The present invention relates to a scroll machine with an injection for a medium, in particular a refrigerant, and a refrigeration system with such a scroll machine.
Scroll machines are fluid energy machines and are already known from the prior art in different configurations. Scroll machines include, for example, scroll compactors, scroll compressors/spiral compressors or scroll expanders.
Known scroll machines typically have two interacting scroll units, each with at least one scroll rib forming at least one scroll channel. The scroll ribs of the scroll units engage or intermesh to form pressure chambers, with the scroll ribs sealingly abutting the base of the respective other scroll unit.
Both the respective scroll channel and the scroll rib forming the scroll channel are formed in the form of an evolvent of a circle, with the two scroll units being movable relative to one another. A common structural design of scroll machines has a stationary scroll unit and a movable scroll unit, with the movable first scroll unit being movable along an orbital path relative to a second scroll unit.
According to the displacement principle, a medium, for example a refrigerant, is compressed or compacted in a compactor or a compressor by a relative movement of the two scroll units. During this relative movement, the medium in the pressure chambers is displaced along the scroll channels from an outer end area to an inner end area, with the medium in the respective pressure chamber undergoing a change in volume.
In an expander, the medium, in particular a refrigerant, is expanded by a relative movement of the two scroll units. During this relative movement, the medium in the pressure chambers is displaced along the scroll channels from an inner end area to an outer end area, with the medium in the respective pressure chamber undergoing an increase in volume.
WO 2018 019 372 A1, for example, describes such a generic scroll machine, which can be used in a refrigeration system with a refrigerant cycle. Such refrigeration systems can have a variety of uses, such as cooling a secondary fluid such as air, or cooling components or equipment.
The scroll machines and refrigeration systems described above have proven themselves in the past. The scroll units are exposed to high mechanical loads and compressive forces. The cyclic mechanical loads on the interacting scroll ribs have a negative effect on the intended service life of the scroll machine and require a robust and therefore heavy construction.
The sealing of the pressure chamber also poses challenges, since the contact surfaces of the scroll units are subject to wear.
This is where the present invention comes in.
It is the object of the present invention to propose a scroll machine and a refrigeration system of the type described at the outset, which eliminates the disadvantages known from the prior art in an expedient manner.
These objects are achieved by a scroll machine having the features of claims 1 and 14 and by a refrigeration system having the features of claim 21.
Further advantageous configurations of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.
The scroll machine according to the invention, in particular a scroll compressor, for a medium, with the features of claim 1, has a first scroll unit and a second scroll unit, which are arranged in a longitudinal axis. The first scroll unit comprises a base and a scroll rib extending from the base and having a scroll rib tip. The second scroll unit comprises a base and a scroll rib extending from the base and having a scroll rib tip. The first scroll unit can be moved along an orbital path relative to the second scroll unit, and the first scroll unit and second scroll unit engage with each other to form pressure chambers with the scroll rib tip sealingly interacting with the base of the respective other scroll unit. According to the invention, it is provided that the base of the first scroll unit and/or the base of the second scroll unit comprise(s) a pocket with an insert plate arranged in the pocket.
It is already noted at this point that the medium within the meaning of the present invention is preferably a refrigerant, with the refrigerant comprising a lubricant which can be entrained by the refrigerant.
According to the present invention, an insert plate is inserted into the base of the first scroll unit and/or into the base of the second scroll unit, which has a sealing surface which interacts with the respective scroll rib tip and which the respective scroll rib tip moves over during a complete movement of the first scroll unit along the orbital path. The shape and size of the insert plate corresponds to the shape and size of the pocket.
The first scroll unit and/or the second scroll unit can be made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, while the insert plate can be made of a harder material such as metal, stainless steel or the like. The base of the respective scroll unit is therefore subject to less wear and the insert plate can be replaced if necessary.
The respective scroll rib tip of the first scroll unit and/or the second scroll unit is preferably designed, for example by means of a face seal, which will be described later, in such a way that the respective scroll rib tip sealingly interacts during a complete movement of the first scroll unit along the orbital path exclusively within the sealing surface of the insert plate.
According to a refinement of the present invention, the insert plate is inserted loosely into the pocket. The insert plate is thus held in the pocket exclusively in a form-fitting manner. Lubricant entrained by the medium can settle between the pocket and the insert plate, which on the one hand avoids wear between the insert plate and the pocket and on the other hand lubricates the sealing surface of the insert plate, whereby an improved sealing effect between the respective scroll rib tip and the insert plate can be achieved.
