JP2005315309A - Refrigerant flow control valve - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerant flow control valve, reducing the space for installation while uniforming the divided flow of a refrigerant in a heat exchanger for cooling during cooling operation. <P>SOLUTION: This refrigerant flow control valve is composed of a valve element for controlling the rotating angle and a valve chest part having one refrigerant inflow port and two outlets. The lower part of the valve element is formed obliquely to the axial sections of two refrigerant outflow ports, and a clearance gap is provided to perform throttle action at the rotating angle to minimize both sectional areas between two refrigerant outflow ports and the inlet. In a refrigerant flow control valve composed of a valve element vertically moved in the axial direction by rotation, the valve element is formed asymmetrical to the axial section of a refrigerant inflow port. In a refrigerant flow control valve composed of a vertically movable valve element, the lower part of the valve element is formed asymmetrical to the axial section of a refrigerant inflow port so that the flow rates of a refrigerant flowing out of two refrigerant outflow ports have a predetermined flow rate ratio. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerant flow rate control valve used in an air conditioner, and relates to a valve capable of controlling the diversion and flow rate with a single valve.

  In a conventional air conditioner, as a dehumidifying operation for lowering humidity, a refrigerant having a throttling action between an indoor heat exchanger composed of a thermally divided cooling heat exchanger and a reheat heat exchanger There is known a system in which a flow rate control valve is provided, and an air flow cooled and dehumidified by a cooling heat exchanger is reheated by the condensation heat of the reheating heat exchanger. By using this method, a comfortable reheat dehumidification operation without a temperature drop is possible.

  On the other hand, in order to improve the coefficient of performance (COP = capability / input) of the cycle during the cooling operation, a plurality of refrigerant flow paths are provided in the cooling heat exchanger to reduce the pressure loss of the refrigerant flow. At this time, the refrigerant flow control valve provided between the divided indoor heat exchangers is fully opened and does not throttle. The refrigerant that has passed through the refrigerant flow control valve is divided into a plurality of refrigerant flow paths at the branch portion of the cooling heat exchanger. At that time, the balance of the shunt flow is lost due to the difference in pressure loss of each flow path due to the variation in the shape of the branching section, and the difference in heat exchange due to the wind speed distribution of the air flow passing through the heat exchanger downstream of the flow path. There was a problem that the heat exchange ability of the heat exchanger for cooling could not be exchanged, and the heat exchange ability was lowered.

  As a measure to improve this, the branching part has a T-shape consisting of one inflow pipe connected perpendicularly and an outflow pipe in two directions, and the wall faces the inlet of the outflow pipe so as to be substantially perpendicular to the pipe axis. There is a method of making the refrigerant flow uniform by providing a portion. However, with this method, the diversion can be made uniform under certain conditions during cooling operation, but the diversion cannot be kept uniform over a wide range of conditions. The heat exchange capacity will be greatly reduced. Furthermore, since there is no degree of freedom in the shape of the branch part, it is necessary to take a large space for installation when used together with the refrigerant flow control valve for dehumidifying operation.

JP-A-6-194003

  The problem to be solved is to provide a refrigerant flow rate control valve capable of reducing the space for installation while making the refrigerant distribution of the cooling heat exchanger uniform during cooling operation.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is characterized in that it is configured as described below.

  In a refrigerant flow control valve comprising a valve body having a valve body whose rotational angle can be arbitrarily controlled by a stepping motor or the like, one refrigerant inlet, and two refrigerant outlets, the lower shape of the valve body is divided into two refrigerant outlets. In addition, the gap is formed in the flow path at a rotation angle at which the cross-sectional areas between the two refrigerant outlets and the inlets are both minimized. Alternatively, in the refrigerant flow control valve, the valve body can be moved up and down in the axial direction by rotating, and the shape of the valve body is asymmetric with respect to the axial cross section of the refrigerant inlet. Alternatively, in the refrigerant flow control valve, the valve body can be moved up and down by a solenoid coil or the like, and the refrigerant inlet shaft is arranged so that the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing out from the two refrigerant outlets at the lower part of the valve body becomes a predetermined flow ratio. It was formed asymmetric with respect to the cross section.

  By using the refrigerant flow rate control valve configured as described above, the present invention enables a comfortable reheat dehumidification operation without a temperature drop, and can maintain a uniform diversion under a wide range of conditions during cooling operation. The coefficient of performance of the cycle during cooling operation is improved, and the space for installation can be reduced because the branch portion and the refrigerant flow rate control valve are integrated.

  Equipped with a refrigerant flow control valve for reheat dehumidification operation, and the purpose of reducing the space for installing a branching section to keep the diversion uniform over a wide range of conditions during cooling operation, the diversion ratio is arbitrarily determined This is realized by integrating the branching section and the refrigerant flow control valve.

  A first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of an air conditioner to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, 1 is a compressor, 2 is a four-way valve that switches between a cooling cycle and a heating cycle, 3 is an outdoor heat exchanger, and 4 is a first refrigerant flow rate such as an electric expansion valve that performs a throttling action during cooling and heating operations. Control valves 5, 6 are indoor heat exchangers divided into two, and 6 has two refrigerant flow paths. Reference numeral 7 denotes a second refrigerant flow control valve that performs a throttling operation during the dehumidifying operation.

