FR3066403A1 - PHASE SEPARATOR FOR A REFRIGERANT FLUID CIRCUIT IN A VENTILATION, HEATING AND / OR AIR CONDITIONING FACILITY OF A MOTOR VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

The liquid-gas phase separator (500) for a refrigerant fluid (700) according to the invention comprises at least two plates (1, 2, 3), including a first plate (1) and a second plate (2). The first plate (1) and the second plate (2) are arranged one against the other, defining between them a volume (501) for separation of the liquid-gas phases. The phase separation volume (501) notably comprises an inlet chamber (12), a separation chamber (13) and a suction chamber (16).

Description

PHASE SEPARATOR FOR A REFRIGERANT FLUID CIRCUIT

IN A VENTILATION, HEATING AND / OR

AIR CONDITIONING OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

The present invention relates to the field of the separation of the liquid and gaseous phases of a refrigerant in a ventilation, heating and / or air conditioning circuit fitted to vehicles, in particular motor vehicles.

Such a circuit mainly comprises: a compressor, a condenser or a cooler depending on the nature of the refrigerant, a pressure reducer and an evaporator. These different organs modify the physical nature of the refrigerant by passing it successively from a gaseous state to a liquid state and vice versa during its passage through the different organs. These physical changes are made by changes in the pressure and / or temperature of the refrigerant along the circuit.

The efficiency of the ventilation, heating and / or air conditioning circuit is higher the more the fluid admitted into the evaporator is in liquid form. In fact, since the gas phase is not used by the evaporator, its presence represents a significant loss of efficiency. However, in general, it has been measured that at the inlet of the evaporator, approximately 3θ% by mass of the refrigerating fluid is in the gaseous state and approximately 7θ% by mass is in the liquid state.

To guarantee the operation and efficiency of such a refrigerant circuit, it is therefore essential that the refrigerant admitted to the evaporator is in the majority in the liquid phase. To do this, it is known to insert, upstream of the evaporator in the direction of circulation of the refrigerant in the circuit, a liquid-gas phase separator. These separators are nevertheless limited in their capacity to separate the different phases, and their architecture is often unfavorable for easy integration into a refrigerant circuit of reduced bulk. The invention therefore proposes to improve the situation.

In this context, the invention aims to propose a liquid-gas phase separator making it possible to increase the efficiency of the evaporator of the circuit while reducing its size, in particular by a particular structure and arrangement.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a liquid-gas phase separator for a refrigerant, characterized in that it comprises at least two plates, including a first plate and a second plate, the first plate and the second plate being arranged one against the other, delimiting between them a volume for separating the liquid-gas phases.

Thus, such a phase separator has an architecture allowing it to both be easily integrated into any refrigerant circuit while having a minimum bulk and to present an improved capacity for separation of the different liquid and gaseous phases d 'a fluid, especially a coolant.

The first plate and the second plate each have a first face and a second face by which they are arranged one against the other. The separation volume can be delimited by a shape or imprint arranged in a hollow from at least one of the faces by which the first plate and the second plate are arranged one against the other. This hollow shape is then arranged in the thickness of the plate considered, it is not through on this plate, and its bottom is substantially parallel to the plane of the face from which the shape is arranged in hollow.

The liquid-gas phase separator according to the invention may further include one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination.

- The separation volume is delimited by a hollow shape arranged in the first plate and by a substantially planar face of the second plate. By substantially, it is understood that the manufacturing tolerances are understood to affirm that the plate is planar. By "flat face" is meant that the plate does not include any roughness or imprint hollowed out on its face but can however include through holes.

- The separation volume is delimited by a hollow shape arranged in the second plate and by a substantially planar face of the first plate.

- The separation volume is delimited by a hollow shape arranged partly in the first plate and partly in the second plate.

-The separation volume includes a first chamber, called the intake chamber, a second chamber, called the separation chamber, and a third chamber, called the suction chamber. These different chambers each play a specific role in the separation of the phases. The phase separation is done in particular by gravity: the refrigerant flows by gravity from the intake chamber to the separation chamber.

- One of the plates includes an inlet for the coolant, said inlet opening into the inlet chamber. This intake port allows the refrigerant to enter the phase separator.

- The intake chamber is delimited by lateral edges extending substantially parallel to the lateral edges of at least one of the plates. Thus, the lateral edges delimiting the inlet chamber form a channel extending at least in part parallel to the lateral edges of at least one of the plates.

- The channel extends from the inlet to the separation chamber.

- The orientation of the channel allows a flow of the coolant within the intake chamber according to gravity.

- The intake chamber has a constant width, the width being measured in a transverse direction of the plate substantially perpendicular to the lateral edges thereof.

- The intake chamber extends from the intake port to the phase separation chamber.

- An intake passage is provided between the intake chamber and the phase separation chamber, said intake passage forming a restriction of the intake chamber. Thus, the intake passage forms a border between the intake chamber and the separation chamber. This restriction participates in guiding the refrigerant.

- The restriction of the intake chamber is formed by at least one projection extending from a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge delimiting the intake chamber.

- The advances are directed towards each other.

- The admission passage includes protrusions extending projecting from an imprint delimiting the volume of separation.

- A rib extends into the separation chamber. The rib protrudes from an imprint delimiting the volume of separation.

- The rib extends from an edge of one of the plates. More specifically, the rib extends from an edge laterally delimiting the separation chamber.

- The rib is made of material with the edge laterally delimiting the separation chamber.

- The rib forms an angle substantially between 1 and 9θ degrees with an edge laterally delimiting the separation chamber. The measured angle is located at the intersection between the direction of elongation of the rib and that of a first edge delimiting the separation chamber, in particular laterally, and from which the rib can extend. In other words, the angle can be measured from the edge from which the rib extends and from the side of the intake chamber and not of the suction chamber.

- The rib forms an angle substantially equal to 7θ degrees with the edge from which it extends.

- A straight line parallel to a vertical edge of one of the plates passes through the intake passage and cuts the rib. By vertical edge of a plate is meant that the edge extends along a vertical axis defined below. Thus, the rib is positioned in the axis of the intake passage and it is ensured that the refrigerant passing through this intake passage opens out towards the rib.

- A space is provided between at least one of the ends of the rib and at least one edge laterally delimiting the separation chamber. The edge laterally delimiting the separation chamber extends along a vertical axis defined below.

- The rib comprises two opposite ends and a space is provided respectively between the two ends of the rib and the two edges laterally delimiting the separation chamber.

- At least one of the plates has a suction port configured to extract a gaseous phase from the refrigerant, said suction port opening into the suction chamber.

- The two plates include a suction opening opening into the suction chamber.

- A suction port configured to suck a gaseous phase of the refrigerant passes through all the plates of the phase separator.

- The suction chamber extends from the ph separation chamber towards the suction opening. Thus, the suction chamber does not communicate directly with the intake chamber and the separation chamber acts as an intermediary between the intake chamber and the suction chamber.

- The suction chamber narrows as it approaches the suction port. This narrowing is assessed along a width of the plate, the width being measured along a transverse axis defined below. This transverse axis corresponds to a transverse direction of the plate and extending substantially perpendicular to the vertical edges of the latter. In other words, the width is measured in a longitudinal plane of the plate and along a straight line perpendicular to the vertical edges of the plates.

- The suction chamber includes a suction passage located closest to the suction port.

- The suction passage has a width of between 0.1 and 12 millimeters, the width being measured in a longitudinal plane of the plate and along a straight line perpendicular to the vertical edges of the plates.

- The suction passage has a width substantially equal to 2 millimeters. By substantially, it is understood that the manufacturing tolerances are understood to affirm equality.

- The phase separator comprises a suction passage formed between the suction chamber and the separation chamber, said suction passage forming a restriction of the suction chamber. Thus, the suction passage forms a border between the separation chamber and the suction chamber.

- The restriction is formed by at least one projection extending from a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge delimiting the suction chamber.

- The restriction is formed by a first projection and a second projection, both arranged respectively from a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge delimiting the suction chamber, the projections being directed one towards the other.

- The suction passage includes protrusions extending projecting from an imprint delimiting the volume of separation.

- One or more protrusions are arranged in the intake passage and / or in the suction passage. Such protrusions allow turbulence to be introduced into the flow of the refrigerant towards the separation chamber or towards the suction orifice.

- The protrusions have dimensions substantially between 1 and 2 millimeters.

- The space between two protrusions is approximately 1 to 2 millimeters.

- The phase separation volume is formed in an impression made on one face of the first plate and / or of the second plate.