In addition, it has proven to be advantageous if the pocket has a pocket depth and the insert plate has a plate thickness and the plate thickness is greater than the pocket depth. The insert plate protrudes from the pocket. Furthermore, this measure can ensure that the end face of a scroll unit cannot collide with the base of the respective other scroll unit.
The respective pocket should preferably be provided with a corner radius that is as small as possible, so that play between the insert plate and the pocket can be reduced to a minimum. This and/or the selection of suitable tolerances is intended to reduce the freedom of movement of the insert plate in the pocket to a minimum and prevent the scroll rib from being damaged by the insert plate.
According to a refinement, it can be advantageous if the pocket is arranged at a distance from the respective scroll rib. The distance between the scroll rib and the pocket of the first scroll unit and/or the second scroll unit is measured across a scroll channel formed by the scroll rib. The notch effect of the pocket can be reduced by the distance between the pocket and the scroll rib.
Furthermore, it has proven to be advantageous if a transition fillet is provided between the base and the scroll rib of the scroll unit. The fillet preferably has a radius and reduces the notch effect in the area between the base and the scroll rib.
According to a refinement, to further reduce the notch effect, the distance between the pocket and the scroll rib can approximately correspond to the radius of the transition fillet between the base and the scroll rib.
A refinement of the invention can also provide that the insert plate has at least one lubricating notch. The at least one lubricating notch connects the sealing surface to a rear side of the insert plate arranged on the opposite side and enables the lubricant entrained by the medium to penetrate through the lubricating notch into the pocket between the scroll unit and the insert plate. It is also preferred if the at least one lubricating notch is arranged on an edge of the insert plate that is on the outside in the radial direction and is designed in the direction of the longitudinal axis in the manner of a rounded groove.
As provided by a refinement of the present invention, the second scroll unit has at least one injection port for the medium from an economizer cycle. The medium from the economizer cycle can be injected through the injection port into a closed pressure chamber, which means that the operating limits of the scroll machine and the efficiency of the scroll machine can be increased.
Furthermore, according to a refinement of the present invention, it can be provided that the injection port comprises a recess in the scroll rib. The recess is preferably formed in the manner of a rounded groove in a scroll wall of the scroll rib. The recess can also extend from the base of the second scroll unit in the scroll wall of the scroll rib in the direction of the scroll rib tip over preferably more than 5% of a height of the scroll rib and preferably not more than 50% of the height, even more preferably not more than 25% of the height of the scroll rib.
Furthermore, it has proven to be advantageous if the injection port is arranged, at least in sections, in the base—preferably adjacent to the pocket.
A preferred refinement of the present invention provides that the injection port has a first port section, which is arranged in the transition fillet, and a second port section, which is formed by the recess in the scroll rib of the second scroll unit. Such an arrangement of the injection port in the transition area between the base and the scroll rib of the second scroll unit can prevent the scroll rib tip of the scroll rib of the first scroll unit or a face seal of the first scroll rib from moving over the injection port or coming into contact with the injection port. Such contact could damage both the injection port and/or the first scroll rib tip.
It has also proven to be advantageous if a supply line to the injection port in the second scroll unit is of stepped design, with the supply line tapering towards the injection port. As an alternative to the stepped supply line, the supply line can also be conical. The supply line can preferably be designed as a bore with a circular cross section. However, it is also possible to configure the supply line in cross section in the shape of a crescent or as an elongated hole.
According to a refinement or according to a further aspect of the present invention, the scroll rib tip of the first scroll unit and/or the scroll rib tip of the second scroll unit can comprise a face seal. The face seal sealing abuts the base of the other scroll unit in each case, with the face seal preferably being in active contact with the base of the other scroll unit in each case.
The face seal in connection with the present invention can be formed by a flat scroll rib tip which abuts sealingly the base of the respective other scroll unit. The face seal can have a special shape or a material composition or the like that differs from the scroll rib or can comprise a sealing body which is arranged at the tip of the scroll rib. Such sealing bodies can be made of metal or plastic, for example.
According to a refinement of the present invention, the face seal includes a groove.
Further, according to a preferred embodiment, the face seal may comprise a seal body arranged in the groove in the scroll rib tip. According to another preferred configuration of the present invention, the seal body protrudes from the groove in the scroll rib tip in the longitudinal direction.
