Lubricant Control Valve for Screw Compressor Oil Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Screw compressor oil injection systems face challenges in efficiently injecting oil into compression chambers, especially when the oil pressure is low, as high pressures in the compression chamber can prevent oil injection, leading to reduced efficiency and the need to locate injection ports closer to the suction port.
Innovation Solution
A compressor system with a lubricant reservoir and a valve that moves between two positions based on pressure differences, allowing lubricant to be directed to either a low-pressure or high-pressure section of the compression chamber, ensuring efficient lubrication throughout the compressor operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the injection port is located near the discharge port to improve compressor efficiency, then compression efficiency is improved, but oil injection becomes difficult when compression chamber pressure is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a movable valve that dynamically switches between two positions based on operating conditions. The valve can connect the oil injection system to either a first injection port (closer to suction port) or a second injection port (closer to discharge port), allowing the system to adapt to varying pressure conditions and maintain reliable oil injection while optimizing compressor efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The compression chamber is divided into two distinct injection zones with separate injection ports. The first injection port is positioned in a lower pressure region closer to the suction port, while the second injection port is positioned in a higher pressure region closer to the discharge port. This segmentation allows oil injection to occur at different locations depending on the compression stage and pressure conditions
2Reliability
If the injection port is located closer to the suction port to ensure oil injection, then oil injection reliability is improved, but compressor efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable valve dynamically selects the optimal injection port based on real-time pressure conditions. When compression chamber pressure is low, the valve connects to the second injection port near the discharge port for optimal efficiency. When compression chamber pressure becomes high, the valve switches to the first injection port near the suction port to ensure reliable oil injection, thus dynamically balancing efficiency and reliability
3Device complexity
If a single injection port is used, then device complexity is reduced, but the system cannot adapt to varying pressure conditions
Solution Approach 1:
A movable valve with two positions is introduced to enable the system to adapt to varying pressure conditions. The valve switches between connecting to the first injection port (for high pressure conditions) and the second injection port (for low pressure conditions), providing adaptability while maintaining relatively simple system architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The single oil injection system serves multiple functions by switching between two injection ports. It can inject oil at different locations in the compression chamber depending on pressure conditions, making the system versatile enough to handle both low-pressure and high-pressure operating scenarios with one integrated injection system
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 ensures consistent lubrication across varying pressure conditions, improving compressor efficiency by allowing oil injection closer to the discharge port while preventing backflow, thus maintaining effective lubrication and reducing the risk of no oil being injected.
Implementation Method 1
The valve is movable between a first position and a second position based on the pressure at the first pressure region
Data Source
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AI summary
A compressor system includes a lubricant reservoir, a screw compressor, and a valve. The screw compressor includes a housing defining a compression chamber having a suction port, a discharge port, a first lubricant feed port located between the suction port and the discharge port, and a second lubricant feed port located between the discharge port and the first lubricant feed port. The valve is in fluid communication with the lubricant reservoir, the first lubricant feed port via a first lubricant feed passageway, and the second lubricant feed port via a second lubricant feed passageway. The valve is movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the valve fluidly connects the lubricant reservoir to the first lubricant feed passageway to direct lubricant to the first lubricant feed port. In the second position, the valve fluidly connects the lubricant reservoir to the second lubricant feed passageway to direct lubricant to the second lubricant feed port.