Refrigerant Compressor Gas Equalizer Duct to Reduce Lubricant Spurt
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerant compressors experience a significant spurt of lubricant in the compressed refrigerant on the outtake side, which is undesirable.
Innovation Solution
A gas equaliser duct connects the intake duct and the drive chamber, allowing permanent gas equalisation and featuring a duct length that is at least twice the equivalent duct diameter, preventing lubricant droplets from being transported from the drive chamber into the intake duct, thereby reducing lubricant spurt.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the drive chamber and intake duct are connected for gas equalisation, then gas equalisation is improved, but lubricant may be transported into the intake duct
Solution Approach 1:
The gas equalizer duct acts as an intermediary connection between the drive chamber and intake duct, allowing gas equalization while the specific geometric design (L/AD ≥ 2) prevents lubricant transport through this intermediary pathway
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the gas equalizer duct, specifically setting the ratio of duct length to equivalent diameter (L/AD) to be at least 2, which transforms the duct from a potential lubricant transport pathway into a barrier that allows gas equalization while blocking lubricant migration
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a gas equaliser duct is introduced, then lubricant spurt is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gas equalizer duct serves multiple functions simultaneously: it equalizes gas pressure between the drive chamber and intake duct, prevents lubricant transport, and reduces lubricant spurt on the outtake side, making the additional component highly efficient in addressing multiple problems
Solution Approach 2:
By specifying the geometric parameter ratio L/AD ≥ 2, the invention creates a simple design rule that achieves lubricant spurt reduction without requiring complex structures, making the solution easy to implement and manufacture
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 optimises gas equalisation and minimises lubricant transport, ensuring the refrigerant compressor operates efficiently with reduced lubricant spurt on the outtake side.
Implementation Method 1
the intake duct and the drive chamber are connected by way of a gas equaliser duct, which allows a permanent equalisation of gas between them
Implementation Method 2
because of the duct length of the gas equaliser duct, lubricant, in particular lubricant droplets, is prevented from being transported from the opening on the drive chamber side, through the opening on the intake duct side and into the intake duct
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerant compressor for a refrigeration system comprises a common housing, a compressor unit arranged in the common housing, a mechanical compressor drive unit for the compressor unit, arranged in a drive chamber, a lubricant bath forming in the drive chamber, an intake duct that extends in a manner separated from the drive chamber and through which the compressor unit draws in by suction refrigerant that is to be compressed. The intake duct and the drive chamber are connected by a gas equaliser duct, which allows a permanent equalisation of gas, and which has on one side an opening on the drive chamber side and on the other an opening on the intake side, and of which the duct length between the openings corresponds to at least twice an equivalent duct diameter, in particular a smallest equivalent duct diameter, of the gas equaliser duct.