Refrigerant Compressor Oil Deflection for Cooler Suction Flow

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Refrigerant compressors experience efficiency deterioration due to heat exchange between heated oil and suction or pressure channels, leading to increased refrigerant intake temperature and system heating, which is undesirable for energy efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of deflection means, such as guide extensions or recesses, on the compressor housing wall to prevent oil from contacting the suction and pressure channels, thereby avoiding heat exchange and maintaining refrigerant temperature efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If oil is circulated to lubricate and cool the piston-cylinder unit, then the parts are lubricated and cooled, but the heated oil heats the suction channel and pressure channel, causing refrigerant temperature increase and efficiency deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelubrication and cooling of piston-cylinder unitVSAvoidrefrigerant compressor efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful heat exchange between the oil and the suction/pressure channels is extracted and eliminated by introducing deflection means that separate the oil flow path from the refrigerant channels, thus removing the energy loss while preserving the lubrication function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The deflection means act as an intermediary structure between the oil flow and the suction/pressure channels, preventing direct contact and heat transfer while allowing both systems to function independently

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the pressure channel conveys hot compressed refrigerant, then the refrigerant is discharged from the compressor, but the hot pressure channel heats the oil flowing down the compressor housing wall, causing system heating

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefrigerant dischargeVSAvoidcompressor housing temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful thermal interaction between the pressure channel and oil flow is extracted and eliminated through deflection means that create spatial separation, preventing heat transfer from the hot pressure channel to the oil while maintaining refrigerant discharge functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If the suction channel is provided for refrigerant intake, then the refrigerant is supplied to the piston-cylinder unit, but the suction channel is heated by contact with heated oil, increasing refrigerant intake temperature

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefrigerant supplyVSAvoidrefrigerant intake temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful heat transfer from oil to suction channel is extracted and eliminated by introducing deflection means that create a physical barrier, separating the oil flow path from the suction channel to maintain low refrigerant intake temperature while ensuring continuous refrigerant supply

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 solution effectively reduces the heating of refrigerant before compression, enhancing the efficiency of the refrigerant compressor by preventing unwanted heat transfer from the oil to the refrigerant and compressor housing.

Implementation Method 1

deflection means are provided on the compressor housing wall, which prevent oil flowing down the compressor housing wall from contacting the suction channel or pressure channel, so that heat exchange from the oil to the suction channel or from the pressure channel to the oil is avoided

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange prevention: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

an oil pump is provided which supplies the piston-cylinder unit with oil in order to lubricate the parts of the piston-cylinder unit sliding on one another and to cool the piston-cylinder unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCooling: Cooling

Implementation Method 3

the heat absorbed by the oil is given off to the compressor housing and subsequently dissipated to the environment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 4

the pressure channel also heats up considerably, which is why the refrigerant pushed out by the piston-cylinder unit should be conveyed out of the compressor housing as hot as possible. However, if the oil flowing off the compressor housing wall comes into contact with the hot pressure channel, the oil, which is at a lower temperature level, absorbs heat in an undesirable manner

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP2021632B1Refrigerant compressor
Publication Date: 2009.09.30 ACC AUSTRIA GMBH
  • EP2021632B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2021632B1 patent drawingFigure 3~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a hermetically encapsulated refrigerant compressor which has a hermetically sealed compressor housing (1), in the interior of which operates a refrigerant-compressing piston-cylinder unit and is provided a suction duct (2), via which refrigerant is conveyed into the compressor housing (1), and is provided a pressure duct (3), via which refrigerant is conveyed out of the compressor housing (1) by the piston-cylinder unit. In order to prevent contact of the oil (4) which flows down the compressor housing wall with the suction duct (2) and with the pressure duct (3), it is provided according to the invention that, in the operating position of the compressor housing (1), deflecting means are provided on the compressor housing wall above the passage of the suction duct (2) and pressure duct (3) through said compressor housing wall. In this way, warming of the refrigerant is avoided, and the efficiency of the refrigerant compressor is increased.