DE102024206836A1 - Housing device for a compressor, compressor and vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a housing device (100) for a compressor (200), comprising: a housing (110) with a housing wall, wherein an inner surface of the housing wall defines an interior space of the housing (110), wherein the housing (110) is designed to accommodate a compressor unit (210) of the compressor (200) such that the compressor unit (210) can be completely accommodated in the interior space, wherein the housing wall is at least partially double-walled with an inner wall (112) and an outer wall (111) and a cavity (113) formed between the inner and outer walls (112, 111), a support structure (120) that can be arranged in the cavity (113) for supporting the inner and outer walls (112, 111), wherein the support structure (120), in a state arranged in the cavity (113), extends along the inner and outer walls (112, 111). each has a multitude of contact sections in contact with the respective wall (112, 111) and a multitude of non-contact sections with respect to the respective wall (112, 111).

Description

The invention relates to a housing device for a compressor, a compressor with such a housing device, and a vehicle with such a housing device and/or such a compressor.

Compressors in heat pumps and air conditioners typically consist of a multi-part aluminum housing. Electrically driven compressors draw in a refrigerant (in the broadest sense) via an electric motor and its electronics, dissipating its heat loss for cooling purposes while utilizing this heat as efficiently as possible. During operation, the outer shell of the housing heats up due to the compressed gas and releases heat to the surroundings through convection. To reduce these losses, thermal insulation is often incorporated. This enclosure also helps to reduce noise emissions.

However, a technical problem exists: insulation measures on the compressor are only insufficiently effective and therefore lead to losses and reduced efficiency. Furthermore, the wall thicknesses of the housing required for structural strength result in a high weight.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a housing device for a compressor, a compressor, and a vehicle that improves upon at least one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a housing device for a compressor with reduced weight while maintaining or improving stability and incorporating improved thermal management measures.

The problem is solved, according to a first aspect, by a housing device for a compressor. The housing device comprises a housing with a housing wall, wherein an inner surface of the housing wall defines an interior space of the housing. The housing is designed to accommodate a compressor unit of the compressor, such that the compressor unit can be completely accommodated within the interior space. The housing wall is at least partially double-walled, with an inner wall and an outer wall and a cavity formed between the inner and outer walls. The device further comprises a support structure that can be arranged in the cavity to support the inner and outer walls, wherein the support structure, when arranged in the cavity, has along each of the inner and outer walls a plurality of contact sections in contact with the respective wall and a plurality of non-contact sections with respect to the respective wall.

The compressor comprises the compressor unit and may also include or consist of control electronics and a motor. The compressor unit may be designed to compress a refrigerant.

The inventors recognized that a housing wall that is at least partially, and in particular completely, double-walled, with the support structure arranged in the cavity, leads to a reduced weight while maintaining or even improving the rigidity of the housing device. Furthermore, the numerous contact sections and the numerous non-contact sections of the support structure can improve heat energy transfer from the inner wall to the support structure and back to the outer wall, or achieve improved insulation.

The housing may be open on at least one side to accommodate the compressor unit and/or other compressor components. The housing may be designed to be closable, allowing it to be closed after the compressor unit and/or other compressor components have been installed.

The housing device, in particular the housing itself, can have a predetermined shape based on the form of the compressor unit, motor, and/or control electronics of the compressor. The housing device, in particular the housing, can be designed such that the inner wall is in contact, at least partially, with the enclosed compressor unit, motor, and/or control electronics. Contact between the compressor components and the inner wall can improve heat dissipation and/or supply, or insulation.

The shape of the interior wall can correspond to the shape of the exterior wall or differ from it.

The compressor can be a compressor of a heat pump in a vehicle, an air conditioner, or a building.

The interior space can be the internal volume of the housing device.

The housing device can have only one cavity or a multitude of cavities. The multitude of cavities are at least partially identical and/or different in design. The multitude of cavities can have at least partially identical and/or different support structures that can be arranged within them. The multitude of cavities can be at least partially separated from one another, so that their interiors are not interconnected. The previously and subsequently mentioned characteristics relating to the cavity, the inner and outer walls, and the support structure can be applied accordingly to the multitude of cavities and associated inner and outer walls or sections thereof, and support structures.