- The inlet chamber, the separation chamber and the suction chamber are arranged in the imprint of a first face of the first plate disposed against a flat face of the second plate.

- The inlet chamber, the separation chamber and the suction chamber are arranged in the imprint of a first face of the second plate disposed against a flat face of the first plate.

- The phase separator comprises a third plate, said closure plate disposed against the first plate, the first plate being interposed between the second plate and the third plate.

- The phase separator includes a reservoir configured to accumulate a liquid phase of the refrigerant. The liquid phase flows to the reservoir from the separation chamber, mainly through the space between the rib and at least one downstream edge of one of the plates.

- The reservoir is formed in part by an opening in the first plate.

- The opening forming part of the tank crosses the first plate. This opening crosses it right through, especially according to the thickness of the plate. Thus, the opening allows a passage of the liquid phase between the two faces of the same plate.

- The reservoir is formed in part by a reserve imprint made on one face of the first plate and / or of the third plate. The reserve imprint corresponds to a shape arranged in hollow from at least one of the faces of the plates. This hollow shape is arranged in the thickness of at least one of the plates considered, it is not through on this plate, and its bottom is substantially parallel to the plane of the face from which the shape is arranged in hollow.

- The reserve imprint is formed on one face of the first plate, with said face facing the third plate.

- The phase separator includes an evacuation volume delimited by the reserve footprint. This reserve imprint defines an evacuation volume, in particular located between the first plate and the third plate.

- The third plate has an evacuation orifice through which the liquid phase is routed out of the phase separator. This exhaust port opens into an evacuation area.

- The reserve imprint is arranged from a second face of the plate, the first face of which includes the separation volume.

- The separation volume and the evacuation volume extend on both sides of the same plate, in particular the first plate.

- The reserve imprint is arranged from a first face of the third plate joined against the second face of the first plate opposite the second plate.

- The reserve imprint includes a rib extending vertically from one edge of the opening. This rib makes it possible to improve the passage of the liquid phase of the coolant towards the evacuation orifice. This rib extends in the direction of an upstream edge of the plate on which it is formed. It is recalled that by vertical is meant a direction along the axis (Oz) defined below.

- At least one of the plates is produced by machining.

- At least one of the plates is produced by stamping.

- All the plates of the phase separator are in a generally substantially rectangular shape. By substantially, it is understood that the manufacturing tolerances are understood to affirm that the shape is rectangular.

- At least one of the plates has a width substantially between 10 and 9θ millimeters.

- At least one of the plates has a width substantially equal to 4θ millimeters.

- At least one of the plates has a height substantially between 10 and 3θθ millimeters.

- The height and width of the first plate and the second plate are identical.

- The height and width of the first plate and the third plate are identical.

- At least one of the plates has a height substantially between 218 and 219 millimeters.

- The opening forming part of the tank has a height substantially between 5 and 120 millimeters.

- The height of the opening forming part of the tank is substantially between 80 and 9θ millimeters.

- One or more pieces are arranged in the separation chamber.

- A pin is located between the rib of the separation chamber and the intake chamber and / or the suction chamber.

- Two pins are located between the rib of the separation chamber and a transverse edge of one of the plates carrying the rib.

- A pawn is located in the reserve footprint.

The invention also relates to a heat exchanger, characterized in that it incorporates a phase separator as defined above.

The heat exchanger according to the invention may further include one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination.

- The heat exchanger is used as an evaporator.

- A cheek piece of the heat exchanger forms a third separator plate, also called a closing plate. The cheek is the end plate of the heat exchanger.

- The heat exchanger is used as a liquid cooler.

- The phase separator is integrated on one side where an inlet and an outlet for refrigerant in the heat exchanger are provided.

- The heat exchanger includes a stack of sheets delimiting a refrigerant circuit in which the phase separator is integrated into an extension of the stack of sheets. More precisely, the stack of sheets defining a stacking direction, the phase separator is located at one end of this stack along the stacking direction.

- A height of at least one of the plates of the phase separator is less than a height of the sheets of the heat exchanger. The height is measured according to the direction (Oz) defined below, or along a vertical axis perpendicular to the ground.

The invention also relates to a coolant circuit of a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a phase separator as defined above.

The circuit according to the invention may also include one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination.

- The phase separator is located upstream of a heat exchanger in the direction of the flow of the refrigerant along the circuit.

Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention and its operation will emerge more clearly on reading the description given below for information, in relation to the appended figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the operation of a coolant circuit of a motor vehicle,

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a phase separator according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 3A represents a first face of a first plate forming the phase separator according to the first embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 3B is an enlarged detail of FIG. 3A,

FIG. 4 represents the first face of the first plate forming the phase separator according to a first alternative embodiment of the first embodiment of the present invention,

- Figure 5 shows a second face of the first plate of Figure 4 forming the phase separator according to the first alternative embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 6 represents a first face of the second plate forming the phase separator according to a second embodiment of the present invention,

- Figures 7A and 7B are perspective views of an example of integration of a phase separator according to the invention in a heat exchanger of the type in which the heat exchange occurs between a refrigerant and air, and on which the phase separator is shown in transparency or not,

- Figures 8A and 8B are perspective views of an example of integration of a phase separator according to the invention in a heat exchanger known by the English name of chiller, in which the heat exchange occurs between a refrigerant and a liquid and on which the phase separator is shown in transparency or not, ίο

FIG. 9A is an exploded view of a phase separator according to the first embodiment of the invention intended to be associated with a heat exchanger in which the heat exchange occurs between a refrigerant and a liquid,

FIG. 9B is a perspective representation of an exemplary embodiment of the second face of the first plate of the phase separator according to the invention illustrated in FIG. 9A,

- Figures 1OA and ÎOB are exploded views of a phase separator according to the second embodiment of the invention, and intended to be associated with a heat exchanger of the type in which the heat exchange occurs between a refrigerant and air, representing the different plates respectively on one side then on the other.

It should first be noted that if the figures show the invention in detail for its implementation, they can of course be used to better define the invention if necessary. Similarly, it is recalled that, for all of the figures, the same elements are designated by the same references.

Figure 1 schematically shows a circuit 1000 of a coolant 7θθ which collaborates with a ventilation, heating and / or air conditioning installation of a motor vehicle. The circuit 1000 includes a compressor 200, a 3θθ condenser. a pressure reducer 400 and a heat exchanger 600, which can in particular be of the evaporator 60 type or of the liquid cooler type, also called chiller in English. The coolant 7θθ flows successively through these elements, along the circuit 1000.

The refrigerant 7θθ is admitted, in essentially gaseous form, into the compressor 200. At the outlet of the compressor 200, the refrigerant 7θθ. which has been compressed, is in the form of a gas whose pressure and temperature have increased. The coolant 7θθ is then admitted into the condenser 3θθ. in which it undergoes a first phase change and turns into a liquid. During this phase change, the pressure of the coolant 7θθ remains substantially constant and its temperature decreases, the coolant 7θθ yielding part of its heat to an external medium through the condenser 3θθ ·

The refrigerant 7θθ. essentially in liquid form at the outlet of the 3θθ condenser. is then routed to a 4θθ regulator. in which it undergoes expansion, the result of which is the obtaining of a two-phase mixture of coolant 7θθ in liquid form and in gaseous form, in particular at low temperature. The two-phase mixture of coolant 7θθ at the end of the expansion operation, that is to say at the outlet of the regulator 400, can comprise approximately 70% by mass of coolant 700 in liquid form, also called liquid phase , and about 30% by mass of refrigerant 700 in gaseous form, also called gas phase.

The refrigerant 700 in the form of a two-phase mixture is then conveyed to the heat exchanger 600 in which it undergoes a new change and where the liquid phase of the refrigerant 700 transforms into gas, which is then redirected to the compressor 200 for a new cycle. This passage from the liquid state to the gaseous state in the heat exchanger 600 makes it possible to lower the temperature of an external medium, for example a flow of air sent into the passenger compartment of the vehicle and circulating in the installation of ventilation, heating and / or air conditioning, or a liquid.

The efficiency of the heat exchanger 600 is directly linked to the fact that the fluid admitted into it is essentially composed of liquid phase. To this end, the circuit 1000 comprises a phase separator 500 of the refrigerant fluid 700, advantageously located between the expansion valve 400 and the heat exchanger 600 according to the direction of circulation of the refrigerant fluid 700 in the circuit 1000. A set of valves, of pipes and control elements, not detailed in the figure, allows the operation and control of the assembly formed by the compressor 200, the condenser 300, the pressure reducer 400, the phase separator 500 and the heat exchanger 600.

