Refrigerant Vessel Double-Shell Design to Reduce Compressor Noise
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigeration circuits in chiller and heating systems face challenges with noise and sound pulsations generated by rotating compressors, which are often amplified by refrigerant vessel components like heat exchangers or oil separators, requiring costly and complex noise reduction solutions.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerant vessel component with a double shell structure, where an inner perforated shell is located radially inside the main shell, and an acoustic treatment layer comprising porous materials and cavities is used to absorb sound pulsations, reducing noise emission and transfer within the circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional acoustic treatment methods (mufflers, absorbers) are integrated into refrigerant vessel components, then noise reduction is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the acoustic treatment function with the refrigerant vessel shell by creating an integrated double-shell structure. The inner perforated shell and outer shell form a unified noise-reducing component that also serves as the refrigerant containment vessel, eliminating the need for separate mufflers or absorbers and reducing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The inner shell is designed with perforated material featuring holes of specific dimensions (0.1-20mm), creating a porous structure that absorbs sound pulsations while maintaining refrigerant flow. This porous design provides acoustic treatment inherent to the vessel structure itself, rather than requiring additional complex acoustic components
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple pulsation reduction devices are placed at input and output of components, then pulsation transfer is limited, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines pulsation reduction functionality directly into the refrigerant vessel shell structure through the double-shell design with acoustic treatment layer. This integration eliminates the need for separate pulsation reduction devices at input and output, simplifying both manufacturing and installation while effectively limiting pulsation transfer throughout the system
3Object-affected harmful factors
If external acoustic treatment layers are added to the shell, then sound radiation is reduced, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested double-shell structure where the inner perforated shell is positioned within the outer shell, with the acoustic treatment layer situated between them. This nested configuration provides effective sound radiation reduction while integrating the acoustic treatment within the existing vessel structure, avoiding the need for external additions that would increase complexity
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
This solution effectively reduces sound pulsations and noise emission within the refrigerant vessel component and the entire refrigeration circuit, offering a cost-efficient and simpler implementation compared to traditional methods, while maintaining the refrigerant's vapor phase treatment.
Implementation Method 1
an acoustic treatment layer comprising porous materials and cavities is used to absorb sound pulsations
Implementation Method 2
The acoustic treatment layer comprises at least one of: porous materials, cavities
Implementation Method 3
the inner shell is at least partly formed of perforated material
Data Source
AI summary
This refrigerant vessel component (2, 4, 7) for a refrigeration circuit (100), comprises a shell (10) extending along a longitudinal axis (X) delimiting an internal volume (V), in which circulates a refrigerant fluid (R), whereas the refrigerant vessel component (2) comprises an inner shell (20) located radially inside the shell (10) and extending on at least a portion of the circumference of the shell (10), and whereas the inner shell (20) is at least partly formed of perforated material.