Linear compressor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Linear compressors experience efficiency reduction due to refrigerant temperature decrease and pressure loss during discharge, as refrigerant directly contacts the inner surface of the discharge cover, leading to heat exchange and inefficient gas bearing operation.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a discharge cover assembly with a first and second discharge plenum that maximizes contact area with the inner surface, minimizing direct contact and optimizing the flow path to prevent refrigerant leakage and temperature loss, thereby enhancing the sealed area and gas bearing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the refrigerant directly contacts the inner surface of the discharge cover, then heat exchange occurs, but the refrigerant temperature decreases and efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a discharge plenum as an intermediary component between the refrigerant and the discharge cover inner surface. The refrigerant flows through the discharge plenum which is in close contact with the inner surface, preventing direct contact between the refrigerant and the cover surface. This intermediary structure maintains refrigerant temperature and prevents efficiency loss while still enabling heat exchange where needed.
2Loss of energy
If the discharge plenum maximizes contact area with the inner surface, then heat exchange is minimized, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the discharge plenum with the discharge cover assembly, making the plenum an integral part of the cover structure. The plenum is configured to maximize contact area with the inner surface while being structurally integrated, thus minimizing temperature loss without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
3Reliability
If sealing members are added to prevent leakage, then gas bearing efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the discharge plenum and discharge cover assembly to inherently provide sealing functionality through their close contact configuration. The structure itself serves the sealing function, and additional sealing members are strategically placed only where necessary to enhance this self-sealing capability, thus improving gas bearing efficiency without excessive complexity.
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
This configuration prevents refrigerant heat exchange with the shell, maintains refrigerant efficiency, and improves gas bearing performance by minimizing pressure drops and flow path losses, resulting in increased efficiency and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
The refrigerant gas serves as a gas bearing between the cylinder and a piston and can reduce a friction force
Implementation Method 2
The compression unit performs a process of compressing and discharging a refrigerant while performing a resonant motion by a resonant spring
Implementation Method 3
a compression space is formed between a piston and a cylinder, and the piston linearly reciprocates to compress a fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A linear compressor includes a frame, a cylinder disposed in the frame, a piston disposed in the cylinder and configured to reciprocate relative to the cylinder along an axis of the cylinder, a discharge valve disposed forward relative to the piston, and a discharge cover assembly coupled to the frame and disposed forward relative to the piston. The discharge cover assembly includes a discharge cover forming an inner space, a first discharge plenum disposed in the discharge cover and configured to partition the inner space into a plurality of discharge spaces, and a second discharge plenum disposed forward relative to the first discharge plenum and being in close contact with an inner surface of the discharge cover.