ETXV direct discharge injection compressor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermal management systems for electric vehicles face challenges in maintaining heating capacity at low ambient temperatures, particularly due to the need for additional components and complexity in vapor injection scroll compressors, which can lead to reduced heating capacity and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A vapor injection scroll compressor with a discharge recirculation feature that selectively communicates between the discharge and injection chambers, allowing for the injection of refrigerant at an intermediate pressure to increase the heating capacity of the refrigerant circuit, thereby enhancing the heating capacity of the cabin condenser.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a vapor injection scroll compressor is used to increase heating capacity, then the heating capacity of the cabin condenser is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the discharge recirculation pathway and vapor injection functionality into a single integrated system within the scroll compressor. The discharge recirculation pathway merges with the vapor injection pathway, allowing the compressor to perform both discharge recirculation and vapor injection functions using shared components (injection ports, injection chamber), thereby reducing the number of separate components needed while maintaining enhanced heating capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The scroll compressor is designed with multi-functionality by enabling it to operate in multiple modes: standard compression mode, discharge recirculation mode, and vapor injection mode. The same injection ports and injection chamber can serve different functions depending on operating conditions, allowing the compressor to adapt to various heating demands without requiring separate dedicated components for each function.
2Temperature
If a vapor injection scroll compressor with additional components is used, then the heating capacity is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the discharge recirculation pathway with the vapor injection pathway and using shared components (injection ports, injection chamber), the patent reduces the total number of parts that need to be manufactured and assembled. This integration approach simplifies the manufacturing process and reduces component count while still achieving the goal of increased heating capacity through recirculation and injection functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-functional design allows existing compressor components to serve multiple purposes. The injection ports and injection chamber can be used for both vapor injection and discharge recirculation functions, eliminating the need to manufacture separate dedicated components for each function, thereby reducing overall manufacturing cost while maintaining enhanced heating performance.
3Temperature
If discharge recirculation is implemented to increase discharge temperature, then the heating capacity is improved, but the mass flow rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge recirculation pathway is designed to recirculate a controlled portion of the discharge gas back to the compression chamber, rather than recirculating the entire discharge flow. This partial recirculation approach allows the system to achieve the necessary discharge temperature increase for enhanced heating capacity while maintaining sufficient mass flow rate to meet overall system heating demands. The injection ports are positioned and sized to optimize this balance between temperature increase and flow rate maintenance.
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 recirculation feature significantly increases the discharge temperature of the refrigerant while maintaining a coefficient of performance (COP) greater than 1.0, reducing mass flow rate by less than 10% and eliminating the need for additional heating devices like PTC heaters, thus simplifying the thermal management system.
Implementation Method 1
A discharge recirculation pathway selectively provides fluid communication between the discharge chamber and the injection chamber
Implementation Method 2
a compression space in which a refrigerant is compressed with the compression space including a discharge port and an injection port
Implementation Method 3
injecting the refrigerant at the intermediate pressure into the compression space to increase a pressure and temperature of the refrigerant within the compression space
Data Source
AI summary
A compressor operable in a heat pump mode of a refrigerant circuit includes a compression space in which a refrigerant is compressed. The compression space includes a discharge port and an injection port. A discharge chamber is fluidly coupled to the compression space by the discharge port. An injection chamber is fluidly coupled to the compression space by the injection port. A discharge recirculation pathway selectively provides fluid communication between the discharge chamber and the injection chamber. An injection of the recirculated refrigerant into the compression space through the injection port results in an increase in pressure, and hence temperature, of the refrigerant when discharged to the discharge chamber. The increased temperature of the discharged refrigerant increases a heating capacity of a condenser of the associated refrigerant circuit.