Scroll compressor and air conditioner including a scroll compressor

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing air conditioner systems face performance limitations due to the inadequate positioning of refrigerant injection holes in scroll compressors, which affects the flow rate of refrigerant and overall cooling or warming efficiency, especially under varying ambient conditions.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a scroll compressor with multiple injection paths and ports, allowing refrigerant to be injected at specific intermediate pressures into different stages of compression, optimizing the positions of these injection points to enhance flow rate and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the injection hole is located at a predetermined position, then refrigerant injection is performed before suction is completed, but the pressure in the suction chamber increases and the flow rate of suctioned refrigerant is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefrigerant injection effectivenessVSAvoidrefrigerant flow rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the injection hole movable by forming it on the orbiting scroll, allowing its position to dynamically change during the compression cycle. This enables the injection timing to be optimized - the hole is positioned to inject refrigerant after suction completion but before compression begins, avoiding both premature injection (which increases suction chamber pressure) and delayed injection (which occurs after compression starts and reduces injection effectiveness).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The injection hole is positioned to perform refrigerant injection in advance of the compression stroke, specifically after suction is complete but before compression begins. This preliminary timing ensures that refrigerant is injected into the compression chamber at the optimal moment, maximizing injection effectiveness while avoiding the harmful effects of both too-early and too-late injection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the injection hole is located at another predetermined position, then refrigerant injection is performed after suction is completed, but injection occurs after internal pressure of compression chamber is already increased, reducing injection flow rate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction completion assuranceVSAvoidinjected refrigerant quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

By forming the injection hole on the orbiting scroll rather than the fixed scroll, the hole's position dynamically changes during operation. This allows the system to achieve the dual benefit of waiting for suction completion while still injecting before compression begins - the orbiting motion naturally positions the hole at the optimal location at the right time in the cycle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs refrigerant injection in advance of the compression stroke by timing the injection to occur after suction completion but before compression begins. This preliminary injection timing maximizes the amount of refrigerant that can be injected while ensuring suction is complete, avoiding the problem of injecting after compression has already increased chamber pressure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If a compressor having a large capacity is provided to increase performance, then cooling or warming performance is improved, but manufacturing or installation cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling or warming performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing or installation cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameters of refrigerant injection - specifically the injection timing, injection pressure, and injection location - to optimize compressor performance. By injecting refrigerant at intermediate pressures and optimizing the injection timing relative to the compression cycle, the system achieves improved cooling and warming performance without requiring a larger compressor capacity, thereby avoiding increased manufacturing and installation costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies local quality optimization by specifically targeting the injection process parameters rather than increasing overall compressor size. By improving the local efficiency of refrigerant injection - through optimized timing, location, and pressure - the system achieves enhanced overall performance without the cost penalty of a larger compressor unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 configuration increases the refrigerant flow rate, improves cooling and warming performance, and reduces the power required for compression, leading to enhanced efficiency and reliability of the air conditioner system.

Implementation Method 1

a compression chamber, the volume of which is reduced by the orbiting motion of the orbiting scroll

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

an evaporator, into which the refrigerant expanded by the expander is introduced and evaporated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 3

a condenser, into which the refrigerant compressed by the compressor is introduced and condensed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Data Source

PatentEP3043072B1Scroll compressor and air conditioner including a scroll compressor
Publication Date: 2021.03.03 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3043072B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3043072B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3043072B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A scroll compressor and an air conditioner including a scroll compressor are provided. The scroll compressor may include a main frame configured to support an upper portion of a rotating shaft; a fixed scroll coupled to the main frame and having a first wrap; an orbiting scroll provided to perform an orbiting motion with respect to the fixed scroll and having a second wrap which forms a plurality of compressions chamber between the first wrap and the second wrap; a suction port configured to enable a first refrigerant to be suctioned into the compression chamber; a first introduction port provided at a first side of the fixed scroll and configured to inject the first refrigerant into the plurality of compression chambers; a second introduction port provided at a second side of the fixed scroll and configured to inject a second refrigerant having a pressure different from a pressure of the first refrigerant into the plurality of compression chambers; and a third introduction port provided at a third side of the fixed scroll and configured to inject a third refrigerant having a pressure different from the pressure of the first refrigerant and the second refrigerant into the compression chamber. The first introduction port may be provided at a position at which injecting of the refrigerant through the first introduction port is able to be performed before suctioning of the refrigerant through the suction port is completed.