Hermetic Compressor Vent Port Gas Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hermetic compressors face challenges in efficiently evacuating non-compressible gases at the installation site, leading to potential oil leakage and requiring additional manufacturing steps for gas removal.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of a vent port above the oil level in the hermetic shell, allowing for the release of trapped gases during installation, along with a method using the refill port to pressurize the system and remove undesirable gases, ensuring only refrigerant and oil remain.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a hermetic compressor is sealed at the factory, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the ability to remove trapped gases at the installation site deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidgas removal capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The hermetic shell is segmented by providing two separate access ports: a refill port for refrigerant addition and a vent port for gas evacuation. This segmentation allows the sealed compressor to perform both refrigerant management and gas removal functions independently without compromising the hermetic seal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The vent port acts as an intermediary component that enables gas removal from the hermetically sealed compressor at the installation site. It provides a controlled access point that does not compromise the overall seal integrity while allowing trapped gases to be evacuated through the oil.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If a vent port is added to the hermetic shell, then the gas removal capability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas removal capabilityVSAvoidnumber of ports

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The vent port is integrated into the existing hermetic shell structure and utilizes the oil medium already present in the compressor. It shares the oil fill space and evacuation pathway with the refrigerant system, allowing a single component to serve multiple functions: gas evacuation, oil sealing, and refrigerant management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The vent port design allows the compressor to self-regulate gas removal through the existing oil medium. The oil naturally rises to seal the vent port when at proper levels, and gases are automatically evacuated through the oil column without requiring additional mechanical components or complex control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If non-compressible gases are trapped in the hermetic shell, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the compressor efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilling processVSAvoidcompressor efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The vent port is pre-configured in the hermetic shell during manufacturing, positioned above the oil level. This preliminary setup enables field operators to easily remove trapped gases by simply opening the vent port and allowing gases to escape through the oil, without requiring complex evacuation equipment or disassembly procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The design accepts that gases may be trapped during manufacturing but converts this potential harm into a benefit by providing a simple vent port that allows easy gas removal. The oil medium, which could potentially mix with gases to form foam, is instead utilized as the evacuation pathway, turning a potential problem into a straightforward solution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

Effectively removes trapped gases at the installation site without oil leakage, allowing for proper refrigerant verification and efficient system filling, enhancing the compressor's operational efficiency and reducing manufacturing costs.

Implementation Method 1

A vent port is positioned above a level of the oil to release trapped gases

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

A vent port is positioned above a level of the oil to release trapped gases

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 3

An amount of undesirable non-compressible gases may become trapped in oil within a hermetic shell

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS10961995B2Method and equipment for improving the efficiency of compressors and refrigerators

Publication Date: 2021.03.30 MAYORCA AURELIO

AI summary

A hermetic compressor may include a crankshaft having an input shaft rotatably supported on the cast-iron block along the crankshaft axis and connected to the electric motor rotary output, and an eccentric crankpin orbitally rotating about the axis as the crankshaft is rotated. A pair of opposed pistons may lie on the common plane. Each piston may be pivotably connected to one of the connecting rod piston ends to drive the pistons in an oscillatory manner within the cylinders as the crankshaft rotates. The piston and cylinder pairs may cause fluid to be pumped from the inlet port to the outlet port as the piston oscillates varying the volume of the enclosed space bound by the piston and the cylinder pairs.