The phase separator 500 according to the invention is compact and easy to integrate into a circuit 1000 of refrigerant fluid 700 such as that schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, while allowing efficient separation between the liquid phase and the gas phase of the two-phase mixture of refrigerant 700 from the regulator 400.

As shown in FIG. 2, the phase separator 500 according to the invention comprises at least two plates, including a first plate 1 and a second plate 2. The first plate 1 and the second plate 2 are arranged one against the other. 'other and delimit between them a separation volume 501. The phase separator 500, here comprises a third plate 3, also called closing plate. The first plate 1 and the third plate 3 are arranged one against the other and delimit between them an evacuation volume 502.

In what follows, the phase separator 500 according to the invention will be described and illustrated in a configuration in which the plates 1, 2, 3 which compose it and, in particular, the first plate 1 and the second plate 2, are presented substantially in the general form of rectangular parallelepipeds of small thickness. This form is particularly advantageous for an easy association of the phase separator 500 with different types of heat exchangers 600. It is however not exclusive, and any other form can be envisaged without harming the invention, in the since the phase separator has the functionality described in this document.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the first plate 1 has a first face 1a and a second face 1b, both substantially rectangular, substantially parallel to each other and separated from each other by the thickness of the first plate 1 Similarly, the second plate 2 has a first face 2a and a second face 2b, both substantially rectangular, substantially parallel to each other and separated from each other by the thickness of the second plate 2. It is therefore understood here that the first plate 1 and the second plate 2 are substantially arranged in such a way that their faces 1a, 2a, 1b, 2b are substantially parallel to one another. More specifically, in the phase separator 500 according to the invention, the first plate 1 and the second plate 2 are arranged one against the other, first or second face 1a, 1b of the first plate 1, against first or second side 2a, 2b of the second plate 2. In the following, the faces by which these two plates are joined together to delimit the separation volume 501 in the phase separator 500 according to the invention are arbitrarily designated as being the first face of the first plate 1 and the first face 2a of the second plate 2.

The third plate 3 comprises, like the first plate 1 and the second plate 2, a first face 3a and a second face 3b both substantially rectangular, substantially parallel to each other and separated from each other by the thickness of the third plate 3 · The first plate 1 and the third plate 3 are arranged one against the other with the first face 3a of the third plate 3 against the second face lb of the first plate 1.

In the following description, we will define a frame of reference (O, x, y, z) relating to the phase separator 500 according to the invention. A plane parallel or coincident with a main face of one of the plates of the phase separator 500 is defined by a plane (Oyz). According to this plane (Oyz), a height of a plate is measured along a direction (Oz) and extends along an edge of a plate having the largest dimension. Still according to this same plane (Oyz), it is defined that a width of a plate is measured along a direction (Oy) perpendicular to the direction (Oz), and that this width is substantially less than the height, measured according to the direction (Oz) of the plates. The thickness of a plate, measured between a first main face and a second main face of the same plate, extends in a direction (Ox). This direction (Ox) forms, with the directions (Oz) and (Oy) above, an orthonormal reference shown in Figures 2 to ÎOB.

It should be noted that the main faces of all the plates of the phase separator

500 each extend in a plane parallel to the plane (Oyz) of this reference. The thickness of the first plate 1 and of the second plate 2, measured along the direction of the longitudinal axis (Ox), is less than both the width of these plates measured along the direction (Oy) and their height measured according to the direction (Oz). Advantageously, the height of the first plate 1 and the height of the second plate 2, in the direction (Oz), are substantially equal, preferably between 10 and 3θθ millimeters. According to an alternative embodiment, this height is substantially between 218 and 220 millimeters.

Likewise, the width of the first plate 1 and the width of the second plate 2, in the direction (Oy) are advantageously substantially equal and can be between 10 and 9θ millimeters. According to an alternative embodiment, this width is substantially of the order of 4θ millimeters, it should however be noted here that if the production of plates substantially of the same geometry and the same dimensions promotes a reduction in manufacturing costs, first plate 1 and second plate 2 can be of different shapes and dimensions insofar as they delimit, between their first respective faces la, 2a, the separation volume 5θ1 ·

According to the invention, the separation volume 501 comprises a first chamber 12, called the inlet chamber, a second chamber 13, called the separation chamber, and a third chamber 16, called the suction chamber.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, visible in FIG. 2, the separation volume 501 is delimited in particular by a shape arranged in a hollow, also called imprint 10, formed in the first face 1a of the first plate 1. According to a second embodiment, described below, the separation volume 501 is delimited by an imprint arranged in the thickness of the second plate 2 from the first face 2a thereof. Of course, it is also possible that the separation volume 501 is partly arranged in the thickness of the first plate 1 from the first face 1a and partly arranged in the thickness of the second plate 2 from the first side 2a of the latter. In other words, according to the invention, the separation volume 501 is defined by an imprint 10 formed in one of the plates 1, 2 or by an imprint formed in each of the plates 1, 2.

According to the first embodiment, the separation volume 501 is delimited by the recess 10 re-entering the thickness of the first plate 1 from the first face 1a of the latter, and by the first face 2a, substantially planar, of the second plate 2. Advantageously, the depth of the imprint 10, measured in the direction (Ox) along the thickness of the first plate 1, is less than the thickness of this plate 1, and the bottom, 10a, of the imprint 10, is substantially parallel to the plane of the first face 1a of the first plate 1, that is to say to the extension plane (Oyz) previously defined. In other words, the presence of the imprint 10 reduces the thickness of the plate on which it is formed, here, according to this first embodiment, it is the thickness of the first plate 1 which is reduced.

Furthermore, it is observed that in all the embodiments of the invention that the second plate 2 comprises an inlet orifice 11 through which the dipbasic mixture of coolant 7θθ is intended to be admitted into the phase separator 5θθ · According to the embodiment more particularly illustrated by the figures, the intake orifice 11 is substantially circular. Of course, the inlet 11 could take any other form, including a rectangular shape. The inlet 11 opens, through a part of its circumference, into the inlet chamber 12 of the separation volume 5θ1 ·

As can be seen in FIG. 3A, part of the circumference of the intake orifice 11 constitutes a transition zone 110 with the intake chamber 12 formed in the first face 1a of the first plate 1. More precisely, the inlet orifice 11 does not pass through the first plate 1 and the transition zone 110 extends from the periphery of the inlet orifice 11 to the bottom 10a of the cavity 10.

The transition zone 110 follows a substantially curved profile and is advantageously located near a first transverse edge, or upstream edge 100, of the first plate 1. This first transverse edge, or upstream edge 100, forms a first end, or upstream end of the first plate 1 along the height of the latter, that is to say in the direction (Oz).

The inlet chamber 12 is delimited, in the cavity 10 arranged in the first plate 1, by a part 120 of the bottom 10a of the cavity 10 as well as, respectively, by a first lateral edge 121a and a second lateral edge 12lb substantially parallel to each other and having oriented in the direction (Oz) previously cited. Advantageously, the first lateral edge 121a and the second lateral edge 12lb each have an elongation axis substantially perpendicular to the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1. The inlet chamber 12 thus extends substantially parallel to the height of the first plate 1, and its lateral edges 121a, 12lb are substantially parallel both to the direction (Oz), to a first lateral edge 100a and to a second lateral edge 100b of the first plate 1. More specifically, the intake chamber 12 constitutes, within the cavity 10, a form of channel which extends, from the inlet orifice 11, in the direction of a second transverse edge 101 or downstream edge 101 of the first plate 1, opposite the aforementioned upstream edge 100. In other words, the intake chamber comprises an axis 12A substantially parallel to the direction (Oz).

Advantageously, the first lateral edge 121a of the intake chamber 12 is located as close as possible to the first lateral edge 100a of the first plate 1, and the width of the intake chamber 12, measured along the direction (Oy), is substantially between 1 and 3θ millimeters. According to a particularly advantageous alternative embodiment of the invention, this width is substantially of the order of ten millimeters and more particularly the width is equal to 6.85 millimeters.

It should be understood that the phase separation occurs essentially by gravity: the first plate 1 and the second plate 2 are arranged in such a way that the refrigerant 700 admitted into the separation volume 501 through the inlet 11, that is to say in the vicinity of the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1, flows naturally by gravity towards the downstream edge 101 of the first plate 1. In other words, the first plate 1 and the second plate 2 are arranged so that the refrigerant 700 admitted in the vicinity of the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1 can flow naturally by gravity towards the downstream edge 101 thereof. This can be, for example, achieved by placing the first and second plates 1, 2, of the phase separator 500 so that their axes of extension in the direction (Oz) is substantially vertical, that is to say perpendicular to the ground, and more precisely, that the upstream edge 100 and the downstream edge 101 of the first plate 1 are substantially aligned with respect to each other in this vertical direction, the upstream edge 100 being in the upper position. However, in general, it will suffice that the first and second plates 1, 2 of the phase separator 500 are arranged in such a way that the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1 is located, in the vertical direction, above the downstream edge 101 of this first plate, whether they are aligned or not.

