SCROLL COMPRESSOR AND HEAT PUMP DEVICE

[0001] The present application relates to a scroll compressor and a heat pump device. The

[0002] scroll compressor and heat pump device of the present application can be particularly used in scenarios including vehicles, residences, or industrial plants.

[0003] In a vehicle or house, a heat pump device is typically used to change the ambient

[0004] temperature, e.g., to heat or cool. The heat pump device typically has a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and an expansion valve. A scroll compressor is often adopted as the compressor, which has many advantages such as high efficiency, smooth operation, and high reliability. Ordinary scroll compressors have low COP (coefficient of performance), especially in low-temperature environments. To further improve efficiency, a scroll compressor of the gas-injection enthalpy-increasing type is currently known. However, the existing gas-injection enthalpy-increasing scroll compressor has a complex gas-injection chamber structure and requires a large number of components, which will cause great expenditure of time and costs during manufacturing and assembly.

[0005] The aim of the present application is to provide a scroll compressor, wherein a gas-injection chamber of the scroll compressor can be formed with a simple structure and a small number of components.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present application, a scroll compressor is provided, the scroll compressor comprising:

• • [0007] a movable scroll;
  • [0008] a static scroll, the static scroll having a base plate and a scroll wall provided on the base plate; and
  • [0009] a housing arranged on a side of the base plate facing away from the scroll wall;
  • [0010] wherein,
  • [0011] the housing has a first cavity, the first cavity having a first opening on the bottom surface of the housing facing the base plate, the first opening being covered by the base plate to form a gas-injection chamber, the gas-injection chamber being connected via a gas-injection hole on the base plate to a compression chamber corresponding to an intermediate pressure stage formed by the movable scroll and the static scroll, the first cavity being connected to a gas-injection port of the scroll compressor, and a non-return valve device for one-way flow from the gas-injection port to the gas-injection chamber being provided in the first cavity.

[0012] According to a second aspect of the present application, a heat pump device is provided, the heat pump device comprising the aforementioned scroll compressor, an evaporator, a condenser, an expansion valve, and a gas-injection gas supply device, a gas outlet of the gas-injection gas supply device being connected to a gas-injection port of the scroll compressor.

[0013] In at least some examples, the positive effects of the present application are as follows: a gas-injection chamber of a scroll compressor can be formed by using a simple structure and a small number of components; the pressure fluctuation of the discharge chamber can be effectively reduced; and the integration of a seal is permitted.

[0028] To provide a clearer understanding of the technical problems, technical solutions, and beneficial technical effects to be addressed by the present application, the following detailed description of the present application will be provided with reference to the accompanying drawings and multiple exemplary examples. It should be understood that the specific examples described herein are provided solely for the purpose of explaining the present application and not for limiting the scope of protection of the present application.

[0029] FIG. 1 schematically one example of a movable scroll 35 and a static scroll 1 of the scroll compressor 96 (see FIG. 13) of the present application in a cross-sectional view. A compression chamber 33 corresponding to the intermediate pressure stage and a compression chamber 34 corresponding to the highest pressure stage can be seen here. The intermediate pressure stage refers, inter alia, to the following pressure stage, whose pressure is higher than the pressure of the scroll suction port 36 but lower than the pressure of the highest pressure stage. The compression chamber 34 corresponding to the highest pressure stage is in communication with, inter alia, the discharge hole 14 on the base plate 10 of the static scroll 1 such that compressed gas is capable of being discharged through the discharge hole 14.

[0030] The static scroll 1 is sometimes also referred to as a fixed scroll and is fixed within the scroll compressor 96. The movable scroll 35 is sometimes also referred to as an orbiting scroll and rotates relative to the static scroll 1, causing compression of a gas.

