Heat dissipation assembly for a linear compressor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Linear compressors face performance issues due to high oil temperatures leading to mechanical losses and reliability problems, as existing heat dissipation systems are complex, costly, and prone to leaks.

Innovation Solution

A linear compressor design featuring a housing with a sump for lubricant collection, a pump for circulating lubricant, and a heat dissipation assembly with a plate-mounted fluid passageway for efficient heat transfer, allowing lubricant to be cooled and recirculated.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If external heat exchangers are used to pass hot oil outside the housing, then heat dissipation is improved, but device complexity increases and reliability deteriorates due to leaks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil temperatureVSAvoidsystem reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful function of the external heat exchanger (leaks, complexity) is extracted and removed from the system. Instead, the beneficial heat dissipation function is retained through an internal plate heat exchanger that cools the oil without the drawbacks of external components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The heat dissipation function is merged with the existing housing structure by mounting the heat dissipation plate to the inner surface of the housing, creating an integrated solution that eliminates separate external heat exchanger components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Temperature

If external heat exchangers are used to pass hot oil outside the housing, then heat dissipation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil temperatureVSAvoidheat exchanger complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing serves multiple functions: it provides structural containment and simultaneously acts as a heat dissipation component through the integrated plate heat exchanger, eliminating the need for dedicated external heat exchanger components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 dissipates heat from lubricant, improving compressor performance by reducing mechanical losses and enhancing reliability through efficient heat transfer and lubricant circulation.

Implementation Method 1

a fluid passageway defined between the plate and the inner surface of the housing, the fluid passageway having a fluid inlet for receiving the flow of lubricant and a fluid outlet for discharging the flow of lubricant back into the sump

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11421922B2Heat dissipation assembly for a linear compressor

Publication Date: 2022.08.23 HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A linear compressor includes a housing defining a sump for collecting a lubricant and a pump for circulating a flow of lubricant within the housing. A heat dissipation or heat exchange assembly includes a plate mounted on a lower portion of the housing to define one or more fluid passageways between the plate and the housing. Hot oil is collected from the working components of the linear compressor and is passed through the one or more fluid passageways to discharge heat through the housing before the oil is returned to the sump.