Spherical Filter Drier Assembly for Leak and Pressure Loss Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cylindrical filter driers in HVACR systems are prone to leaks and material inefficiencies due to their design, which can lead to reduced system performance and lifespan from contaminant accumulation, and they require additional non-filtering components that increase material costs and pressure drops.
Innovation Solution
A spherical filter drier design with a hemispherical shell and a core held in place by compression forces, eliminating the need for springs and reducing material usage, while optimizing core and shell sizing for improved contaminant removal and reduced refrigerant capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spherical filter drier design is used, then contaminant removal efficiency is enhanced and material usage is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to the novel spherical geometry and compression assembly mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The filter drier employs a spherical shell geometry instead of conventional cylindrical design. The spherical shape provides superior pressure distribution and structural efficiency, allowing the shell to withstand higher internal pressures with reduced wall thickness. This geometric transformation enhances the overall reliability and material efficiency of the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates non-essential components from the filter drier assembly. By using the spherical shell's compression forces alone to hold the core in place, the design removes unnecessary brackets, support structures, and fastening mechanisms, thereby simplifying the device while maintaining or improving contaminant removal efficiency.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional cylindrical filter drier design is used, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but additional non-filtering components are required that increase material costs and pressure drops
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical filter drier design extracts and eliminates non-filtering components such as support brackets, fasteners, and additional structural elements required in cylindrical designs. The spherical shell's inherent geometric strength allows it to function as both the containment structure and the compression mechanism, removing unnecessary materials and reducing both manufacturing complexity and refrigerant capacity requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical shell serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the structural containment for the filter media, generates compression forces to hold the core in place through its geometric configuration, and eliminates the need for separate support structures. This multi-functionality reduces material usage and simplifies the overall device construction.
3Stability of the object's composition
If springs are used to hold internal components in place, then the components are securely positioned, but assembly time increases and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes springs and other active compression mechanisms from the filter drier assembly. Instead, it relies on the spherical shell's geometric configuration to generate passive compression forces that securely hold the core and internal components in place. This extraction of unnecessary components significantly reduces assembly time and manufacturing complexity while maintaining component positioning stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical shell structure serves itself by using its own geometric configuration to generate the compression forces needed to hold internal components in place. The shell's shape inherently creates radial compression against the core, eliminating the need for external spring mechanisms or additional fastening operations during assembly.
4Stress or pressure
If thicker shell walls are used in cylindrical filter driers, then the device can withstand internal pressures, but material usage increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical geometry of the filter drier shell provides superior pressure distribution compared to cylindrical designs. The curved spherical surface evenly distributes internal pressure forces, allowing the shell to withstand higher internal pressures with significantly reduced wall thickness. This geometric advantage reduces material usage while maintaining or enhancing pressure withstand capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameter from cylindrical to spherical, which fundamentally alters the stress distribution characteristics of the shell. This parameter change enables the shell to achieve the same or higher pressure withstand capability with reduced wall thickness, thereby reducing material usage and manufacturing cost.
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 spherical design enhances contaminant removal efficiency, withstands higher pressures with less material, reduces assembly time and costs, and minimizes refrigerant usage by eliminating non-filtering elements, resulting in improved system performance and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
the spherical shell, in combination with the core geometry and strength, allow the core (and any other internal components) to be held in place by compression forces imparted on the core by the shell
Implementation Method 2
The hemispherical shaped chamber is filled with a body of desiccant material for the removal of foreign particles from fluid which flows through the casing
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A spherical filter drier for an HVACR system includes a generally spherical shell and a core that is fixed position relative to the shell. The shell has a first opening and a second opening in fluid communication with one another across the core. The core includes a media that removes contaminants from fluid flowing from the first opening through the core to the second opening. The spherical shell may be a monolithic shell, or formed from a pair of generally hemispherical shells.