As previously described, the intake chamber 12 extends substantially in the direction (Oz) from the intake orifice 11 to the separation chamber 13, arranged in the cavity 10 formed in the first plate 1, and authorizes the flow of the coolant 700 according to gravity.

The intersection between the intake chamber 12 and the separation chamber 13 may include an intake passage 122. The intake passage 122, more visible in FIG. 3B> comprises a first projection 123 arranged projecting from the first edge lateral 121a of the intake chamber 12 and a second projection 124 arranged projecting from the second lateral edge 12lb of the intake chamber 12. The first projection 123 and the second projection 124 are substantially directed towards each other, in such a way that they form a narrowing of the channel formed by the first edge 121a and the second edge 12lb of the intake chamber 12. According to this embodiment of the invention, the first projection 123 and the second projection 124 are arranged, in the direction (Oz), at substantially different distances from the upstream edge 100: here the first projection 123, arranged on the first lateral edge 121a of the intake chamber 12 is more distant sel on the direction (Oz) of the upstream edge 100 compared to the second projection 124, which is arranged at a lower distance from the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1. Advantageously, the dimension of the first projection 123 and the second projection 124 depending on the direction (Oz) is substantially between 1 and 2 millimeters.

When the two-phase mixture of coolant 7θθ is admitted, through the inlet orifice 11, into the separation volume 501, it is first of all conveyed, by gravity, through the transition zone 110, into the chamber inlet 12. It follows from the above that this mixture flows naturally, by gravity, along the inlet chamber 12, in particular along the channel formed by the lateral edges 121a, 12lb, until the passage intake 122 which then forms a border between the intake chamber 12 and the separation chamber 13 · The first projection 123 and the second projection 124 then help to distance the coolant 7θθ from the first edge 121a and the second edge 12lb from the intake chamber 12, and guide the coolant 7θθ in the direction of the axis 12A of the intake chamber 12. In other words, the first projection 123 and the second projection 124 help to direct the two-phase mixture of flu ide refrigerant 700 towards the axis 12A of the inlet chamber 12, to guide and channel the flow by gravity of this fluid substantially along this axis 12A.

The intake passage 122 may also include one or more protrusions 125 which extend, from the bottom 120 of the intake chamber 12, in the direction of the longitudinal axis (Ox), or in other words from the bottom 10a of the imprint 10. Advantageously, this or these protuberances 125 are arranged along an imaginary line 800 which connects the first projection 123 and the second projection 124 to each other. According to this embodiment, two protuberances 125 are arranged between the first projection 123 and the second projection 124 · The protrusions 125 are regularly distributed between the projections 123, 124 · Advantageously, the dimension of each protrusion 125 according to the direction of the imaginary line 800 previously defined is substantially of the order of a millimeter, and the distance, in this same direction, between two neighboring protuberances 125 or between a protuberance 125 and the first or second projection The nearest 123 or 124 is also substantially on the order of a millimeter. The presence of this or these protrusions 125 within the intake passage 122 contributes to accelerating the two-phase mixture in the direction of the separation chamber 13 while stirring it. More precisely, the presence of the protrusions 125 makes it possible to divide the flow, by having for example a shower effect, and their presence makes it possible to avoid the aspiration of the liquid phase in the direction of a suction chamber 16, like this will be described later.

Furthermore, FIG. 3A shows that the separation chamber 13 extends in a central part of the first plate 1. The separation chamber 13 extends, from the inlet passage 122, both in the direction (Oy) and according to direction (Oz). More precisely, in the direction (Oy), the separation chamber is delimited by a first edge 130 which substantially extends, in the direction (Oz), the first edge 121a of the intake chamber 12, in the vicinity of the first lateral edge 100a of the first plate 1, and by a second edge 131 which extends in the vicinity of the second lateral edge 100b of the first plate 1. The direction of the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13 is therefore substantially parallel to the direction d 'extension (Oz) of the intake chamber 12. Advantageously, at least part of the second edge 131 of the separation chamber 13 is substantially parallel to the first and second edges 100a, 100b, of the first plate 1. In d' in other words, at least part of the second edge 131 of the separation chamber 13 is substantially parallel to the direction of extension (Oz).

According to the direction (Oz), the separation chamber 13 extends in the direction of the aforementioned downstream edge 101, up to an end edge 132 substantially parallel to the direction (Oy) · More precisely still, in a first part of the separation chamber 13, called the upper part, the first edge 130 and the second edge 131 delimiting the separation chamber 13 move away from each other in the direction (Oy) as they approach, in the direction (Oz) perpendicular to the end edge 132 of this separation chamber 13 · In a second part of the separation chamber 13, called the lower part, the first edge 130 and the second edge 131 are parallel between them and to the direction (Oz) and are each located in the vicinity, respectively, of the first lateral edge 100a and of the second lateral edge 100b of the first plate 1. In other words, the separation chamber has, on the first face the D e the first plate 1, substantially the shape of a trapezium in its upper part then of a rectangle in its lower part, the edges of which are formed by the first edge 130, the second edge 131 and the end edge 132 mentioned above .

According to a characteristic of the invention, a rib 14 extends in projection, along the longitudinal axis (Ox), from the bottom 10a of the cavity 10 and more precisely from the bottom of the separation chamber 13 · According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3A, the rib 14 here extends from the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13, to an end 141 The end 141 of the rib 14 is directed towards the second edge 131 of the separation chamber 13, without however touching it. Thus, there is a space 145 between the end 141 of the rib 14 and the second edge 131 of the separation chamber 13. Advantageously, the rib 14 extends in a direction that is substantially oblique with respect to both the direction ( Oy) and management (Oz).

More precisely, the rib 14 arises on the first edge 130 and is, in the direction (Oz), closer to the downstream edge 101 than is its end 141. In other words, the rib 14 s' extends obliquely with respect to the lateral edges 100a, 100b of the first plate and in the direction of the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1.

The rib 14 thus forms, with the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13, an angle 142 advantageously between 1 and 9θ degrees. It should be noted here that, as has been said previously, the direction of the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13 is an extension of the direction of the first edge 121a of the intake chamber 12: the angle 142 can therefore be considered to be the angle made by the rib 14 with the direction followed by the first edge 121a of this intake chamber 12. Advantageously, the angle 142 is substantially equal to 7θ degrees. The angle 142 is therefore an acute angle: in other words, the rib 14 forms a reserve defined between the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13 and the rib 14 itself.

According to an alternative embodiment visible in FIG. 4, the rib 14 may not be attached to the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13. Thus, the rib 14 comprises a first end 140 located closest to the first edge 130 and a second end 141 located closest to the second edge 131 of the separation chamber 13 · An additional space 143, of small dimension, is then present between the first end 140 of the rib 14 and the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13 · Thus, in this case there is no longer any reserve between the rib 14 and the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13. More specifically, according to this alternative embodiment, the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13 can form a appendage 134 substantially in the form of a bevel, the point of which extends from the side of the rib 14 and as close as possible to the intake chamber 12. The additional space 143 mentioned above is between the point the bevel formed by the appendix 134 and the first end 140 of the rib 14 ·

In all cases, and as shown in the figures, the rib 14, as just described, is located, in the direction (Oz), substantially in the extension of the intake chamber 12, in particular between the inlet passage 122 when the latter is present and the end edge 132 of the separation chamber 13 · Whatever the variant of embodiment adopted, a straight line substantially parallel to the direction (Oz) and passing through the chamber intake 12 such as the axis 12A previously defined, cuts the rib 14 · In other words, the rib 14 forms an obstacle to the flow of the two-phase mixture of coolant 7θθ in the separation chamber 13 ·

It follows that a two-phase mixture of coolant 7θθ flowing by gravity from the inlet chamber 12 to the separation chamber 13 is naturally conveyed by gravity to the rib 14 previously defined. The liquid phase of the two-phase mixture therefore flows along the rib 14 towards the first edge 130 of the separation chamber under the effect of gravity, while the gas phase of the two-phase mixture remains in the upper part of the separation chamber 13 located on the side of the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1.

