Scroll Compressor Thrust Bearing Recesses Reduce Pressure Loss

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing scroll compressor experiences significant pressure loss when fluid supplied to the motor housing space moves to the compression unit housing space via the thrust bearing, affecting lubricant supply and compression efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The design includes a casing with a bearing holder that divides the housing space into motor and compression unit spaces, featuring a rotary shaft, motor, scroll compression unit, first radial bearing, and a thrust bearing with recessed portions to guide and retain fluid and lubricant, reducing pressure loss through the thrust bearing without increasing the flow path cross-section.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If fluid passes through the thrust bearing to move from motor housing space to compression unit housing space, then lubricant supply is achieved, but considerable pressure loss occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelubricant supplyVSAvoidpressure loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The thrust bearing is divided into multiple recess portions (first recess portion and second recess portion) that segment the fluid flow path. This segmentation allows fluid to be distributed across multiple paths while reducing the cross-sectional area of each individual path, thereby reducing pressure loss while maintaining adequate lubricant supply.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The recess portions are strategically positioned at specific locations within the thrust bearing where fluid flow is most critical. By concentrating the flow control features at these local positions, the design achieves effective pressure loss reduction without requiring changes to the entire bearing structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of energy

If flow path cross-section is increased to reduce pressure loss, then fluid flow is improved, but the thrust bearing structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure lossVSAvoidthrust bearing structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of increasing the cross-sectional area in the radial direction, the design utilizes the axial dimension by creating recess portions that extend in the axial direction. This dimensional approach allows flow path modification without increasing the overall bearing cross-section, maintaining structural simplicity while reducing pressure loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The recess portions are nested within the thrust bearing structure itself, utilizing the existing bearing material and geometry. This nesting approach allows flow path optimization without adding external components or increasing overall structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS11143185B2Scroll compressor

Publication Date: 2021.10.12 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND THERMAL SYST

AI summary

A scroll compressor includes a flow path that is disposed in a portion of a bearing holder, which corresponds to each formation position of a plurality of stator groove portions, and that penetrates the bearing holder in an axial direction, a first recess portion (72) disposed in a portion of a thrust bearing, which faces the flow path, and recessed from one side in the axial direction to the other side in the axial direction, and a first groove portion (74) disposed in an outer peripheral portion of the first recess portion (72), extending from a bottom surface (72a) of the recess portion (72) to a surface located on a side opposite to a surface having the first recess portion (72) formed thereon, and communicating with the first recess portion (72) in the axial direction.