Electric compressor and method for controlling same

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional compressors face durability issues and lubrication problems when compressing liquid refrigerant, as they are designed to handle gas-phase refrigerants and struggle with the phase change, leading to fatigue and oil separation inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

An electric compressor with a detection unit (temperature and pressure sensors) and a control unit that preheats the refrigerant to maintain it in a gas phase, using a three-phase coil connection unit to generate heat and prevent liquid compression, thereby ensuring stable operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the compressor operates at low temperatures, then the refrigerant compression function is maintained, but the refrigerant changes from gas phase to liquid phase causing compressor damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompressor durabilityVSAvoidliquid phase refrigerant damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The heating coil preheats the refrigerant before it enters the compressor to prevent liquid phase formation. This preliminary heating action ensures the refrigerant remains in gas phase, eliminating the harmful effect of liquid compression on the compressor durability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the temperature parameter of the refrigerant by applying heat through the heating coil. By increasing the refrigerant temperature above its dew point, the phase is maintained as gas, preventing the harmful liquid phase compression

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If liquid phase refrigerant is compressed, then the compression system experiences fatigue accumulation, but the drive unit must be designed with stiffness to satisfy durability standards

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrive unit stiffnessVSAvoidcompressor operation duration

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The heating coil applies preliminary heating to counteract the cooling effect that would cause refrigerant condensation. This preliminary anti-action prevents the phase change before it occurs, eliminating the root cause of compression fatigue and extending the compressor operational life

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Productivity

If liquid refrigerant is introduced into the compression system, then fluid resistance increases causing fatigue, but preventing liquid compression requires additional heating mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompression efficiencyVSAvoidheating control system

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heating coil serves multiple functions: it preheats the refrigerant to prevent liquid phase formation, and can also serve as part of the compression system's thermal management. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate heating devices, managing complexity while maintaining productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Ease of operation

If the refrigerant is insufficiently evaporated at the discharge end, then oil separation is not properly performed, but maintaining gas phase requires additional heating

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil separation operationVSAvoidheating energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The heating coil performs preliminary evaporation of the refrigerant before it reaches the discharge end where oil separation occurs. This preliminary action ensures complete evaporation, facilitating proper oil separation while using energy efficiently by preventing the need for additional heating later

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 solution effectively prevents liquid compression, reduces fatigue, and improves oil separation efficiency, ensuring the compressor operates normally even at low temperatures by accurately determining the refrigerant phase and preheating it to maintain it in a gas phase.

Implementation Method 1

a connection unit wound at a position adjacent to a passage of a housing for movement of a refrigerant in the electric compressor... differently controlling power applied to the connection unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentUS10309699B2Electric compressor and method for controlling same

Publication Date: 2019.06.04 HANON SYST CO LTD

AI summary

An electric compressor and a method of controlling the same, the electric compressor including a detection unit for detecting a phase of refrigerant in the electric compressor, a connection unit wound at a position adjacent to a passage of a housing for movement of a refrigerant in the electric compressor, and a control unit for performing control according to the phase of refrigerant by differently controlling power applied to the connection unit in response to data detected by the detection unit. The method including aligning a position of a rotor after an electric compressor is turned on, determining whether a refrigerant is in liquid phase or in gas phase, preheating the refrigerant by applying power to the electric compressor according to the phase of refrigerant, and controlling the electric compressor such that the electric compressor is normally operated after the refrigerant is preheated.