Muffler system for a compressor

Abstract

A muffler system for a compressor includes an expansion chamber muffler for reducing pressure pulses at the compressor's fundamental pulsation frequency and a side-branch muffler for filtering high-frequency pressure pulses. The expansion muffler is positioned along the compressor discharge stream at a location that maximizes pulsation reduction at the compressor's fundamental pulsation frequency. The side-branch muffler is tuned to the frequency at which the pulsation reduction for the expansion muffler is at a minimum.

1 . A muffler system for a compressor having a compressor shell and a compressing device with a gas discharge port, the muffler system comprising: 
 a side-branch muffler, the side-branch muffler to be disposed within a compressor shell and in fluid communication with a gas discharge port upon installation of the side-branch muffler;    an expansion muffler disposed exterior to the compressor shell at a predetermined distance from the gas discharge port for maximizing pulsation reduction at a fundamental pulsation frequency of a compressing device upon installation of the expansion muffler;    an exhaust system connecting the side-branch muffler and the expansion muffler; and    wherein the side-branch muffler is tuned to a frequency at which pulsation reduction for the expansion muffler is at a minimum.    
   
   
       2 . The muffler system of  claim 1  wherein the expansion muffler has an elongated chamber.  
   
   
       3 . The muffler system of  claim 1  wherein a portion of the exhaust system extends substantially vertically along the exterior of the compressor shell.  
   
   
       4 . The muffler system of  claim 3  wherein the expansion muffler is positioned adjacent to an upper portion of the compressor shell upon installation.  
   
   
       5 . The muffler system of  claim 1  wherein the side-branch muffler filters pressure pulses capable of transmitting noise to the compressor shell and capable of passing through the expansion muffler without attenuation.  
   
   
       6 . The muffler system of claim I wherein the predetermined distance includes a range of about 45-50 inches.  
   
   
       7 . The muffler system of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined distance is about 48 inches.  
   
   
       8 . A compressor system comprising: 
 a housing having an exhaust port;    a compression means for compressing a refrigerant fluid, the compression means being disposed within the housing, the compression means having a discharge port for exhausting compressed refrigerant fluid from the compression means;    an expansion muffler disposed exterior to the housing a predetermined distance from the exhaust port and in fluid communication with the exhaust port, the expansion muffler being configured and disposed to maximize pulsation reduction at a fundamental pulsation frequency of a compressing device;    a side-branch muffler disposed within the housing and in fluid communication with the discharge port, the side-branch muffler being in fluid communication with the exhaust port; and    wherein the side-branch muffler is tuned to a frequency at which pulsation reduction for the expansion muffler is at a minimum.    
   
   
       9 . The muffler system of  claim 8  wherein the expansion muffler is positioned adjacent to an upper portion of the housing.  
   
   
       10 . The muffler system of  claim 8  wherein the predetermined distance includes a range of about 45-50 inches.  
   
   
       11 . The muffler system of  claim 8  wherein the predetermined distance is about 48 inches.  
   
   
       12 . The muffler system of  claim 8  wherein the expansion muffler has an elongated chamber.  
   
   
       13 . The muffler system of  claim 8  wherein the side-branch muffler filters pressure pulses capable of transmitting noise to the housing and capable of passing through the expansion muffler without attenuation.