Multistage Compressor Oil Separation for Low Oil Circulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing multistage compressor suffers from a high oil circulation ratio due to excessive lubricating oil being carried over into the high-stage compression mechanism, leading to reduced system efficiency and a risk of lubricating oil shortage, as the intermediate-pressure refrigerant gas is not adequately separated from the oil before entering the high-stage scroll compression mechanism.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an oil separator plate at the end of the electric motor's rotor, which centrifugally separates lubricating oil from the intermediate-pressure refrigerant gas before it reaches the high-stage compression mechanism, along with strategic gas channel configurations and sealing members to enhance separation efficiency and reduce oil circulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the low-stage compression mechanism discharges intermediate-pressure refrigerant gas into the sealed housing, then the refrigerant gas can be taken in by the high-stage compression mechanism, but a large amount of lubricating oil is merged with the refrigerant gas and taken in by the high-stage compression mechanism, leading to high oil circulation ratio
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes lubricating oil from the intermediate-pressure refrigerant gas before it enters the high-stage compression mechanism. An oil separator plate is installed at the discharge side of the low-stage compression mechanism to separate and remove oil from the refrigerant gas, preventing oil from being circulated to the refrigeration cycle side.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an oil separator plate as an intermediary component between the low-stage and high-stage compression mechanisms. This separator plate acts as a mediator that intercepts and removes lubricating oil from the refrigerant gas flow, allowing clean refrigerant gas to proceed to the high-stage compression while preventing oil circulation.
2Ease of operation
If lubricating oil is not sufficiently separated from the intermediate-pressure refrigerant gas, then the gas can flow smoothly to the high-stage compression mechanism, but the oil is discharged together with the compressed refrigerant gas, causing reduced system efficiency and risk of lubricating oil shortage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary oil separation at the discharge side of the low-stage compression mechanism, before the refrigerant gas enters the high-stage compression mechanism. The oil separator plate is positioned to intercept and remove oil from the refrigerant gas in advance, ensuring that only adequately separated gas proceeds to the next stage, thus preventing oil circulation and maintaining system reliability.
3Quantity of substance
If an oil separator plate is provided at the low-stage compression mechanism, then lubricating oil can be separated from the intermediate-pressure refrigerant gas, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the oil separation function with the existing discharge structure of the low-stage compression mechanism. The oil separator plate is integrated into the discharge side structure, combining the separation function with the existing housing and discharge passages, thereby reducing the need for additional separate components and minimizing structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a thin plate structure as the oil separator, which is a simple, lightweight component that can be easily integrated into the existing compressor housing. This thin film approach provides effective oil separation without adding significant structural complexity or weight to the device.
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 solution effectively reduces the oil circulation ratio, improving system efficiency and preventing lubricating oil shortages by minimizing the amount of oil taken in by the high-stage compression mechanism, thereby enhancing refrigeration cycle performance.
Implementation Method 1
an oil separator plate that centrifugally separates lubricating oil contained in the intermediate-pressure refrigerant gas, which is taken in by the high-stage compression mechanism after passing through the electric motor, is provided at one end of a rotor of the electric motor
Data Source
AI summary
A multistage compressor is provided, which can reduce an oil circulation ratio by reducing the amount of lubricating oil to be taken in by a high-stage compression mechanism to improve the system efficiency and prevent a shortage of lubricating oil. A low-stage compression mechanism and a high-stage compression mechanism are disposed below and above to flank an electric motor, respectively, intermediate-pressure refrigerant gas compressed by the low-stage compression mechanism is discharged into a sealed housing, and the intermediate-pressure refrigerant gas is taken in by the high-stage compression mechanism so as to be compressed in two stages, an oil separator plate that centrifugally separates lubricating oil contained in the intermediate-pressure refrigerant gas, which is taken in by the high-stage compression mechanism after passing through the electric motor, is provided at one end of a rotor of the electric motor such that a rotary shaft extends through the oil separator plate.