Diffuser tube resonator for refrigerant compressors

Abstract

A refrigerant compressor includes an impeller rotatable about an axis and a volute. A diffuser is axially between a first wall and a second wall, and radially between an outlet of the impeller and the volute. A diffuser plate provides the second wall, which includes a plurality of quarter wave tubes, each of the plurality of quarter wave tubes including a cylindrical blind hole extending radially from the second wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerant compressor, comprising:
 an impeller rotatable about an axis;   a volute;   a diffuser disposed, relative to the axis, axially between a first wall and a second wall, and radially between an outlet of the impeller and the volute; and   a diffuser plate providing the second wall, the second wall including a plurality of quarter wave tubes, each of the plurality of quarter wave tubes including a cylindrical blind hole extending radially from the second wall.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerant compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of quarter wave tubes includes:
 a first series of circumferentially spaced quarter wave tubes; and   a second series of circumferentially spaced quarter wave tubes radially outward of the first series.   
     
     
         3 . The refrigerant compressor of  claim 2 , wherein the first series of quarter wave tubes have a first diameter, and the second series of quarter wave tubes have a second diameter greater than the second diameter. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerant compressor of  claim 2 , wherein the second series of quarter wave tubes have a greater depth than the first series of quarter wave tubes. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerant compressor of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of quarter wave tubes includes:
 a third series of circumferentially spaced quarter wave tubes radially outward of the second series.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigerant compressor of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of quarter wave tubes includes:
 a fourth series of circumferentially spaced quarter wave tubes radially outward of the third series.   
     
     
         7 . The refrigerant compressor of  claim 5 , wherein the third series of quarter wave tubes have a greater depth than at least one of the first series and the second series. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerant compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the diffuser plate is an annular disk. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerant compressor of  claim 8 , wherein the annular disk is received in a recess. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerant compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of quarter wave tubes includes:
 a first series of circumferentially spaced quarter wave tubes; and   a second series of circumferentially spaced quarter wave tubes radially outward of the first series;   wherein the first series of quarter wave tubes have a first diameter, and the second series of quarter wave tubes have a second diameter greater than the second diameter, and   the second series of quarter wave tubes have a greater depth than the first series of quarter wave tubes.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerant compressor of  claim 10 , wherein the diffuser plate is an annular disk. 
     
     
         12 . A method, comprising:
 providing a diffuser plate radially between an outlet of an impeller and a volute, diffuser plate providing a second wall axially opposite a first wall of a diffuser, the second wall including a plurality of quarter wave tubes, each of the plurality of quarter wave tubes including a cylindrical blind hole extending radially from the second wall.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of quarter wave tubes includes:
 a first series of circumferentially spaced quarter wave tubes; and   a second series of circumferentially spaced quarter wave tubes radially outward of the first series.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first series of quarter wave tubes have a first diameter, and the second series of quarter wave tubes have a second diameter greater than the second diameter. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the second series of quarter wave tubes have a greater depth than the first series of quarter wave tubes. 
     
     
         16 . A refrigerant system, comprising:
 a main refrigerant loop including a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and an expansion device, wherein the compressor includes:
 an impeller rotatable about an axis; 
 a volute; 
 a diffuser disposed, relative to the axis, axially between a first wall and a second wall, and radially between an outlet of the impeller and the volute; and 
 a diffuser plate providing the second wall, the second wall including a plurality of quarter wave tubes, each of the plurality of quarter wave tubes including a cylindrical blind hole extending radially from the second wall. 
   
     
     
         17 . The refrigerant system of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of quarter wave tubes includes:
 a first series of circumferentially spaced quarter wave tubes; and   a second series of circumferentially spaced quarter wave tubes radially outward of the first series.   
     
     
         18 . The refrigerant system of  claim 17 , wherein the first series of quarter wave tubes have a first diameter, and the second series of quarter wave tubes have a second diameter greater than the second diameter. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerant system of  claim 17 , wherein the second series of quarter wave tubes have a greater depth than the first series of quarter wave tubes. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerant system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of quarter wave tubes includes:
 a third series of circumferentially spaced quarter wave tubes radially outward of the second series.