Scroll Compressor Housing Segmentation for Refrigerant Injection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional scroll compressors have limitations in improving the performance and efficiency of refrigerant discharge from the compression chamber, restricting the amount of refrigerant that can be effectively compressed and discharged.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a housing with a discharge chamber, introduction port, and introduction chamber, along with an injection hole and valve assembly, allowing intermediate pressure refrigerant to be introduced into the compression chamber, enhancing the refrigerant discharge and improving compressor efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a conventional scroll compressor configuration is used, then the structure is simple, but the amount of refrigerant discharged from the compression chamber is limited and compressor performance cannot be improved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamount of refrigerant dischargedVSAvoidhousing structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is segmented into multiple functional chambers: a discharge chamber for high-pressure refrigerant, an introduction chamber for intermediate pressure refrigerant, and a compression chamber. This segmentation allows independent control of refrigerant flow paths and enables the injection of intermediate pressure refrigerant into the compression chamber, thereby increasing the total amount of refrigerant discharged without requiring a completely new housing design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The introduction chamber is nested within or adjacent to the discharge chamber, sharing portions of the housing structure. The injection hole is formed in the fixed scroll which is already part of the compression mechanism. This nesting approach adds functionality (intermediate pressure injection) while minimizing additional structural complexity by utilizing existing spaces and components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Productivity

If intermediate pressure refrigerant is injected into the compression chamber, then compressor efficiency is improved, but there is a risk of liquid refrigerant injection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompressor efficiencyVSAvoidliquid refrigerant injection risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The injection valve assembly acts as an intermediary device that precisely controls the injection of intermediate pressure refrigerant into the compression chamber. It opens and closes based on pressure differential, ensuring that only vapor-phase refrigerant is injected at the appropriate timing, thereby preventing liquid refrigerant injection while maintaining improved compressor efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the pressure parameter by introducing intermediate pressure refrigerant (higher than suction pressure but lower than discharge pressure) into the compression chamber. This parameter change allows the refrigerant to be in vapor phase at injection conditions, preventing liquid injection while increasing the mass flow rate and improving compressor efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 amount of refrigerant discharged from the compression chamber, thereby enhancing the performance and efficiency of the compressor while minimizing the risk of liquid refrigerant injection through heat exchange and cross-flow design.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentUS11867174B2Scroll compressor including a front housing, a center housing, and a rear housing having first, second, and third annular walls

Publication Date: 2024.01.09 HANON SYST CO LTD

AI summary

A scroll compressor of the present disclosure includes a housing; a motor provided in the housing; a rotating shaft rotated by the motor; an orbital scroll orbital moved by the rotating shaft; and a fixed scroll forming a compression chamber together with the orbital scroll, wherein the housing includes a center housing through which the rotating shaft passes; a front housing forming a motor accommodating space in which the motor is accommodated; and a rear housing having a discharge chamber accommodating a refrigerant discharged from the compression chamber, a discharge port guiding the refrigerant of the discharge chamber to an outside of the housing, an introduction port into which an intermediate pressure refrigerant is introduced from the outside of the housing, and an introduction chamber accommodating the refrigerant introduced through the introduction port, and wherein the fixed scroll comprises an injection hole guiding the refrigerant of the introduction chamber to the compression chamber. Thereby, an amount of refrigerant discharged from the compression chamber is increased, and thus the performance and efficiency of the compressor may be improved.