Heat pump comprising a fluid compressor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional high-speed fluid compressors are bulky and inefficient, wasting energy by not recovering heat losses and requiring separate cooling circuits, which limits their integration in compact environments.
Innovation Solution
A two-stage high-speed fluid compressor design where the same refrigerant fluid is used for both compression and cooling, with channels within the compressor case to cool the motor and electronic components, allowing for efficient heat recovery and compact integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If separate cooling circuits are used for the compressor, then the compressor elements can be cooled effectively, but the heat pump becomes bulky and cannot be integrated in a limited environment
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the cooling circuit with the compression circuit by having the compressed fluid serve dual purposes: compression and cooling. The compressed fluid from the first stage passes through cooling channels that surround the motor and electronic components, eliminating the need for separate cooling circuits and reducing overall system volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The compressed fluid performs multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the working fluid for compression and as the cooling medium for the motor and electronic components. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate systems needed and enables compact integration.
2Productivity
If high-speed rotation is used to achieve high compression ratio, then compression performance is improved, but very high heating occurs requiring extensive cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful heat generated by high-speed rotation into a useful resource. The compressed fluid, which would otherwise be overheated, is directed through cooling channels to cool the motor and electronic components. The heat is not wasted but rather utilized to cool other system components.
Solution Approach 2:
The compressed fluid acts as an intermediary medium that transfers thermal energy from the compression process to the components requiring cooling. The fluid absorbs heat from the motor and electronic components as it passes through the cooling channels, mediating the thermal management of the system.
3Loss of energy
If the compressed fluid is used to cool the compressor elements, then heat recovery is improved and energy efficiency increases, but the electronic components require special sealing and complex maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the electronic components from the direct path of the compressed fluid by placing them in a separate chamber. The compressed fluid cools the motor and structural components through external channels, while electronic components are housed separately, eliminating the need for complex sealing around electronics.
Solution Approach 2:
The system design allows the compressed fluid to naturally cool the motor and structural components through the cooling channels without requiring additional sealing mechanisms. The separation of electronic components from the fluid path simplifies the system, making it more manufacturable and easier to maintain.
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 results in a compact, high-efficiency heat pump with a high compression ratio and rotational speed, capable of recovering all heat losses to enhance energy efficiency and reduce volume.
Implementation Method 1
channels extending between the first compression stage and the second compression stage, allowing motor to be cooled on contact with fluid to be compressed flowing in channels
Implementation Method 2
The arrangement of channels used both for circulating fluid to be compressed and for cooling the various compressor elements makes it possible to obtain a very compact compressor
Data Source
AI summary
A heat pump including a two-stage, high speed fluid compressor including a case having a fluid inlet and a compressed fluid outlet and containing a shaft rotatably mounted about a longitudinal axis, a first compression wheel and a second compression wheel mounted back-to-back on the shaft, the first compression wheel forming a first compression stage and the second compression wheel forming a second compression stage, and a motor positioned between the first compression wheel and the second compression wheel and arranged to rotate the shaft. The case includes an inner through housing extending coaxially to the longitudinal axis and inside which is arranged at least the motor, the inner housing having an inner wall arranged to form, with the motor, channels between at least the inner wall and the motor to cool the motor.