[0031] The scroll compressor 96 further comprises, inter alia, an electric motor for driving the movable scroll 35, an eccentric shaft, and other housing components.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows one example of some components of the scroll compressor 96 of the present application in an exploded perspective view. A static scroll 1, a seal 5, a discharge hole non-return valve device 8 for the discharge hole 14, a non-return valve device 7 for a gas-injection chamber 30, a housing 2, and a sensor 4 of the scroll compressor 96 are shown herein. The sensor 4 is used, inter alia, to detect temperature and/or pressure. The axial direction 32 of the scroll compressor 96 is shown in a dotted line. The axial direction 32 may be understood, inter alia, to mean a direction parallel to a drive shaft of an electric motor of the scroll compressor 96 or a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the scroll compressor 96.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 2, the housing 2 forms, inter alia, a rear cover of the scroll compressor 96.

[0034] FIG. 3 schematically shows one example of the housing 2 in a perspective view.

[0035] FIG. 4 schematically shows one example of the housing 2, the static scroll 1, and the discharge hole non-return valve device 8 in a perspective cross-sectional view.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the scroll compressor 96 comprises:

• • [0037] a movable scroll 35;
  • [0038] a static scroll 1, the static scroll 1 having a base plate 10 and a scroll wall 11 disposed on the base plate 10; and
  • [0039] a housing 2 arranged on a side of the base plate 10 facing away from the scroll wall 11;
  • [0040] the housing 2 has a first cavity 22, the first cavity 22 having a first opening 220 on the bottom surface 24 of the housing 2 facing the base plate 10, the first opening 220 being covered by the base plate 10 to form a gas-injection chamber 30, the gas-injection chamber 30 being connected via a gas-injection hole 13 on the base plate 10 to a compression chamber 33 corresponding to an intermediate pressure stage formed by the movable scroll 35 and the static scroll 1, the first cavity 22 being connected to a gas-injection port 26 of the scroll compressor 96, and a non-return valve device 7 for one-way flow from the gas-injection port 26 to the gas-injection chamber 30 being provided in the first cavity 22.

[0041] As such, the gas-injection chamber 30 can be formed, inter alia, in a simple structural manner.

[0042] With reference to FIG. 4, the gas-injection port 26 refers to a port for supplying supplementary gas into the scroll compressor 96. When injecting gas, the pressure of the gas entering from the gas-injection port 26 may be greater than the pressure of the gas within the compression chamber 33 such that the gas entering from the gas-injection port 26 enters the gas-injection chamber 30 via the open non-return valve device 7 and subsequently enters the compression chamber 33 corresponding to the intermediate pressure stage via the gas-injection hole 13 on the base plate 10. When the pressure of the gas at the gas-injection port 26 is lower than the pressure of the gas within the gas-injection chamber 30, the non-return valve device 7 closes to prevent the gas within the gas-supply chamber 30 from flowing back to the gas-injection port 26.

[0043] “Opening” refers, inter alia, to larger openings. The smaller through-hole of the cavity should not be considered an opening.

[0044] According to one exemplary example of the present application, referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the housing 2 has a second cavity 23, the second cavity 23 having a second opening 230 on a bottom surface 24 of the housing 2 facing the base plate 10, the second opening 230 being covered by the base plate 10 to form a discharge chamber 31, the discharge chamber 31 being connected via a discharge hole 14 on the base plate 10 to a compression chamber 34 corresponding to a highest pressure stage formed by the movable scroll 35 and the static scroll 1, the discharge chamber 31 being connected to the discharge port 28 of the scroll compressor. Here, because both the first cavity 22 and the second cavity 23 of the housing 2 are open toward the base plate 10 of the static scroll 1, the first cavity 22 and the second cavity 23 can be easily manufactured. Furthermore, exemplarily, the discharge port 28 is integrated into the housing 2.

[0045] Here, a discharge hole non-return valve device 8 is further provided for the discharge hole 14, allowing one-way flow from the discharge hole 14 to the discharge chamber 31.

