Scroll Compressor Valve for Liquid Impact Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Scroll compressors are prone to damage when refrigerant liquid or wet vapor is sucked in, as the incompressible liquid exerts a great impulsive force on the scroll wraps, leading to potential breakage and compressor failure.
Innovation Solution
A scroll compressor design featuring a channel in the end plate with a valve that opens when pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold, allowing medium to flow out through the channel, thereby reducing the impact of liquid on the compression chambers and preventing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a scroll compressor operates without a pressure relief valve, then the compression function is maintained, but liquid impact causes scroll wrap breakage and compressor failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing a pressure relief valve that opens at a predetermined pressure threshold before liquid impact can damage the scroll wraps. The valve is pre-configured with a spring and set pressure point to automatically relieve pressure when liquid is detected, preventing the harmful impulsive force from reaching the scroll wraps.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure relief valve acts as an intermediary component between the compression chamber and the scroll wraps. It mediates the pressure buildup by providing an alternative discharge path through the channel in the end plate, preventing direct transmission of liquid impact forces to the vulnerable scroll wraps.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If liquid is discharged through the channel in the end plate, then the impact force on scroll wraps is reduced, but the valve structure adds complexity to the compressor design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the taking out principle by extracting the harmful liquid from the compression chamber through the channel in the end plate before it can contact the scroll wraps. The valve assembly selectively removes liquid phase refrigerant from the mixture, discharging it separately to protect the scroll wraps from liquid impact.
3Productivity
If the valve opens at high pressure threshold, then liquid discharge is effective, but the spring force requirement increases the valve complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by setting a specific pressure threshold for valve opening that balances liquid discharge effectiveness with spring force requirements. The spring is calibrated to open the valve at this predetermined pressure point, ensuring sufficient liquid discharge capability while maintaining reasonable spring force and valve assembly complexity.
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 enhances the compressor's resistance to liquid impact, improving its performance by allowing the liquid medium to be discharged promptly, thus preventing damage and ensuring continued operation.
Implementation Method 1
a spring configured to apply a pushing force to the valve element toward the valve seat
Implementation Method 2
configured to open when a pressure in the one compression chamber is higher than a predetermined pressure threshold so as to allow the medium in the one compression chamber to flow out
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a scroll compressor. The scroll compressor includes: a fixed scroll having an end plate and a fixed scroll wrap extending from the end plate; an orbiting scroll having an orbiting scroll wrap, the orbiting scroll wrap being engaged with the fixed scroll wrap to form a plurality of compression chambers for compressing a medium; a channel formed in the end plate of the fixed scroll, the channel leading to one compression chamber of the plurality of compression chambers; and a valve provided on the end plate of the fixed scroll, and configured to open when a pressure in the one compression chamber is higher than a predetermined pressure threshold so as to allow the medium in the one compression chamber to flow out of the one compression chamber through the channel. The scroll compressor according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, for example, can improve the performance of the scroll compressor.