Cooled Piston and Cylinder for Isothermal Compressor Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional compressors experience efficiency decreases due to high discharge temperatures of refrigerant, leading to superheating and suboptimal compression processes, as they typically operate near isentropic compression rather than more efficient isothermal compression.
Innovation Solution
A cooling fluid circuit and heat exchanger system within the compressor assembly, featuring a piston with cooling channels and grooves, circulates a cooling fluid to cool the cylinder and piston, reducing thermodynamic work and promoting a more isothermal compression process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional compressors operate near isentropic compression, then certain issues like wet compression are prevented, but compressor efficiency decreases due to high discharge temperatures and superheating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermodynamic parameters of the compression process by introducing cooling channels that actively remove heat during compression. This shifts the process from isentropic (adiabatic) compression toward isothermal compression, maintaining lower discharge temperatures and preventing superheating while improving overall compressor efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cooling fluid as an intermediary substance that circulates through channels in the piston and cylinder. This cooling fluid acts as a heat transfer medium, absorbing excess heat from the compression chamber and carrying it away, thereby enabling more efficient compression without the harmful effects of high temperatures
2Productivity
If cooling channels are added to the piston and cylinder, then discharge temperature is reduced and efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling function with the existing compression structure by integrating cooling channels directly into the piston and cylinder components. Rather than adding separate cooling systems, the cooling passages are incorporated within the structural elements themselves, reducing overall system complexity while achieving the desired thermal management
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling channels serve multiple functions: they cool the compression chamber, pre-cool the incoming refrigerant, and help condense the compressed refrigerant. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate cooling components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maximizing efficiency improvements
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
The cooling system effectively reduces the discharge temperature of the refrigerant, enhancing compressor efficiency by moving the compression process towards a more isothermal state, thereby reducing thermodynamic work required for compression.
Implementation Method 1
The direction of heat transfer may change during the compression process depending on the gas temperature inside the cylinder. When the gas temperature is lower than the temperature of the cylinder walls, heat flux is positive and heat is transferred from the cylinder walls to the gaseous refrigerant.
Implementation Method 2
the compressor operates to provide compressed refrigerant. The refrigerator appliance utilizes such compressed refrigerant to cool a compartment of the appliance and food items located therein.
Implementation Method 3
Linear compressors can include a piston slidably received within a chamber of a cylinder. The piston is slid backward and forwards within the chamber to compress refrigerant.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and compression assemblies thereof are provided. In one example aspect, a system includes a cooling fluid circuit and a piston slidably received within a chamber of a casing. The casing defines an inlet passage and an outlet passage. The inlet passage receives a cooling fluid, e.g. oil or a refrigerant, from the cooling fluid circuit. The cooling fluid flows into the inlet passage and downstream into an inlet groove defined by the piston along its outer surface. The cooling fluid flows downstream to a cooling channel defined by a piston head of the piston and thereafter into an outlet groove defined by piston along its outer surface. The cooling fluid then flows into outlet passage of casing and is returned to cooling fluid circuit. The passage of cooling fluid through the passages, grooves, and channels removes heat from the casing and the piston.