The disclosure relates to a compressor, and more particularly to a multipath passive discharge valve for a compressor.
As is commonly known, vehicles typically include a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. In certain applications, a scroll compressor is employed for compressing a refrigerant circulated through a refrigerant circuit of the HVAC system.
Generally, scroll compressors include a fixed scroll that remains stationary and an orbiting scroll that is nested relative to the fixed scroll and configured to orbit relative to the fixed scroll. The orbiting motion of the orbiting scroll, as well as the similar spiral shape of each of the fixed scroll and the orbiting scroll, continuously forms corresponding pairs of substantially symmetric compression chambers between the fixed scroll and the orbiting scroll. Each pair of the compression chambers is typically symmetric about a centralized discharge port of the scroll compressor. Refrigerant typically enters each of the compression chambers via one or more inlet ports formed adjacent a radially outmost portion of the fixed scroll and then the orbiting motion of the orbiting scroll relative to the fixed scroll results in each of the compression chambers progressively decreasing in volume such that the refrigerant disposed within each of the compression chambers progressively increases in pressure as the refrigerant approaches the radially central discharge port.
Typically, scroll compressors use a flow control mechanism, located adjacent to the radially central discharge port, to reduce backflow during refrigerant compression. One such flow control mechanism is a reed valve. A reed valve is a flapper style valve, typically provided as a flexible metallic reed, where the pressure applied to the end of the valve controls the opening and closing of the valve. However, reed style discharge valves are traditionally provided to include repeated metal to metal contact, which greatly reduces the durability of such reed valves. Current reed style discharge valves are prone to failure at high cycles in fixed scroll compressors with a long use span.
It would therefore be desirable to produce a multipath passive discharge valve assembly for a scroll compressor that uses only fluid pathing to reduce backflow and pressure pulsation during operation.
In concordance and agreement with the present disclosure, a multipath passive discharge valve for a scroll compressor that uses only fluid pathing to reduce reverse flow and pressure pulsation during operation, eliminating the need for reed valves, which contain a potential point of failure due the mechanical wear that moving parts can suffer, has surprisingly been designed.
A solution to the lack of durability of current reed style discharge valves comes in the form of a passive flow control mechanism, which eliminates the possibility that mechanical wear will cause the flow control mechanism to fail due to the lack of moving components. Embodiments of present disclosure utilize a method of fluid flow control that takes advantage of a Tesla valvular conduit. More particularly, the embodiments are directed to a passive flow control mechanism or valve that utilizes enlargements, recesses, and protrusions in a certain pattern that generates a self-intersecting flow path to create fluidic diodes and restrict a direction of a flow of a fluid.
The valve of the present disclosure utilizes the enlargements, recesses, and projections to control the passage of fluids in a manner that offers virtually no resistance to the passage of fluids in one direction while providing a nearly impassable barrier to fluid flow in the opposite direction. In some embodiments, the passive fluid control mechanism is a valve with a radial array of fluid pathing that is able to replace the conventional reed valve while maintaining similar flow control and compressor performance, and while eliminating a potential compressor point of failure due to reed valve mechanical wear.
In one embodiment, a passive discharge valve for a scroll compressor, comprises: at least one valvular conduit having an inlet aperture in fluid communication with a compression mechanism of the scroll compressor and an outlet aperture in fluid communication with a discharge chamber of the scroll compressor, wherein the at least one valvular conduit comprises a first flow path and a second flow path, wherein the second flow path intermittently intersects the first flow path to create at least one fluidic diode in the at least one valvular conduit.
In another embodiment, a method for controlling fluid flow in a scroll compressor, comprises: providing a passive discharge valve in fluid communication with a compression mechanism of the scroll compressor and a discharge chamber of the scroll compressor, wherein the passive discharge valve comprises: at least one valvular conduit including a first flow path and a second flow path, wherein the second flow path intermittently intersects the first flow path to create at least one fluidic diode in the at least one valvular conduit to militate against a flow of a fluid from the discharge chamber to the compression mechanism.
As aspects of some embodiments, the inlet aperture is in fluid communication with a discharge port of the compression mechanism.
As aspects of some embodiments, the first flow path comprises a plurality of linear segments.
As aspects of some embodiments, the second flow path comprises a plurality of arcuate shaped second segments.
As aspects of some embodiments, the first flow path is configured to permit a flow of a fluid from the compression mechanism to the discharge chamber in a first direction.
As aspects of some embodiments, the second flow path is configured to militate against a flow of the fluid from the discharge chamber to the compression mechanism in an opposite second direction.
As aspects of some embodiments, the at least one fluidic diode militates against a flow of a fluid from the discharge chamber to the compression mechanism.
As aspects of some embodiments, the second flow path intersects the first flow path at an angle in a range of about 0 degrees to about 180 degrees.
