Package-Type Compressor Dual-Inlet Cooling for Reduced Pressure Loss

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing package-type compressors face limitations in cooling performance due to a single air suction port restricting airflow and a long, high-pressure-loss cooling air flow path, making it difficult to efficiently cool the body unit and controller.

Innovation Solution

The design includes multiple cooling air inlets on opposite sides of the casing, a fan duct with a vertically oriented cooling fan, and a machine chamber that directs cooling air efficiently along the body unit and controller, with the suction port of the fan duct offset to balance airflow between inlets, reducing pressure loss and enhancing cooling performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a single air suction port is formed in one side surface of the casing, then sound insulation is improved, but the cooling performance deteriorates due to restricted airflow and long flow path

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound insulationVSAvoidcooling performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The single air suction port is segmented into multiple air suction ports (first and second air suction ports) formed in different side surfaces of the casing. This segmentation allows cooling air to be introduced from multiple locations, shortening the flow path and improving cooling performance while maintaining sound insulation through strategic positioning and configuration of each port

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the cooling air flow path is made long to reach all components, then comprehensive cooling is achieved, but pressure loss increases and cooling efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomprehensive cooling coverageVSAvoidpressure loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the casing are provided with different air suction ports positioned locally near the components requiring cooling. The first air suction port is positioned near the body unit and the second air suction port is positioned near the controller, allowing each component to receive cooling air from its nearest source, thereby reducing flow path length and pressure loss while ensuring comprehensive cooling coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Temperature

If the flow rate of cooling air is increased to improve cooling performance, then cooling efficiency improves, but the requirements for air inlet size and fan power increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidair inlet size and fan power requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling air flow is segmented into multiple independent flow paths through the provision of multiple air suction ports. Each port serves specific components, allowing the system to achieve high total flow rate without requiring any single inlet to be excessively large. This segmentation distributes the airflow requirements, maintaining manageable inlet sizes and fan power levels while achieving improved overall cooling efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 improves cooling performance for both the body unit and controller, reduces the need for additional cooling fans, and minimizes the compressor's size while maintaining effective sound insulation.

Implementation Method 1

a cooling fan (centrifugal fan) accommodated in the case

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

The first duct guides the cooling air from the air suction port to the motor of the body unit to cool the motor. The second duct causes the cooling air from the air suction port to flow along the controller to cool the controller.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3456966B1Package-type compressor
Publication Date: 2020.11.18 HITACHI IND EQUIP SYST CO LTD
  • EP3456966B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3456966B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3456966B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Provided is a package-type compressor that can improve cooling performance for cooling a body unit and a control panel. The package-type compressor includes: a cooling fan 30 accommodated in a fan duct 27 to induce a flow of cooling air taken in through inlets 8A and 8B and discharged through an outlet 9; a machine chamber 10 that causes the cooling air taken in at the inlet 8A to flow along a body unit 11; and a cooling duct 35 that causes the cooling air taken in at the inlet 8B to flow along the control panel 34. A center position O1 of the suction port 28 of the fan duct 27 is offset away from the inlet 8A and toward the inlet 8B with respect to a center position O2 of a drive shaft 16 of a motor 14 of the body unit 11.