Coolant compressor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerant compressors experience a significant amount of lubricant being thrown up with the compressed refrigerant on the outlet side, which is undesirable.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a gas equalization duct that connects the inlet duct and the drive chamber, with a channel length at least twice the equivalent diameter, and a cross-sectional area that minimizes lubricant transport from the drive chamber into the inlet duct, preventing lubricant droplets from entering the inlet channel and reducing lubricant throw.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a gas equalization channel is added to connect the inlet channel and drive chamber, then gas equalization is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gas equalization channel is integrated into the housing structure, merging the equalization function with the existing housing rather than adding a separate external component. This reduces overall device complexity while maintaining the gas equalization function.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, contains the drive chamber and inlet channel, and now also incorporates the gas equalization channel. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the gas equalization channel has a longer length (at least twice the equivalent diameter), then lubricant transport is reduced, but pressure equalization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The channel dimensions are specifically designed with a length-to-diameter ratio of at least 2:1. This parameter change creates sufficient flow resistance to prevent lubricant droplet transport while still allowing gas pressure equalization to occur at an acceptable rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas equalization channel has different functional requirements at different locations: near the drive chamber it needs to allow gas flow while preventing lubricant transport, and near the inlet channel it needs to maintain proper pressure. The channel's specific dimensions and positioning create different local flow conditions to satisfy both requirements.
3Reliability
If the gas equalization channel has a larger cross-sectional area, then gas equalization is improved, but lubricant droplet transport increases
Solution Approach 1:
The channel cross-sectional area and length are designed with specific parameter relationships (length at least twice the equivalent diameter). This parameter combination creates sufficient flow resistance to prevent lubricant transport while maintaining adequate gas equalization capability.
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 ensures optimal gas equalization and minimizes lubricant delivery into the inlet channel, significantly reducing lubricant throw at the refrigerant compressor's outlet, maintaining system efficiency and performance.
Implementation Method 1
connecting the inlet channel and the drive chamber via a gas equalization channel which allows permanent gas equalization between them, which has on the one hand an opening on the drive chamber side and on the other hand an opening on the inlet channel side and whose channel length between the openings corresponds to at least twice an equivalent channel diameter
Implementation Method 2
the length of the gas equalization channel prevents lubricants, especially lubricant droplets, from being transported from the drive chamber-side opening via the inlet-side opening into the inlet channel
Data Source
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AI summary
In order to improve a refrigerant compressor, particularly for a refrigeration system, comprising an overall housing, a compressor unit arranged in the overall housing, a mechanical compressor drive unit for the compressor unit arranged in a drive chamber of the overall housing, a lubricant bath forming in the drive chamber, and an inlet channel running separately from the drive chamber in the overall housing through which the compressor unit draws in refrigerant to be compressed, in such a way as to create a refrigerant compressor in which lubricant throw is reduced as much as possible, it is proposed that the inlet channel and the drive chamber be connected via a gas equalization channel that allows permanent gas equalization between them.which has on the one hand an opening on the drive chamber side and on the other hand an opening on the inlet side and whose channel length between the openings corresponds to at least twice an equivalent channel diameter, in particular a smallest equivalent channel diameter, of the gas equalization channel.