Porous-Bearing Linear Compressor for Refrigerant Leakage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas-lubricated linear compressors face issues with refrigerant leakage, clogging, uneven load-bearing capacity, and increased manufacturing costs due to complex nozzle designs and foreign substance filtration, leading to efficiency and reliability problems.
Innovation Solution
A linear compressor design featuring a porous member with micropores and larger gas holes, strategically located to guide refrigerant to the bearing surface, reducing the need for fine nozzle parts and external filters, while ensuring uniform load distribution and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If multiple fine nozzle parts are formed in the cylinder to supply refrigerant to the bearing surface, then the load-bearing capacity for the piston is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases and the complexity of forming nozzle parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a porous member with micropores to replace multiple fine nozzle parts. The porous structure naturally provides numerous small openings for refrigerant supply without requiring complex machining of individual nozzles, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining load-bearing capacity through uniform refrigerant distribution across the bearing surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the refrigerant supply function by using a porous member that distributes refrigerant through its micropore structure. This segmentation allows refrigerant to be supplied to multiple locations simultaneously without requiring multiple discrete nozzle parts, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining effective load-bearing capacity.
2Loss of substance
If the inner diameter of nozzle parts is made very small to reduce refrigerant consumption flow rate, then the refrigerant loss is reduced, but the possibility of clogging by foreign substances increases
Solution Approach 1:
The porous member with micropores provides a balanced solution by offering numerous small openings that reduce refrigerant consumption while the distributed porous structure prevents clogging - if some micropores become blocked, others remain functional. This is more reliable than single large nozzles that clog easily or few small nozzles that are highly susceptible to blockage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of nozzle opening size by using micropores in the porous member. The micropore diameter is controlled to be small enough to reduce refrigerant loss but not so small as to be easily clogged, achieving an optimal balance between refrigerant conservation and clogging resistance.
3Loss of substance
If the number of nozzle parts is reduced to decrease refrigerant consumption, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the load-bearing capacity for the piston decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The porous member provides a large number of micropore openings in a single component, effectively replacing multiple nozzle parts. This maintains comprehensive refrigerant distribution across the bearing surface for adequate load-bearing capacity while using fewer discrete parts, thereby reducing refrigerant consumption and manufacturing complexity.
4Reliability
If foreign substance filtration is implemented to prevent clogging, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The porous member with micropores acts as an integrated filtration system - the micropore structure naturally filters foreign substances while allowing refrigerant passage. This eliminates the need for separate filtration components, reducing device complexity and manufacturing cost while maintaining reliability by preventing clogging of the refrigerant supply paths.
5Device complexity
If a gas-lubricated system is used instead of oil-lubricated to eliminate oil storage, then the device complexity is reduced, but refrigerant leakage into the inner space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The porous member with micropores creates a controlled refrigerant distribution system that supplies refrigerant precisely where needed at the bearing surface. The micropore structure provides pressure regulation and directional control, minimizing refrigerant leakage into the inner space while maintaining the simple gas-lubricated system without oil storage.
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 design allows for efficient refrigerant supply to the bearing surface, reducing leakage and clogging, enhancing load-bearing capacity, and simplifying the compressor structure, thereby improving efficiency and reducing manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a porous member having micropores in the middle of a refrigerant passage through which the compressed refrigerant is supplied to the bearing surface
Implementation Method 2
supporting the piston against the cylinder by a gaseous force of the refrigerant
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a linear compressor including a linear motor having a mover reciprocating with respect to a stator; a piston coupled to the mover to reciprocate; a cylinder into which the piston is slidingly inserted, the cylinder having an inner circumferential surface forming a bearing surface together with an external circumferential surface of the piston, the cylinder forming a compression space together with the piston, and the cylinder having at least one first hole formed through the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder and an outer circumferential surface of the cylinder to guide refrigerant discharged from the compression space to the bearing surface; and a porous member inserted into the outer circumferential surface of the cylinder and configured to cover the first hole, the porous member having multiple micropores smaller than the first hole.