The insert plate preferably has a sealing surface that interacts with the face seal, in particular with the sealing body, the sealing surface being dimensioned such that when the first scroll unit moves completely along the orbital path, the face seal or the sealing body moves over the respective insert plate exclusively within the sealing surface. For this purpose, the sealing surface can be dimensioned larger than the surface moved over by the face seal or the sealing body, which ensures that the face seal or the sealing body only comes into contact with the sealing surface of the insert plate and not with an outer edge of the insert plate, what would lead to damage to the face seal or the seal body and/or wear on the insert plate in the long term.
The sealing body is preferably inserted loosely into the groove, as a result of which lubricant entrained by the medium can penetrate into the groove between the sealing body and the groove. Furthermore, the medium can penetrate between the sealing body and the groove and generate an additional sealing effect of the face seal through pressure forces.
In addition, it has proven to be advantageous if the face seal is arranged between the two scroll walls on the scroll rib tip of the respective scroll rib. Furthermore, the face seal or the sealing body is preferably arranged at a distance from the scroll wall, the distance being measured along a normal vector of the scroll wall. The distance between one of the two opposite scroll walls of the scroll rib and the face seal in each case is preferably of the same size.
In addition, it has proven advantageous if the wall distance between the insert plate and the scroll wall is smaller than the distance between the scroll wall and the sealing body. This ensures that the face seal only covers the sealing surface of the insert plate and does not go beyond the sealing surface.
A further aspect of the present invention or a preferred refinement of the present invention provides that the scroll machine, in particular a scroll compressor, has a first scroll unit and a second scroll unit for a medium, which are arranged in a longitudinal axis. The first scroll unit comprises a base and a scroll rib extending from the base and having a scroll rib tip. The second scroll unit comprises a base and a scroll rib extending from the base and having a scroll rib tip. The first scroll unit can be moved along an orbital path relative to the second scroll unit, and the first scroll unit and second scroll unit engage with each other to form pressure chambers with the scroll rib tip sealingly interacting with the base of the other scroll unit. Each scroll rib extends from an inner end section to an outer end section, and at least one of the scroll rib tips of the two scroll rib tips has a face seal that comprises a groove. The groove further comprises a face seal groove section and at least one outlet groove section, wherein the at least one outlet groove section is arranged between the outer end section and/or the inner end section. The sealing body can preferably be inserted into the face sealing groove section.
The groove in the scroll rib tip thus has at least two differently designed sections, namely the face seal groove section and the at least one outlet groove section, it being possible for the face seal to be arranged exclusively in the face seal groove section. The at least two differently designed sections differ in particular by different cross-sectional areas of the groove, preferably in the depth of the groove.
The outlet groove section can be designed in the manner of a squealer tip and forms a cavity on the side facing the base of the other scroll unit, through which a gap flow can be established over the scroll rib tip. Additional pressure losses in the cavity can on the one hand reduce the gap flow and on the other hand part of the gap flow in the groove can penetrate between the groove and the seal body into the face seal groove section, which can improve the overall sealing effect of the face seal. In particular, in the inner end section, the medium can flow at high pressure via the outlet groove section into the face seal groove section and can press the seal body out of the groove against the base of the other scroll unit, resulting in the improved sealing effect and more even wear and contact pressure. An even pressure under the sealing body results in an even pressing against the corresponding sealing surface or the corresponding insert plate, which results in reduced wear on the sealing surface.
According to a preferred refinement of the present invention, the face seal groove section can have a first groove depth and the at least one outlet groove section can have a second groove depth, the first groove depth being greater than the second groove depth. Due to the different depths, the sealing body can be held in a form-fitting manner in the face sealing groove section.
A further aspect of the present invention relates to a refrigeration system having a scroll machine as described above.
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention and a refinement thereof are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures:
Identical or functionally identical parts or features are identified with the same reference numerals in the following detailed description of the figures. Furthermore, not all identical or functionally identical parts or features are provided with a reference numeral in the figures.
A simplified sectional representation of scroll machine 2 can be seen in
In the machine housing 10, according to
First scroll unit 100 is coupled to drive unit 400 via an eccentric drive 150 and drive shaft 420.
Drive shaft 420 is oriented in longitudinal axis X and the axis of rotation of drive shaft 420 defines longitudinal axis X in the illustrated exemplary embodiment. Drive shaft 420 has a first end section and a second end section in longitudinal axis X on opposite sides.
First scroll unit 100 according to
Scroll rib 110 comprises scroll walls 140 and a scroll rib tip 160.
