Scroll Compressor Suction Guide Reducing Refrigerant Heat Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

In low-pressure scroll compressors, suction refrigerant is heated due to contact with the driving motor and high/low pressure separation plate, leading to increased specific volume and suction loss.

Innovation Solution

A scroll compressor with a suction guide that directs refrigerant from the refrigerant suction pipe to the compression chamber, preventing contact with the high/low pressure separation plate and reducing heat transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If suction refrigerant is allowed to cool the driving motor by flowing through the low-pressure part, then motor cooling effect is improved, but refrigerant temperature increases causing increased specific volume and suction loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotor cooling effectVSAvoidsuction loss
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The suction refrigerant flow path is segmented into multiple paths: one path directs refrigerant to cool the driving motor in the low-pressure part, while another path directs refrigerant directly to the suction pressure chamber through the suction guide. This segmentation allows simultaneous motor cooling and maintenance of suction refrigerant temperature, resolving the contradiction between cooling effect and suction loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If suction refrigerant contacts the high/low pressure separation plate, then structural simplicity is maintained, but refrigerant is heated causing increased specific volume and suction loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidsuction loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The suction guide acts as an intermediary component that directs suction refrigerant from the low-pressure part directly to the suction pressure chamber, preventing contact with the high/low pressure separation plate. This intermediary structure eliminates harmful heat transfer while maintaining overall structural simplicity, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and suction loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Temperature

If the inlet of the suction conduit is spaced apart from the refrigerant suction pipe, then some refrigerant can be introduced into the low-pressure part for motor cooling, but most refrigerant is still directed to the compression chamber reducing cooling effect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotor cooling effectVSAvoidsuction loss
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The suction guide is designed with a passage inlet that can be positioned at different locations relative to the refrigerant suction pipe outlet, allowing dynamic adjustment of refrigerant distribution. By optimizing the spacing and positioning, the system achieves balanced refrigerant distribution between motor cooling and compression chamber supply, resolving the contradiction between cooling effect and suction loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 suction guide effectively reduces the specific volume of suction refrigerant, enhancing compressor efficiency and preventing overheating of the driving motor.

Implementation Method 1

preventing contact with the high/low pressure separation plate and reducing heat transfer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

suction refrigerant is increased in temperature due to a contact with the driving motor and then suctioned into the compression chamber. This may increase a specific volume in the suction pressure chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentEP4080057B1Scroll compressor
Publication Date: 2025.03.05 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP4080057B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4080057B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4080057B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Scroll compressor comprising a driving motor (120) installed inside the low-pressure part of the casing (110), a suction guide (190,290) between a refrigerant suction pipe (117) and a high/low pressure separation plate (115), and the suction guide may be fastened to a non-orbiting scroll (150) or inserted into a suction guide protrusion (156) extending from the non-orbiting scroll.