Compressor Suction Muffler Gas Catcher Oblique Refrigerant Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional compressors with suction mufflers inefficiently capture low-temperature refrigerant gas due to the horizontal orientation of suction pipes and gas catchers, resulting in reduced refrigerating capacity and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The suction muffler is designed with a gas catcher positioned below the orifice of the suction pipe, angled at 45°, and featuring a concave inner face to efficiently catch and insulate low-temperature refrigerant gas falling obliquely, with a volume of 46% of the compression chamber, enhancing gas intake and reducing mixing with ambient high-temperature gas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the suction pipe and gas catcher are horizontally disposed facing each other, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is easier, but the refrigerating capacity and efficiency deteriorate due to inability to catch obliquely falling refrigerant gas
Solution Approach 1:
The gas catcher is repositioned from a horizontal arrangement to a vertical arrangement, with its lower end positioned below the lower end of the suction pipe orifice. This dimensional change in spatial configuration enables the gas catcher to intercept refrigerant gas that falls obliquely downward, resolving the contradiction between simple manufacturing and effective refrigerant capture.
2Device complexity
If the gas catcher is positioned horizontally to face the suction pipe, then the device structure is simplified, but the refrigerant gas capture efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The gas catcher is designed with an asymmetric vertical orientation rather than a symmetric horizontal arrangement. The lower end of the gas catcher opening is positioned below the lower end of the suction pipe orifice, creating an asymmetric configuration that matches the oblique downward trajectory of refrigerant gas, thereby improving capture efficiency without significantly increasing device complexity.
3Device complexity
If the gas catcher receives only part of the discharged refrigerant gas, then the device complexity is reduced, but the refrigerating capacity and COP deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By repositioning the gas catcher vertically below the suction pipe orifice rather than horizontally beside it, the system achieves complete interception of obliquely falling refrigerant gas. This dimensional reconfiguration ensures full utilization of discharged refrigerant gas, improving coefficient of performance without adding device complexity.
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 improves refrigerating capacity by 3.6% and Coefficient of Performance (COP) by 1.3% compared to prior art, ensuring efficient refrigerant gas capture and maintaining low temperatures, suitable for various refrigerants like R134 and R600a.
Implementation Method 1
the low-temperature refrigerant gas falls obliquely downward in hermetic container 1 because it has high density
Data Source
AI summary
A suction muffler receives low-temperature refrigerant gas discharged into a hermetic container from a suction pipe by a gas catcher, and feeds the gas to a compressor. The lower end of an opening of the gas catcher is located at a position lower than the lower end of an orifice of the suction pipe so as to catch the refrigerant gas falling obliquely downward inside the hermetic container.