The inner wall can have at least a section of its inner surface facing the compressor unit and/or the compressor components. The housing wall can have an outer surface opposite the inner surface, which forms the outer boundary of the housing. In the double-walled section of the housing wall, the outer wall can have an outer surface. Furthermore, the inner wall and the outer wall can each have an additional surface facing each other. Accordingly, viewed from the inside out, the housing wall can comprise the inner surface of the inner wall, the additional surface of the inner wall, the additional surface of the outer wall, and the outer surface of the outer wall.

The support structure can be designed such that, in the state arranged within the cavity, it at least partially fills the cavity. The support structure can extend at least partially, and in particular completely, along the cavity. Preferably, the cavity can be designed in the form of a gap which has a predetermined thickness length along a direction of the thickness of the housing wall and a predetermined length along a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the thickness direction, wherein the length is greater than the thickness length.

The support structure can be a single piece. Alternatively, the support structure can consist of two or more support structure elements that can be arranged adjacent to each other and/or spaced apart within the cavity.

The support structure can have a predetermined shape, at least in sections, which may be cylindrical, teardrop-shaped, and/or lamellar. The cylindrical shape can be configured such that the support structure comprises a multitude of cylindrical support elements arranged adjacent to and/or at least partially spaced apart from one another within the cavity. An outer surface of the cylindrical support elements can be at least partially in contact with the inner or outer wall to form a contact surface(s) for the multitude of contact surfaces, as well as for the multitude of non-contact sections. The cylindrical support elements can be solid cylindrical or hollow. The teardrop shape can be configured such that it has a rounded section and a tapered section. The lamellar shape can be or have a wave-like form.

The support structure, in particular the numerous contact sections and the numerous non-contact sections, can be designed to be thermally conductive or thermally insulating. Accordingly, the numerous contact sections and the numerous non-contact sections can consist of one or more thermally conductive or thermally insulating materials.

The support structure can be particularly advantageous in shapes such as cylinders, teardrops, or lamellae, which facilitate good heat transfer between the inner wall and the support structure due to high thermal conductivity and a large surface area between the contact surfaces and the inner wall to a predetermined fluid within the cavity. Conversely, particularly low thermal conductivity/thermal bridges can be ensured by minimizing surface area and thus reducing energy loss to the cavity. The support structure can be designed accordingly, depending on the intended purpose. Generally, however, it can be beneficial to thermally decouple the outer wall as much as possible by minimizing the number of contact surfaces between the support structure and the outer wall. Similarly, it may also be possible to thermally decouple the inner wall. For reasons of flexibility, however, it is preferable to provide the largest possible total contact area for the inner wall, while the total contact area for the outer structure can be comparatively smaller.

A first total surface area, based on the contact surfaces of the numerous surfaces in contact with the inner wall, can be smaller, equal to, or larger than a second total surface area based on the numerous surfaces in contact with the outer wall. Depending on the previously explained objective of insulation or heat conduction, the first and/or second total surface area can be selected.

The number of contact surfaces with the inner wall can be the same or different from the number of contact surfaces with the outer wall. The number of non-contact sections with respect to the inner wall can be the same. or may differ from the multitude of non-contact sections in relation to the outer wall.

The wall thickness of the inner and/or outer wall can be less than or equal to the thickness of the supporting structure along the same direction. Compared to a single-walled, solid housing, the wall thickness of the inner and outer walls can be thinner because the mechanical resistance moduli are higher, and the required strength is still met with reduced wall thickness, resulting in a weight reduction.

The numerous contact sections and the numerous non-contact sections can be arranged and/or configured in an alternating pattern, at least partially, along the respective wall. Accordingly, a non-contact section can follow a contact section along the respective wall.

