Compressor discharge muffler
View Patent ↗A discharge muffler ( 20 ) in an HVAC&R system ( 100 ) includes a plurality of tubes ( 34, 38, 42 ) of predetermined length that are disposed at a predetermined spacing in substantially mutual axial alignment by a plate ( 30 ). The tubes ( 34, 38, 42 ) are secured adjacent to a compressor discharge ( 24 ) to minimize pressure reduction, improve flow characteristics and improve efficiency of the HVAC&R system ( 100 ).
1. A discharge muffler ( 20 ) in a HVAC&R system ( 100 ), the discharge muffler ( 20 ) comprising:
a plate ( 30 );
a plurality of tubes ( 34 , 38 , 42 ) configured and disposed to extend through the plate ( 30 ) substantially perpendicular to the plate ( 30 ), the plurality of tubes ( 34 , 38 , 42 ) disposed in a predetermined spacing arrangement to provide substantially mutual axial alignment of the plurality of tubes ( 34 , 38 , 42 ); and
at least one vane ( 46 ) configured and disposed between adjacent tubes of the plurality of tubes ( 34 , 38 , 42 );
wherein the at least one vane ( 46 ) is interconnected to said adjacent tubes of the plurality of tubes ( 34 , 38 , 42 ).
2. The discharge muffler ( 20 ) of claim 1 wherein at least one tube of the plurality of tubes ( 34 , 38 , 42 ) has a cross sectional area that is different from the remaining tubes of the plurality of tubes ( 34 , 38 , 42 ).
3. The discharge muffler ( 20 ) of claim 1 wherein at least one tube of the plurality of tubes ( 34 , 38 , 42 ) has a substantially circular cross section.
4. The discharge muffler ( 20 ) of claim 1 wherein the plurality of tubes ( 34 , 38 , 42 ) and plate ( 30 ) are of integral construction.
5. The discharge muffler ( 20 ) of claim 1 wherein the plurality of tubes ( 34 , 38 , 42 ) and plate ( 30 ) are of unitary construction.
6. The discharge muffler ( 20 ) of claim 1 wherein the at least one vane ( 46 ) has a bevel ( 48 ).
7. The discharge muffler ( 20 ) of claim 1 further comprises a gasket ( 54 ) disposed along a periphery of the plate ( 30 ).
8. The discharge muffler ( 20 ) of claim 7 wherein the gasket ( 54 ) has a U-shaped cross section configured to substantially vibrationally isolate the plate ( 30 ) from the HVAC&R system ( 100 ).
9. A compressor system in a HVAC&R system ( 100 ) comprising:
a compressor ( 10 ) having a housing, the housing having an inlet for receiving refrigerant to be compressed by the compressor and an outlet ( 24 ) for discharging pressurized compressed refrigerant; and
a muffler ( 20 ) disposed in the outlet, the muffler ( 20 ) comprising:
a plate ( 30 );
a plurality of tubes ( 34 , 38 , 42 ) configured and disposed to extend through the plate ( 30 ) substantially perpendicular to the plate ( 30 ) and substantially parallel with the direction of refrigerant flow from the outlet ( 24 ), the plurality of tubes ( 34 , 38 , 42 ) disposed in a predetermined spacing arrangement to provide substantially mutual axial alignment of the plurality of tubes ( 34 , 38 , 42 ); and
at least one vane ( 46 ) configured and disposed between adjacent tubes of the plurality of tubes ( 34 , 38 , 42 );
wherein the at least one vane ( 46 ) is interconnected to said adjacent tubes of the plurality of tubes ( 34 , 38 , 42 ).
10. The compressor system of claim 9 wherein at least one tube of the plurality of tubes ( 34 , 38 , 42 ) has a cross sectional area that is different from the remaining tubes of the plurality of tubes ( 34 , 38 , 42 ).
11. The compressor system of claim 10 wherein at least one tube of the plurality of tubes ( 34 , 38 , 42 ) has a substantially circular cross section.
12. The compressor system of claim 10 wherein the plurality of tubes ( 34 , 38 , 42 ) and plate ( 30 ) are of integral construction.
13. The compressor system of claim 9 wherein the plurality of tubes ( 34 , 38 , 42 ) and plate ( 30 ) are of unitary construction.
14. The compressor system of claim 9 wherein the at least one vane ( 46 ) has a bevel ( 48 ) configured to provided structural stiffness for the vane ( 46 ).
15. The compressor system of claim 9 further comprises a gasket ( 54 ) disposed along a periphery of the plate ( 30 ).
16. The compressor system of claim 15 wherein the gasket ( 54 ) has a U-shaped cross section configured to substantially vibrationally isolate the plate ( 30 ) from the HVAC&R system ( 100 ).
17. The compressor system of claim 9 wherein a proportion of surface area of the plate ( 30 ) disposed in fluid communication with the outlet is about ⅓.
18. The compressor system of claim 9 further comprises a gasket ( 54 ) disposed between the outlet ( 24 ) and the plate ( 30 ).
19. The compressor system of claim 18 wherein the gasket ( 54 ) is a viscoelastic material.
20. The compressor system of claim 19 wherein the gasket ( 54 ) has a cross section defined by a pair of flanges ( 58 ) interconnected by a web ( 56 ) disposed between the pair of flanges ( 58 ), the gasket ( 54 ) secured to a periphery of the plate ( 30 ), wherein one flange ( 58 ) of the pair of flanges ( 58 ) is disposed between the outlet ( 24 ) and the plate ( 30 ).
21. The compressor system of claim 9 further comprises at least one gasket ( 54 ), a first gasket of the at least one gasket disposable between the outlet ( 24 ) and the plate ( 30 ), and a second gasket ( 54 ) of the at least one gasket ( 54 ) disposable adjacent the plate ( 30 ) opposite the first gasket.
22. The compressor system of claim 21 wherein the at least one gasket ( 54 ) is a cushion or a spring.
23. A chiller system ( 100 ) comprising:
a compressor ( 10 ), a condenser arrangement ( 70 ) and an evaporator arrangement ( 72 ) connected in a closed refrigerant loop;
a muffler ( 20 ) comprising:
a plate ( 30 ); and
a plurality of tubes ( 34 , 38 , 42 ) configured and disposed to extend through the plate ( 30 ) substantially perpendicular to the plate ( 30 ) and substantially parallel with the direction of refrigerant flow from the compressor ( 10 ), the plurality of tubes ( 34 , 38 , 42 ) disposed in a predetermined spacing arrangement to provide substantially mutual axial alignment of the plurality of tubes ( 34 , 38 , 42 ); and
at least one vane ( 46 ) configured and disposed between adjacent tubes of the plurality of tubes ( 34 , 38 , 42 );
wherein the at least one vane ( 46 ) is interconnected to said adjacent tubes of the plurality of tubes ( 34 , 38 , 42 ); and
wherein the muffler ( 20 ) being disposed in the closed refrigerant loop between the compressor ( 10 ) and the condenser ( 70 ).
24. The chiller system of claim 23 wherein the muffler ( 20 ) is configured to achieve a minimal pressure drop of refrigerant flowing through the muffler ( 20 ).
25. The compressor chiller system of claim 24 wherein the pressure drop is between about 0.1 psi and about 1.0 one psi.