JP2007285591A - Refrigerating cycle device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerating cycle device capable of establishing a cycle for branching a part of a discharged gas refrigerant and adjusting the quantity of liquid refrigerant stored in a gas-liquid separator, while simplifying an internal structure of a condenser provided with the gas-liquid separator. <P>SOLUTION: In this refrigerating cycle device comprising a compressor, the condenser having a pair of header pipes, a pressure reducing device for reducing a pressure of the refrigerant passing through the condenser, and an evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant depressurized by the pressure reducing device, and sucking the refrigerant having passed through the evaporator to the compressor, the condenser is divided into a first heat exchanging portion and a second heat exchanging portion arranged in the refrigerant flowing direction, the gas-liquid separator is disposed between the first heat exchanging portion and the second heat exchanging portion, and the gas refrigerant separated by the gas-liquid separator is introduced to the second heat exchanging portion and condensed. A partitioning wall vertically extending is disposed inside of one of header pipes of the condenser to define two chambers communicated with each other in the header pipe, thus the header pipe itself is provided with a function of the gas-liquid separator. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigeration cycle apparatus, and more particularly, to a condensing unit mechanism of a refrigeration cycle apparatus that can control an evaporator outlet refrigerant superheat degree by a compressor discharge refrigerant superheat degree.

  For example, the basic control configuration of the refrigeration cycle apparatus provided in the vehicle air conditioner is to control the superheat degree of the refrigerant at the outlet of the evaporator (so-called receiver cycle) and control the degree of supercooling of the refrigerant at the outlet of the condenser (so-called accumulator cycle). Broadly divided. In the receiver cycle, the superheat degree of the refrigerant at the outlet of the evaporator is usually controlled within a predetermined range (usually 5 to 20 deg.) By the temperature type expansion valve, and in the accumulator cycle, it is usually controlled by using a fixed throttle. The subcooling degree of the refrigerant at the outlet of the reactor is usually 0 to 20 deg. Depending on the flow characteristics of the fixed throttle, the cycle high pressure and the refrigerant flow rate. It fluctuates in the range.

  In contrast to such a general technique, Patent Document 1 discloses that a condenser for condensing refrigerant discharged from a compressor is divided into a first condensing part and a second condensing part, and a gas-liquid separator is provided between them. By providing a part of the discharge gas refrigerant and adjusting the amount of liquid refrigerant accumulated in the gas-liquid separator, the degree of superheat of the evaporator outlet refrigerant can be controlled to a desired value even in a fixed throttle. The technology that has been made possible is disclosed.

However, in a condenser used in a cycle that adjusts the amount of liquid refrigerant accumulated in the gas-liquid separator by branching a part of the discharged gas refrigerant as shown in Patent Document 1, Patent Documents 2 to 4 are used. As shown, the internal structure of the high-pressure side gas-liquid separator associated with the condenser and the communication structure of the refrigerant flow path between the header pipe of the condenser and the gas-liquid separator are complicated. For this reason, there is a problem that in addition to high costs, there is an increased possibility of refrigerant leakage inside which is usually difficult to detect from the outside.
JP 2002-323274 A JP 2000-74527 A JP 2003-130497 A JP 2003-170734 A

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to divide a part of the discharge gas refrigerant as described above, and to adjust the amount of liquid refrigerant accumulated in the gas-liquid separator, the cycle of the condenser with which the gas-liquid separator is attached. An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigeration cycle apparatus that can be established while simplifying the internal structure.

  In order to solve the above problems, a refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present invention includes a compressor that compresses and discharges a refrigerant, a pair of header pipes, and a heat exchange tube that extends between the header pipes. A condenser that condenses the refrigerant discharged from the compressor, a decompression device that decompresses the refrigerant that has passed through the condenser, and an evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant decompressed by the decompression device, and passes through the evaporator The refrigeration cycle apparatus for sucking the refrigerant into the compressor, wherein the condenser is divided into a first heat exchange part and a second heat exchange part arranged in a flow direction of the refrigerant, and the first heat exchange In the refrigeration cycle apparatus, a gas-liquid separator is provided between the heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, and the gas refrigerant separated by the gas-liquid separator is introduced into the second heat exchanger and condensed. Within one header pipe of the vessel itself Vertically extending to provide a partition wall by partitioning into two chambers communicating with each other in said header pipe, consisting of those characterized by having the function of the gas-liquid separator to the header pipe itself.