The support structure, in particular the numerous contact surfaces, can be connected, bonded, and/or welded to the respective wall. Alternatively, the support structure can be designed so that it can be inserted into and removed from the cavity, particularly without damage. For this purpose, the housing wall can have an opening through which the support structure can be inserted and removed. This opening can be closable. Accordingly, the manufacturer can provide a housing fixture into which a variety of different support structures can be inserted, so that the most suitable support structure can be used depending on the application.

The housing wall, in particular the inner and outer walls, can be designed to dissipate and/or supply heat energy to and from the compressor unit. Additionally, the housing wall, in particular the inner and outer walls, can be designed to dissipate and/or supply heat energy to and from other compressor units, which are at least partially integrated into the housing and/or arranged on the housing, in particular on an outer surface of the housing.

The cavity can be filled, at least partially, with a predetermined fluid or fluid mixture, in particular air, a gas, water, a coolant and/or a liquid metal, wherein the predetermined fluid or fluid mixture is thermally conductive or thermally insulating. Alternatively, the cavity can be evacuated and/or contain a vacuum.

The cavity can be filled, filled and/or permeated with the predetermined fluid or fluid mixture in such a way that the predetermined fluid or fluid mixture is at least partially in contact with the supporting structure, the inner wall and/or the outer wall.

The cavity can be hermetically sealed.

The predetermined fluid or fluid mixture, or the vacuum, within the cavity can offer two advantages. First, it can increase the thermal resistance, leading to an effective reduction in heat loss through the enclosure. Second, the direct transmission path of structure-borne noise, and, due to the freely configurable support structure, also the excitation of the outer wall for airborne noise emissions, can be essentially eliminated. Particularly when evacuated or filled with a fluid or fluid mixture with low thermal conductivity, virtually perfect thermal insulation against heat loss to the environment can be ensured.

In another design, coolant can be a predetermined fluid or fluid mixture that is circulated through the cavity, allowing heat energy to be transferred directly into the coolant and remain within the cooling system. This prevents the heat from being unintentionally dissipated into the ambient air. Transferring the energy into a portion of the cooling medium and/or the vehicle's refrigerant can be particularly beneficial, as it can then be used directly, for example, to ensure the refrigerant is not superheated.

The cavity can be hermetically sealed or completely enclosed.

The housing wall can have a first fluid interface for filling the cavity with the predetermined fluid or fluid mixture and/or a second fluid interface for draining the predetermined fluid or fluid mixture out of the cavity.

The predetermined fluid or fluid mixture can be heatable and configured to supply thermal energy to the inner wall, particularly the compressor unit, when heated. Alternatively or additionally, the predetermined fluid or fluid mixture can be coolable and configured to absorb and dissipate thermal energy from the inner wall, particularly the compressor unit, when cooled.

Depending on the compressor unit, heat can be extracted from the predetermined fluid or fluid mixture. Mixing during compression is possible, allowing the compression process to require less energy and thus increasing efficiency. For this purpose, the refrigerant can transfer heat energy to the compressor unit, which is then absorbed and carried away by the cooling medium. A rotary piston or screw compressor design is particularly suitable, as these offer a relatively large surface area in contact with the refrigerant.

However, even in compressor unit designs with a relatively unfavorable location of the compression paths with regard to gas cooling, additional cooling capacity can be achieved by reducing the casing temperature, which contributes to efficiency.

The first and/or second fluid interface can be configured to control a fluid flow of the predetermined fluid or fluid mixture through the cavity based on a temperature of the compressor unit, in particular of a refrigerant in the compressor unit.

The device may include a temperature sensor for determining the temperature of the fluid or fluid mixture.

According to this design, the cavity can be selectively filled with either cold or warm fluid, in particular water or coolant, and/or the flow can be shut off. This allows the heat pump to operate with higher efficiency in partial load mode and with higher output in full load mode. Particularly when the flow is shut off or low, the boiling point of the predetermined fluid or fluid mixture can be monitored, for example with a temperature sensor, to prevent the boiling point from being exceeded and thus prevent the formation of vapor bubbles.