As aspects of some embodiments, the second flow path intersects the first flow path at an angle of about 90 degrees.
As aspects of some embodiments, at least one of the inlet aperture, the outlet aperture, and a portion of the at least one valvular conduit between the inlet and outlet apertures has a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape.
As aspects of some embodiments, the passive discharge valve is a separate component coupled to at least one of the compression mechanism and a housing of the scroll compressor.
As aspects of some embodiments, the at least one valvular conduit is formed in a main body of the passive discharge valve.
As aspects of some embodiments, the passive discharge valve is integrally formed with at least one of the compression mechanism and a housing of the scroll compressor.
As aspects of some embodiments, the at least one valvular conduit is formed in at least one of a fixed scroll of the compression mechanism and a rear head of the scroll compressor.
As aspects of some embodiments, the at least one valvular conduit is formed by a plurality of protrusions defining a U-shaped profile.
As aspects of some embodiments, at least one gap is formed between the protrusions to define at least one of the first flow path and the second flow path.
As aspects of some embodiments, the at least one valvular conduit extends radially outwardly from a common central location of the passive discharge valve.
As aspects of some embodiments, the passive discharge valve further comprises a flow feature configured to direct a flow of a fluid from the compression mechanism into the at least one valvular conduit.
As aspects of some embodiments, the flow feature has a generally curved cone shape.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The following description of technology is merely exemplary in nature of the subject matter, manufacture and use of one or more disclosures, and is not intended to limit the scope, application, or uses of any specific disclosure claimed in this application or in such other applications as may be filed claiming priority to this application, or patents issuing therefrom. Regarding methods disclosed, the order of the steps presented is exemplary in nature, and thus, the order of the steps can be different in various embodiments. “A” and “an” as used herein indicate “at least one” of the item is present; a plurality of such items may be present, when possible. Except where otherwise expressly indicated, all numerical quantities in this description are to be understood as modified by the word “about” and all geometric and spatial descriptors are to be understood as modified by the word “substantially” in describing the broadest scope of the technology. “About” when applied to numerical values indicates that the calculation or the measurement allows some slight imprecision in the value (with some approach to exactness in the value; approximately or reasonably close to the value; nearly). If, for some reason, the imprecision provided by “about” and/or “substantially” is not otherwise understood in the art with this ordinary meaning, then “about” and/or “substantially” as used herein indicates at least variations that may arise from ordinary methods of measuring or using such parameters.
All documents, including patents, patent applications, and scientific literature cited in this detailed description are incorporated herein by reference, unless otherwise expressly indicated. Where any conflict or ambiguity may exist between a document incorporated by reference and this detailed description, the present detailed description controls.
Although the open-ended term “comprising,” as a synonym of non-restrictive terms such as including, containing, or having, is used herein to describe and claim embodiments of the present technology, embodiments may alternatively be described using more limiting terms such as “consisting of” or “consisting essentially of.” Thus, for any given embodiment reciting materials, components, or process steps, the present technology also specifically includes embodiments consisting of, or consisting essentially of, such materials, components, or process steps excluding additional materials, components or processes (for consisting of) and excluding additional materials, components or processes affecting the significant properties of the embodiment (for consisting essentially of), even though such additional materials, components or processes are not explicitly recited in this application. For example, recitation of a composition or process reciting elements A, B and C specifically envisions embodiments consisting of, and consisting essentially of, A, B and C, excluding an element D that may be recited in the art, even though element D is not explicitly described as being excluded herein.
As referred to herein, all compositional percentages are by weight of the total composition, unless otherwise specified. Disclosures of ranges are, unless specified otherwise, inclusive of endpoints and include all distinct values and further divided ranges within the entire range. Thus, for example, a range of “from A to B” or “from about A to about B” is inclusive of A and of B. Disclosure of values and ranges of values for specific parameters (such as amounts, weight percentages, etc.) are not exclusive of other values and ranges of values useful herein. It is envisioned that two or more specific exemplified values for a given parameter may define endpoints for a range of values that may be claimed for the parameter. For example, if Parameter X is exemplified herein to have value A and also exemplified to have value Z, it is envisioned that Parameter X may have a range of values from about A to about Z. Similarly, it is envisioned that disclosure of two or more ranges of values for a parameter (whether such ranges are nested, overlapping or distinct) subsume all possible combination of ranges for the value that might be claimed using endpoints of the disclosed ranges. For example, if Parameter X is exemplified herein to have values in the range of 1-10, or 2-9, or 3-8, it is also envisioned that Parameter X may have other ranges of values including 1-9, 1-8, 1-3, 1-2, 2-10, 2-8, 2-3, 3-10, 3-9, and so on.