In the case where the rib 14 is attached to the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13, the liquid phase accumulates in the reserve formed between the rib 14 and the first edge 130 until it reaches the end 141, called also second end, of the rib 14 to flow by overflow into the lower part of the separation chamber 13 ·

In the presence of the additional space 143 between the rib 14 and the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13, the liquid phase flows along the rib 14 in the direction of the first edge 130 then in the lower part of the chamber 13 · It is understood that the upper part and the lower part of the separation chamber 13 are separated from each other by the rib 14 ·

Advantageously, in order to reinforce the guiding of the liquid phase towards the lower part of the separation chamber 13, and therefore further increase the efficiency of the phase separation, a bead 135, visible in FIG. 4, can be arranged on the second edge 131 of the separation chamber 13 · Of course, whatever the alternative embodiment chosen, this bead 135 may be present. More specifically, the bead 135 extends from the second edge 131 of the separation chamber 13 towards the interior of the separation chamber 13 · The bead 135 is substantially in the form of an ellipse portion whose apex of the curvature is substantially directed in the direction (Oy). More specifically, the bead 135 is aligned with the main and oblique extension axis of the rib 14 · The shapes and dimensions of the bead 135 are advantageously defined so that the latter forms, in the flow of the dipbasic mixture of coolant 7θθ which circulates within the separation chamber 13, a complementary phase separation zone, in particular in addition to the rib 14 previously mentioned. In addition, by its presence and its location, the bead 135 modifies the flow of the gas phase present in the dipbasic mixture, and this, near a suction passage 160 described below. In the same way, the bead 135 also modifies the flow of the liquid phase.

To further optimize the flow of fluid within the separation volume 501 for the separation of the overlapped phases, one or more pins 136 can be arranged within the separation volume 5θ1 · More precisely, this or these pins 136 are arranged from the bottom 130 of the separation chamber 13, substantially in the direction (Ox). In other words, these pins 136 extend in projection relative to the bottom 10a of the imprint 10. These pins 136 participate in the mechanical reinforcement of the phase separator 5θθ, in particular by having a dimension in the direction (Ox) such that it allows support of the second plate 2 on these pins 136.

Of course, the pins could also be located on the second plate 2 and allow support of the first plate 1. In addition, the pins 136 play on the flow of the fluid and participate in the good mixing of the coolant 7θθ ·

The gaseous phase resulting from the phase separation produced, inter alia, by the rib 14, is for its part, routed to a suction chamber 16 which communicates with the separation chamber 13 · A suction passage 160, such as 'will be described later, may be provided to form a border between these two chambers 13, 16 of the separation volume 5θ1 ·

With particular reference to FIG. 3A or to FIG. 4, the suction chamber 16 is defined in particular by a first edge 16l and by a second edge 162. The second edge 162 extends the second edge 131 of the separation chamber 13 in direction of the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1. The first edge 16l of the suction chamber 16 extends substantially parallel to the direction (Oz) or to one of the lateral edges 100a, 100b of the first plate 1, and the second edge 162 of the suction chamber 16 extends towards the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1 while approaching the first edge 16l of the suction chamber 16 in the direction (Oy). In other words, the second edge 162 of the suction chamber 16 extends obliquely to the first edge 16l of the suction chamber 16. Thus, the width of the suction chamber 16, measured in the direction (Oy), decreases from the border with the separation chamber 13 towards the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1 and more precisely towards a suction orifice 15 formed in the first plate 1.

The suction chamber 16 and the intake chamber 12 define therebetween, on the first face 1a of the first plate 1, an island 102 substantially placed on a central axis of the first plate 1 according to the height of the latter. The island 102 is respectively delimited by the second edge 12lb of the intake chamber 12, by the first edge 16l of the suction chamber 16, and by a third edge 133, which connects the second edge 12lb of the inlet chamber 12 and the first edge l6l of the suction chamber 16 by forming an upstream edge to the separation chamber 13 · It should be noted that the first edge l6l of the suction chamber 16 forms, at its intersection with the third edge 133 of the island 102, a point 103 whose role will be explained below. It should also be noted here that the tip 103 extends, in the direction (Oz), in the direction of the downstream edge 101 of the first plate 1. In other words, the tip 103 penetrates within the separation chamber 13, towards the downstream edge 101 of the first plate 1.

The tip 103, formed on the island 102, at the intersection of the first edge 16l of the suction chamber 16 and the third edge 133 of the island 102, contributes to optimizing the phase separation. In fact, this point 103 optionally makes it possible to make part of the liquid phase of the refrigerant fluid seep out from the inlet chamber 12 along the third edge 133 of the island 102 and then to guide it by gravity towards the rib 14 or towards the lower part of the separation chamber 13 · The particular arrangement of the tip 103 with regard to the second end 141 of the rib 14 can then cause this liquid phase to flow directly, by gravity, to said rib 14, where the liquid phase is trapped and routed to the lower part of the separation chamber 13 (cf. FIG. 3A).

As can be seen in FIG. 3A, the relative dimensions of the intake chamber 12, of the suction chamber 16, and, in particular, of the rib 14, can be defined so that a straight line D substantially parallel to the axis (Oz) and passing through the point 103 intersects the rib 14 near its second end 141. In other words, the second end 141 of the rib 14 is located substantially in the extension, in the direction (Oz ), the first edge 16l of the suction chamber 16, itself advantageously substantially parallel to this direction (Oz) as has been indicated previously.

At its end closest to the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1, the suction chamber 16 opens into a suction orifice 15 passing through the first plate 1. As shown in the figures, the end closest to the edge upstream 100 of the first plate 1 also forms the end of the suction chamber 16 where the first edge 16l and the second edge 162 of the latter are as close as possible to one another, in particular in the transverse direction ( Oy). In other words, the suction chamber 16 forms, at its border with the suction orifice 15, a so-called suction narrowing 166. The suction narrowing 166 opens, here in the suction orifice 15 substantially tangentially to this one. According to an alternative embodiment, the suction narrowing 166 opens radially into the suction orifice 15 · Advantageously, the dimension, measured in the transverse direction (Oy), of the suction narrowing 166, is substantially between a few tenths of a millimeter and a dozen millimeters. According to a particularly advantageous alternative embodiment of the invention, this width is substantially of the order of 2 millimeters.

The gas phase of the dipbased mixture of coolant 7θθ is, on the one hand because of its density and on the other hand thanks to the configurations of the separation 13 and suction 16 chambers, entrained in the suction passage 160 and is routed to the suction port 15 passing through the suction chamber 16. It should be noted that the shape of the suction chamber 16, narrowing in the direction of the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1, contributes to inducing and amplifying an aspiration phenomenon of this gas phase, an aspiration phenomenon further reinforced by the presence of the suction narrowing 166 previously defined. The narrowing of suction 166 opening substantially tangentially into the suction orifice 15, this suction phenomenon is further reinforced by a form of swirl induced during the tangential injection of the gas phase into the suction orifice 15 · It should be noted that the presence of the suction shrinkage 166 also makes it possible to avoid aspiration of the liquid phase.

According to the invention, the suction orifice 15 passes through all of the plates 1, 2, 3 constituting the phase separator 5θθ: it can therefore be connected, by appropriate means, to a set of suction conduits of the gas phase out of the phase separator 5θθ · It should be noted that the suction orifice 15 is located in the vicinity of the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1, that is to say in the upper part of the plate 1.

Furthermore, with reference to FIG. 3A or to FIG. 4, we observe the presence of a through opening 18 situated between the end edge 132 of the separation chamber 13 and the downstream edge 101 of the first plate 1. This through opening 18 is arranged only in the first plate 1, that is to say in the plate 1 sandwiched by the other two plates 2, 3- Substantially rectangular according to the embodiment illustrated by the figures, l opening 18 is delimited in the direction (Oz) by the end edge 132 of the separation chamber 13 and, in the vicinity of the downstream edge 101 of the first plate 1, by a distal edge 180 substantially parallel to this downstream edge 101. According to the direction (Oy), the opening 18 is delimited by a first edge 18l substantially forming an extension in the direction (Oz), of the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13, and by a second edge 182 forming substantially an extension in the direction (Oz), of the second edge 131 of the separation chamber 13 · First edge 18l and second edge 182 of the opening 18 are thus substantially parallel respectively to the first lateral edge 100a and to the second lateral edge 100b of the first plate 1.

