Compressor Partition Wall Cooling to Suppress Suction Space Heat Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing compressor systems face issues with heat input from the discharge space to the suction space, leading to decreased volumetric efficiency and increased risk of frost formation on the compressor surface.
Innovation Solution
A compressor system is designed with a partition wall portion separating the suction and discharge spaces, and a cooling medium path is formed within this partition to dissipate heat, thereby preventing heat transfer between the spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling water pipe is provided inside crankcase or head cover, then overheating of compressor is suppressed, but structure becomes more complex and frost may occur on surface
Solution Approach 1:
The partition wall serving as a structural component of the compressor is merged with a cooling medium passage, eliminating the need for separate cooling water pipes inside the crankcase or head cover. The partition wall itself becomes the cooling channel, reducing structural complexity while maintaining cooling functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition wall is given multiple functions: it serves as both a structural separator between suction and discharge spaces and as a cooling medium passage. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed for cooling the compressor.
2Temperature
If refrigerant liquid is injected into discharge space to cool compressed gas, then suction gas overheating is suppressed, but large amount of frost occurs on compressor surface
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling action is extracted from the discharge space and relocated to the partition wall. By cooling the partition wall that separates the suction and discharge spaces, the harmful effect of frost formation on the compressor surface is eliminated while still achieving the goal of preventing suction gas overheating.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition wall acts as an intermediary between the discharge space and the suction space. Cooling the partition wall indirectly cools the suction space without directly cooling the discharge space, thus preventing frost formation on external surfaces while still suppressing suction gas overheating.
3Productivity
If discharge gas is cooled by injecting refrigerant liquid, then volumetric efficiency is improved, but frost adhesion risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The partition wall serves as an intermediary structure that can be cooled without directly cooling the discharge gas. By cooling the partition wall, the suction gas temperature is controlled to maintain volumetric efficiency, while the discharge gas cooling that causes frost adhesion is avoided.
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 effectively suppresses heat input from the discharge space to the suction space, maintaining volumetric efficiency and preventing frost formation on the compressor surface, while also improving the coefficient of performance (COP) in refrigeration systems.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling medium path formed in the partition wall portion
Data Source
AI summary
A compressor according to an embodiment includes: a cylinder; a piston configured to be reciprocable in the cylinder; a suction space capable of communicating with a working chamber formed by the cylinder and the piston; a discharge space capable of communicating with the working chamber; a partition wall portion disposed so as to surround the working chamber, and separating the suction space and the discharge space; and a cooling medium path formed in the partition wall portion.