Scroll Compressor Heat Dissipation via Radial Cooling Fins

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Solution Overview

Problem

In motor direct-drive type scroll compressors, the reduced radial dimension of the motor results in a decreased cooling area, leading to inadequate heat dissipation and limiting their use under high load conditions, as the axial size reduction compromises the balance between compressor body and motor unit heat dissipation.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of cooling air guiding members and extended motor casing cooling fins, along with strategically positioned turning and fixed scroll cooling fins, ensures balanced heat dissipation between the motor and compressor body units, while reducing the axial length by optimizing the radial dimension of the motor casing and the axial dimension of the stator.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If the radial dimension of the motor is reduced to minimize axial size, then the axial length is reduced, but the cooling area of the motor unit decreases and heat dissipation becomes inadequate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaxial lengthVSAvoidcooling area
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from axial cooling (end fan design) to radial cooling by extending cooling fins in the radial direction. This dimensional change allows the cooling area to increase without increasing axial length, as the cooling surface is now oriented perpendicular to the rotation axis rather than parallel to it.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling fins are integrated within the motor unit structure, nesting the cooling function inside the existing motor housing. The cooling fins extend radially from the motor casing, utilizing the available radial space to create cooling surface area without requiring additional axial or radial external dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Temperature

If cooling fins are added to increase cooling area, then heat dissipation improves, but the device complexity and size increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipationVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling fins are merged with the motor unit structure, combining the motor housing and cooling surfaces into a single integrated component. This eliminates the need for separate cooling structures and reduces overall device complexity while maintaining effective heat dissipation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The motor unit structure serves multiple functions: it houses the motor components and simultaneously provides the cooling surface through integrated fins. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed and simplifies the overall structure while achieving both motor containment and heat dissipation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 allows for effective heat dissipation balance between the motor and compressor body units, enabling the scroll-type fluid machine to operate under high loads without size compromise, achieving miniaturization and temperature reduction.

Implementation Method 1

extended motor casing cooling fins, along with strategically positioned turning and fixed scroll cooling fins, ensures balanced heat dissipation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

cooling air guiding members and extended motor casing cooling fins

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3495663B1Scroll-type fluid machine
Publication Date: 2024.04.24 HITACHI IND EQUIP SYST CO LTD
  • EP3495663B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3495663B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3495663B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Conventional scroll-type fluid machines did not take into account the issue of size reduction through reduction of an axial length without causing an imbalance between a compressor body unit and a motor unit in terms of dissipation of heat. In order to solve the problem, the present invention provides a scroll-type fluid machine provided with: a body unit having a fixed scroll and a turning scroll, each having a lap formed on an end plate thereof; and a motor unit having a drive shaft for driving the body unit, rotors, and a stator. Cooling fins are formed on the opposite surfaces of the fixed scroll and the turning scroll from the surfaces of the respective end plates where the laps are formed. The scroll-type fluid machine is constructed so as to satisfy alpha./16+lc/4≤ls≤.alpha./4+lc where .alpha. denotes a radial dimension of the end plate of the fixed scroll, lc denotes a distance in the axial direction from the tip of the cooling fins of the fixed scroll to the tip of the cooling fins of the turning scroll, and ls denotes an axial dimension of the stator.