Pressurized Compressor Case Valve Control for Refrigerant Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerant recovery units in air conditioning systems suffer from inefficiencies due to refrigerant leakage through imperfect piston seals and the lack of control over pressure in the compressor case, leading to increased costs and reduced recovery efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A compressor system with a sealed case and a valve mechanism that controls pressure by connecting the compressor case to the inlet and outlet passages based on predetermined pressure thresholds, using check and solenoid valves to manage refrigerant flow and maintain optimal pressure for efficient recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the compressor case is open to atmosphere, then refrigerant leakage into the case is allowed, but refrigerant is lost and recovery efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful refrigerant leakage into a beneficial pressurization mechanism. Instead of preventing refrigerant from entering the compressor case, the invention allows it to enter and use it as pressurized storage, converting the loss into a useful function that assists compression and improves recovery efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The compressor case serves multiple functions: it houses the compression mechanism and simultaneously acts as a pressurized refrigerant storage chamber. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate high-pressure storage and reduces overall system complexity while improving recovery efficiency.
2Productivity
If a bleedback hole is used to allow refrigerant to escape back to inlet, then pressure control is simplified, but efficiency increase is minimal and vacuum production is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the static bleedback hole with dynamic solenoid valves that can open or close based on operational requirements. This allows the system to adapt pressure control to different phases of operation, maximizing recovery efficiency during compression and enabling vacuum production during evacuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the pressure parameter in the compressor case dynamically using solenoid valves. During recovery, high pressure is maintained in the case to assist compression; during vacuum production, the case is isolated to allow the system to evacuate. This parameter control optimizes both efficiency and operational flexibility.
3Loss of substance
If the compressor case is sealed, then refrigerant loss is reduced, but pressure control and efficiency optimization become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The solenoid valves act as intermediaries between the sealed compressor case and the refrigerant passages. They control when the case connects to the high-pressure outlet or low-pressure inlet, allowing flexible pressure management while maintaining the sealed configuration to prevent refrigerant loss.
4Use of energy by moving object
If low-side pressure enters the crank case through bleedback hole, then compression efficiency increases slightly, but pressure becomes negligible as source depletes
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-pressurizes the compressor case using high-pressure refrigerant from the compression stroke before it is needed for the next compression cycle. This preliminary action ensures that the case is always pressurized when compression begins, maintaining efficiency throughout the entire operational duration even as the source depletes.
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 solution significantly reduces refrigerant losses and enhances the efficiency of the compressor by managing pressure within the compressor case, allowing for better refrigerant recovery and reduced operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
The first valve is a check valve configured to prevent flow through the low side return passage from the low side passage to the compressor case
Implementation Method 2
The first valve is configured to open at a predetermined pressure difference between the compressor case and the low side passage to connect the compressor case to the low side passage
Implementation Method 3
using check and solenoid valves to manage refrigerant flow and maintain optimal pressure
Implementation Method 4
A compressor operates to recover refrigerant from the air conditioning system
Implementation Method 5
Pressure in the crank case increases the efficiency of the compressor, since the pressure acts on the pistons of the compressor to assist in the compression stroke of the piston
Data Source
AI summary
A compressor system for an air conditioning service system includes a compressor having a compressor case and a compressor head, an inlet, an outlet, a low side passage fluidly connecting the inlet to the compressor head, and a high side passage fluidly connecting the outlet to the compressor head. A low side return passage fluidly connects the compressor case with the low side passage and a first valve is positioned at least partially in the low side return passage and configured to control flow in the low side return passage.