Scroll Compressor Fan Housing Acute Angle Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional housings for scroll compressors suffer from significant flow losses, leading to reduced coolant flow and compressor performance, especially at higher ambient temperatures, making them inefficient and sometimes unusable.

Innovation Solution

A housing design with a sharper and more acute included angle between the volute and outlet bend, forming a circular segment with a radius greater than the volute width, reduces backflow and streamlines airflow, resulting in improved cooling efficiency and reduced material usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a conventional housing design with a larger included angle is used, then the structure is simpler and easier to manufacture, but airflow losses increase and cooling efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidairflow losses
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the included angle between the volute and outlet bend to a specific range (30-60 degrees), transforming the geometric parameter to reduce airflow losses while maintaining manufacturing feasibility. This quantitative optimization resolves the contradiction between structural simplicity and energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs curved surfaces and smooth transitions in the outlet bend design, utilizing curvature principles to minimize flow separation and turbulence. The rounded geometry of the outlet bend with optimized radius reduces airflow losses while maintaining structural integrity and manufacturability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Device complexity

If a conventional housing design is used, then the structure is simpler, but coolant flow is reduced and compressor performance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing structure simplicityVSAvoidcompressor performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes geometric parameters including the included angle (30-60 degrees) and outlet bend radius to enhance coolant flow and compressor performance. These parameter optimizations improve productivity while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The housing is divided into functional segments: the volute portion for air intake, the outlet bend for flow redirection, and the mounting portion for securing the fan. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific function while maintaining overall structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Quantity of substance

If a conventional housing design is used, then material usage is higher, but cooling efficiency is insufficient especially at higher ambient temperatures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial usageVSAvoidcooling efficiency at high ambient temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces material usage by optimizing the housing geometry with a sharper included angle and reduced outlet bend radius, decreasing the overall volume required while enhancing cooling efficiency through improved airflow characteristics, particularly at higher ambient temperatures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The optimized curved geometry of the outlet bend with smaller radius improves airflow patterns and thermal management, enhancing cooling efficiency while reducing the material quantity required compared to conventional angular designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 design reduces airflow losses by up to 20%, enhances compression efficiency, and allows for a more compact and material-efficient compressor housing, enabling better performance even at higher temperatures.

Implementation Method 1

the backflow of the ventilation air is greatly reduced, and in other words the air that is guided by the volute to the outlet bend does not flow back through the clearance between the rotor and the aforementioned transverse wall

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlow separation: Flow Separation

Data Source

PatentEP2981722B1Housing for a fan of a scroll compressor
Publication Date: 2019.07.17 ATLAS COPCO AIRPOWER NV
  • EP2981722B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2981722B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2981722B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Housing for channelling the airflow of a radial fan (4) of an air-cooled scroll compressor (3), whereby this housing (6) is formed by a volute (16) with an outlet (23) and an outlet bend (17) connecting thereto with an included angle (25), whereby the included angle (25) is an acute angle that extends from one side of the median plane (26) defined by the axis (X-X' ) of the inlet (13) and the centre (27) of the output (15) of the outlet bend (17) to the other side of the median plane (26) located on the side of the end point (22) of the transverse wall (20) and up to a distance (A) from this median plane (26).