In another variation, the cavity can be emptied, for example via the second fluid interface, to reliably prevent the fluid from boiling. In this variation, it can be particularly useful to position the compressor above the heat pump's expansion tank, combined with a connection to the expansion tank's air cushion. This arrangement can be advantageous, at least when the supply to the cavity is shut off. To avoid active control, the connection to the expansion tank can be provided via two lines equipped with orifices and/or throttles. During flow, a small bypass flow can be allowed to enter the expansion tank and be returned to the circuit. When the system is shut off, the cavity can be emptied via the lower line and vented through the upper of the two lines. As soon as the supply is reopened, the upper line serves to vent the cavity. This allows for either an insulating effect, a cooling effect, or heating of the compressor without the risk of the fluid boiling in the cavity.

The housing can be further designed to accommodate the motor and/or the control electronics of the compressor, such that the motor can be fully integrated into the housing and/or the control electronics can be at least partially integrated into the housing or mounted on the outer wall. The control electronics can be fully integrated into the housing. Alternatively, the control electronics can be only partially integrated into the housing.

The task is solved according to a second aspect by a compressor comprising a compressor unit and a housing device according to the first aspect, wherein the compressor unit is completely arranged within the interior of the housing device. The compressor may include further units such as the motor and the control electronics.

Features described in relation to the housing device according to the first aspect can be described as features of the compressor according to the second aspect.

The task is solved according to a third aspect by a vehicle comprising a housing device according to the first aspect and/or a compressor according to the second aspect.

• 1 einen schematischen Querschnitt einer Gehäusevorrichtung für einen Kompressor gemäß einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel;
• 2 einen schematischen Querschnitt einer weiteren Gehäusevorrichtung für einen Kompressor gemäß dem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel;
• 3 einen schematischen Querschnitt einer Gehäusevorrichtung für einen Kompressor gemäß einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel;
• 4 einen schematischen Querschnitt einer Gehäusevorrichtung für einen Kompressor gemäß einem dritten Ausführungsbeispiel;
• 5 eine schematische Darstellung eines Kompressors mit einer Gehäusevorrichtung; und
• 6 eine schematische Darstellung eines Fahrzeugs mit einem Kompressor und einer Gehäusevorrichtung.

Preferred embodiments are explained by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures. These show

• 1 a schematic cross-section of a housing device for a compressor according to a first embodiment;
• 2 a schematic cross-section of a further housing device for a compressor according to the first embodiment;
• 3 a schematic cross-section of a housing device for a compressor according to a second embodiment;
• 4 a schematic cross-section of a housing device for a compressor according to a third embodiment;
• 5 a schematic representation of a compressor with a housing device; and
• 6 a schematic representation of a vehicle with a compressor and a housing device.

In the figures, identical or essentially functionally equivalent or similar elements are designated with the same reference symbols.

1 Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-section of a housing device 100 for a compressor 200 according to a first embodiment. The components shown in the 1 , 2 , 3 until 4 The housing devices 100 shown have a cylindrical shape. However, the invention is not limited to these, since the shape of the housing device 100 can be determined based on the units of the compressor 200 to be accommodated.

The housing device 100 has a housing wall 110, wherein an inner surface of the housing wall 110 defines an interior space of the housing device 100. The housing device 100, in particular the housing wall 110, is designed such that a compressor unit 210 and a motor 220 of the compressor 200 can be fully accommodated and/or arranged in the interior space, or are already accommodated and arranged there. According to the 1 The compressor unit 210 and the motor 220 are installed in the interior in such a way that they are in contact with an inner wall 112.

The housing wall 110 is at least partially double-walled, comprising an inner wall 112 and an outer wall 111, and a cavity 113 formed between the inner and outer walls. According to the 1 The housing device 100 is open on one side so that the compressor unit 210 and the motor 220 can be inserted into the interior. Furthermore, the 1 It has been shown that the housing wall 110 is completely double-walled. A single cavity 113 or a plurality of cavities 113 can be formed. According to the 1 There are two cavities 113 (see double-walled section of the cylinder shell and right double-walled section in the 1 ).