When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
As shown, the scroll compressor 1 includes a compression mechanism 3 formed by a fixed scroll 5 and an orbiting scroll 7. As best seen in
The fixed scroll 5 includes at least one inlet opening 11 adjacent a radially outermost portion thereof for introducing the fluid into each of the compression chambers 9. In the provided embodiment, the fixed scroll 5 includes a plurality of the inlet openings 11 circumferentially spaced apart from each other in an outer circumferential wall 12 of the fixed scroll 5 with each of the inlet openings 11 provided as a hole, indentation, or other form of passageway allowing for radially inward flow of the fluid into one of the compression chambers 9. The fluid generally enters the fixed scroll 5 through one of the inlet openings 11 at a relatively low pressure commonly referred to as a suction pressure of the scroll compressor 1. The fixed scroll 5 further includes a radially central discharge port 13 formed at a radial innermost end of the first spiral structure 6 through which the fluid exits each of the compression chambers 9 after having been compressed therein. The radially central discharge port 13 is accordingly located at or adjacent a radial center of the fixed scroll 5. The compressed fluid thereby exits the cooperating scrolls 5, 7 of the compression mechanism 3 at a relatively high pressure that is greater than the relatively low-pressure suction pressure, wherein the relatively high pressure is commonly referred to as the discharge pressure of the scroll compressor 1. A passive discharge valve 120 may be employed to selectively permit a flow of the compressed fluid from the fixed scroll 5. It is understood the passive discharge valve 120 may be coupled to the fixed scroll 5 by at least one coupling element (e.g., a mechanical fastener). However, other coupling means or methods of integration may be employed such as those described herein, for example.
The orbiting scroll 7 is configured to orbit relative to the fixed scroll 5 in a manner wherein each of the compression chambers 9 progresses circumferentially and radially inwardly towards the radially central discharge port 13. A shape and position of each of the compression chambers 9 accordingly changes relative to the fixed shape and position of the fixed scroll 5 during the repeating orbiting motion of the orbiting scroll 7. This motion causes each of the compression chambers 9 to reduce in flow volume as each of the compression chambers 9 approaches the radially inwardly disposed radially central discharge port 13, thereby causing the compression of the fluid.
The fixed scroll 5, shown in
A first housing portion 110 of the scroll compressor 1 is an open ended and hollow structure configured to mate with a second housing portion 112 and/or a third housing portion 116 of the scroll compressor 1 for enclosing the internal components thereof. The first housing portion 110 defines a rear head 111 configured to receive the fixed scroll 5 and the passive discharge valve 120 therein. An exemplary first housing portion 110 is shown in
The rear head 111 is in fluid communication with a fluid return passage 113. The fluid return passage 113 provides fluid communication between the rear head 111 and another component (not shown) of the associated fluid circuit through which the fluid is passed after being initially compressed within the compression mechanism 3 of the scroll compressor 1. For example, the component may be a separator (not shown) disposed downstream of the compression mechanism 3 and upstream of a low pressure side of the scroll compressor 1 with respect to a general direction of flow of the fluid through the fluid circuit, such as a cyclone separator.
The one or more valvular conduits 128, formed by recesses and protrusions in the main body 123 originate from the common central location 121 of the passive discharge valve 120 and extend radially outwardly therefrom, creating a radial array of valvular conduits 128. The one or more valvular conduits 128 comprise one or more fluidic valves or diodes 126 formed by creating a first flow path 130 that is intersected by a second flow path 132 at one or more locations along the valvular conduit 128 between the inlet and outlet apertures 125, 127. The fluidic diodes 126 have a specific pattern that allow for unimpeded flow in a first direction (shown by straight solid arrows 150 in
Each of the valvular conduit 128 may include a plurality of the fluidic diodes 126.