A transition fillet 135 (see
Furthermore, a plurality of ring-pin couplings (not shown) can be provided which prevent complete rotation of first scroll unit 100 about longitudinal axis X. The ring-pin coupling couples first scroll unit 100 to second bearing unit 300.
It can also be seen from
Scroll rib 110 is formed in the form of an evolvent along a helical mean line and extends from an inner end section 115 to outer end section 116. Inner end section 115 is located radially inward relative to longitudinal axis X and outer end section 116 is located radially outward relative to longitudinal axis X. The at least one scroll channel 120 is U-shaped and is delimited in the radial directions by scroll rib 110 or scroll walls 140 of scroll rib 110 and base 130.
In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, first scroll unit 100 has a face seal 170 that projects from scroll rib tip 160 toward second scroll unit 200.
Face seal 170 comprises a groove 175 and a seal body 172 inserted into groove 175 and protruding from groove 175.
Groove 175 can—as shown in
Second scroll unit 200 can be stationary and has a first side 201 and a second side 202 opposite the first side 201 in the longitudinal axis X. A scroll rib 210 protrudes in the longitudinal axis X on first side 201, scroll rib 210 forming a second scroll channel 220.
Scroll rib 210 comprises scroll walls 240 and a scroll rib tip 260.
A transition fillet 235 may be provided between scroll rib 210 and base 230. Transition fillet 235 can preferably have a radius R and serves to reduce the notch effect in a transition area between scroll rib 210 and base 230.
Scroll machine 2 can have an injection that is provided for injecting the medium from an economizer cycle. For injecting the medium from an economizer cycle, second scroll unit 200 has an injection port 250 which opens into scroll channel 220 and is arranged between inner end area 125 and outer end area 126.
The medium from the economizer cycle can be injected into a closed pressure chamber through injection port 250, as a result of which the efficiency of scroll machine 2 can be increased.
In particular, the enlarged representation according to
It can also be seen from
On the face side, scroll rib 210 has scroll rib tip 260 which—as shown—can have a face seal 270. Alternatively, scroll rib tip 260 may be formed as a flat tip. Furthermore, second scroll channel 220 can have an inner end area 225 and/or an outer end area 226.
Scroll rib 210 of second scroll unit 200 is adapted to scroll rib 110 of first scroll unit 100. Scroll rib 210 of second scroll unit 200 is formed in the form of an evolvent along a scroll mean line and extends from an inner end section 215 to the outer end section 216. The mean line corresponds to a profile centerline of scroll rib 210 and is located midway between the two scroll walls 240. Relative to the longitudinal axis X, inner end section 215 is located radially on the inside, and relative to the longitudinal axis X, outer end section 216 is located radially on the outside. The at least one scroll channel 220 is U-shaped and is delimited in the radial directions by scroll rib 210 or scroll walls 240 of scroll rib 210 and base 230.
In the exemplary embodiment shown according to
It should be noted that face seal 170 of first scroll unit 100 and face seal 270 of second scroll unit 200 may be of identical construction. For the sake of simplicity, face seal 270 of second scroll unit 200 is described below with reference to
Groove 275 comprises a face seal groove section 277, into which seal body 272 can preferably be inserted loosely, and at least one outlet groove section 276, 278, the at least one outlet groove section 278 being arranged between outer end section 216 and/or inner end section 215.
In the illustrated embodiment, groove 275 comprises two outlet groove sections 276, 278, with the face seal groove section 277 being arranged between the two outlet groove sections 276, 278.
According to
First groove depth T1 of face seal groove section 277 is greater than second groove depth T2 of outlet groove sections 276, 278, and a step shown in
The step delimits face seal groove section 277 and positively holds seal body 272 in face seal groove section 277 in a form-fitting manner.
Outlet groove section 276, 278 forms a cavity on the side of scroll rib tip 260 facing base 130 of first scroll unit 100, through which a gap flow over scroll rib tip 260 can be established. Additional pressure losses in the cavity can, on the one hand, reduce the gap flow and, on the other hand, part of the gap flow in groove 275 can penetrate between groove 275 and seal body 272 into face seal groove section 277, as a result of which the overall sealing effect of face seal 270 can be improved. In particular, in inner end section 215 of scroll rib 210, the medium can flow at high pressure via outlet groove section 276 into the face seal groove section and can press seal body 272 out of groove 275 against base 130 of the scroll unit 100, resulting in the improved sealing effect.