Depending on the circuit on which the phase separator 5θθ is mounted, the dimensions of the through opening 18 may vary. Indeed, the dimensions of the through opening 18 vary as a function of the quantity of refrigerant fluid 7θθ present in the circuit or more precisely of the quantity of liquid phase of the refrigerant fluid 7θθ · For example, the opening 18 through a phase separator 5θθ mounted on a circuit comprising a heat exchanger 600 of the liquid cooler type is smaller than a through opening 18 of a phase separator 5θθ mounted on a circuit comprising a heat exchanger 600 of the evaporator type 60. Depending on the size of these heat exchangers 600, the size of the through opening 18 can also vary. Generally, the height of the opening 18, measured along the direction (Oz), is substantially between 1 and 120 millimeters. According to the example of embodiment shown in FIG. 3A, intended to equip a circuit comprising a heat exchanger 600 of the evaporator type 60, this height is between 85 and 87 millimeters. According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 and 5> also intended to equip a circuit comprising a heat exchanger 600 of the evaporator type 60 the height of the opening 18 measured in the direction (Oz) is substantially between 15 and 5θ millimeters. According to the exemplary embodiment illustrated by FIGS. 8A to 15B, intended to equip a circuit comprising a heat exchanger 600 of the liquid cooler type, the height of the opening 18 measured in the direction (Oz) is substantially between 1 and 3θ millimeters. Furthermore, it should be noted that in all cases, a width of this through opening 18 measured in the direction (Oy) is substantially between 1 and 89 millimeters and is preferably substantially equal to 40 millimeters.

FIG. 5 illustrates the second face 1b of the first plate 1 according to the variant embodiment of FIG. 4. It is then noted that here, according to the first embodiment, the second face 1b of the first plate 1 comprises an imprint of reserve 115 · The through opening 18 and the reserve imprint 115 together form a reservoir intended to receive the liquid phase of the two-phase mixture of coolant 7θθ admitted into the phase separator 5θθ according to the invention. In other words, the through opening 18 communicates the first face 1a and the second face 1b of the first plate 1 downstream of the rib 14, the downstream being understood in the direction of flow by gravity of the fluid within the phase separator 5θθ · According to another embodiment, the reserve imprint 115 is formed in the closure plate 3> the first plate 1 being planar. By "plane" is meant that the plate does not include any roughness or imprint hollowed out on its face but may however include through holes. The first plate 1 necessarily includes a suction opening 15 ·

Once the liquid phase has been trapped by the rib 14, the latter naturally flows by gravity towards the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13. In other words, the liquid phase is naturally guided by gravity in the hollow formed by the angle 142 previously defined. The liquid phase then flows by gravity to the reservoir formed by both the opening 18 and the imprint 115, whether by overflow relative to the rib 14 or by the space 143 formed between one end of the rib 14 and the edge 130 of the separation chamber 13 · It should be noted that the presence of the space 143 between the rib 14 and the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13 allows faster evacuation of the trapped liquid phase by said rib 14, without waiting for sufficient liquid to have accumulated in the hollow formed by the above-mentioned angle 142 so that this portion of liquid phase overflows at the second end 141 of the rib 14 · Lin such space 143 also makes it possible to avoid any stagnation of the liquid phase and / or of two-phase mixture in the hollow formed by the angle 142 between the rib 14 and the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13 ·

The liquid phase then accumulates both within the through opening 18 and in the reserve imprint 115 arranged in the second face 1b of the first plate 1, visible in FIG. 5 · Depending on the volume of refrigerant 700, the liquid phase can also accumulate in the lower part of the separation chamber 13, within the cavity 10 formed on the first face 1a of the first plate 1.

As shown more particularly in FIG. 5, the reserve cavity 115 may comprise a discharge rib 31 which extends from the opening 18, substantially parallel to the direction (Oz) and in the direction of the upstream edge 100 of the plate on which it is formed, here the first plate 1. In other words, the discharge rib 31 has a main direction of extension perpendicular to the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1. This discharge rib 31 participates in guiding the liquid phase accumulating in the reserve imprint 115 towards an evacuation zone 190 described below while participating in the mechanical reinforcement of the phase separator 500. More specifically, the evacuation rib 31 disrupts the flow refrigerant 700 in liquid form within the reserve cavity 115 and can also help to draw the liquid phase by capillarity towards the evacuation zone 190.

The reserve imprint 115 may also include at least one pin 136. The pin 136 extends from the bottom of the reserve imprint 115, in the direction (Ox). The pin 136 makes it possible on the one hand to reinforce the mechanical strength of the phase separator 500 and on the other hand its presence can modify the flow of the liquid phase within the reserve imprint 115 and favor the evacuation of this liquid phase to evacuation zone 190.

It should be noted that the phase separator 500 according to the invention comprises a third plate 3 (visible in FIGS. 9A, ÎOA and IOB), or closure plate, a first face 3a of which is attached to the second face lb of the first plate 1 so as to form a volume 502 for evacuating the portion of liquid phase coming from the two-phase mixture of refrigerant fluid 700. The evacuation volume 502 is then delimited by the first plate 1 on one side and by the plate closing 3 on the other side. In order to allow the evacuation of the liquid phase accumulating in the reserve imprint 115, the third plate 3 comprises an evacuation orifice 19 (visible in FIGS. 9A, ÎOA and IOB) passing right through it. This evacuation orifice 19 is positioned in such a way that it opens into the evacuation zone 190 of the reserve imprint 115 · When the liquid level, in the evacuation volume 502, reaches this evacuation orifice 19, the liquid is entrained, by appropriate means, out of the phase separator 500. It should be noted here that, according to the exemplary embodiments illustrated by the figures, orifice 11 for admission of the two-phase mixture of refrigerant 700 within of the phase separator 500 and orifice 19 for discharging the portion of the liquid phase contained in this mixture are both located in the vicinity of the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1 and preferably have coaxial axes.

The reserve imprint 115 is extended, in the vicinity of the upstream edge 100 of the plate on which it is formed, by the evacuation zone 190 intended to communicate with the evacuation orifice 19 (visible in FIGS. 9A, 10A and ÎOB). We see that this evacuation zone 190 is less wide than the reserve imprint 115 · Indeed, the reserve imprint 115 is delimited in the direction (Oy) by two edges 115a, 115b originating from the through opening 18 and parallel to the direction (Oz) and to the edges 100a, 100b of the plate 1 on which the reserve imprint 115 is formed. In an upper part of the reserve imprint 115, the edges 115a 115b are extended by oblique edges 115c, 115d tending to approach each other. These oblique edges 115c, 115d are neither perpendicular nor parallel to the direction (Oz). The oblique edges 115c, 115d then extend into upper edges 115e, 115f forming the discharge zone 190. The upper edges 115e, 115f are parallel to the direction (Oz) and to the edges 100a, 100b of the plate 1 on which the the reserve imprint 115 is provided. The width measured in the direction (Oy) between the two upper edges 115e, 115f is at least twice less than the width measured in the direction (Oy) between the two edges 115a 115b. Finally, the two upper edges 115e, 115f extend into an upstream edge 115g, here in the form of a circular arc, making it possible to close the reserve imprint 115 and the evacuation zone 190.

It should be noted that the elements which have just been described in connection with FIG. 5, can of course be applied to any embodiment or any other variant embodiment of the invention and in particular to the second face 1b of the first plate 1 illustrated in FIG. 3A.

A phase separator 500 as it has just been presented therefore makes it possible to carry out the re-encircled phase separation with a small footprint and for a limited manufacturing cost thanks to the use of the various plates 1, 2, 3 which come to be described: on the one hand, first plate 1 and second plate 2 which, joined by their respective first faces la and 2a, delimit the separation volume 501, and, on the other hand, first plate 1 and third plate 3 which are joined respectively by their second face 1b and their first face 3a, delimit between them the discharge volume 502 of the portion of liquid phase contained in the dipbasic mixture of refrigerant 700 admitted into the phase separator 500.

Furthermore, the efficiency of the phase separation is optimized, in the phase separator 500 according to the invention, by the particular conformation of the different chambers which constitute the separation volume 501. According to a second embodiment, the different chambers forming the separation volume 501 are located in an imprint 20 formed on the first face 2a of the second plate 2 contiguous to the first face 1a of the first plate 1, which may be planar. In this case, the configuration of the second plate 2 can be a mirror of the configuration of the first plate described according to the first embodiment.

However, some differences can be expected, FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary embodiment according to the second embodiment of the invention. It should be noted that these differences can also be applied to any embodiment or any other variant embodiment of the invention.

