Oil separator

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing oil separators with curved portions in inflow pipes require increased space for installation, necessitating a reduction in size while maintaining effective oil separation efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The oil separator design integrates the curved portion of the inflow pipe with the separator body, forming a common peripheral wall, and includes an oil draining hole to discharge separated oil, allowing for a compact integral structure that reduces the overall size of the separator and compressor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the inflow pipe includes a curved portion for centrifugal separation, then oil separation efficiency is improved, but the installation space and overall size of the oil separator increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoil separation efficiencyVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The curved portion of the inflow pipe is merged with the separator body by making their peripheral walls common to each other. This integration eliminates the need for separate curved portion structures, achieving effective oil separation through centrifugal force while reducing the overall installation space and size of the oil separator.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If the separator body and inflow pipe are made as separate components, then assembly and maintenance are easier, but the overall size and complexity of the oil separator increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The separator body and inflow pipe are designed with common peripheral walls, integrating what could be separate components into a unified structure. This reduces structural complexity and the number of parts, while the design maintains ease of assembly and maintenance through straightforward integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If the curved portion has a larger radius for better centrifugal separation, then oil separation performance is improved, but the device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoil separation performanceVSAvoiddevice size
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The curved portion is integrated with the separator body through common peripheral walls, allowing the centrifugal separation function to be achieved within the existing separator geometry. This eliminates the need for additional space that would be required if the curved portion were a separate, larger-radius component, thus maintaining separation performance while reducing device size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This design effectively reduces the size of the oil separator and compressor while enhancing oil separation efficiency through centrifugal force separation and efficient oil collection and drainage, simplifying the molding process and reducing vibrations and noise.

Implementation Method 1

In the curved portion, an oil in a fluid is separated by a centrifugal force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

In the separator body, the oil in the fluid is further separated by a centrifugal force generated by a swirling flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP3669994B1Oil separator
Publication Date: 2022.12.14 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD
  • EP3669994B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3669994B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3669994B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A peripheral wall (71) of a separator body (70) and an inflow pipe (50) include a common portion (C) common to each other.