Scroll Compressor Valve Mechanism for Refrigerant Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scroll compressors have limitations in improving the performance and efficiency due to a fixed amount of refrigerant discharged from the compression chamber.
Innovation Solution
A scroll compressor design that includes a valve mechanism to guide intermediate pressure refrigerant into the compression chamber and discharge overcompressed refrigerant to a separate chamber, enhancing the amount of refrigerant discharged and improving performance and efficiency by sharing parts of the injection and pre-outlet flow paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional scroll compressor design is used, then the structure is simple, but the refrigerant discharge amount is limited and performance cannot be improved
Solution Approach 1:
The compression chamber is segmented into multiple functional zones: a first compression chamber for initial compression, a second compression chamber for further compression, and a discharge chamber for refrigerant discharge. This segmentation allows the compressor to handle larger volumes of refrigerant by processing it through multiple compression stages, thereby increasing the refrigerant discharge amount while maintaining manageable structural complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a third dimension to the compression process by adding a discharge chamber that receives refrigerant from the compression chamber. This dimensional expansion allows refrigerant to be compressed and discharged through multiple pathways (first compression chamber → second compression chamber → discharge chamber), increasing the overall refrigerant discharge capacity without proportionally increasing the compressor footprint.
2Productivity
If the refrigerant discharge amount is increased, then performance and efficiency are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve mechanism is designed with multi-functionality to control refrigerant flow between different chambers and the discharge outlet. The same valve assembly handles multiple tasks: controlling flow from the first compression chamber to the second compression chamber, and controlling discharge from the discharge chamber. This universal valve design increases refrigerant discharge capability while minimizing the increase in device complexity by consolidating control functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge chamber acts as an intermediary component between the compression chamber and the external discharge outlet. It receives compressed refrigerant from the second compression chamber and facilitates its discharge to the outside. This intermediary chamber allows the valve mechanism to manage complex multi-stage compression and discharge operations, improving refrigerant discharge amount while keeping the valve control logic relatively simple through staged intermediate handling.
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 increases the refrigerant discharge amount, thereby enhancing the performance and efficiency of the compressor while reducing costs and weight by sharing flow path components.
Implementation Method 1
a valve mechanism guiding intermediate pressure refrigerant from an outside of the housing to the compression chamber
Implementation Method 2
a fixed scroll forming a compression chamber together with the orbiting scroll
Implementation Method 3
discharging refrigerant overcompressed in the compression chamber into a discharge chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A scroll compressor includes a housing; a motor provided in the housing; a rotating shaft rotated by the motor; an orbiting scroll orbitally moved by the rotating shaft; a fixed scroll forming a compression chamber together with the orbiting scroll; and a valve mechanism guiding intermediate pressure refrigerant from an outside of the housing to the compression chamber and discharging refrigerant overcompressed in the compression chamber into a discharge chamber, thereby increasing amount of refrigerant discharged from the compression chamber, and improving performance and efficiency.