The imprint 20 defining the separation volume 501 is arranged in the first face 2a of the second plate 2. The imprint 20 is arranged in the thickness of the second plate 2, from the first face 2a by which this plate 2 is attached to the first plate 1 to form the phase separator 5θθ ·

The second plate 2 here again includes an intake port 11 opening into the intake chamber 12 which is formed directly from the circumference of this intake port 11. It can be seen that here the intake chamber 12 includes a clearance 128 projecting from the bottom of the cavity 20. The presence of this clearance 128 makes it possible to increase the cross section of the intake chamber 12 and thus reduce the pressure drops in this configuration.

The intake chamber 12 then communicates with the separation chamber 13 via the intake passage 122, which here has no protuberances. The separation chamber 13 comprises the rib 14 arranged in a mirror with respect to the first embodiment. According to this embodiment, two spaces 143, 145 are provided between the rib 14 and the two edges 130, 131 laterally defining the separation chamber 13 · Of course, it is quite possible to provide that the rib 14 is from material with one of the two edges 130, 131 laterally defining the separation chamber 13 so that the rib 14 extends opposite the intake chamber 12.

It should be noted that according to this second embodiment, the lower part of the separation chamber 13 has no through opening 18. In fact, the liquid phase reservoir is formed by a through opening formed on the first plate 1 and by a reserve imprint made indifferently in the second face 1b of the first plate 1 or in the first face 3a of the closure plate 3 ·

The separation chamber 13 communicates with the suction chamber 16 via a suction passage ÏÔO. According to this exemplary embodiment, it can be seen that the suction passage ÏÔO may include one or more protrusions 165, similar to the protrusions 125 which may be present in the intake passage 122, as has been described previously in relation to the first embodiment. Note that either the intake passage 122 or the suction passage l60 includes protrusions.

The protrusions 165 of the suction passage l60 extend from the bottom of the cavity 20, in the direction (Ox). More specifically, the suction passage 160 has a first projection 163 arranged from the first lateral edge 16l of the suction chamber 16 and a second projection 164 arranged from the second lateral edge 162 of the suction chamber 16, the second edge 162 extending a second edge 131 of the separation chamber 13 in the direction of the upstream edge 200 of the second plate 2.

The first projection 163 and the second projection 164 are substantially directed towards each other, so that they form a narrowing of the suction passage 160. According to this variant embodiment of the invention, the first projection 163 and the second projection 164 are arranged at substantially different distances in the direction (Oz), from the upstream edge 200 of the second plate 2: here, the first projection 163, arranged on the first lateral edge 16l of the suction chamber 16 is closer to this upstream edge 200 than is the second projection 164. Advantageously, the dimension of the first projection 163 and of the second projection 164 in the direction (Oz) is substantially between 1 and 2 millimeters.

Advantageously, the protuberance (s) 165 are arranged on an imaginary line 9θθ which connects the first and the second projections 163, 164. It should be noted here that, according to the embodiment illustrated by FIG. 6, this imaginary line 9θθ passes through tip 203 of island 202.

Here, two protrusions 165 are arranged within the suction passage l60, regularly distributed within it along the imaginary line 9θθ · Advantageously, the dimension, according to the direction of the imaginary line 9θθ previously defined, of each protrusion 165, is substantially of the order of a millimeter, and the distance, in this same direction, between two neighboring protrusions 165 or between a protrusion 165 and the projection 163, 164 closest to the suction passage l60 is also substantially on the order of a millimeter.

The suction chamber 16 then opens out towards the suction orifice 15 here again present on the second plate 2.

Furthermore, it can be seen that this second plate 2 comprises pins 136 projecting from the imprint 20. These pins 136 are identical to the first embodiment of the invention, it should be noted that by its conformation and its location in relation, in particular, to the pins 136 and to possible protrusions 165 within the suction passage 160, the tip 203 also participates in the establishment, within the separation chamber 13, of a regime of flow favorable to the desired phase separation.

The phase separator 5θθ thus produced allows optimal phase separation, thus contributing to the efficiency of the circuit 1000 of refrigerant fluid 7θθ as illustrated in the figure

Due to its compact and simple design, the 5θθ phase separator which has just been described can be an individual phase separator within the circuit 1000 of the refrigerant 700 which collaborates with a ventilation, heating and / or air conditioning installation. of a motor vehicle, it can also, according to other embodiments, be integrated inside a heat exchanger 600 for example of the evaporator type 60 or else of the liquid cooler type, also called chiller in English .

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate the integration of such a phase separator 5θθ within an evaporator 60, at the input thereof while FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate a phase separator 5θθ integrated into a liquid cooler .

In these two integration cases, the heat exchanger 600 is advantageously formed of a set of sheets 605, substantially parallel to each other and stacked in a direction substantially perpendicular to that of the plane along which they extend. In the integration of a phase separator 5θθ as described above with such a heat exchanger 600, the invention provides that the plates and sheets forming this heat exchanger are advantageously arranged each along a transverse plane d extension substantially parallel to the plane (Oyz) of the orthonormal coordinate system previously defined, and that they are stacked substantially in the direction (Ox) previously defined, It follows that the first plate 1, the second plate 2, and the third plate 3 of the phase separator 5θθ according to the invention are then arranged in planes parallel to the various sheets 605 forming the heat exchanger 600.

It should be noted that the set of sheets 605 forming a part of the heat exchanger 600 may comprise corrugated sheets or internal spacers making it possible to disturb the fluid flowing on these sheets 605.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show, in the case of a heat exchanger 600 of evaporator type 60, that the different plates 1, 2, 3 making up the phase separator 5θθ are stacked in the same way as the set of sheets 605 forming the evaporator 60. In other words, each sheet 605 and each plate of the separator 500 extend in a plane parallel to the air flow intended to pass through the evaporator 60.

The refrigerant 700 enters the evaporator 60 via an inlet pipe 510 which communicates with the inlet orifice 11 of the phase separator 500 · Thus, the refrigerant 700 entering the evaporator 60 necessarily passes through the separator 500. Once the phase separation has been carried out, the liquid phase of the refrigerant 700 leaves the phase separator 500 through the discharge orifice (not visible in these figures) and then circulates along the sheets 605 of the evaporator. 60 so as to cool the air flow passing between these sheets 605. During its passage between the sheets of the evaporator 60, the refrigerant 700 vaporizes in the gas phase and leaves the evaporator 60 passing successively through the suction port 15 present on each of the plates 1, 2, 3 of the phase separator 500 then by a suction line 515 · Thus, the suction line 515 allows passage both from the gas phase resulting from the phase separation carried out in the phase separator 500 and from the gas phase resulting from the heat exchange carried out within the evaporator 60. These gaseous phases meet and mix to , in particular, go to compressor 200 of circuit 1000.

Furthermore, with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B, the liquid to be cooled is admitted into the heat exchanger 600 of the cooler type 6l by an intake pipe 7 and leaves, after heat exchange with the coolant 700, by an outlet pipe 8.

The refrigerant 700 is, for its part, admitted into the heat exchanger 600 through an intake pipe 510 which communicates, as shown in FIG. 8B, with the intake orifice 11 of the separator phases 500. Thus, the refrigerant 700 entering the cooler 6l necessarily passes through the phase separator 500.

Once the phase separation has been carried out, the gaseous phase contained in the two-phase mixture of coolant 700 admitted into the phase separator 500 is conveyed out of it by the suction orifice 15, which communicates with a pipe 515 visible in Figure 8A.

The liquid phase contained in this two-phase mixture of refrigerant 700 is, for its part, conveyed by the evacuation orifice (not visible in FIGS. 8A and 8B) towards the cooler 6l in which it is vaporized to come out of this cooler 6l in gaseous form. This gas phase is extracted from the cooler 6l by passing through the suction port 15 of the phase separator 500. In fact, the suction port 15 passing through all of the plates 1, 2, 3 of the phase separator 500 , a single outlet pipe 515 is provided for the gas phase both for the gas phase resulting from the phase separation carried out in the phase separator 500 and for the gas phase resulting from the heat exchange carried out within the cooler 6l.

In all cases of integration, whether with an evaporator 60 or a cooler 6l, the closure plate 3 is the seat both from the entry of the liquid phase of the refrigerant 700 to the heat exchanger 600 and from the exit of the gaseous phase of the refrigerant 700 from the heat exchanger 600 at the end of the heat exchange. The phase separator 500 is here arranged in the extension of the longitudinal stack along (Ox) of the plates and sheets forming the heat exchanger 600, more precisely at one end of the latter. To this end, a recess 30, visible in FIGS. 7A and 7B, can be arranged on the closing plate 3 in order to allow the fixing of this plate directly on the cheek 601 of the heat exchanger.

600. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, this third plate 3, or closing plate, of the phase separator 500, corresponds to the end sheet, or the cheek,

601, of the heat exchanger 600. Thus, the role of interface of this closure plate 3 between the phase separator 500 and the exchanger 600 takes on its full meaning.

In all cases, it should be noted that the height of the phase separator 500, measured in the direction (Oz) of the orthonormal reference frame previously defined, is advantageously less than the height of the plates or sheets forming the heat exchanger 600. This is made possible by the particular configuration of the phase separator 500 according to the invention, which allows optimal phase separation to be achieved in a small footprint. The integration of such a phase separator 500 with a heat exchanger 600 and, beyond, the integration of the assembly thus formed in a circuit 1000 of refrigerant fluid of a motor vehicle, is therefore found therein. simplified.

It should be noted that a phase separator 500 applied to a liquid cooler 6l is identical in all respects to a phase separator 500 applied to an evaporator 60 except the size of the through opening 18 forming in part the reservoir for the liquid phase of the refrigerant 700. As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the refrigerant 700 enters the phase separator 500 and in particular into the intake chamber 12 via the intake orifice 11 then passing through the zone transition 110. The refrigerant 700 is then admitted into the separation chamber 13 passing through the intake passage 122 here comprising protuberances 125 · The separation chamber 13 comprises a rib 14 extending projecting from the imprint 10 allowing the liquid phase of the refrigerant 700 to be trapped. The gaseous phase of the refrigerant 700 is in turn sucked into the suction chamber 16 and leaves the s phase separator 500 through the suction port 15 while the liquid phase of the refrigerant 700 accumulates in the lower part of the phase separator 500 and more particularly at the level of the through opening 18.

As shown in FIG. 9B, the second face 1b of the first plate 1 comprises a reserve imprint 115 as well as an evacuation zone 190 configured to communicate with the evacuation orifice 19 intended to evacuate the liquid phase in the direction liquid cooler 6l. It should be noted here that according to this exemplary embodiment, the second face 1b of the first plate 1 is devoid of a rib starting on the periphery of the through opening 18. In addition, it can be seen here that the opening 18 through has a height measured in the direction (Oz) between 1 and 30 millimeters. Advantageously, this height is between 1 and 10 millimeters.

The phase separator 500 according to the invention is, moreover, of a simple embodiment and can be manufactured by various inexpensive methods, regardless of its application. FIGS. 9A to 11O illustrate more particularly different possible configurations of such a phase separator, according to different manufacturing methods.

According to a first example of implementation, more particularly illustrated by FIGS. 9A and 9B, the first face 1a and the second face 1b of the first plate 1 are advantageously produced by machining. According to this first example of implementation, the second plate 2 and the closure plate 3 have substantially flat faces intended to be in contact with the first face 1a and with the second face 1b of the first plate 1. As a reminder, by "Flat face" means that the plate does not include any roughness or imprint hollowed out on its face but may however include through holes. Such manufacture makes it possible to produce the shapes and imprints respectively arranged from the first face 1a and the second face 1b of the first plate 1 with precise manufacturing tolerances. It also allows a simple and inexpensive production of the second plate 2 and the closure plate 3 ·

According to another example of implementation, not shown in the figures, the reserve imprint 115 and the hollow shapes delimiting the evacuation volume 502 are produced by stamping on the closure plate 3> in particular on the face intended to be attached to the first plate 1. In this case, the second face 1b of the first plate 1 is substantially flat and the imprint and the hollow shapes delimiting, on the first face 1a of the first plate 1, the separation volume 501 can also be produced by stamping said first face 1a of the first plate 1.

According to other embodiments, and as mentioned above, the hollow shapes delimiting the separation volume 501 and the evacuation volume 502 can be, partially or entirely, arranged respectively in the second plate 2 and / or in the closing plate 3 ·

To this end, FIGS. 10A and 15B illustrate an example of implementation in which the cavities and hollow shapes defining the separation volume 501 are arranged in the first face 2a of the second plate 2, as has been described for the figure 6.

As a reminder, the different chambers constituting the separation volume 501 are arranged within an imprint 20 formed in the thickness of this second plate 2, from the first face 2a by which this plate 2 is attached to the first plate 1 of the phase separator 5θθ · In this case, the cavity 20 is advantageously produced by stamping the first face 2a of the second plate 2, and it comprises, as described above, the various functional elements of the phase separator 5θθ> to namely: an intake chamber, an intake passage, a separation chamber, a rib, a suction passage, a suction chamber and a suction port.

As can be seen in FIG. 10A, the first face 1a of the first plate 1 is substantially flat while comprising the through opening 18 as well as the suction orifice 15 passing through it. FIG .OB shows, for its part, that the reserve imprint 115 and the hollow shapes delimiting the evacuation volume 502 are located on the second face lb of the first plate 1. The evacuation volume 502 is then produced by stamping of the second face 1b of the first plate 1. Of course, the reserve imprint 115 and the hollow shapes delimiting the evacuation volume 502 could also have been produced by stamping on the closure plate 3> in particular on the face intended to be attached to the first plate 1. In this case, the second face 1b of the first plate 1 could have been substantially plane.

As these various figures show (θΑ to ÎOB), an outlet orifice 35 is arranged, in all cases, in the vicinity of an upstream edge 32 of the closure plate 3 · This outlet orifice 35 extends or is confused with the suction orifice 15 arranged on the first plate 1 and on the second plate 2.

The production by stamping of all or part of the cavities and hollow shapes defining the different functional elements of the phase separator 5θθ according to the invention makes it possible to reduce the manufacturing costs of such a phase separator 5θθ · It goes without saying that techniques d machining and stamping techniques can also be combined to produce one or more of the plates constituting the 5θθ phase separator according to the invention.

Whatever the manufacturing solution chosen, machining and / or stamping of all or part of the plates 1, 2, 3, forming the phase separator 500 according to the invention, it is by design easy to combine , individually, to an already existing refrigerant circuit, or in an integrated manner to a heat exchanger 600 of a refrigerant circuit 1000 of a motor vehicle.

The invention cannot however be limited to the modes, variants and configurations described and illustrated, and it also applies to all variants or equivalent configurations and to any combination of these variants or configurations. In particular, if the invention has been described and illustrated here in the particular case of a phase separator whose plates have substantially similar general shapes of rectangular parallelepipeds, it also applies to cases where the different plates which make up a such a separator have shapes which are substantially different from one another, other than those of rectangular parallelepipeds, insofar as these plates define between them: on the one hand, the separation volume 501 described in this document and the various elements constituting it , and on the other hand, the evacuation volume 502 described in this document and the various elements constituting it.

Claims (11)

1. Liquid-gas phase separator (5Οθ) for a coolant (7Οθ), characterized in that it comprises at least two plates (l, 2, 3)> including a first plate (l) and a second plate ( 2), the first plate (l) and the second plate (2) being arranged one against the other, delimiting between them a volume (50l) for separation of the liquid-gas phases. 2. Phase separator (500) according to claim 1, characterized in that the separation volume (50l) comprises a first chamber, called the inlet chamber (12), a second chamber, called the separation chamber (13), and a third chamber, called the suction chamber (16). 3. Phase separator (500) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a rib (14) extends in the separation chamber (13) · 4. phase separator (500) according to claim 2 or 3> characterized in that one of the plates (l, 2, 3) comprises an inlet orifice (il) of the refrigerant (700), said orifice d 'admission (il) opening into the admission chamber (l2). 5. Phase separator (500) according to any one of claims 2 to 4> characterized in that an intake passage (122) is formed between the intake chamber (12) and the phase separation chamber (13), said intake passage (122) forming a restriction of the intake chamber (12). 6. Phase separator (500) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a straight line parallel to a vertical edge of one of the plates (l, 2) passing through the intake passage (122) cuts the rib (14 ) · 7. phase separator (500) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a suction passage (16o) formed between the suction chamber (16) and the separation chamber ( 13), said suction passage forming a restriction of the suction chamber (16). 8. Phase separator (500) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a suction orifice (15) configured to suck a gaseous phase of the coolant passes through all the plates (1,2,3) phase separator (500). 9. Phase separator (500) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the phase separation volume (50l) is formed in an impression (io) made on one face (la, 2a, lb, 2b ) of the first plate (l) and / or of the second plate (2). 10. Phase separator (500) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a third plate (3), said closing plate disposed 5 against the first plate (l), the first plate (l) being interposed between the second plate (2) and the third plate (3). 11. Heat exchanger (6θθ), characterized in that it incorporates a phase separator (500) defined according to any one of the preceding claims.