Compressor Oil Trap Design to Reduce Refrigerant-Oil Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
In rotary compressors, a portion of the lubricating oil is not effectively separated from the refrigerant during operation, leading to reduced refueling efficiency and heat exchange performance in home appliances.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an oil trap portion within the compressor case, which protrudes from the outer surface and is recessed from the inner surface to form a space for collecting separated oil, ensures efficient separation and recovery of oil from the refrigerant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the compressor operates at high speed to improve productivity, then the compression efficiency increases, but the oil separation from refrigerant becomes insufficient leading to oil discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the oil separation function from the main compression flow path by creating a dedicated oil trap portion. This separate space allows oil to be removed and collected independently from the refrigerant compression process, solving the problem where high-speed operation prevents adequate oil separation time in the main flow path.
Solution Approach 2:
The oil trap portion acts as an intermediary space between the compression chamber and the discharge path. It serves as a buffer zone where oil can be separated and temporarily stored before refrigerant discharge, preventing oil from being directly discharged with the refrigerant while maintaining high compression speed.
2Quantity of substance
If the compressor case volume is increased to accommodate larger components, then the compression device capacity increases, but the available space for oil separation and recovery is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension of the compressor case by having the oil trap portion protrude from the outer surface and recess into the inner surface. This three-dimensional configuration allows the oil trap to occupy vertical space rather than horizontal space, preserving the floor plan area for compression components while providing adequate oil separation volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The oil trap portion is nested within the compressor case structure itself, using the case wall thickness and protruding sections to create the trap space. This nested configuration integrates the oil separation function into the existing case geometry without requiring additional external volume.
3Reliability
If the oil trap portion is made larger to improve oil collection capacity, then the oil recovery efficiency increases, but the complexity of the case structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the oil trap portion with the compressor case structure, making the case wall itself form the boundaries of the oil trap. By integrating these functions, the design avoids adding separate oil trap components and complex mounting structures, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while providing effective oil collection.
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 enhances the separation of refrigerant and oil, reduces the amount of oil discharged outside the compressor, and improves the overall efficiency of the compressor and the heat exchange process in home appliances.
Implementation Method 1
The stored oil may be separated from the refrigerant by the centrifugal force of the rotor when the compressor is operated and recovered to the lower part of the case
Data Source
AI summary
A compressor according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a case storing an oil therein, a compression device disposed inside the case to compress a refrigerant introduced into the case, a driving device disposed inside the case to drive the compression device, and an oil trap portion for separating the refrigerant and the oil or collecting the separated oil when the compression device is operated. The oil trap portion may protrude from an outer surface of the case and be recessed from an inner surface of the case to form a space for accommodating the oil. The oil trap portion may have at least a portion positioned in a cavity area of the case in which the compression device and the driving device are not disposed.