Liquid Slug Protector with Dynamic Piston Flow Path Switching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Air conditioning and heat pump systems face challenges in preventing liquid refrigerant slugs from reaching compressors, leading to potential damage, and existing solutions like accumulators require long wait times for slow refrigerant transfer.
Innovation Solution
A liquid slug protector device with a housing, piston, and backing structure that vaporizes liquid refrigerant using a spring-activated mechanism, ensuring only vapor refrigerant reaches the compressor, thereby reducing the risk of damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional accumulator is used to prevent liquid refrigerant from reaching the compressor, then the compressor is protected from liquid slug, but the system requires long wait times for slow refrigerant transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a movable piston that dynamically adjusts the flow path based on refrigerant conditions. When liquid refrigerant is detected, the piston moves to block the short flow path and force refrigerant through the long flow path, enabling adaptive response to changing system conditions and eliminating fixed wait times.
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes the flow path length parameter dynamically by using the piston to switch between a short flow path (when vapor is present) and a long flow path (when liquid is detected). This parameter change enables the system to protect the compressor from liquid slug while minimizing wait time through rapid path switching.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If liquid refrigerant is slowly transferred through a small orifice, then the risk of compressor damage is reduced, but the refrigerant transfer process becomes unacceptably long
Solution Approach 1:
The piston dynamically switches between two flow paths based on refrigerant state. When liquid is detected via the liquid level sensor, it blocks the short path and forces refrigerant through the long path with greater liquid-vapor separation capability, protecting the compressor while maintaining acceptable transfer speed through rapid response.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a liquid level sensor as an intermediary that detects liquid refrigerant presence and triggers the piston movement. This intermediary enables rapid detection and response to liquid slug conditions, protecting the compressor without requiring slow, gradual transfer through a small orifice.
3Reliability
If a liquid slug protection device with dual flow paths is used, then compressor protection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the flow path into two distinct paths (short and long) that can be selectively activated. The piston divides the internal volume into separate regions, allowing independent optimization of each path for different refrigerant conditions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The single piston component performs multiple functions: it acts as a flow path controller, a liquid level response actuator, and a mechanism for selecting between different flow path lengths. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, mitigating 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 device quickly vaporizes liquid refrigerant, reducing the risk of compressor damage and eliminating the need for long wait times associated with conventional accumulator systems.
Implementation Method 1
A liquid slug protector device with a housing, piston, and backing structure that vaporizes liquid refrigerant using a spring-activated mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid slug protector device for air conditioning and heat pump systems includes a housing having an inlet port, an outlet port, and a cavity. The device further includes a piston disposed in the cavity. The piston has an inflow channel. The device also includes a backing structure disposed in the cavity. The backing structure has an outflow channel, where a first refrigerant flow path from the inlet port to the outlet port includes the inflow channel and the outflow channel. The device further includes a peripheral channel that is at least partially bound by the piston. A second refrigerant flow path from the inlet port to the outlet port includes the peripheral channel and the outflow channel. The second refrigerant flow path is closed when the piston abuts against the backing structure.