Oil Separator Injection Pipe Bend for Centrifugal Refrigerant Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oil separators face challenges in efficiency due to material processing difficulties and inefficient separation of refrigerant and refrigeration oil, leading to decreased productivity and separation efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The oil separator design incorporates a bend in the injection pipe where the outer portion is closer to the sidewall, allowing centrifugal force to separate refrigeration oil from refrigerant, with the refrigeration oil adhering to the inner wall and flowing down, while the refrigerant maintains higher velocity, enabling reliable separation and improved production efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the injection pipe is bent outside the container body to improve separation efficiency, then separation efficiency is improved, but the insertion port must be formed at a specific location on the sidewall which is difficult to process
Solution Approach 1:
The injection pipe is bent inside the container body along the central axis rather than outside, changing the spatial arrangement from external to internal configuration. This allows the insertion port to be located at the top surface of the container body instead of at a specific difficult-to-access location on the sidewall, improving both manufacturability and separation efficiency
2Device complexity
If the bend of the injection pipe is disposed with the outer portion closer to the central axis, then the structure is simplified, but the refrigeration oil velocity decreases causing it to be sucked into the refrigerant discharge pipe
Solution Approach 1:
The bend of the injection pipe is configured asymmetrically with the inner portion closer to the central axis and the outer portion closer to the sidewall. This asymmetric configuration maintains sufficient refrigeration oil velocity to prevent it from being sucked into the refrigerant discharge pipe while still simplifying the overall structure compared to external bending configurations
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 configuration enhances separation efficiency, simplifies the production process by allowing flexible insertion port placement and increases centrifugal force, ensuring effective separation of refrigerant and refrigeration oil, thus improving the overall efficiency and productivity of the oil separator.
Implementation Method 1
a bend (25) bent inside the container body (21) such that an outer portion (26) of the bend (25) is closer to the sidewall (21a) of the container body (21) than an inner portion (27) of the bend (25) is when the container body (21) is viewed from above. This configuration allows a centrifugal force to act on the liquid mixture flowing through the injection pipe (23) at the bend (25). Having a higher specific gravity than the refrigerant, the refrigeration oil is sent toward the outer portion (26) of the bend (25)
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein is a technique for reducing a decrease in efficiency in producing an oil separator while maintaining high efficiency in separating a refrigerant and refrigeration oil from each other. An oil separator (20) includes a cylindrical container body (21), and an injection pipe (23) inserted into the container body (21) and introducing a liquid mixture into the container body (21). The injection pipe (23) has a bend (25) disposed inside the container body (21). The bend (25) is bent such that an outer portion (26) of the bend (25) is closer to a sidewall (21a) of the container body (21) than an inner portion (27) of the bend (25) is when the container body (21) is viewed from above.