According to
According to
Pocket 232 has a pocket depth D, see
Pocket 232 is arranged at a wall distance W from scroll rib 210 or scroll wall 240. Wall distance W preferably corresponds to a distance between scroll wall 240 and pocket 232, measured along a normal vector of scroll wall 240.
Wall distance W preferably corresponds approximately to radius R of transition fillet 235, which is arranged relative to scroll rib 210 or scroll wall 240.
Insert plate 236 is inserted into pocket 232 and is adapted to pocket 232 in terms of shape and size. Insert plate 236 has a plate thickness B. Furthermore, insert plate 236 has a peripheral outer edge that forms a lateral surface and connects the two end faces of insert plate 236.
Insert plate 236 preferably is loosely arranged in pocket 232. A gap can be formed between the lateral surface and pocket 232. The gap is kept as small as possible in order to avoid unnecessary relative movements between scroll unit 200 and insert plate 236.
One end face of insert plate 236 forms a sealing surface 238 on the side facing first scroll unit 100. The other end face abuts pocket 232.
It can be seen from
According to
Also, a lubricating notch 239 may be located immediately adjacent injection port 250 as shown in
It can be seen from
As shown in
When engaging with each other or intermeshing, scroll rib 110 of first scroll unit 100 engages the second scroll channel of second scroll unit 200 and scroll rib 210 of second scroll unit 200 engages the first scroll channel of first scroll unit 100. Scroll rib tip 260 or face seal 270 of scroll rib 210 of second scroll unit 200 interacts sealingly with base 130 of first scroll unit 100 and scroll rib tip 160 or face seal 170 of scroll rib 110 of first scroll unit 100 interacts with base 230 of second scroll unit 200.
Specifically, face seal 170, in particular sealing body 172 of first scroll unit 100, moves over sealing surface 238 of insert plate 236 of base 230 of second scroll unit 200 and for this purpose, as shown in
Insert plate 236 and consequently also pocket 232 are dimensioned such that face seal 170, in particular sealing body 172, comes into operative contact with base 230 of second scroll unit 200 only with the insert plate 236 within sealing surface 238. For this purpose, the distance A between scroll wall 140 and face seal 170 or sealing body 172 is greater than wall distance W between scroll wall 140 and insert plate 236 or its outer edge.
The medium enters machine housing 10 through inlet 11 and is routed in machine housing 10 from inlet 11 to outer end areas 126, 226.
In a compressor or compactor, when first scroll unit 100 moves along the orbital path, pressure chambers (not shown) are enclosed between first scroll unit 100 and second scroll unit 200, which pressure chambers shift medium from outer end areas 126, 226 to inner end areas 125, 225 of scroll channels 120, 220. Outer end areas 126, 226 together form suction area 320, from which the medium can be sucked into scroll channels 120, 220, in order to then shift it in closed pressure chambers (not shown) from outer end area 126, 226 to inner end area 125, 225, the pressure chambers undergoing a continuous reduction in volume.
In an expander, when first scroll unit 100 moves along the orbital path, pressure chambers (not shown) are enclosed between first scroll unit 100 and second scroll unit 200, which pressure chambers shift medium from inner end areas 125, 225 to outer end areas 126, 226 of scroll channels 120, 220, the pressure chambers undergoing a continuous increase in volume.
High-pressure chamber 30 and intermediate base 50 are arranged on second side 202 of second scroll unit 200, the intermediate base 50 being arranged along longitudinal axis X between high-pressure chamber 30 and second scroll unit 200.
Second scroll unit 200 can be supported on the intermediate base 50 via a radial bearing section.
Furthermore, a supply line 70 can be routed through the intermediate base 50, which connects injection port 250 to housing port 13.
Intermediate base 50 decouples second scroll unit 200 from the pressure forces in high-pressure chamber 30 and is supported in relation to machine housing 10.
High-pressure chamber 30 is connected to second scroll channel 220 via a passage 255, passage 255 comprising an outlet port which is arranged in the area of inner end areas 125, 225. The outlet port, also known as the “discharge port”, is preferably formed in inner end area 225 of base 230 of second scroll unit 200 and passage 255 extends along longitudinal axis X through an opening through intermediate base 50 to high-pressure chamber 30.
High-pressure chamber 30 is in turn connected to outlet 12 and the medium can leave scroll machine 2 through outlet 12.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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102022120681.5 | Aug 2022 | DE | national |