Scroll Compressor Discharge Guide for Thermal Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

In scroll compressors, the high and low pressure separation plate is overheated by discharge refrigerant, leading to increased suction refrigerant volume and reduced compressor efficiency, and existing solutions complicate manufacturing and increase vibration due to complex discharge ducts and materials selection challenges.

Innovation Solution

A discharge guide is implemented to quickly direct discharge refrigerant from the high-pressure part to the refrigerant discharge pipe, minimizing contact with the high and low pressure separation plate and reducing surface area, thereby preventing overheating and maintaining pressure pulsation reduction effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If discharge refrigerant is allowed to spread throughout the high-pressure part, then the high and low pressure separation plate is heated by discharge refrigerant, but this causes suction refrigerant to be heated and increases specific volume, leading to suction loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction lossVSAvoidtemperature of high and low pressure separation plate
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The discharge guide extracts and channels the discharge refrigerant flow away from the high and low pressure separation plate, directing it toward the refrigerant discharge pipe. This separation prevents the harmful heating effect on the separation plate while maintaining the necessary pressure pulsation reduction function in the high-pressure part.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The discharge guide acts as an intermediary structure that mediates between the discharge refrigerant flow and the high and low pressure separation plate. It provides a controlled pathway for the refrigerant, allowing pressure pulsation reduction while preventing direct contact and heat transfer to the separation plate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If complex discharge ducts are used to guide discharge refrigerant, then the high and low pressure separation plate can be protected from overheating, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature of high and low pressure separation plateVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The discharge guide is merged with the high and low pressure separation plate as an integrated structure. The discharge guide protrudes from the separation plate, combining the functions of separation and discharge guidance into a single component, thereby simplifying manufacturing while maintaining thermal protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The high and low pressure separation plate serves multiple functions: it separates the pressure chambers, reduces pressure pulsation in the high-pressure part, and provides the discharge guide structure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate complex discharge ducts, simplifying manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If discharge guide is added to guide discharge refrigerant quickly, then compressor efficiency is improved by reducing suction refrigerant volume, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompressor efficiencyVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The discharge guide is merged with the high and low pressure separation plate as an integrated structure. The discharge guide protrudes from the separation plate, combining the functions of separation and discharge guidance into a single component, thereby simplifying manufacturing while maintaining thermal protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The high and low pressure separation plate serves multiple functions: it separates the pressure chambers, reduces pressure pulsation in the high-pressure part, and provides the discharge guide structure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate complex discharge ducts, simplifying manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 discharge guide enhances compressor efficiency by reducing suction refrigerant volume, preventing overheating of the high and low pressure separation plate, and maintaining pressure pulsation reduction, while simplifying manufacturing and reducing material complexity.

Implementation Method 1

the high and low pressure separation plate is heated by discharge refrigerant of high temperature... the discharge guide prevents the high and low pressure separation plate from being heated by discharge refrigerant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4187097B1Scroll compressor
Publication Date: 2025.01.01 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP4187097B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4187097B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4187097B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A scroll compressor according to the present disclosure may include a discharge guide disposed in a high-pressure part to guide refrigerant discharged from a compression part to a refrigerant discharge pipe, and the discharge guide may extend by a preset height from an inner circumferential surface of a casing constituting the high-pressure part toward one side surface of a high and low pressure separation plate. This can guide discharge refrigerant discharged to the high-pressure part to quickly flow to the refrigerant discharge pipe before being spread in an entire space of the high-pressure part, thereby preventing the high and low pressure separation plate from being overheated by discharge refrigerant of high temperature. This can result in preventing suction refrigerant of a low-pressure part from being heated by heat of discharge refrigerant transferred through the high and low pressure separation plate, thereby reducing a specific volume of the suction refrigerant and improving compressor efficiency.