Multistage Oil Separator Using Centrifugal Flow for Coolant Purity

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Solution Overview

Problem

In temperature-controlled cases, the miscibility of oil with coolant in cooling systems leads to inhibited heat transfer and potential lubrication insufficiency, affecting the performance of compressors and overall cooling efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A multistage oil separator is introduced, featuring a housing with a nozzle and a body that receives a coolant and oil mixture, changes its direction and velocity, and uses a filtering element to separate oil from coolant, directing separated oil back to the compressor and coolant back to the cooling system, ensuring efficient operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If oil is circulated with coolant in the cooling system, then compressor lubrication is maintained, but heat transfer ability of coolant is inhibited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompressor lubricationVSAvoidheat transfer ability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The oil separator divides the cooling system into two separate flow paths: one for oil return to compressor and another for coolant circulation. This segmentation prevents oil from contaminating the coolant while ensuring both substances reach their respective destinations, resolving the contradiction between maintaining lubrication and preserving heat transfer ability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The oil separator acts as an intermediary device between the compressor and the cooling system. It intercepts the oil-coolant mixture, separates the components, and redirects them appropriately. This intermediary function allows the system to maintain lubrication without compromising coolant performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If oil is circulated throughout the cooling system, then lubrication is maintained, but cooling system performance is impacted

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovelubricationVSAvoidcooling system performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The oil separator extracts oil from the coolant stream before the coolant enters the heat exchange components. By removing the harmful substance (oil) from the coolant path, the system maintains lubrication through oil return while preserving cooling performance through clean coolant circulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Loss of energy

If oil is separated from coolant, then heat transfer ability is improved, but compressor lubrication may become insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer abilityVSAvoidcompressor lubrication

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The oil separator creates a feedback loop where separated oil is returned to the compressor. This ensures that while coolant is kept clean for optimal heat transfer, the compressor receives continuous oil supply for lubrication, resolving the contradiction between heat transfer improvement and lubrication sufficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Measurement precision

If a multistage oil separator is used, then separation efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation efficiencyVSAvoidseparator structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The multistage oil separator employs a nested structure where inner components (such as separation chambers and flow directors) are positioned within the housing. This nesting approach achieves multiple separation stages in a compact arrangement, improving separation efficiency while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 multistage oil separator effectively separates oil from coolant, maintaining compressor lubrication and enhancing cooling system performance by ensuring optimal heat transfer and oil circulation.

Implementation Method 1

imparting, by the body, a centrifugal flow to the at least a portion of the amount of mixed fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal flow: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

separating, by a separating device disposed within the body, oil from coolant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal separation: Centrifugal Separation

Implementation Method 3

at least a portion of the discharged coolant and oil impacts the wall to direct the at least the portion of coolant and oil towards the nozzle of the housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow direction:

Data Source

PatentUS10527331B2Compact individual multistage universal hybrid oil separator

Publication Date: 2020.01.07 HILLPHOENIX INC

AI summary

Various embodiments disclosed herein related to a multistage oil separator. The oil separator includes a housing having a nozzle and defining an internal space and an oil outlet; a body disposed within the internal space, the body including a mixed fluid inlet configured to receive a coolant and oil mixture and a nozzle that receives at least a portion of the coolant and oil mixture from the mixed fluid inlet and discharges coolant and oil into the internal space of the housing; and, a wall disposed proximate to the nozzle of the body, wherein at least a portion of the discharged coolant and oil impacts the wall to direct the at least the portion of coolant and oil towards the nozzle of the housing. The oil separator functions to separate the coolant from the oil discharged from a compressor in a cooling system.