Furthermore, the housing device 100 comprises a support structure 120 that can be arranged in the cavity to support the inner and outer walls 112, 111. According to the 1 A first support structure 120 is provided for the upper and lower double-walled sections, and a second support structure 120 is provided for the right double-walled section. The housing device 100, in particular the housing 110, can be cylindrical, so that a cylindrical surface is supported by the first support structure 120 and a cylindrical bottom surface by the second support structure 120. Alternatively, more or fewer support structures 120 can be provided. The number of support structures can correspond to or differ from the number of cavities.

According to the 1 The support structures 120 extend at least partially along the cavities 113, or alternatively, the support structures 120 can extend completely along the cavities 113.

Furthermore, according to the 1 The cavities 113 are sealed and the support devices 120 are fixedly arranged within the cavities 113, for example by gluing or welding. Alternatively, the cavities 113 can be designed to be openable and the support structures 120 can be inserted into and removed from the cavities 113.

The supporting structures 120 of the 1 are lamellar or wave-like in form, but can alternatively be cylindrical as in the 2 They may be shown and/or formed in a teardrop shape.

The support structure 120, when arranged in the cavity 113, has a plurality of contact sections along the inner and outer walls 112, 111, in contact with the respective wall 112, 111, and a plurality of non-contact sections with respect to the respective wall 112, 111. By selecting the number of contact sections and non-contact sections, heat energy transfer between the interior, in particular the compressor unit 210, the inner wall 112, the support structure 120, and the outer wall 111 can be influenced. For this purpose, the support structure 120 can be designed to be thermally conductive or thermally insulating, in order to further promote or hinder heat energy transfer accordingly.

Along one of the walls, for example the inner wall 112, the support structure 113 has alternating contact sections and non-contact sections due to its lamellar shape. By appropriately selecting the surface area of the contact sections, heat energy transfer from the inner wall 112 to the support structure 120 and from the support structure 120 to the outer wall 111 and vice versa can be improved or reduced.

Furthermore, the cavity(s) 113 can be filled with a predetermined fluid or a fluid The housing device 100 may additionally have a first fluid interface for filling the cavity 113, or two first fluid interfaces for filling the two cavities 113, and/or a second fluid interface or two second fluid interfaces for draining the fluid or fluid mixture from the cavities 113. Alternatively, the cavities 113 may be evacuated.

Accordingly, the thermal insulation properties or conductivities of the housing device 110 can be varied depending on the application.

In the configuration with the first and second fluid interfaces, the flow rate of the fluid or fluid mixture can be adjusted. The fluid or fluid mixture can be pre-heated or pre-cooled to supply or remove thermal energy from the housing device 100, in particular the compressor unit 210. Furthermore, the shape of the support structures 120 can define the surface area in contact with the fluid or fluid mixture, thus influencing the heat energy exchange.

2 The above-mentioned design with cylindrical support structures is shown in Figure 120.

3 Figure 1 shows a second embodiment of the housing device 100, in which, compared to the first embodiment, the motor 220 of the compressor 200 is also housed inside the casing. The control electronics 230 of the compressor are arranged on an outer surface of the housing wall 110.

4 Figure 1 shows a third embodiment of the housing device 100, in which, compared to the first and second embodiments, the control electronics 220 are at least partially, and here completely, enclosed in the interior. Accordingly, the thermally conductive or insulating properties of the housing device 100 can be used for the other units of the compressor 200.

Various support structures 120 can be provided in the cavities 113, selected based on the arrangement of the different elements of the compressor 200. For example, in the area of the enclosed compressor unit 210, a lamellar support structure 120 can be provided in the cavity 113, while in the area of the enclosed motor 220, a cylindrical support structure 120 is provided in the cavity 113. These can be two separate support structures 120 or one support structure 120 with differently shaped sections.

