Scroll Compressor Flow Passage Separation for Oil Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scroll compressors experience oil shortage and efficiency loss due to interference between refrigerant discharge and oil recovery paths, leading to increased oil leakage and friction, which worsens the temperature inside the compressor.
Innovation Solution
A scroll compressor design with separated refrigerant discharge and oil recovery flow passages, utilizing a first and second flow passage guide and a sealing member to prevent interference, ensuring smooth oil movement and separation from refrigerant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the refrigerant discharge path and oil recovery path are not separated, then the device complexity is reduced, but oil shortage and friction loss occur due to flow interference
Solution Approach 1:
The flow passage separation unit divides the intermediate space into a refrigerant flow passage and an oil flow passage, separating the paths of refrigerant and oil to prevent flow interference. This segmentation allows independent flow paths while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow passage separation unit acts as an intermediary structure between the refrigerant discharge path and oil recovery path. It physically separates the two flows while managing their interaction in the intermediate space, preventing direct interference between high-pressure refrigerant and oil.
2Reliability
If the discharge pipe is positioned far from the compression portion for oil separation, then oil separation efficiency is improved, but the refrigerant path becomes longer and flow resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow passage separation unit utilizes the intermediate space dimensionally by creating vertical separation between refrigerant and oil paths. The refrigerant flows horizontally through the compression portion while oil separates vertically in the intermediate space, allowing short discharge paths with effective oil separation.
3Device complexity
If the refrigerant and oil share the same flow path, then the device structure is simpler, but oil mixing with refrigerant increases discharge oil loss
Solution Approach 1:
The flow passage separation unit segments the intermediate space into distinct refrigerant and oil flow passages, preventing mixing of the two fluids. This segmentation ensures oil is recovered and returned to the compression portion while refrigerant is discharged separately, minimizing oil loss.
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 solution effectively reduces oil discharge, prevents oil mixing with refrigerant, and enhances compressor efficiency and reliability by ensuring sufficient oil recovery, thus maintaining a stable temperature.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing member disposed between the first flow passage guide and the second flow passage guide
Implementation Method 2
a flow passage separation unit that separates a refrigerant flow passage from an oil flow passage in an intermediate space
Data Source
AI summary
A scroll compressor includes a refrigerant discharge flow passage and an oil recovery flow passage that are separated from each other. The scroll compressor further includes a flow passage separation unit configured to separate an intermediate space between a drive portion and a compression portion into an inner space communicating with the refrigerant flow passage and an outer space communicating with the oil flow passage to separate the refrigerant discharge path from the oil recovery path.