Multi-stage Compressor Integrated Refrigerant Connection Cover

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional two-stage compression scroll compressors face challenges in achieving compactness and maintainability due to the mismatch in refrigerant flow between low-stage and high-stage compression mechanisms, leading to a complex layout of valves, openings, and tubes.

Innovation Solution

A multi-stage compressor design with a refrigerant connection cover that forms medium-pressure and high-pressure chambers, including specific ports and relief units, and check valves to manage refrigerant flow and pressure, allowing for integrated arrangement of valves and tubes, enhancing compactness and maintainability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional two-stage compression scroll compressor is used, then the low-stage compression mechanism compresses refrigerant, but the amount of circulating refrigerant introduced to the high-stage compression mechanism becomes larger than that introduced to the low-stage compression mechanism, making it difficult to achieve two-stage compression

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetwo-stage compression capabilityVSAvoidsystem configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The compression chamber is divided into two distinct stages using a partition wall: an outer compression chamber for low-stage compression and an inner compression chamber for high-stage compression. This segmentation allows independent control of refrigerant flow paths and compression processes for each stage, enabling proper two-stage compression operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner compression chamber is nested within the outer compression chamber structure. The partition wall creates a concentric arrangement where the high-stage compression occurs in the inner region while the low-stage compression occurs in the outer region, allowing compact integration of both compression stages in a single scroll compressor body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a two-stage compression two-stage expansion cycle scroll compressor is implemented, then compression functionality is achieved, but the compressor increases in size and has a complex layout of tubes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetwo-stage compression two-stage expansion cycle capabilityVSAvoidcompressor size
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple functional components are merged into the single scroll compressor body: both low-stage and high-stage compression mechanisms, medium-pressure refrigerant discharge port, medium-pressure refrigerant suction port, high-pressure refrigerant discharge port, and partition wall are integrated into one unified structure. This eliminates the need for separate compressors and reduces overall system size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The scroll compressor body serves multiple functions simultaneously: it houses both compression stages, acts as a housing for refrigerant flow paths, provides mounting surfaces for ports and valves, and contains the partition wall for stage separation. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of repair

If multiple valves, openings, and tubes are arranged in an integrated manner, then maintainability and compactness are improved, but the design complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovemaintainabilityVSAvoiddesign complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The refrigerant flow paths and compression chambers are arranged in a two-dimensional concentric pattern within the scroll compressor body. The partition wall creates radial separation between stages, and ports are positioned at specific radial and axial locations, utilizing spatial dimensions efficiently to integrate multiple functions without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 improves the compactness and maintainability of the multi-stage compressor by integrating a large number of valves and tubes, effectively managing refrigerant flow and pressure across stages, thereby simplifying the system configuration.

Implementation Method 1

a multi-stage compressor with a multi-stage compression mechanism

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

scroll compressor including an orbiting scroll and a fixed scroll

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOrbital motion compression:

Implementation Method 3

a medium-pressure refrigerant discharge port that discharges medium-pressure refrigerant from a low-stage compression chamber of the compression chambers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient flow: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 4

a medium-pressure refrigerant suction port that is open in a same direction as the medium-pressure refrigerant discharge port and induces the medium-pressure refrigerant into a high-stage side of the compression chambers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 5

a high-pressure refrigerant discharge port that is open in a same direction as the medium-pressure refrigerant discharge port and discharges high-pressure refrigerant discharged from a high-stage compression chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient flow: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 6

the refrigerant connection cover forms a medium-pressure refrigerant chamber, which communicates with the medium-pressure refrigerant suction port and the medium-pressure refrigerant discharge port

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 7

check valves to manage refrigerant flow and pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCheck valve directional flow: Valve

Implementation Method 8

specific ports and relief units, and check valves to manage refrigerant flow and pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure relief: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3842640B1Multi-stage compressor
Publication Date: 2024.03.20 FUJI ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP3842640B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3842640B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3842640B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Such a multi-stage compressor is provided that a number of valves, openings, and tubes, which are specific to two-stage compression, are arranged in an integrated manner so as to improve maintainability and compactness of the device. The compressor therefore includes a plurality of compression chambers in a housing, a medium-pressure refrigerant discharge port 123 that discharges medium-pressure refrigerant RM3 from a low-stage compression chamber of the compression chambers, a medium-pressure refrigerant suction port 122 that is open in the same direction as the medium-pressure refrigerant discharge port 123 and induces the medium-pressure refrigerant RM3 to a high-stage compression chamber of the compression chambers, a high-pressure refrigerant discharge port 124 that is open in the same direction as the medium-pressure refrigerant discharge port 123 and discharges high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the high-stage compression chamber of the compression chambers, and a refrigerant connection cover that is detachably mounted on the housing, and forms a medium-pressure refrigerant chamber 116 communicating with the medium-pressure refrigerant suction port 122 and the medium-pressure refrigerant discharge port 123 and having an external medium-pressure refrigerant connection induction port 126 that is open toward the outside, and forms a high-pressure refrigerant chamber 117 communicating with the high-pressure refrigerant discharge port 124 and has a high-pressure refrigerant ejection port 125 that is open toward the outside.