Refrigerant Noise Reduction Housing With Baffles for Slug Flow
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Air conditioners experience irregular refrigerant noise due to unstable refrigerant flow caused by foreign substances and pipe bending, leading to slug flow, which is not effectively addressed by existing noise reduction devices that require complex structures and large configurations.
Innovation Solution
A noise reduction device with a housing and multiple baffles, including a first and second baffle with holes at their centers, positioned to stabilize the refrigerant flow by phase separation, reducing noise and improving manufacturability and installation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If existing noise reduction devices are used to reduce refrigerant noise, then noise reduction effect is achieved, but device complexity and configuration size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The noise reduction device divides the internal space into multiple sections using partition walls with through-holes. The partition walls are segmented into multiple sections along the refrigerant flow direction, creating a stepped configuration that reduces noise through phase separation while maintaining a compact structure. This segmentation approach effectively reduces refrigerant noise without requiring a large overall device configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition walls are extended in the vertical direction (perpendicular to the refrigerant flow direction) to form a stepped structure. This dimensional extension creates multiple levels for phase separation, enhancing noise reduction effectiveness while keeping the device compact in the horizontal direction. The vertical extension of partition walls adds a new dimension to the noise reduction mechanism.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If complex noise reduction structures are implemented, then noise reduction effectiveness improves, but manufacturing precision requirements and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The partition walls are divided into multiple sections with through-holes, creating a modular structure. Each partition wall section can be manufactured independently with standard hole positioning, reducing the overall manufacturing precision requirements compared to a single complex structure. The segmented design allows for easier fabrication and assembly while maintaining effective noise reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition walls are positioned at specific locations within the noise reduction device to create localized phase separation zones. The through-holes in the partition walls are strategically placed to achieve effective noise reduction at critical areas without requiring high precision throughout the entire device. This localized approach reduces manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining effectiveness.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If large configuration noise reduction devices are used, then noise reduction performance improves, but installation space requirements and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The partition walls are extended vertically to form a stepped structure that utilizes the vertical dimension for phase separation. This allows the device to achieve effective noise reduction in a compact horizontal footprint, reducing the overall volume required for installation while maintaining performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition walls are divided into multiple sections along the flow direction, creating a compact stepped configuration. This segmentation allows the device to achieve effective noise reduction in a smaller overall volume compared to a single large partition structure, facilitating easier installation in limited spaces.
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 device effectively stabilizes the refrigerant flow and reduces noise by separating the gas and liquid phases within a compact structure, enhancing the assembly and installation of the noise reduction system.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of baffles disposed inside the housing and including a first baffle and a second baffle that partition an inside of the housing into a plurality of spaces in a flow direction of the refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
when a two-phase refrigerant discharged from the outdoor unit of the air conditioner flows through a buried pipe of an apartment, the flow of the refrigerant may become unstable due to foreign substances in the pipe or bending of the pipe. That is, the refrigerant may form a slug flow
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner includes a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, an indoor heat exchanger, and a noise reduction device configured to reduce flow noise of a refrigerant. The noise reduction device includes a housing including a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet, and a plurality of baffles disposed inside the housing. The baffles include a first baffle and a second baffle that partition an inside of the housing into a plurality of spaces in a flow direction of the refrigerant. Each of the first baffle and the second baffle includes a hole through which the refrigerant passes. The holes of the first and second baffles are respectively disposed at centers of the first and second baffles at positions corresponding to each other in the flow direction of the refrigerant.