First and second flow paths 350, 352 are formed by the U-shaped profile 336. An outward flow of the fluid in a first direction may be defined as flow from an inlet aperture 325 at the common central location 321 to an outlet aperture 327, which is in fluid communication with the discharge chamber 115 contained in the rear head 111 of the scroll compressor 1. When flowing outward, as indicated by solid arrows 339 in
The one or more valvular conduits 428, formed by recesses and protrusions, may be formed in the main body 423 originate from the common central location 421 of the passive discharge valve 420 and extend radially outwardly therefrom, creating a radial array of valvular conduits 428. It is understood that the one or more valvular conduits 428 may be formed by any suitable forming process such as a subtractive forming process (e.g., a cutting or machining process) and an additive forming process (e.g., a three-dimension printing process), for example. The passive discharge valve 420 may further include a flow feature 422 that is designed to direct the flow of the fluid into one or more of the valvular conduits 428. The one or more valvular conduits 428 comprise one or more fluidic valves or diodes 426 formed by creating a first flow path 430 that is intersected by a second flow path 432 at one or more locations along the valvular conduit 428 between the inlet and outlet apertures 425, 427. The first flow path 430 may be compromised of a plurality of linear first segments 430a. The first segments 430a may be fluidly connected together at slight angles to promote the flow of the fluid in the first direction from the inlet aperture 425 to the outlet aperture 427. The second flow path 432 may be comprised of a plurality of arcuate shaped second segments 432a that intersect the first segments 430a intermittently at an angle. In certain embodiments, the second flow path 432 intersects the first flow path 430 at an angle between about 0 and 180 degrees, preferably, at about 90 degrees. The intersection of the two paths 430, 432 creates the fluidic diodes 426, which cause pressure losses that militate against the reverse flow of the fluid from occurring in the valvular conduit 428. The fluidic diodes 426 have a specific pattern that allow for unimpeded flow in a first direction while impeding flow in a second direction by directing a portion of a reverse fluid flow (or back flow) through the second flow path 432, thus preventing backflow of the fluid through the valvular conduits 428 from occurring. This generally linked and looped pattern is best illustrated in
The passive discharge valve 520 may include one or more valvular conduits 528, formed by recesses and protrusions in the main body 523, which originate from a common central location 521 of the passive discharge valve 520 and extend radially outwardly therefrom. The valvular conduits 528 comprise one or more fluidic valves or diodes 526 formed by creating a first flow path 530 that is intersected by a second flow path 532 at one or more locations along the valvular conduit 528 between the inlet and outlet apertures 525, 527. In certain embodiments, the second flow path 532 intersects the first flow path 530 at an angle between about 0 and 180 degrees, preferably, at about 90 degrees. The intersection of the two paths 530, 532 creates the fluidic diodes 526, which cause pressure losses that militate against the reverse flow of the fluid from occurring in the valvular conduit 528. The fluidic diodes 526 have a specific pattern that allow for unimpeded flow in a first direction while impeding flow in a second direction by directing a portion of a reverse fluid flow (or back flow) through the second flow path 532, thus preventing backflow of the fluid through the valvular conduits 528 from occurring. This generally linked and looped pattern is best illustrated where the two separate paths 530, 532 are depicted forming one valvular conduit 528, originating from the common central location 521 where the fluid enters the passive discharge valve 520. A structure and operation of the valvular conduits 528 is substantially similar to the structure and operation of the valvular conduits 128, 228, 328, 428 and for simplicity purposes is not repeated herein.
The passive discharge valve 620 may include one or more valvular conduits 628, formed by recesses and protrusions in the main body 623, which originate from a common central location 621 of the passive discharge valve 620 and extend radially outwardly therefrom. The valvular conduits 628 comprise one or more fluidic valves or diodes 626 formed by creating a first flow path 630 that is intersected by a second flow path 632 at one or more locations along the valvular conduit 628 between the inlet and outlet apertures 625, 627. In certain embodiments, the second flow path 632 intersects the first flow path 630 at an angle between about 0 and 180 degrees, preferably, at about 90 degrees. The intersection of the two paths 630, 632 creates the fluidic diodes 626, which cause pressure losses that militate against the reverse flow of the fluid from occurring in the valvular conduit 628. The fluidic diodes 626 have a specific pattern that allow for unimpeded flow in a first direction while impeding flow in a second direction by directing a portion of a reverse fluid flow (or back flow) through the second flow path 632, thus preventing backflow of the fluid through the valvular conduits 628 from occurring. This generally linked and looped pattern is best illustrated where the two separate paths 630, 632 are depicted forming one valvular conduit 628, originating from the common central location 621 where the fluid enters the passive discharge valve 620. A structure and operation of the valvular conduits 628 is substantially similar to the structure and operation of the valvular conduits 128, 228, 328, 428, 528 and for simplicity purposes is not repeated herein.
It should be appreciated that the number of the valvular conduits 128, 228, 328, 428, 528, 628 can be increased or decreased based on compressor mass flow requirements. Increasing the number of the valvular conduits 128, 228, 328, 428, 528, 628 can increase total mass flow. Exterior shape of the passive discharge valves 120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 620 has no effect on design performance. Preferred embodiments include a multitude of radial valvular conduits 128, 228, 328, 428, 528, 628 originating from the common central location 121, 221, 321, 421, 521, 621. Each of the valvular conduits 128, 228, 328, 428, 528, 628 contains multiple fluidic diodes 126, 226, 326, 426, 526, 626 that allow low-loss fluid passage in one direction, while preventing fluid from passing in the reverse direction (or backflow). The fluidic diodes 126, 226, 326, 426, 526, 626 are formed by creating second fluid paths 132, 232, 352, 432, 532, 632 that intermittently intersect first fluid paths 130, 230, 350, 430, 530, 630 during a reverse flow condition, thereby creating regions of high-loss preventing fluid cross flow.
Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms, and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail. Equivalent changes, modifications and variations of some embodiments, materials, compositions and methods can be made within the scope of the present technology, with substantially similar results.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/508,227, filed Jun. 14, 2023, the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63508227 | Jun 2023 | US |