[0046] According to one exemplary example of the present application, referring to FIG. 3, the housing has an inner cavity 20 and a separating wall 21, the separating wall 21 spanning the inner cavity 20 to separate it into the first cavity 22 and the second cavity 23. This thereby makes the structures of the first cavity 22 and the second cavity 23 simple and the separating wall 21 easier to manufacture. “Spanning” is understood to mean, e.g., that the separating wall 21 and the side wall 200 of the inner cavity 20 have two connecting parts facing each other. However, the separating wall 21 may also have forms other than spanning.

[0047] In addition, a separating form between the first cavity 22 and the second cavity 23 other than the separating wall 21 is also conceivable. For example, it is conceivable that instead of the separating wall 21, the first cavity 22 and the second cavity 23 are separated by a seal and/or by a separating structure on the base plate 10.

[0048] According to one exemplary example of the present application, referring to FIG. 4, the separating wall 21 extends parallel to the axial direction 32 of the scroll compressor 96. The separating wall 21 can thus be conveniently formed in one piece. Furthermore, the separating wall 21 extends, inter alia, perpendicular to the bottom surface 24 of the housing 2 facing the base plate 10. The bottom surface 24 of the housing 2 may be parallel to the side 12 of the base plate 10 facing away from the scroll wall 11.

[0049] According to one exemplary example of the present application, referring to FIG. 4, along the axial direction 32 of the scroll compressor 96, the separating wall 21 is flush with the bottom surface 24 of the housing 2 facing the base plate 10. This facilitates sealing. Alternatively, it is also possible for the separating wall 21 to be lower than the bottom surface 24 or slightly higher than the bottom surface 24.

[0050] FIG. 5 shows the static scroll 1 in FIG. 2 individually in an enlarged manner.

[0051] According to one exemplary example of the present application, with reference to FIG. 5, a side 12 of the base plate 10 away from the scroll wall 11 is flat. This facilitates simplification of the structure of the static scroll 1 and facilitates sealing with the housing 2.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 5, the discharge hole 14 comprises, inter alia, a main discharge hole 140 in the middle and two auxiliary discharge holes 141 on each side of the main discharge hole 140. A base plate groove 15 for noise reduction, an oil return hole 17, and a threaded hole 16 for installing the discharge hole non-return valve device 8 are further provided on the base plate 10.

[0053] FIG. 6 schematically shows one example of the housing 2, the static scroll 1, and the discharge hole non-return valve device 8 in a perspective view, wherein the housing 2 is cut open.

[0054] According to one exemplary example of the present application, as shown in FIG. 6, the separating wall 21 has a convex shape 60 that protrudes toward the first cavity 22 in a projection along the axial direction 32 of the scroll compressor 96. By way of the convex shape 60 of the separating wall 21, the volume of the second cavity 23 can be effectively increased, thereby effectively reducing pressure fluctuations within the discharge chamber 31.

[0055] According to one exemplary example of the present application, as shown in FIG. 3 and 6, in a projection along the axial direction 32 of the scroll compressor 96, the first cavity 22 comprises a small chamber 222 and a large chamber 223 on both sides of the convex shape 60 and a connecting channel 224 formed at the top 600 of the convex shape 60, the small chamber 222 and the large chamber 223 being connected to each other via the connecting channel 224, the non-return valve device 7 being arranged within the large chamber 223, and the small chamber 222 and the large chamber 223 being each connected to a gas-injection hole 13 on the base plate 10. The non-return valve device 7 can be conveniently arranged through the large chamber 223. In addition, gas can be injected to two compression chambers 33 facing each other at the same time through the small chamber 222 and the large chamber 223.

[0056] According to one exemplary example of the present application, as shown in FIG. 6, in a projection along the axial direction 32 of the scroll compressor 96, the separating wall 21 has two shoulders 61 positioned on both sides of the convex shape 60, the convex shape 60 being connected to the side wall 200 of the inner cavity 20 via the two shoulders 61, each of the gas-injection holes 13 being adjacent to the transition portion 62 between the convex shape 60 and each shoulder 61. The volume of the second cavity 23 may be increased by the shoulder 61. In addition, the above-described locations of the gas-injection holes 13 enable the gas-injection holes 13 to be conveniently connected to the compression chamber 33 corresponding to the intermediate pressure stage.

