Hermetic Compressor Pressure Channel Thermal Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional refrigerant compressors experience significant heating of refrigerant before compression due to mixing with warmer refrigerant inside the compressor housing, leading to increased suction and discharge temperatures, which negatively impacts energy efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerant compressor design featuring a pressure channel that is thermally separated from the valve plate, with a streamlined transition and optimized heat transfer area, using poorly conducting materials and insulating components to minimize heat transfer, and a clamping mechanism that eliminates the need for screws, allowing for efficient refrigerant flow and reduced heat exchange.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the suction channel opens directly into the compressor housing near the suction silencer inlet, then the refrigerant can be easily introduced into the compressor housing, but the refrigerant heats up significantly (more than 20°C) due to mixing with warmer refrigerant already in the housing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefrigerant introductionVSAvoidsuction temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The suction channel is extracted from the compressor housing interior and routed externally along the outer contour of the housing. This separates the cold refrigerant flow path from the warm housing interior, preventing heat transfer and mixing that caused temperature rise, while still allowing easy refrigerant introduction through the external channel configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The suction channel acts as an intermediary conduit that bridges the evaporator outlet and the suction silencer inlet without passing through the compressor housing interior. This intermediary path isolates the cold refrigerant from the warm housing environment, maintaining low suction temperature while facilitating refrigerant flow

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the refrigerant flows into the compressor housing during compression phase, then pressure fluctuations are accommodated, but additional mixing occurs causing further heating of the refrigerant

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure fluctuation accommodationVSAvoidrefrigerant temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The compressor system is segmented into distinct thermal zones: the compressor housing interior for compression operations and the external suction channel for cold refrigerant transport. This segmentation prevents mixing between refrigerant at different temperatures and pressure states, maintaining thermal separation while accommodating pressure fluctuations in their respective zones

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The suction valve operation creates periodic opening/closing cycles that control refrigerant flow timing. During compression phase, the suction valve remains closed, preventing unwanted mixing. The external suction channel design works in conjunction with this periodic valve action to maintain thermal separation throughout the compression cycle

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Device complexity

If a cylinder cover with partitions is used to form suction and pressure channels, then the channels are structurally integrated, but the refrigerant comes into contact with warm housing surfaces causing heat transfer

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel integrationVSAvoidrefrigerant temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The suction channel is extracted from the traditional integrated cylinder cover design and positioned externally along the housing contour. This extraction eliminates the problem of refrigerant contact with warm housing surfaces while maintaining adequate structural integration through external mounting arrangements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The suction channel is moved from the internal two-dimensional plane of the cylinder cover to the external three-dimensional surface of the housing. This dimensional change allows the channel to follow the outer contour of the housing, maximizing distance from heat-generating internal components while maintaining structural integration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 design significantly reduces suction and discharge temperatures, enhancing energy efficiency by minimizing heat transfer and allowing for quicker refrigerant transport away from the valve plate, thereby reducing energy consumption.

Implementation Method 1

a suction silencer preferably being arranged in the suction channel according to the preamble of claim 1

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Implementation Method 2

compressed from the pressure bore into the pressure channel via a pressure valve

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 3

The boiling refrigerant is vaporized in the evaporator by absorbing energy from the space to be cooled and finally overheated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat absorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 4

where it gives off heat via a condenser

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat release: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP1864021B1Refrigeration compressor
Publication Date: 2008.11.12 ACC AUSTRIA GMBH
  • EP1864021B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1864021B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP1864021B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a hermetically encapsulated refrigeration compressor comprising a hermetically sealed compressor housing containing a piston-cylinder unit compressing a refrigerating agent. The cylinder (1) is closed by means of a valve plate (2) comprising a pressure borehole (10) and a suction borehole (16), and a suction channel and a pressure channel are used to suck the refrigerating agent into the suction borehole (16) by means of a suction valve, and to compress said refrigerating agent passing from the pressure borehole (10) into the pressure channel by means of a pressure valve (15). Preferably, a suction sound absorber (3) is arranged in the suction channel. The aim of the invention is to create one such refrigeration compressor that enables a significant decrease in the suction temperature and the exhaust temperature. To this end, the pressure channel is formed by a component (8) that surrounds the entire pressure channel and is connected to the valve plate (2) in a sealed manner along a pressure contact edge (13) formed by an end section of the component (8). The pressure borehole (10) and the mobile part of the pressure valve (15) are arranged inside the surface surrounded by the pressure contact edge (13).