Polymeric Discharge Pipe Damping for Compressor Resonance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Reciprocating compressors operating at high angular speeds experience noise amplification and pipe breakage due to resonance between the compressor's operating frequency and the natural frequency of the discharge piping, with existing solutions either limiting compressor performance or inadequately reducing noise.

Innovation Solution

A fluid-conducting pipe made of polymeric material, such as PFA or FEP, incorporating a vibrational energy dissipation element with a spiral geometry and misaligned segments to effectively reduce noise and vibration at high angular speeds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the maximum angular speed of the compressor is limited to avoid resonance, then noise and pipe breakage are reduced, but compressor productivity is decreased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise reduction and pipe durabilityVSAvoidcompressor angular speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the discharge piping by using polymeric material instead of traditional metallic material, and by implementing specific geometric configurations (curved sections, expansion chambers) to modify the natural frequency of the piping system, allowing operation at higher angular speeds without resonance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs polymeric material (such as PFA or FEP) for the discharge piping, which combines flexibility, noise damping properties, and resistance to vibration-induced fatigue, enabling the system to operate at high speeds while reducing noise and preventing pipe breakage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If polymeric material is used for the discharge piping, then noise is reduced, but the attenuation is insufficient for high angular speed operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise reductionVSAvoidnoise attenuation effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses polymeric material with specific viscoelastic properties that provide both noise reduction through damping and sufficient structural integrity for high-speed operation, combining the benefits of polymer flexibility with enhanced vibration attenuation capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the geometric parameters of the polymeric piping (wall thickness, curvature radius, expansion chamber dimensions) to enhance the natural frequency and vibration damping characteristics, making the polymeric material sufficiently effective for high angular speed operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 polymeric fluid-conducting pipe with a vibrational energy dissipation element efficiently reduces noise and prevents pipe breakage at high angular speeds, offering a technically efficient and economically feasible solution by dissipating vibrational energy and maintaining mechanical strength.

Implementation Method 1

at least one vibrational energy dissipation element... efficiently reduces noise and prevents pipe breakage at high angular speeds, offering a technically efficient and economically feasible solution by dissipating vibrational energy

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

vibrational energy dissipation element with a spiral geometry and misaligned segments to effectively reduce noise and vibration

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3599378B1Fluid-conducting pipe
Publication Date: 2021.05.19 WHIRPOOL SA
  • EP3599378B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3599378B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3599378B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

A fluid-conducting pipe (7) for reciprocating compressor (1) is made of polymeric material and comprises at least one vibrational energy dissipation element (9), basically, aiming at solving the problem of noise and the breakage of the pipe deriving from the resonance of the discharge piping in reciprocating compressors operating at high angular speed regimes.