
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating coating thickness based on the specific operational conditions of each casing part. The high-pressure casing part, which operates at higher temperatures and is less prone to moisture adhesion and freezing, receives a thinner coating (10-30 μm). This reduces unnecessary material consumption while the low-pressure casing part receives a thicker coating (50-100 μm) where corrosion risk is higher.

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

This configuration reduces material usage and costs while effectively preventing corrosion in critical areas, achieving a profound cost reduction and improved durability.

Implementation Method 1

The protective coating is formed by a technique called thermal spraying that sprays a surface of a base material with metallic material that has fluidity produced by melting or the like.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal spraying: Plasma Spray

Data Source

PatentEP3492740B1Compressor for refrigeration machine
Publication Date: 2020.11.25 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD
  • EP3492740B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3492740B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3492740B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A compressor (5A) includes a casing (10) and a metallic coating (50). The casing (10) includes a low-pressure casing part (10a) covering a low-pressure space (71) and a high-pressure casing part (10b) covering a high-pressure space (72). The metallic coating (50) is formed at least on a part of an outer surface of the casing. The metallic coating (50) includes a low-pressure part coating (50a) formed in the low-pressure casing part (10a), a high-pressure part coating (50b) formed in the high-pressure casing part (10b), and a welded part coating (50c) formed in a welded part (10c). At least either the average thickness (Ta) of the low-pressure part coating (50a) or the average thickness (Tc) of the welded part coating (50c) is greater than the average thickness (Tb) of the high-pressure part coating (50b).