[0057] According to one exemplary example of the present application, as shown in FIG. 2, 3, and 6, the housing 2 has a discharge pipe 280 connected to the discharge port 28, the discharge chamber 31 being connected to the discharge pipe 280 via a through-hole 281 on the discharge pipe 280. In a projection along the axial direction 32 of the scroll compressor 96, the through-hole 281 is adjacent to the top 600 of the convex shape 60. The pressure fluctuations of the gas conveyed to the discharge port 28 may be further reduced by the discharge pipe 280. The position of the through-hole 281 allows the through-hole 281 to be staggered with the discharge hole 14 on the base plate 10 as much as possible, reducing the pressure fluctuations of the output gas. The discharge pipe 280 is integrated into the housing 2 here.

[0058] FIG. 7 schematically shows one example of the static scroll 1, a seal 5, and the discharge hole non-return valve device 8 in a perspective view.

[0059] According to one exemplary example of the present application, referring to FIG. 7, the scroll compressor 96 comprises an integral seal 5 disposed at least partially between the housing 2 and the base plate 10, the gas-injection chamber 30 and the discharge chamber 31 sharing the seal 5. Because both the first cavity 22 and the second cavity 23 are open toward the base plate 10 of the static scroll 1, it is convenient to use the integrated seal 5 to achieve a seal between the gas-injection chamber 30 and the discharge chamber 31.

[0060] According to one exemplary example of the present application, as shown in FIG. 7, the seal 5 comprises an annular sealing portion 51 and a separating sealing portion 50 connected to the annular sealing portion 51. In a projection along the axial direction 32 of the scroll compressor 96, the annular sealing portion 51 surrounds the inner cavity 20 and the separating sealing portion 50 is adapted to be disposed between the separating wall 21 and the base plate 10 to seal the gas-injection chamber 30 and the discharge chamber 31 relative to each other. Sealing can thereby be easily achieved.

[0061] According to one exemplary example of the present application, as shown in FIG. 7, the separating sealing portion 50 has a protruding segment 63 that protrudes toward the first cavity 22. The shape of the separating sealing portion 50 matches, inter alia, the shape of the separating wall 21.

[0062] According to one exemplary example of the present application, as shown in FIG. 7, the seal 5 comprises an outer ring portion 52 surrounding the annular sealing portion 51 and a connecting portion 53 connecting the annular sealing portion 51 with the outer ring portion 52. The outer ring portion 52 is used, inter alia, for sealing between the housing 2 and another housing of the scroll compressor 96 for accommodating the static scroll 1. By way of the integral construction of the seal 5, the manufacture and installation of the seal 5 are simplified. Furthermore, the seal 5 further comprises a channel sealing portion 58 for sealing the oil return channel.

[0063] In some cases, it is also conceivable that the separating sealing portion 50 and the annular sealing portion 51 constitute one seal 5, while the outer ring portion 52 constitutes another separate seal 5.

[0064] FIG. 8 shows one example of the housing 2 and the non-return valve device 7 for the gas-injection chamber 30 in a perspective cross-sectional view.

[0065] According to one exemplary example of the present application, as shown in FIG. 8, the non-return valve device 7 comprises a valve plate 71, a baffle 72 for limiting the opening height of the valve plate 71, and a screw 73 for fixing the valve plate 71 and the baffle 72 to the housing 2.

[0066] The discharge hole non-return valve device 8 is similar in structure to the non-return valve device 7 for the gas-injection chamber 30 and is not further described herein.

