Multi-stage compressor and air-conditioning unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large commercial air conditioning units face efficiency issues due to complex pipelines and pressure loss in external make-up structures of compressors, leading to low compressor performance.
Innovation Solution
A multi-stage compressor design incorporating a flash tank within the compressor, with a flash chamber and liquid storage area, where the refrigerant inlet and outlet are integrated into the housing, and the vapor outlet is connected to a high-pressure-stage suction port, allowing for reduced external pipelines and enhanced enthalpy difference, thus improving efficiency and compactness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an external make-up air structure (such as an external plate heat exchanger) is used to adjust the exhaust temperature and increase refrigeration capacity, then the refrigeration capacity is improved, but the pipeline becomes complex and pressure loss increases, which worsens compressor efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the flash tank structure directly into the compressor housing, merging two previously separate components (compressor and flash tank) into a single integrated unit. This eliminates the need for external pipelines connecting separate components, thereby reducing pipeline complexity while maintaining the refrigeration capacity enhancement function.
Solution Approach 2:
The flash tank is nested within the compressor housing, with the liquid storage area positioned in the lower portion and the flash chamber in the upper portion. This nested arrangement allows the flash tank to occupy internal space within the compressor, eliminating external installations and reducing overall system footprint.
2Productivity
If an external make-up air structure is used to adjust exhaust temperature, then the refrigeration capacity increases, but the pressure loss in pipelines increases, which worsens compressor efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the flash tank into the compressor housing with direct internal communication between the flash chamber and compression chamber, the patent eliminates external pipeline connections. This reduces pressure loss by removing pipeline resistance while maintaining the ability to enhance refrigeration capacity through flash gas injection.
3Volume of stationary object
If a flash tank is integrated within the compressor housing, then the system becomes more compact and pressure loss is reduced, but the internal space arrangement becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The flash tank is nested within the compressor housing, utilizing the internal space of the compressor body. The liquid storage area is positioned in the lower portion and the flash chamber in the upper portion, creating a vertically arranged nested structure that reduces overall system footprint while organizing internal components systematically.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different functional zones within the flash tank structure: the lower portion serves as liquid storage area with a liquid outlet, while the upper portion serves as flash chamber with a vapor outlet. This local differentiation of functions within the integrated structure manages internal complexity through clear spatial organization.
4Device complexity
If the vapor outlet and high-pressure-stage suction port are located inside the housing, then the integration is improved and external pipelines are reduced, but the internal space arrangement becomes more constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The vapor outlet of the flash chamber and the high-pressure-stage suction port of the compressor are merged into a single internal opening within the housing. This integration eliminates the need for separate external pipeline connections while the internal space is efficiently utilized through the nested arrangement of the flash tank within the compressor body.
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 integrated flash tank design reduces pressure loss, enhances refrigeration capacity per unit mass of refrigerant, and makes the air conditioning unit more compact, thereby improving compressor efficiency and reducing its footprint.
Implementation Method 1
a flash tank, which is arranged in the multi-stage compressor; a housing, which is formed with a flash chamber and a liquid storage area of the flash tank
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a multi-stage compressor and an air conditioning unit. The multi-stage compressor includes a flash tank, which is arranged in the multi-stage compressor, a refrigerant inlet of the flash tank is configured to be communicated with a condenser, a vapor outlet of the flash tank is communicated with a high-pressure-stage suction port of the multi-stage compressor, and a liquid outlet of the flash tank is configured to be communicated with an evaporator. The multi-stage compressor and the air conditioning unit of the present disclosure effectively improve compressor efficiency.