  Further, the compressor 1, the four-way valve 2, the outdoor heat exchanger 3, the first refrigerant flow control valve 4, the indoor heat exchanger 5, the second refrigerant flow control valve 7, and the indoor heat exchanger 6 are connected by refrigerant piping. The refrigeration cycle is configured by sequentially connecting.

  During the cooling operation, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 1 condenses in the outdoor heat exchanger 3, expands due to the throttling action of the first refrigerant flow control valve 4, and evaporates and compresses in the indoor heat exchangers 5 and 6. Return to Machine 1. The second refrigerant flow control valve 7 does not perform a throttling function and serves as a flow divider that diverts the refrigerant to the two refrigerant flow paths of the indoor heat exchanger 6.

  In the reheat dehumidifying operation, the refrigerant flows in the same direction as in the cooling operation, the first refrigerant flow control valve 4 is fully opened, and the second refrigerant flow control valve 7 performs the throttling action. The first part 5 of the indoor heat exchanger is a heater that condenses the refrigerant, and the second part 6 is a cooler that evaporates the refrigerant.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the second refrigerant flow control valve 7 connected between the indoor heat exchangers 5 and 6 divided into two in this embodiment. The refrigerant flow control valve includes a valve chamber 8 and a valve body 9. The valve chamber 8 has one refrigerant inlet 10 and two refrigerant outlets 11 and 12. Further, the rotation angle of the valve body 9 can be arbitrarily controlled in the axial direction by a stepping motor or the like. The valve seat shape in the lower part of the valve body 9 is formed obliquely with respect to the axial section of the two refrigerant outlets 11 and 12. In addition, the wall on the refrigerant inlet side of the valve chamber 8 is used as a valve body so that the throttle action is performed in the flow path at a rotation angle at which the cross-sectional areas between the two refrigerant outlets 11 and 12 and the inlet 10 are both minimized. 9 is formed so that a constant interval is opened along the shape of the hole 9, and a gap is formed between the two refrigerant outlets 11, 12 and the inlet 10.

  FIG. 3 is a graph showing changes in the cross-sectional areas of the refrigerant inlet 10 and the outlets 11 and 12 when the rotation angle of the valve body 9 is changed. In the area of FIG. 3A, the diversion ratio to the two refrigerant outlets 11 and 12 can be arbitrarily determined. An example of the rotation angle of the valve body 9 in this region is shown in FIG. 4 as a cross-sectional view of the AA plane of FIG.

  For example, during cooling operation, the temperatures T1 and T2 of the two refrigerant channels at the outlet of the indoor heat exchanger 6 are measured. If T1> T2, the valve is moved in the direction of the channel T1 by an angle corresponding to the difference between T1 and T2. Rotate. Thereby, T1 and T2 can be maintained at the same temperature, the indoor heat exchanger 6 can be utilized in an optimum state, and the coefficient of performance of the cycle can be improved.

  In FIG. 3B, since the flow rate on one side is fixed, it is rotated transiently by switching from the cooling operation to the reheat dehumidification operation. An example of the rotation angle of the valve body 9 in this region is shown in FIG. 5 as a cross-sectional view of the AA plane of FIG.

  FIG. 3 (c) is a region where the squeezing action is performed during the reheat dehumidification operation in which the cross-sectional areas between the two refrigerant outlets 11 and 12 and the inlet 10 are both minimized, and a comfortable dehumidification operation without lowering the temperature is performed. The gap is adjusted to the opening that can be. An example of the rotation angle of the valve body 9 in this region is shown in FIG. 6 as a cross-sectional view of the AA plane in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the valve chamber portion 8 is formed so as to open a certain interval along the shape of the valve body 9, but the valve chamber portion 8 and the valve body 9 are brought into contact as shown in FIG. A narrow-diameter channel 13 may be provided in the seat portion to perform the throttling action during the reheat dehumidifying operation.

  A second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Since the operation of the air conditioner is the same as that described in the first embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the second refrigerant flow control valve 7 connected between the indoor heat exchangers 5 and 6 divided into two in this embodiment. The flow control valve 7 includes a valve chamber 14 and a valve body 15. The valve chamber portion 14 has one refrigerant inlet 10 and two refrigerant outlets 11 and 12. Further, the rotation angle of the valve body 15 can be arbitrarily set while moving up and down in the axial direction by rotating the shaft by the male screw portion of the rotor shaft of the stepping motor and the female screw portion of the housing. The valve seat shape of the valve body 15 is asymmetric with respect to the axial cross section of the refrigerant inlet.

  FIG. 9 is a graph showing changes in the cross-sectional areas of the refrigerant inlet 10 and the outlets 11 and 12 when the rotation angle of the valve body 15 is changed. In the region of FIG. 9A, the diversion ratio to the two refrigerant outlets 11 and 12 can be arbitrarily determined. During the cooling operation, the rotation angle of the valve body 15 is determined so that the temperatures of the two refrigerant flow paths at the outlet of the indoor heat exchanger 6 are equal as in the first embodiment. Thereby, the indoor heat exchanger 6 can be utilized in an optimal state, and the coefficient of performance of the cycle can be improved.

