Compressor and accumulator with multiple suction tubes for a refrigeration cycle device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Compressors in refrigeration cycle devices face challenges in achieving compactness while maintaining efficient gas-liquid separation and minimizing heat loss, which affects their performance and material costs.
Innovation Solution
The compressor design incorporates three suction pipes positioned at the vertices of a triangle, with the first suction pipe closer to the compressor main body and the second and third suction pipes on opposite sides, overlapping the center connection line, to create a compact accumulator configuration that reduces heat loss and material costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the accumulator is designed with multiple suction pipes for efficient gas-liquid separation, then the separation performance is improved, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The suction pipes are arranged in a triangular configuration viewed from above, with specific spatial relationships between pipe centers and flow path cross-sections. This three-dimensional arrangement optimizes gas-liquid separation efficiency while maintaining a compact accumulator volume, resolving the contradiction between separation performance and device size.
Solution Approach 2:
The first suction pipe is positioned at a different distance from the compressor main body center compared to the second and third suction pipes. This asymmetric local positioning creates optimal flow distribution and separation zones within the accumulator, improving gas-liquid separation without requiring a larger overall structure.
2Reliability
If the suction pipes are arranged to optimize gas-liquid separation, then the separation efficiency is improved, but heat loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The triangular arrangement of suction pipes with specific spatial coordinates creates optimized flow paths that minimize unnecessary refrigerant travel distance. The first suction pipe's closer positioning to the compressor main body reduces heat loss in that specific zone while maintaining overall separation efficiency through the coordinated three-dimensional configuration.
3Volume of stationary object
If the compressor is designed to be compact, then the device size is reduced, but the gas-liquid separation performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The triangular configuration of three suction pipes with specifically positioned flow path cross-sections maximizes the use of three-dimensional space within the accumulator. This arrangement achieves effective gas-liquid separation in a compact volume by optimizing spatial distribution rather than relying on increased size.
Solution Approach 2:
The asymmetric positioning where the first suction pipe is closer to the compressor main body creates localized optimization zones. This allows the compact accumulator to achieve efficient separation through strategically positioned local features rather than requiring uniform expansion of the entire device.
4Reliability
If multiple suction pipes are used for better refrigerant distribution, then the separation performance is improved, but material costs and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The triangular arrangement of three suction pipes with defined spatial relationships provides optimized refrigerant distribution through three-dimensional flow path design. This configuration achieves better performance than simpler arrangements while maintaining reasonable manufacturing complexity by using a regular geometric pattern rather than irregular complex positioning.
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 results in a more compact compressor design that suppresses vibrations, reduces heat loss, and lowers material and processing costs, enhancing the efficiency of the refrigeration cycle device.
Implementation Method 1
The accumulator performs gas-liquid separation of a refrigerant and supplies a gaseous refrigerant to the compressor main body
Data Source
AI summary
A compressor includes three suction pipes. A first center of a first suction pipe, a second center of a second suction pipe, and a third center of a third suction pipe are positioned at vertices of a triangle. A first distance between the first center and a center of a compressor main body is smaller than a second distance between the second center and the center of the compressor main body and a third distance between the third center and the center of the compressor main body. A second flow path cross section and a third flow path cross section are positioned on opposite sides of a center connection line sandwiched therebetween. The first suction pipe is connected to a suction port which is at an uppermost position among three suction ports provided in a case.