Oil management system for a compressor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing oil management systems for compressors in refrigeration systems lack efficient temperature control, leading to potential refrigerant loss and inefficient lubrication, especially in varying environmental conditions.

Innovation Solution

An oil management system comprising an oil temperature sensor, a heater, and a controller that adjusts the heater's operation based on ambient air temperature and oil temperature to maintain the oil temperature within a specified range, minimizing energy usage and ensuring proper lubrication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the heater operates continuously to maintain oil temperature, then lubrication reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelubrication reliabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses an oil temperature sensor to continuously monitor oil temperature and feeds this information back to the controller. The controller adjusts heater operation based on the feedback signal, activating the heater only when oil temperature falls below the minimum threshold and deactivating it when the maximum threshold is reached. This closed-loop feedback control ensures reliable lubrication while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the operational parameters of the heater based on oil temperature conditions. By adjusting the heater's on/off state according to the measured oil temperature, the system optimizes the balance between maintaining lubrication reliability and reducing energy consumption during different operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If the heater operates continuously to prevent refrigerant migration, then oil temperature stability is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil temperature stabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature sensor continuously monitors oil temperature and provides feedback to the controller. The controller activates the heater only when the oil temperature drops below the minimum threshold, thereby maintaining temperature stability and preventing refrigerant migration only when necessary, rather than operating continuously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system activates the heater in advance when the oil temperature approaches the minimum threshold, preventing refrigerant migration before it occurs. This preliminary action maintains temperature stability while avoiding continuous operation, thereby reducing energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Speed

If the heater is activated early to ensure quick lubrication, then lubrication speed is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelubrication speedVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The controller uses feedback from the temperature sensor to determine the optimal moment to activate the heater. By monitoring the actual oil temperature and activating the heater only when the minimum threshold is approached, the system ensures quick lubrication is achieved without premature heater activation, thereby minimizing energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

The system effectively maintains oil temperature within a predetermined range, reducing refrigerant loss and ensuring quick lubrication of moving parts, while minimizing energy consumption by optimizing heating and cooling operations.

Implementation Method 1

a heater arranged to heat oil in a crank case of the compressor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

an oil temperature sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature sensing:

Data Source

PatentUS9551357B2Oil management system for a compressor

Publication Date: 2017.01.24 COPELAND EUROPE GMBH

AI summary

The invention relates to an oil management system for a compressor in a refrigeration system comprising: an oil temperature sensor; a heater arranged to heat oil in a crank case of the compressor; and a controller operatively associated with the temperature sensor and the heater, the controller arranged to control operation of the heater on the basis of ambient air temperature and oil temperature to maintain the oil temperature within a range Tmax≧R≧Tmin where Tmax>Tmin.