5 Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a compressor 200 with the compressor unit 210, the motor 220, the control electronics 230 and the housing device 100, wherein the units of the compressor 200 are arranged in or on the housing device 100 according to the previously shown embodiments of the housing device 100.

6 Figure 300 shows a vehicle with such a compressor and such a housing device 100.

Reference sign

100

Housing device

110

Housing

111

Exterior wall

112

Interior wall

113

cavity

120

support structure

200

compressor

210

Compressor unit

220

Motor

230

Control electronics

300

vehicle

Claims (16)

Housing device (100) for a compressor (200), comprising: a housing (110) with a housing wall, wherein an inner surface of the housing wall defines an interior space of the housing (110), wherein the housing (110) is designed to accommodate a compressor unit (210) of the compressor (200) such that the compressor unit (210) can be completely accommodated in the interior space, wherein the housing wall is at least partially double-walled with an inner wall (112) and an outer wall (111) and a cavity (113) formed between the inner and outer walls (112, 111), a support structure (120) that can be arranged in the cavity (113) for supporting the inner and outer walls (112, 111), wherein the support structure (120), in a state arranged in the cavity (113), has a plurality of Contact sections in contact with the respective wall (112, 111) and a variety of contact free sections in relation to the respective wall (112, 111). Device (100) according to Claim 1 , wherein the support structure (120) has at least a portion of a predetermined shape which is cylindrical, droplet and/or lamellar. Device (100) according to Claim 1 or 2 , wherein the support structure (120), in particular the multitude of contact sections and the multitude of non-contact sections, are designed to be thermally conductive or thermally insulating. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a first total area based on contact surfaces of the plurality of contact surfaces in contact with the inner wall (112) is smaller, equal to or larger than a second total area of contact surfaces of the plurality of contact surfaces with the outer wall (111). Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a wall thickness of the inner and/or outer wall (112, 111) along a thickness direction of the housing wall is less than or equal to a thickness length of the support structure along the thickness direction. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of contact sections and the plurality of non-contact sections are arranged alternately along the respective wall (112, 111). Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the support structure (120), in particular the plurality of contact surfaces, is connected, bonded and/or welded to the respective wall, or in which the support structure (120) is designed such that it can be inserted into the cavity, in particular non-destructively, and removed. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing wall, in particular the inner and outer walls (112, 111), is designed for discharging and/or supplying heat energy from or to the compressor unit (210). Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the cavity (113) is filled at least partially with a predetermined fluid or fluid mixture, in particular air, a gas, water, a coolant and/or a liquid metal, in which the predetermined fluid is thermally conductive or thermally insulating. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cavity (113) is hermetically sealable or sealed. Device (100) according to Claim 9 or 10 , wherein the housing wall has a first fluid interface for filling the cavity (113) with the predetermined fluid or fluid mixture and/or a second fluid interface for draining the predetermined fluid or fluid mixture out of the cavity (113). Device (100) according to one of the Claims 9 until 11 , wherein the predetermined fluid or fluid mixture is heatable and designed to provide heat energy to the inner wall (112), in particular the compressor unit (210), in a heated state, and/or wherein the predetermined fluid or fluid mixture is coolable and designed to absorb and dissipate heat energy from the inner wall (112), in particular the compressor unit (210), in a cooled state. Device (100) according to one of the Claims 11 or 12 , wherein the first and/or second fluid interface are configured to control a fluid flow of the predetermined fluid or fluid mixture through the cavity (113) based on a temperature of the compressor unit (210). Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (110) is further designed to accommodate a motor (220) and/or control electronics (230) of the compressor (200), such that the motor (220) can be fully accommodated in the housing (110) and/or the control electronics (230) can be at least partially accommodated in the housing (110) or arranged on the outer wall (111). Compressor (200) comprising a compressor unit (210) and a housing device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the compressor unit (210) is arranged completely in the interior of the housing (110) of the housing device (100). Vehicle (300), comprising a housing device (100) according to one of the Claims 1 until 14 and/or a compressor (200) Claim 15 .