Domed Inverter Cover for Electric Compressor Noise Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Electric compressors in vehicles face challenges with high noise levels, reduced operating life, and increased battery degradation due to high-speed operation and continuous use, especially in electric vehicles where they must run independently to manage refrigerant and heat.
Innovation Solution
A scroll-type electric compressor design featuring a housing with an inverter module, motor, drive shaft, and compression device, including a swing-link mechanism and ball bearings, which converts DC power to AC and rotates the orbiting scroll in an eccentric orbit to compress refrigerant efficiently, while incorporating an oil separator and domed inverter cover to reduce noise and enhance durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the electric compressor operates at high speed to improve cooling efficiency, then the cooling performance is improved, but noise levels increase and operating life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The inverter cover is designed with a domed shape instead of a flat surface. This curved geometry helps to reduce noise by dispersing sound waves and minimizing resonance effects that would occur with a flat surface at high operating speeds.
2Productivity
If the electric compressor operates at high speed to improve cooling efficiency, then the cooling performance is improved, but noise levels increase
Solution Approach 1:
The domed inverter cover uses curved surfaces to scatter and reduce noise propagation, effectively lowering the noise levels generated during high-speed operation while maintaining cooling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful noise generated at high speeds into a beneficial outcome by using the domed cover geometry to redirect and dissipate sound energy, transforming the noise problem into an acceptable acoustic environment.
3Reliability
If the electric compressor runs continuously to manage refrigerant and heat in electric vehicles, then the refrigerant management is improved, but battery degradation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The oil separator and lubrication system provide self-service by continuously lubricating moving parts and separating oil from refrigerant, enabling reliable continuous operation for refrigerant management without external maintenance intervention.
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 design achieves high efficiency, low noise, and extended operating life by optimizing the compression process and reducing vibrations, thereby minimizing battery degradation and improving overall system performance.
Implementation Method 1
The inverter module is mounted inside the housing and is adapted to convert direct current electrical power to alternating current electrical power
Implementation Method 2
The motor is mounted inside the housing and is adapted to rotate the drive shaft
Implementation Method 3
The orbiting scroll is rotated in a circular motion relative to a fixed scroll to compress a refrigerant
Implementation Method 4
compress the refrigerant as the drive shaft is rotated by the motor
Implementation Method 5
The compression device includes a swing-link mechanism and ball bearings
Data Source
AI summary
An electric compressor includes a housing, refrigerant inlet port, a refrigerant outlet port, an inverter section, a motor section, a compression device and a front cover. The housing defines an intake volume and a discharge volume. The refrigerant inlet port is coupled to the housing and is configured to introduce the refrigerant to the intake volume. The compression device is a scroll-type compression device configured to compress the refrigerant. The refrigerant outlet port is coupled to the housing and is configured to allow compressed refrigerant to exit the scroll-type electric compressor from the discharge volume.