[0067] FIG. 9 schematically shows one example of the housing 2 and a sensor 4 in a perspective view.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 9, the central axis 27 of the gas-injection port 26 may be parallel to the axial direction 32 of the scroll compressor 96. As such, the gas used for gas injection can conveniently enter the gas-injection chamber 30 via the gas-injection port 26 and flow to the gas-injection hole 13. The discharge port 28, or the central axis 29 of the discharge port 280, is, inter alia, perpendicular to the axial direction 32 of the scroll compressor 96 to reduce pressure fluctuations.

[0069] FIG. 10 schematically shows one example of a cross section of the separating sealing portion 50.

[0070] According to one exemplary example of the present application, referring to FIG. 10, in cross section, the separating sealing portion 50 comprises a central arched portion 54 and supporting portions 55 on both sides of the arched portion 54, thereby forming an elastomeric structure. A tighter seal can be achieved through the elastomeric structure.

[0071] According to one exemplary example of the present application, referring to FIG. 10, along the axial direction 32 of the scroll compressor 96, the separating sealing portion comprises a metal layer 56 in the middle and elastomer layers 57 on both sides of the metal layer 56 for contact with the housing 2 and the base plate 10, respectively. This allows for a better seal.

[0072] FIG. 11 schematically shows another example of the housing 2 and the non-return valve device 7 for the gas-injection chamber 30 in an exploded perspective view.

[0073] FIG. 12 schematically shows the housing 2 and non-return valve device 7 of FIG. 11 in a perspective view.

[0074] According to one exemplary example of the present application, the first cavity 22 is flat, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. This effectively reduces the clearance volume. Flat means that the first cavity 22 is relatively flat or shallow in the axial direction 32. Furthermore, since the first cavity 22 is flat, the gas-injection port 26 is able to be significantly shorter in the axial direction 32, effectively reducing the height of the scroll compressor 96.

[0075] Compared to the first cavity 22, the second cavity 23 may be significantly deeper to accommodate more gas.

[0076] According to one exemplary example of the present application, with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, a local recessed portion 225 for accommodating the non-return valve device 7 is provided at the bottom of the first cavity 22. A groove 221 for noise reduction is further provided in the local recessed portion 225. Here, in a projection along the axial direction 32, for example, the gas-injection port 26 is located at a side of the first cavity 22, while a screw 73 is located in the middle of the first cavity 22.

[0077] In contrast to this, in FIG. 3, for example, in a projection along the axial direction 32, the gas-injection port 26 is located in the middle of the first cavity 22, while the screw 73 is located at a side of the first cavity 22.

[0078] FIG. 13 schematically shows one example of a heat pump device of the present application. The heat pump device comprises the aforementioned scroll compressor 96, an evaporator 90, a condenser 91, an expansion valve 92, and a gas-injection gas supply device 95, a gas outlet 950 of the gas-injection supply device 95 being connected to a gas-injection port 26 of the scroll compressor 96. When injecting gas, the pressure of the gas output by the gas outlet 950 of the gas-injection gas supply device 95 is, e.g., higher than the pressure in the compression chamber 33 to which gas is to be injected. The discharge port 28 of the scroll compressor 96 may be connected to the condenser 91. The condenser 91 may be connected to the gas-injection gas supply device 95. The expansion valve 92 may be connected to the evaporator 90. The evaporator 90 may be connected to a gas inlet 960 of the scroll compressor 96.

[0079] In FIG. 13, the gas-injection gas supply device 95 is, exemplarily, an economizer 97. Refrigerant flowing out of the condenser 91 is divided into two paths. The first refrigerant shown by the solid line directly reaches the economizer 97 and the second refrigerant shown by the dotted line reaches the economizer 97 after being cooled by a first expansion valve 93. The first refrigerant and the second refrigerant exchange heat through the economizer 97. The cooled first refrigerant then reaches a second expansion valve 94 before then reaching the scroll compressor 96 via the evaporator 90. The heated second refrigerant is supplied from the gas outlet 950 to the gas-injection port 26 of the scroll compressor 96. The second refrigerant output from the gas outlet 950 may also be called economizer gas.