  During the reheat dehumidifying operation, a comfortable dehumidifying operation in which the temperature does not drop can be performed by rotating the valve to the angle shown in FIG.

  A third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Since the operation of the air conditioner is the same as that described in the first embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the second refrigerant flow control valve 7 connected between the indoor heat exchangers 5 and 6 divided into two in this embodiment. The flow control valve 7 includes a valve chamber 16 and a valve body 17. The valve chamber 16 has one refrigerant inlet 10 and two refrigerant outlets 11 and 12. The valve body 17 can move up and down by the electromagnetic force of the solenoid coil and the elasticity of the spring. Further, the valve seat below the valve body 17 has an asymmetric shape with respect to the axial cross section of the refrigerant inlet. FIG. 11 is a graph showing changes in the outlet flow rate with respect to the valve seat shape. As the valve seat shape is longer in FIG. 11, the flow rate toward the refrigerant outlet 11 increases and the flow rate toward the refrigerant outlet 12 decreases. Using this relationship, the flow rate ratio is set so that the temperatures of the two refrigerant flow path outlets of the indoor heat exchanger 6 are equal.

  During the cooling operation, the valve body 17 is fixed to the upper portion of the valve chamber as shown in FIG. 10, and the refrigerant is optimally divided by the protruding portion of the valve seat, and the indoor heat exchanger 6 has two refrigerant flow path outlets. Since the temperature becomes equal, it can be used in an optimal state, and the coefficient of performance is improved. During the reheat dehumidifying operation, the valve body 17 is fixed to the lower portion of the valve chamber portion 16 as shown in FIG. 12, and a squeezing action is generated by the gap between the valve body 17 and the valve chamber portion 16 so that the temperature does not decrease. Dehumidification operation is possible.

The refrigerant circuit figure in this invention. 1 is a sectional view of a refrigerant flow control valve in a first embodiment of the present invention. The graph which shows the change of the flow-path area with respect to the rotation angle in 1st Example of this invention. The refrigerant | coolant flow control valve operation | movement figure in the 1st Example of this invention (at the time of air_conditionaing | cooling operation). The refrigerant | coolant flow control valve operation | movement figure in the 1st Example of this invention (at the time of operation switching). The refrigerant | coolant flow control valve operation | movement figure in the 1st Example of this invention (at the time of a reheat dehumidification driving | operation). The other refrigerant | coolant flow control valve sectional drawing in the 1st Example of this invention. The refrigerant | coolant flow control valve sectional drawing in the 2nd Example of this invention. The graph which shows the change of the flow-path area with respect to the rotation angle in the 2nd Example of this invention. The refrigerant | coolant flow control valve sectional drawing in the 3rd Example of this invention. The graph which shows the change of the exit flow volume with respect to the valve seat shape in the 3rd Example of this invention. The refrigerant | coolant flow control valve sectional drawing at the time of the reheat dehumidification driving | operation in the 3rd Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Compressor, 2 ... Four-way valve, 3 ... Outdoor heat exchanger, 4 ... 1st refrigerant | coolant flow control valve, 5, 6 ... Indoor heat exchanger, 7 ... 2nd refrigerant | coolant flow control valve, 8 ... 1st Valve chamber portion of embodiment, 9 ... Valve body of first embodiment, 10 ... Refrigerant inlet, 11, 12 ... Refrigerant outlet, 13 ... Narrow passage in other form of first embodiment, 14 ... First The valve chamber part of 2nd Example, 15 ... The valve body of 2nd Example, 16 ... The valve chamber part of 3rd Example, 17 ... The valve body of 3rd Example.

Claims (3)

  In a refrigerant flow control valve comprising a valve body whose rotation angle can be arbitrarily controlled by a stepping motor or the like, and a valve chamber portion having one refrigerant inlet and two refrigerant outlets, the lower shape of the valve body is divided into two refrigerant flows. The gap is formed obliquely with respect to the axial cross section of the outlet and provided with a gap for performing a throttling action in the flow path at a rotation angle at which the cross sectional areas between the two refrigerant outlets and the inlet are both minimized. Refrigerant flow control valve.   Refrigerant flow control valve comprising a valve body that can be arbitrarily controlled by a stepping motor or the like and can be moved up and down in the axial direction by rotating, and a valve chamber portion having one refrigerant inlet and two refrigerant outlets The refrigerant flow control valve according to claim 1, wherein the lower shape of the valve body is formed asymmetrically with respect to the axial cross section of the refrigerant inlet. In a refrigerant flow control valve comprising a valve body movable up and down by a solenoid coil or the like, and a valve chamber portion having one refrigerant inlet and two refrigerant outlets, the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing out from the two refrigerant outlets is determined in advance. A refrigerant flow control valve characterized in that the lower shape of the valve body is formed asymmetrically with respect to the axial cross section of the refrigerant inflow port so that the flow rate ratio is obtained.

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