Reciprocating Compressor Sleeve Ports for Intermediate-Pressure Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reciprocating compressors face challenges in efficiently injecting fluid at an intermediate pressure into multiple compression mechanisms, leading to suboptimal energy consumption and performance in climate-control systems.
Innovation Solution
A reciprocating compressor design incorporating a housing with intermediate-fluid ports and storage plenums, along with a sleeve assembly and piston mechanism that allows selective fluid injection at intermediate pressure into cylinders, optimizing fluid distribution across multiple compression mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If fluid is injected into multiple compression mechanisms, then compression efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple injection sources and distribution systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple fluid injection functions into a single integrated injection system. One injection source serves multiple compression mechanisms through a common distribution network, eliminating the need for separate injection systems for each mechanism. This reduces device complexity while maintaining the ability to improve compression efficiency across all mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The injection system is designed with universal capability to serve multiple compression mechanisms simultaneously. A single injection source and distribution system can deliver fluid to any number of compression mechanisms, making the system multi-functional and adaptable to varying operational requirements without increasing complexity.
2Device complexity
If a single injection source is used for multiple compression mechanisms, then device complexity is reduced, but it becomes difficult to control fluid distribution to each mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The single injection system is segmented into multiple independent distribution pathways, each capable of serving specific compression mechanisms. This segmentation allows independent control of fluid distribution to each mechanism while maintaining a single injection source, thereby preserving ease of operation and control flexibility without increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The injection system incorporates dynamic control capabilities that allow real-time adjustment of fluid distribution to different compression mechanisms. The system can adaptively route fluid based on operational requirements, ensuring ease of control and flexibility in managing multiple mechanisms from a single injection source.
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
Enhances energy efficiency by minimizing energy consumption while ensuring sufficient discharge-pressure refrigerant supply, improving the performance of climate-control systems.
Implementation Method 1
The intermediate pressure is greater than the suction pressure and less than the discharge pressure. The first fluid storage plenum and the second fluid storage plenum are configured to store the fluid at the intermediate pressure therein.
Data Source
AI summary
A compressor includes a cylinder, a sleeve assembly disposed in the cylinder, and a piston disposed within the sleeve assembly. The sleeve assembly includes a sleeve and a collar. The sleeve and the collar cooperate to define a plurality of ports. The piston is movable between a first position and a second position and is configured to compress a working fluid from a suction pressure at the first position to a discharge pressure at the second position. The piston and the sleeve assembly cooperate to selectively permit working fluid at an intermediate pressure to enter the cylinder. The intermediate pressure is greater than the suction pressure and less than the discharge pressure.