Scroll Compressor Thrust Support With Buffer-Space Leakage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In scroll compressors, there is a significant risk of refrigerant leakage from the high-pressure chamber to the low-pressure chamber due to the flow of fluid between the sliding surfaces of the movable and fixed scrolls, which compromises the compression efficiency and increases noise.
Innovation Solution
A thrust receiving mechanism with dynamic pressure generation portions and a buffer space is implemented on the movable scroll, directing low-pressure fluid into high-pressure grooves and storing excess fluid in a buffer space to prevent leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spiral groove mechanisms are used to generate dynamic pressure and reduce refrigerant leakage, then slidability is improved and leakage is reduced, but high-pressure fluid may still flow from the gap between sliding surfaces toward the low-pressure chamber side
Solution Approach 1:
The thrust receiving mechanism is divided into multiple functional segments: a first groove for taking in low-pressure fluid, a buffer space for storing fluid, and a second groove for discharging fluid. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function in controlling fluid flow and preventing high-pressure fluid leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer space is positioned to receive and store fluid before it can leak from the sliding surfaces to the low-pressure side. By providing this preliminary storage capacity, the mechanism prevents high-pressure fluid from directly flowing to the low-pressure chamber, addressing the leakage issue proactively.
2Ease of operation
If grooves take in fluid from high-pressure chamber and generate dynamic pressure toward low-pressure side, then fluid film is formed for slidability, but high-pressure fluid easily flows through the gap between sliding surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer space acts as an intermediary between the sliding surfaces and the low-pressure chamber. It receives fluid that would otherwise leak directly to the low-pressure side, and controls its discharge through the second groove. This intermediary structure maintains the fluid film for slidability while preventing harmful leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism utilizes fluid pressure and flow dynamics to control refrigerant movement. The grooves and buffer space work together to manage high-pressure and low-pressure fluid flows, using hydraulic principles to prevent leakage while maintaining the necessary fluid film for smooth operation of the sliding surfaces.
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 mechanism effectively suppresses refrigerant leakage from the high-pressure to the low-pressure side, maintaining compression efficiency and reducing noise by stabilizing the sliding surfaces with a fluid film.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid on the low-pressure side is directed toward the high-pressure side by each groove, and dynamic pressure is generated
Implementation Method 2
the fluid that has flowed out from the first groove into the gap between the sliding surfaces can be stored in the buffer space
Implementation Method 3
slidability can be increased by forming a fluid film between sliding surfaces of the movable scroll and the ring-shaped plate
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(a)~3(d)
AI summary
There is provided a thrust receiving mechanism that makes it difficult for a fluid in a high-pressure space to leak to a low-pressure space side. A thrust receiving mechanism 8 is provided on a back surface of a movable scroll 42 that slides relative to a fixed scroll 41 while rotating eccentrically, and is configured for generating a dynamic pressure on the back surface of the movable scroll 42, and the thrust receiving mechanism 8 includes a dynamic pressure generation portion 81 including a first groove 85 communicating with a low-pressure side, and a second groove 86 communicating with a buffer space between a radial inner end and a radial outer end of the thrust receiving mechanism 8.