Fluid machine, heat exchanger, and operating method of fluid machine

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional piston-type compressors experience instability and high vibration due to an unfixed eccentric distance between the cylinder and rotating shaft, leading to increased suction and exhaust noises, reduced efficiency, and low volume efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A fluid machinery design with a rotating shaft and cylinder having a fixed eccentric distance, where the piston component features a variable volume cavity, allowing stable rotation and reduced vibration by maintaining a constant center of mass, and incorporating a cross slider mechanism for efficient gas compression and exhaust.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If a traditional piston-type compressor uses a crankshaft and connecting rod mechanism to drive piston reciprocating motion, then gas compression function is achieved, but the structure becomes complex and lateral force on the crankshaft increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompression functionVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the connecting rod from the traditional crankshaft mechanism, directly connecting the piston to the rotating shaft. This simplifies the structure by removing unnecessary components while maintaining the compression function through direct drive geometry

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a crankshaft to convert rotational motion to reciprocating motion, the patent inverts the approach by using a rotating shaft with offset center that directly drives piston reciprocating motion through geometric arrangement, eliminating the need for complex connecting mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Power

If a traditional piston-type compressor uses suction and exhaust valves for gas flow control, then compression cycles are achieved, but suction and exhaust noises increase and resistance increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompression cycleVSAvoidsuction and exhaust noises
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent completely removes the suction and exhaust valves from the system. Gas flow control is achieved through the geometric arrangement of the rotating shaft and piston, which naturally creates intake and exhaust ports at appropriate positions during rotation, eliminating valve-related noises and resistances

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical valve system with a geometric flow control mechanism where the rotating shaft and piston arrangement automatically opens and closes gas passages through their relative motion, eliminating moving valve parts and associated noise

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If a traditional piston-type compressor uses a crankshaft with eccentric mass to drive piston motion, then reciprocating motion is achieved, but large vibration occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereciprocating motionVSAvoidvibration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses an asymmetric geometric arrangement where the rotating shaft center is offset from the piston center, creating the necessary reciprocating motion through this fixed eccentricity rather than through rotating eccentric mass, thereby eliminating vibration while maintaining motion functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

4Force

If a traditional piston-type compressor uses large lateral force on the crankshaft and piston, then motion drive is achieved, but the piston is easy to abrade and sealing property reduces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotion drive forceVSAvoidsealing property
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the connecting rod that transmits lateral forces between the piston and crankshaft. The direct connection between piston and rotating shaft eliminates the lateral force transmission path, reducing abrasion and maintaining sealing properties while still achieving motion drive through geometric arrangement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

5Ease of manufacture

If a traditional piston-type compressor has clearance volume and large leakage paths, then assembly is simplified, but volume efficiency becomes low and difficult to increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidvolume efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potential harm of clearance volume by designing the rotating shaft and piston geometry such that clearance volume is minimized through precise geometric arrangement. The system transforms what could be a source of leakage into an efficient compression chamber by carefully controlling port timing and chamber geometry

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

The design enhances operational stability, reduces clearance volume, and increases the reliability of heat exchange equipment by ensuring a regular pattern of volume change, thereby improving the compressor's efficiency and sealing properties.

Implementation Method 1

the axis of the rotating shaft and the axis of the cylinder being eccentric to each other and at a fixed eccentric distance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEccentric mechanism: Eccentric

Implementation Method 2

the center of mass of an eccentric portion in a piston-type compressor makes a circular motion to generate a size-invariable and direction-variable centrifugal force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 3

the sliding segment is provided with sliding fit surfaces, and the sliding fit surfaces are in sliding fit with an inner wall surface of the sliding hole of the piston in a direction vertical to an axial direction of the rotating shaft

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSliding friction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3333427B1Fluid machine, heat exchanger, and operating method of fluid machine
Publication Date: 2021.09.08 ZHUHAI GREE REFRIGERATION TECH CENT OF ENERGY SAVING & ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
  • EP3333427B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3333427B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3333427B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A fluid machinery, a heat exchange equipment, and an operating method for fluid machinery. The fluid machinery includes: a rotating shaft (10), a cylinder (20) and a piston component (30). The axis of the rotating shaft (10) and the axis of the cylinder (20) are eccentric to each other and at a fixed eccentric distance. The piston component (30) is provided with a variable volume cavity (31), pivotally provided in the cylinder (20). The rotating shaft (10) is drivingly connected with the piston component (30) to change the volume of the variable volume cavity (31). Because the eccentric distance between the rotating shaft (10) and the cylinder (20) is fixed, the rotating shaft (10) and the cylinder (20) rotate around the respective axes thereof during motion, and the position of the center of mass remains unchanged, so that the piston component (30) is allowed to rotate stably and continuously when moving in the cylinder (20); and vibration of the fluid machinery is effectively mitigated, a regular pattern for changes in the volume of the variable volume cavity is ensured, and clearance volume is reduced, thereby increasing the operational stability of the fluid machinery, and increasing the working reliability of heat exchange equipment.