Device for storing refrigerant of a refrigerant circuit system and method for operating the device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigeration circuits face inefficiencies and operational risks due to varying viscosity of refrigerant oil, which affects lubrication and refrigerant storage, especially in transcritical processes with carbon dioxide as a refrigerant, leading to potential compressor failure and reduced system efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A device with a refrigerant discharge line featuring an adjustable through-hole cross section, controlled by a temperature-dependent closing apparatus, ensures reliable oil return to the compressor across a wide range of viscosity values, maintaining efficient operation and preventing compressor failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a fixed through-hole is used in the discharge line, then the structure is simple, but the oil return reliability deteriorates when viscosity varies significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The through-hole is made adjustable in size rather than fixed, allowing the opening to be dynamically modified based on operating conditions. This enables the system to adapt to varying oil viscosities by changing the flow cross-section, ensuring reliable oil return across different temperature and viscosity conditions while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.
2Quantity of substance
If the through-hole cross section is increased, then oil flow improves at high viscosity, but refrigerant loss increases at low viscosity
Solution Approach 1:
The cross-sectional area of the through-hole is changed as a variable parameter rather than being fixed. By adjusting the opening size according to operating conditions (temperature, viscosity), the system optimizes oil flow quantity when needed while preventing excessive refrigerant loss during low-viscosity operation, thus resolving the trade-off between these two parameters.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a temperature-dependent closing apparatus is added, then oil return adapts to viscosity changes, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A closing apparatus with temperature-dependent actuation is integrated into the discharge line. This apparatus automatically adjusts the through-hole opening based on temperature changes, providing adaptability to viscosity variations. The design balances the added complexity with the benefit of automatic adaptation, avoiding overly complex control systems while achieving the desired responsiveness to operating conditions.
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 ensures consistent and efficient operation of refrigeration circuits by adapting oil flow based on temperature-induced viscosity changes, ensuring reliable lubrication and refrigerant storage across varying operating conditions, thereby enhancing system reliability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
varying viscosity of refrigerant oil, which affects lubrication and refrigerant storage
Implementation Method 2
temperature-dependent closing apparatus
Implementation Method 3
the oil, which is usually heavier than the liquid refrigerant and accumulates in the region of a bottom of the accumulator
Implementation Method 4
the oil, which is usually heavier than the liquid refrigerant and accumulates in the region of a bottom of the accumulator, is drawn from the accumulator by means of a U-tube or J-tube
Implementation Method 5
drawn from the accumulator by means of a U-tube or J-tube which partially extends at the bottom
Data Source
AI summary
A device for storing refrigerant of a refrigeration circuit and a method of operating the device, in particular for an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle. The device has a housing having a volume-enclosing wall with an inlet for introducing a refrigerant-oil mixture, and an outlet, a refrigerant discharge line arranged in the interior of the housing with an inlet opening arranged above a liquid level of the refrigerant for receiving gaseous refrigerant, and a system for returning oil to a compressor having at least one through hole formed below the liquid level of the refrigerant, in particular below a filling level of the oil, in the refrigerant discharge line. In addition, at least one through hole formed in the refrigerant discharge line is formed with an adjustable through-flow cross section, which can be varied by means of a closing apparatus.