Vertical Cooling System with P-Trap Oil Return for Tall Buildings

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cooling systems for tall buildings face oil return issues due to vertical separation between the compressor and high side heat exchanger, leading to increased energy consumption, size, and cost when using separate water cooling systems to bypass the high side heat exchanger.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of P-traps in vertical piping to capture and prevent oil from flowing back to the compressor, utilizing multiple piping sizes based on discharge pressure to direct oil and refrigerant to the high side heat exchanger, eliminating the need for a separate water cooling system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate water cooling system is used to bypass the high side heat exchanger, then oil return issues are avoided, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil return preventionVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the oil separation function from the water cooling system by introducing dedicated P-traps into the refrigerant piping. These P-traps specifically capture and remove oil from the refrigerant stream, allowing the water cooling system to be eliminated while maintaining reliable oil return prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The P-traps serve as an intermediary device between the compressor and the high side heat exchanger. They intercept and remove oil from the refrigerant flow, preventing oil from reaching the compressor and causing damage, thereby solving the oil return problem without requiring a water cooling bypass.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a separate water cooling system is used to bypass the high side heat exchanger, then oil return issues are avoided, but system size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil return preventionVSAvoidsystem size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the oil separation function from the water cooling system by introducing dedicated P-traps into the refrigerant piping. These P-traps specifically capture and remove oil from the refrigerant stream, allowing the water cooling system to be eliminated while maintaining reliable oil return prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If a separate water cooling system is used to bypass the high side heat exchanger, then oil return issues are avoided, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil return preventionVSAvoidsystem cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the oil separation function from the water cooling system by introducing dedicated P-traps into the refrigerant piping. These P-traps specifically capture and remove oil from the refrigerant stream, allowing the water cooling system to be eliminated while maintaining reliable oil return prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If P-traps are installed in vertical piping, then oil return is prevented, but refrigerant flow efficiency may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil return preventionVSAvoidrefrigerant flow efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The P-traps are strategically positioned at specific locations in the vertical piping where oil accumulation is most likely to occur. This localized approach ensures effective oil capture at critical points while minimizing the impact on overall refrigerant flow efficiency through the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 solution effectively prevents oil return to the compressor, reducing energy consumption, system size, and cost by ensuring efficient refrigerant flow and heat transfer without the need for a separate water cooling system.

Implementation Method 1

P-traps installed at various heights to capture oil in the refrigerant and to prevent that oil from flowing back to the compressor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity separation: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

As oil collects in the P-traps, the refrigerant begins to push the oil upwards until the oil reaches the high side heat exchanger

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow pressure: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

a high side heat exchanger that removes heat from the compressed refrigerant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentUS11656012B2Cooling system with vertical alignment

Publication Date: 2023.05.23 HEATCRAFT REFRIGERATION PRODUCTS LLC

AI summary

A cooling system uses P-traps to address the oil return issues that result from a vertical separation between the compressor and the high side heat exchanger. Generally, the vertical piping that carries the refrigerant from the compressor to the high side heat exchanger includes P-traps installed at various heights to capture oil in the refrigerant and to prevent that oil from flowing back to the compressor. As oil collects in the P-traps, the refrigerant begins to push the oil upwards until the oil reaches the high side heat exchanger. Multiple piping of different sizes may be used depending on a discharge pressure of the compressor. When the discharge pressure is higher, a larger piping may be used direct the oil and refrigerant to the high side heat exchanger.