Linear Compressor Porous Bearing Feed for Uniform Refrigerant Flow
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas-lubricated linear compressors face issues with refrigerant leakage, clogging, uneven load-bearing capacity, and increased manufacturing costs due to fine nozzle parts and complex structures, leading to efficiency and reliability problems.
Innovation Solution
A linear compressor design featuring a porous filter membrane with micropores and gas holes, which supplies refrigerant to the bearing surface without fine nozzle parts, filters out foreign substances, and maintains uniform pressure distribution, reducing refrigerant consumption and manufacturing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If fine nozzle parts are formed in the cylinder to control refrigerant flow, then refrigerant distribution improves, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a porous member with controlled pore sizes (10-100 micrometers) instead of fine nozzle parts. The porous structure allows refrigerant to be distributed uniformly across the bearing surface while avoiding the manufacturing complexity of forming multiple small nozzles in the cylinder. The porous member is inserted into a single refrigerant passage, simplifying the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous member acts as an intermediary component between the refrigerant passage and the bearing surface. It receives refrigerant from a single passage and distributes it through its porous structure, eliminating the need for multiple nozzles or complex internal passages in the cylinder itself.
2Loss of substance
If the number of nozzle parts is reduced to decrease refrigerant consumption, then refrigerant loss decreases, but load-bearing capacity becomes non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The porous member provides a large surface area with numerous small pores that distribute refrigerant uniformly across the entire bearing surface. This allows the system to use fewer macroscopic nozzle parts while maintaining uniform load-bearing capacity, as the porous structure naturally disperses the refrigerant flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a one-dimensional flow path (single passage to multiple nozzles) to a two-dimensional distribution approach (porous surface). The porous member spreads refrigerant across the bearing surface area, achieving uniform load support with reduced refrigerant consumption compared to concentrated nozzle systems.
3Loss of substance
If nozzle inner diameter is made small to reduce refrigerant flow, then refrigerant consumption decreases, but clogging by foreign substances increases
Solution Approach 1:
The porous member uses pores in the 10-100 micrometer range that are numerous and distributed across a large area. While individual pores are small, the large total number of pores provides redundancy, making the system resistant to clogging. Foreign substances can block individual pores without affecting overall refrigerant distribution, unlike single small nozzles where one clog stops flow entirely.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the pore size parameter to 10-100 micrometers, which is larger than conventional fine nozzles. This parameter adjustment reduces the tendency for clogging while still achieving sufficient refrigerant decomposition and distribution. The larger pore size maintains refrigerant consumption control while improving reliability.
4Productivity
If refrigerant passage is positioned close to compression space to reduce suction loss, then suction efficiency improves, but compression loss increases due to refrigerant leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The porous member acts as an intermediary that decouples the position of the refrigerant passage from its distribution effect. The passage can be positioned optimally for suction efficiency, while the porous member ensures uniform distribution to the bearing surface, preventing excessive refrigerant from leaking into the compression space. This separates the functions of refrigerant intake and bearing lubrication.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous structure provides a large surface area for refrigerant distribution, ensuring that refrigerant is delivered uniformly to the bearing surface rather than concentrating in one location. This prevents excessive refrigerant from being forced into the compression space, reducing compression loss while maintaining suction efficiency.
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 refrigerant distribution and load-bearing capacity, reduces refrigerant leakage and manufacturing costs, and simplifies the compressor structure while maintaining efficiency and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a porous filter membrane with micropores and gas holes, which supplies refrigerant to the bearing surface without fine nozzle parts, filters out foreign substances
Implementation Method 2
gas holes larger than the micropores are formed inside and outside the porous member
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
Provided is a linear compressor including a linear motor having a mover reciprocating with respect to a stator; a piston coupled to the mover to reciprocate; a cylinder into which the piston is slidingly inserted, the cylinder having an inner circumferential surface forming a bearing surface together with an external circumferential surface of the piston, the cylinder forming a compression space together with the piston, and the cylinder having a first hole to guide refrigerant discharged from the compression space to the bearing surface; a porous member coupled to the outer circumferential surface of the cylinder and configured to cover the first hole, the porous member having multiple micropores smaller than the first hole; a cover member surrounding the porous member and coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the porous member; and a second hole formed on the cover member to communicate with the micropores of the porous member, the first hole not being aligned with the second hole in a radial direction of the piston.