[0080] The heat pump device of FIG. 13 is only an example and various modifications of the heat pump device other than that of FIG. 13 are obviously conceivable. For example, the gas-injection gas supply device 95 a flash evaporator, so that the gas for gas injection is provided by the flash evaporator. However, the gas-injection gas supply device 95 may also have other gas sources.

[0081] The features in the figures are to be understood only as examples and are not to be construed as absolute limitations of the present application. Various modifications to the number, size, shape, position, and mutual relationship of the elements in the drawings will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0082] In the present application, parallel is understood to mean, inter alia, at least substantially parallel. In particular, a deviation of up to 10° is possible. Perpendicular is understood to mean, inter alia, at least substantially perpendicular. In particular, a deviation of up to 10° is possible.

[0083] Various features may be described in combination together in the examples. However, each feature in the present application can be viewed separately and, if feasible in principle, can be combined with any other features in any manner without exceeding the scope of the disclosure of the present application.

[0084] Although specific embodiments of the present application have been described in detail here, they are provided solely for explanatory purposes and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present application. Various substitutions, alterations, and modifications may be conceived without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application.

[0085] LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

• • [0086] 1 Static scroll
  • [0087] 10 Base plate
  • [0088] 11 Scroll wall
  • [0089] 12 Side
  • [0090] 13 Gas-injection hole
  • [0091] 14 Discharge hole
  • [0092] 140 Main discharge hole
  • [0093] 141 Auxiliary discharge hole
  • [0094] 15 Base plate groove
  • [0095] 16 Threaded hole
  • [0096] 17 Oil return hole
  • [0097] 2 Housing
  • [0098] 20 Inner cavity
  • [0099] 200 Side wall
  • [0100] 21 Separating wall
  • [0101] 22 First cavity
  • [0102] 220 First opening
  • [0103] 221 Groove
  • [0104] 222 Small chamber
  • [0105] 223 Large chamber
  • [0106] 224 Connecting channel
  • [0107] 225 Local recessed portion
  • [0108] 23 Second cavity
  • [0109] 230 Second opening
  • [0110] 24 Bottom surface
  • [0111] 26 Gas-injection port
  • [0112] 27 Center axis of gas-injection port
  • [0113] 28 Discharge port
  • [0114] 280 Discharge pipe
  • [0115] 281 Through-hole
  • [0116] 29 Central axis of discharge port
  • [0117] 30 Gas-injection chamber
  • [0118] 31 Discharge chamber
  • [0119] 32 Axial direction
  • [0120] 33 Compression chamber corresponding to the intermediate pressure stage
  • [0121] 34 Compression chamber corresponding to the highest pressure stage
  • [0122] 35 Movable scroll
  • [0123] 36 Scroll suction port
  • [0124] 4 Sensor
  • [0125] 5 Seal
  • [0126] 50 Separating sealing portion
  • [0127] 51 Annular sealing portion
  • [0128] 52 Outer ring portion
  • [0129] 53 Connecting portion
  • [0130] 54 Arched portion
  • [0131] 55 Supporting portion
  • [0132] 56 Metal layer
  • [0133] 57 Elastomer layer
  • [0134] 58 Channel sealing portion
  • [0135] 60 Convex shape
  • [0136] 600 Top
  • [0137] 61 Shoulder
  • [0138] 62 Transition portion
  • [0139] 63 Protruding segment
  • [0140] 7 Non-return valve device
  • [0141] 71 Valve plate
  • [0142] 72 Baffle
  • [0143] 73 Screw
  • [0144] 8 Discharge hole non-return valve device
  • [0145] 90 Evaporator
  • [0146] 91 Condenser
  • [0147] 92 Expansion valve
  • [0148] 93 First expansion valve
  • [0149] 94 Second expansion valve
  • [0150] 95 Gas-injection gas supply device
  • [0151] 950 Gas outlet
  • [0152] 96 Scroll compressor
  • [0153] 960 Gas inlet
  • [0154] 97 Economizer