Two-Stage Compressor with Thermally Separated Refrigerant Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Two-stage compressors have inefficiencies, particularly when using new natural refrigerants like CO2, due to heat transfer issues during the compression process, which affect the compression efficiency and operational conditions.
Innovation Solution
The compressor design includes thermally separated refrigerant supply and discharge apparatus to minimize heat transfer, with portions or all components being thermally decoupled to prevent excessive heat exchange, allowing for improved efficiency across multiple stages and varying temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If refrigerant supply apparatus and discharge apparatus are thermally coupled, then structural simplicity is maintained, but heat transfer from compressed refrigerant to supply refrigerant increases, reducing compression efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant supply apparatus and discharge apparatus are segmented into thermally separate sections. The supply apparatus has a first section that is thermally separated from the discharge apparatus, preventing heat transfer from compressed refrigerant to supply refrigerant while maintaining functional integrity of each component.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal coupling between supply and discharge apparatus is extracted/removed. By thermally separating the first section of the supply apparatus from the discharge apparatus, the harmful heat transfer path is eliminated while the apparatus continue to perform their respective functions independently.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple refrigerant discharge apparatus operate at different temperatures, then compression stages can handle varying refrigerant conditions, but heat transfer between discharge apparatus reduces overall system efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple discharge apparatus are segmented into thermally independent sections. Each discharge apparatus can operate at different temperatures suitable for its compression stage while being thermally isolated from other discharge apparatus, preventing unwanted heat transfer between them.
Solution Approach 2:
Each discharge apparatus is given local thermal independence, allowing different thermal characteristics (temperatures) in different locations. The first discharge apparatus can be optimized for first stage conditions while the second discharge apparatus is optimized for second stage conditions, with thermal separation preventing cross-interference.
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
This design enhances the efficiency of the compressor by reducing heat transfer, optimizing energy usage, and accommodating different refrigerant temperatures, leading to improved performance with various refrigerants, including CO2.
Implementation Method 1
at least a portion of the refrigerant supply device is thermally separated from the refrigerant discharge device or the refrigerant discharge devices
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a compressor (10, 100), comprising a compressor housing (15), a drive mechanism (12), and a compressing unit (14) having one or several compression levels (14-1, 14-2) for compressing a cooling agent, wherein the compressor (10, 110) is further provided with one or several cooling agent feeder units (20, 36) for feeding cooling agents to the compressing unit (14) and with one or several cooling agent discharge units (24, 38) for discharging cooling agents from the compressing unit (14). At least one segment of the one cooling agent feeder unit or at least one segment of at least one, in particular each one of the several cooling agent feeder units (20, 36), is arranged thermally separated from the one cooling agent discharge unit or at least one, in particular each one of the several cooling agent discharge units (24, 38).