Scroll Compressor Injection Valve Assembly for Uniform Vapor Injection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing scroll compressors face challenges in efficiently injecting vapor into the compression chamber without compromising the overall system efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A scroll compressor design incorporating an injection valve assembly with dual check valves and a structured inlet arrangement to introduce intermediate pressure refrigerant into the compression chamber, ensuring balanced and uniform distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a vapor injection system is implemented to improve compression efficiency, then the refrigerant discharge capacity is enhanced, but the device complexity increases due to additional valves and chambers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefrigerant discharge capacityVSAvoidinjection valve assembly structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the vapor injection function with the existing compression chamber by integrating the injection valve assembly into the rear housing. The injection chamber is formed within the existing housing structure, and the check valves are incorporated into the valve assembly that also serves the compression function. This integration allows the system to achieve enhanced refrigerant discharge capacity while minimizing the increase in device complexity by utilizing existing structural spaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The injection valve assembly is segmented into multiple check valves (first check valve and second check valve) that can independently control refrigerant flow. The inlet arrangement is divided into multiple inlets (first side inlet, second side inlet, first middle inlet, second middle inlet) that distribute refrigerant to different valve paths. This segmentation allows for balanced and uniform refrigerant distribution while maintaining a modular structure that manages complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple check valves are used to ensure balanced refrigerant distribution, then the refrigerant flow uniformity is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefrigerant distribution uniformityVSAvoidinjection valve assembly fabrication
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing different inlet configurations at different locations within the injection valve assembly. The first and second side inlets are positioned to receive refrigerant from specific directions, while the first and second middle inlets are arranged along a straight line connecting the side inlets. This localized variation in inlet positioning and orientation ensures balanced and uniform refrigerant distribution to the check valves, optimizing flow uniformity while maintaining manufacturability through systematic arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Quantity of substance

If the introduction chamber is enlarged to accommodate more refrigerant, then the refrigerant storage capacity is increased, but the housing volume increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefrigerant storage capacityVSAvoidhousing volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The introduction chamber is nested within the existing rear housing structure, utilizing available space efficiently. The chamber is formed by a portion of the rear housing and the plate, with the plate including a plate enlargement that extends beyond the outline of the tray. This nested configuration allows the introduction chamber to accommodate sufficient refrigerant volume while integrating seamlessly into the existing housing geometry, avoiding the need to increase the overall housing volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

Enhances refrigerant discharge capacity and improves performance and efficiency by allowing simultaneous compression and discharge of suction and intermediate pressure refrigerants.

Implementation Method 1

an injection valve assembly with a first check valve via which the injection valve assembly is communicated fluidically with the compression chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCheck valve flow control: Valve

Implementation Method 2

Both scrolls cooperate to compress the working fluid taken into the compression chamber defined between the spiral walls of the pair of scroll members

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 3

the inlet arrangement includes a first side inlet and a second side inlet, both facing the introduction chamber and being configured to supply the refrigerant from the introduction chamber to the valve chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow distribution:

Data Source

PatentEP4700241A1compressor
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 VALEO ELECTRIFICATION
  • EP4700241A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4700241A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4700241A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A scroll compressor (1) including: a housing (100); a motor (101) arranged in the housing (100); a rotating shaft (102) configured to be rotated by the motor (101); an orbital scroll (103) configured to be orbitally moved by the rotating shaft (102); and a fixed scroll (104) forming a compression chamber (Cc) together with the orbital scroll (103). The housing (100) includes a rear housing (107) having a discharge chamber (Cc) for accommodating a refrigerant discharged from the compression chamber (Cc), a discharge port (148) guiding the refrigerant from the discharge chamber (Dc) to an outside of the housing (100), an introduction port (147) configured to receive an intermediate pressure refrigerant from outside of the housing (100), and an introduction chamber (Ic) configured to accommodate the refrigerant introduced through the introduction port (147). The introduction chamber (Ic) includes an injection valve assembly (800) with a first check valve (211) via which the injection valve assembly (800) is communicated fluidically with the compression chamber (Cc).