Compressor Separator Balancer Integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scroll compressors face issues with the separator separating refrigerant and oil becoming detached from the drive unit, leading to reduced efficiency and reliability, and the limited space within the compressor makes it difficult to install both the balancer and separator effectively, causing oil to accumulate and potentially be discharged with the refrigerant.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a separator and balancer into a single unit within the drive unit, with a coupling mechanism that ensures the separator remains fixed and functional, allowing oil to flow directly into a reservoir space, preventing congestion and ensuring the balancer compensates for eccentricity, thus maintaining efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the separator is installed separately from the drive unit, then the separator can function to separate refrigerant and oil, but the separator may become detached during operation reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The separator is integrated with the drive unit as a unified structure, where the separator forms part of the drive unit assembly. This merging eliminates the separate coupling interface that could detach, while the coupling mechanism becomes part of the integrated structure rather than a separate component.
2Area of stationary object
If both the balancer and separator are installed in the limited compressor space, then spatial utilization is maximized, but installation becomes difficult due to space constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The balancer and separator are merged into a single integrated unit that is coupled to the drive unit. This combination allows both components to occupy the same spatial region, maximizing space utilization while simplifying installation to a single coupled assembly rather than separate installations.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated balancer-separator unit performs multiple functions simultaneously: the balancer compensates for eccentric moments while the separator separates refrigerant and oil. This multi-functionality in a single coupled unit simplifies the overall system and installation process.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the separator is firmly coupled to the drive unit, then the separator remains fixed and functional, but the coupling mechanism increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The separator and drive unit are merged into an integrated structure where the separator is formed as part of the drive unit assembly. This eliminates the need for separate coupling mechanisms while maintaining firm attachment and positional stability throughout operation.
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 maintains the coupling force between the drive unit and separator, maximizes spatial utilization, improves installation convenience, and prevents oil accumulation, enhancing the compressor's efficiency and reliability by ensuring the separator and balancer function effectively.
Implementation Method 1
the balancer is provided to any one of the drive unit and the rotary shaft so as to compensate for eccentricity of the rotary shaft
Implementation Method 2
The separator rotates with the drive unit so that high-density oil can be centrifugally separated from the refrigerant by the separator
Data Source
AI summary
A compressor includes: a case including a discharge part configured to discharge refrigerant and defining a reservoir space configured to store oil; a drive unit including a stator and a rotor; a rotary shaft coupled to the rotor; a compression unit coupled to the rotary shaft and lubricated with oil, the compression unit being configured to compress refrigerant and discharge compressed refrigerant in a direction away from the discharge part; a muffler coupled to the compression unit and configured to guide refrigerant to the discharge part; a separator coupled to at least one of the rotor or the rotary shaft and configured to separate oil from refrigerant guided to the discharge part; and a coupling unit that fixes the separator to the at least one of the rotor or the rotary shaft.