Housing-Integrated Vapor Injection for Electric Scroll Compressors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric compressors for vehicles, particularly those used in HVAC systems, face challenges in efficiency, noise, and operational life due to the complexity and cost of external vapor injection systems, which are not integrated effectively.
Innovation Solution
An electric scroll compressor with an integrated vapor injection circuit, where the vapor injection cavity and channels are integral with the housing, particularly the rear head, allowing for efficient vapor injection directly into the compression chamber without additional components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If external vapor injection assembly and additional components are used, then compressor capacity and efficiency are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vapor injection cavity and vapor injection channels are integrated directly into the compressor housing, merging the vapor injection function with the main compressor structure. This eliminates the need for external vapor injection assemblies and additional components, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining the capacity enhancement benefits of vapor injection
2Productivity
If external vapor injection assembly and additional components are used, then compressor capacity and efficiency are improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vapor injection cavity and channels are formed as integral parts of the compressor housing during the housing manufacturing process. This consolidation reduces the total number of parts that need to be manufactured, assembled, and quality-checked, thereby lowering manufacturing cost while preserving the efficiency improvements from vapor injection
3Productivity
If vapor injection is implemented with external components, then compressor capacity increases, but noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated vapor injection cavity and channels are seamlessly incorporated into the compressor housing structure, creating smooth fluid passages that minimize turbulence and vibration. This integrated design reduces noise generation compared to external component assemblies, while still achieving the desired capacity increase through vapor injection
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
Enhances compressor efficiency and reduces noise while extending operational life by integrating vapor injection components within the compressor housing, thus simplifying the system and reducing complexity and cost.
Implementation Method 1
scroll-type compressors, in which an orbiting scroll is rotated in a circular motion relative to a fixed scroll to compress a refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
a portion of the compressed refrigerant from the output of the compressor may be controllably diverted through a vapor generator and sent back to the compressor under a higher temperature, pressure and/or vapor content and inserted back into the compression cycle
Data Source
AI summary
An electric scroll compressor configured to compress a refrigerant for use with a vapor injection system, is provided. The compressor includes refrigerant inlet and outlet ports and a vapor injection port. The housing includes a vapor injection cavity and at least one vapor injection channel which are integral therewith. A compression device includes a fixed scroll and an orbiting scroll. The orbiting scroll and the fixed scroll form compression chambers for receiving the refrigerant from the intake volume and compressing the refrigerant as the drive shaft is rotated about the center axis. The fixed scroll includes at least one vapor outlet aperture in communication with the at least one vapor injection channel for allowing vapor to enter a compression chamber formed between the fixed scroll and the orbiting scroll.