Stepped Scroll Compressor Geometry for Lower Refrigerant Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing scroll compressors face challenges in reducing refrigerant leakage between compression chambers, particularly when using carbon dioxide or refrigerant mixtures containing carbon dioxide, due to the high pressure rise rate during two- or three-dimensional compression, limiting the number of scrolls and affecting performance.
Innovation Solution
A scroll compressor design with a base-plate to base-plate distance that increases stepwise from the outer circumferential portions to the central portions of the stationary and orbiting scroll bodies, reducing the volume decrease rate and pressure rise in the compression chamber, allowing for more compression chambers and minimizing refrigerant leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the number of scrolls is increased to reduce refrigerant leakage between compression chambers, then refrigerant leakage is reduced, but the pressure rise rate becomes excessively high when using carbon dioxide or refrigerant mixtures containing carbon dioxide
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the scroll body height in different regions. The scroll body has a first height in a first region and a second height different from the first height in a second region. This local variation in height creates different compression characteristics in different regions, allowing the pressure rise rate to be controlled while maintaining multiple compression chambers for reduced refrigerant leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional compression (constant scroll height) to three-dimensional compression by varying the scroll body height in the axial direction. This dimensional change allows for more complex compression chamber configurations that can accommodate multiple scrolls while controlling the pressure rise rate through the height variation.
2Productivity
If three-dimensional compression is implemented by providing stepped portions on scroll bodies, then fluid displacement and compressor capacity are increased, but the pressure rise rate becomes excessively high when using carbon dioxide or refrigerant mixtures containing carbon dioxide
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses local quality by creating stepped portions at specific locations on the scroll bodies. The scroll body has different heights in different regions (first height in first region, second height in second region). This localized height variation enables three-dimensional compression to increase capacity while the specific positioning and sizing of steps control the pressure rise rate to prevent excessive pressure increases.
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 refrigerant leakage and minimizes performance degradation by gradually increasing the base-plate distance, enabling a slower pressure rise and fewer differential pressures between compression chambers, thus improving compressor efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The scroll compressor causes the orbiting scroll to perform rotary motion to compress refrigerant in the compression chamber
Data Source
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AI summary
A scroll compressor includes a stationary scroll including a stationary base plate and a stationary scroll body formed on the stationary base plate, and an orbiting scroll including an orbiting base plate and an orbiting scroll body formed on the orbiting base plate, the orbiting scroll being located with the orbiting base plate being opposite to the stationary base plate, the orbiting scroll body being combined with the stationary scroll body to form a compression chamber. The scroll compressor has a structure in which a base-plate to base-plate distance that is a distance between the stationary base plate and the orbiting base plate increases stepwise from outer circumferential portions of the stationary scroll body and the orbiting scroll body toward central portions thereof.