Scroll Compressor Oil Separation Member Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing scroll compressors experience significant 'oil loss' due to refrigerant swirling and contacting the legs of the lower bearing member, leading to insufficient lubricating oil, as the swirling motion is inhibited, causing the refrigerant to discharge with lubricating oil outside the compressor.
Innovation Solution
A scroll compressor design featuring an oil separation member with specific inclined and horizontal surfaces that guide the refrigerant flow obliquely upward, preventing collision with the bearing legs and incorporating an oil return passage to ensure lubricating oil returns to the reservoir, while maintaining a simplified structure and easy manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the refrigerant swirls in the circumferential direction along the oil separation plate, then cyclone separation of lubricating oil is achieved, but the refrigerant contacts the legs of the lower bearing member and the swirling motion is stopped, causing oil loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an oil separation plate as an intermediary component between the refrigerant flow and the lower bearing member legs. This plate guides the refrigerant flow to maintain cyclone separation while preventing direct contact with the legs that would stop the swirling motion. The oil separation plate acts as a mediator that allows the refrigerant to perform oil separation function without causing oil loss through leg contact.
2Device complexity
If the oil separation plate is fixed to the lower bearing member, then the structure is simplified, but the refrigerant flow contacts the bearing legs and oil separation is inhibited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the mounting structure by separating the oil separation plate from the lower bearing member. Instead of fixing the oil separation plate directly to the bearing member, it is mounted on the casing wall at a position that prevents refrigerant contact with the bearing legs. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component's function while avoiding the harmful interaction between refrigerant flow and bearing legs.
3Productivity
If the refrigerant discharge flow is increased, then compression productivity is improved, but oil loss increases due to enhanced swirling and contact with bearing legs
Solution Approach 1:
The oil separation plate serves as a protective intermediary that allows high-velocity refrigerant discharge to maintain effective cyclone separation while preventing the harmful contact with bearing legs. By positioning the plate between the refrigerant flow and the legs, the system can operate at higher productivity levels without proportionally increasing 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 design effectively separates refrigerant from lubricating oil, reducing oil loss and ensuring sufficient lubrication within the compressor by guiding the refrigerant flow and utilizing a core cut in the stator to eliminate the need for a dedicated oil return passage member.
Implementation Method 1
As the refrigerant swirls, the lubricating oil is separated from the refrigerant by cyclone separation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A scroll compressor (10) includes a frame (60) and an oil separation member (70). The oil separation member (70) is fixed to the frame (60). The oil separation member (70) suppresses mixing of a refrigerant and a lubricating oil in a casing. The frame (60) includes a first fixed leg (61) and a second fixed leg (62) which are fixed to the casing (11). The oil separation member (70) has a first horizontal surface (71) and a first inclined surface (72). The first inclined surface (72) has a first inclined surface upstream portion (72a) and a first inclined surface downstream portion (72b) in a rotational direction (R). The first inclined surface downstream portion (72b) is disposed higher than the first inclined surface upstream portion (72a). The first horizontal surface (71), the first inclined surface (72), and the first fixed leg (61) are disposed in that order from upstream to downstream in the rotational direction (R).