Linear compressor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas-lubricated linear compressors face issues with motor heat and compression heat dissipation, leading to overheating, reduced efficiency, and increased size due to gaps between stator and frame, resulting in vibration noise and increased flow resistance.
Innovation Solution
A linear compressor design with a supporting unit that includes a frame with heat radiating portions extending along the stator, allowing for improved heat transfer and reduced gaps between components, enhancing convective heat transfer and reducing vibration noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a gas-lubricated linear compressor is used to reduce size and eliminate oil shortage issues, then reliability and compactness are improved, but motor heat and compression heat cannot be smoothly cooled, lowering efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a radial dimension for heat dissipation by providing heat radiating portions on the inner circumferential surface of the stator that extend radially inward toward the mover. This radial heat transfer path enables efficient cooling of motor heat and compression heat without compromising the compact gas-lubricated design, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and efficiency.
2Ease of manufacture
If the stator is supported on a frame with gaps due to machining error, then assembly is simplified, but motor heat is not radiated smoothly and vibration noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing heat radiating portions at specific locations on the stator's inner circumferential surface where heat generation occurs. These localized thermal management features enable targeted heat dissipation without requiring tight tolerances across the entire stator-frame interface, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while improving heat radiation and reducing vibration noise.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat radiating portions act as intermediary thermal pathways between the stator and the refrigerant flow. These intermediate structures facilitate heat transfer from the stator to the surrounding refrigerant, enabling smooth heat radiation even when gaps exist between the stator and frame, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and harmful factors.
3Temperature
If the stator is brought into contact with the frame to improve heat radiation, then heat dissipation is enhanced, but the refrigerant flow path is blocked and flow resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the stator structure by providing heat radiating portions only on the inner circumferential surface, separating the heat radiation function from the structural support function. This segmentation allows the stator to maintain contact with the frame for heat dissipation while preserving the refrigerant flow path, thus resolving the contradiction between temperature control and energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat radiating portions essentially create additional thermal contact surfaces that copy the heat transfer function without blocking the fluid flow path. By replicating the heat radiation capability at multiple locations on the stator surface, the patent achieves enhanced heat dissipation while maintaining refrigerant flow, resolving the contradiction between temperature and energy loss.
4Temperature
If heat radiating portions are added to the stator, then motor and compression heat are radiated effectively, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heat radiation function into the existing stator structure by forming heat radiating portions directly on the inner circumferential surface of the stator. This integration eliminates the need for separate cooling components, achieving effective heat dissipation while minimizing increases in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The stator is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a structural support component and as a heat radiation surface. The heat radiating portions enable the stator to perform thermal management functions in addition to its mechanical role, reducing the need for additional dedicated cooling components and thus limiting the increase in device 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
The design effectively radiates motor and compression heat, preventing overheating, improving efficiency, reducing size, and minimizing vibration noise while maintaining high convective heat transfer coefficients.
Implementation Method 1
A linear compressor design with a supporting unit that includes a frame with heat radiating portions extending along the stator, allowing for improved heat transfer and reduced gaps between components, enhancing convective heat transfer
Data Source
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AI summary
A linear compressor according to the present invention includes a cylinder having a compressor space for compressing a refrigerant, a piston performing a reciprocating motion in an axial direction within the cylinder, a mover coupled to the piston to transmit a driving force to the piston and perform the reciprocating motion in the axial direction, a stator having a cylinder space in which the cylinder is inserted, and generating the driving force together with the mover, and a supporting unit having at least part radially overlapping the stator, wherein the radially overlapped portion is coupled to the stator in a contact manner, whereby heat transferred through a motor can be rapidly radiated.