Refrigeration compressor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a thermally efficient refrigeration compressor, comprising a housing which surrounds the component parts of the compressor and a heat accumulating material occupying a volume internal ( 4, 7, 15, 18, 23, 27 ) or adjacent ( 9, 11, 30, 32, 37 ) to the compressor housing. Accordingly, the present invention takes advantage of the thermodynamics existing between the compressor and the refrigeration system, achieving a reduction of the internal temperatures reliably and efficiently and consequently improving the performance of the compressor.

1 . A refrigeration compressor comprising:
 a housing which surrounds the component parts of said compressor,   a phase-change material (PCM) occupying a volume internal or adjacent to the compressor housing, acting as a thermal capacitor able to absorb amounts of heat while the compressor is on and to reject heat while the compressor is off, so as to increase the thermal efficiency of the compressor.   
     
     
         2 . Compressor, according to  claim 1 , wherein the phase-change material (PCM) does not absorb a first amount of heat while the compressor is on and a second amount of heat while the compressor is off. 
     
     
         3 . Compressor, according to  claim 1 , wherein the phase-change material (PCM) absorbs heat while the compressor is on and rejects part of this heat to one of the compressor components while the compressor is off. 
     
     
         4 . Compressor, according to  claim 2 , wherein the phase-change material (PCM) absorbs heat while the compressor is on and rejects part of this heat to one of the compressor components while the compressor is off. 
     
     
         5 . Compressor, according to  claim 1 , wherein the phase-change material (PCM) is a latent heat accumulator. 
     
     
         6 . Compressor, according to  claim 2 , wherein the phase-change material (PCM) is a latent heat accumulator. 
     
     
         7 . Compressor, according to  claim 3 , wherein the phase-change material (PCM) is a latent heat accumulator. 
     
     
         8 . Compressor, according to  claim 1 , wherein the phase-change material (PCM) is a sensitive heat accumulator. 
     
     
         9 . Compressor, according to  claim 2 , wherein the phase-change material (PCM) is a sensitive heat accumulator. 
     
     
         10 . Compressor, according to  claim 3 , wherein the phase-change material (PCM) is a sensitive heat accumulator. 
     
     
         11 . Compressor, according to  claim 1 , wherein the phase-change material (PCM) takes up an volume which is internal or adjacent to the compressor housing. 
     
     
         12 . Compressor, according to  claim 11 , wherein the phase-change material (PCM) takes up an idle volume in the interior of the compressor. 
     
     
         13 . Compressor, according to  claim 11 , wherein the phase-change material (PCM) is part of the structure of at least one of the compressor parts. 
     
     
         14 . Compressor, according to  claim 12 , wherein the phase-change material (PCM) is arranged in a volume formed between a casing which surrounds the cap of the compressor cylinder and the cap of the compressor cylinder. 
     
     
         15 . Compressor, according to  claim 12 , wherein the phase-change material (PCM) takes up a hermetic volume formed by a casing substantially concentric to the compressor discharge tube. 
     
     
         16 . Compressor, according to  claim 11 , wherein the phase-change material (PCM) is arranged in a reservoir adjacent to the lower portion of the compressor. 
     
     
         17 . Compressor, according to  claim 12 , wherein the phase-change material (PCM) is arranged in an enclosure formed in association with a base plate of the compressor, said enclosure being external to the compressor and being at least partially formed by a portion of the base plate. 
     
     
         18 . Compressor, according to  claim 12 , wherein the phase-change material (PCM) is arranged in an enclosure formed in the internal area of a compressor crankcase, wherein said enclosure is defined between by an inner wall of the compressor housing and a further wall. 
     
     
         19 . Compressor, according to  claim 7 , wherein the phase-change material (PCM) is arranged in an enclosure provided in a suction tube of a suction filter of the compressor. 
     
     
         20 . Compressor, according to  claim 12 , wherein the phase-change material (PCM) is arranged in a cylinder jacket formed in the electric motor of the compressor. 
     
     
         21 . Compressor, according to  claim 11 , wherein the phase-change material (PCM) is arranged in a hermetic enclosure formed by the compressor top wall and a further plate. 
     
     
         22 . Compressor, according to  claim 13 , wherein the phase-change material (PCM) is provided in retention channels formed along a cylinder of the compressor. 
     
     
         23 . Compressor, according to  claim 13 , wherein the phase-change material (PCM) is applied to a suction tube of the compressor. 
     
     
         24 . Compressor, according to  claim 13 , wherein the phase-change material (PCM) is applied to a discharge tube of the compressor. 
     
     
         25 . Compressor, according to  claim 14 , wherein the phase-change material (PCM) is applied to a discharge tube of the compressor 
     
     
         26 . Compressor, according to  claim 1 , wherein the phase-change material (PCM) has inner fins in order to maximize the flow of heat along the material. 
     
     
         27 . Compressor, according to  claim 1 , wherein the region which surrounds the phase-change material (PCM) has outer fins in order to maximize the transfer of heat with the external region.