  That is, in the refrigeration cycle apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, a part of the refrigeration cycle apparatus (for example, Claim 21 of Patent Document 1) may be configured such that the gas-liquid separator is integrated with one of the condenser header pipes. Although described, basically, the header pipe and the gas-liquid separator are configured as separate members, and the members having separate functions are merely integrated with each other. However, the problems of the complicated refrigerant flow communication structure between the header pipe of the condenser and the gas-liquid separator, the high cost, and the possibility of internal refrigerant leakage are still solved. Not. However, in the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present invention, by providing a partition extending in the vertical direction inside one header pipe itself of the condenser, the header pipe itself is partitioned into two chambers communicating with each other. Since the function of the predetermined gas-liquid separator is provided, the interior of the condenser itself having the gas-liquid separator part and having the first heat exchange part and the second heat exchange part is greatly simplified. At the same time, since a portion to which the target function of the gas-liquid separator is added is formed at a position between the first heat exchange section and the second heat exchange section as an internal position of the condenser itself, Since there are no potential parts, all of the simplification of the internal structure, cost reduction, and elimination of the possibility of refrigerant leakage are achieved.

  In the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present invention, the heat exchange tube of the first heat exchange section extends into one of the two compartments, and the heat of the second heat exchange section. A structure in which the exchange tube extends into the other second chamber can be employed. With this structure, the gas-liquid separator having the target function is reliably configured in the position between the first heat exchange unit and the second heat exchange unit, and the structure is simple. However, the target control of controlling the degree of refrigerant superheating at the evaporator outlet of the cycle by adjusting the amount of liquid refrigerant accumulated in the gas-liquid separator can be performed more reliably.

  Moreover, it is preferable that a gap is formed between the upper and lower ends of the partition wall and the upper and lower walls of the one header pipe. In this way, the upper gap is the gas refrigerant passage between the first chamber and the second chamber, the lower gap is from the first chamber to the second chamber, and thus the refrigeration oil return passage to the equipment such as the compressor. It becomes possible to comprise as. That is, the header pipe having the function of the gas-liquid separator has not only the function of gas-liquid separation but also the function of a return passage for the refrigerating machine oil accumulated on the bottom side.

  Further, in the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present invention, a structure in which the partition wall is configured by a member (the same member) that is integral with the peripheral wall forming member of the one header pipe may be employed. For example, as shown in an embodiment described later, when a header pipe is viewed in a cross-section from a single flat plate material by bending or bending, a material that forms a part of the peripheral wall portion is followed. It is possible to form a structure in which the partition wall portion is formed and then the remaining portion of the peripheral wall portion is formed.

  Further, in the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present invention, in particular, in the structure in which the partition wall is composed of a member integral with the peripheral wall forming member of one header pipe as described above, the one header pipe has its upper and lower ends at its upper and lower ends. A structure having an end cap for closing is preferable. In this way, after inserting the partition wall into the header pipe, or after configuring the partition wall and the peripheral wall forming member of the header pipe from an integral member, the upper and lower ends of the header pipe can be easily closed, A header pipe having the function of a gas-liquid separator can be easily configured.

  The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present invention is not particularly limited as an application to which the refrigeration cycle apparatus is applied. However, the refrigeration cycle apparatus is particularly suitable for, for example, a vehicle air conditioner that has a high demand for simplification of structure and cost reduction.

  The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present invention has a very simple configuration in which a partition is provided inside one header pipe itself of the condenser and the header pipe is simply divided into two chambers communicating with each other. Since the header pipe itself has the function of a predetermined gas-liquid separator, the inside of the condenser itself provided with this gas-liquid separator can be greatly simplified and the gas can be removed from the first heat exchange section of the condenser. The structure of the part leading to the second heat exchange part through the liquid separator part can be simplified, the refrigeration cycle apparatus as a whole is simplified, and in particular, a fixed throttle is provided by adjusting the amount of liquid refrigerant accumulated in the gas-liquid separator. Even in this case, it is possible to achieve simplification of the entire refrigeration cycle apparatus that makes it possible to control the superheat degree of the evaporator outlet refrigerant to a desired value. By simplifying the structure, the cost of the entire refrigeration cycle apparatus can be reduced. In addition, since the target gas-liquid separator function can be added inside the header pipe itself, there is no refrigerant flow communication structure between the gas-liquid separator and the header pipe as in the conventional structure, and refrigerant leakage is possible. Sex can be removed.

  In addition, if the gap is formed between the upper and lower ends of the partition wall and the upper and lower walls of the header pipe, the header pipe itself has the function of a gas-liquid separator and serves as an appropriate refrigerating machine oil return passage. Functions can also be provided. Further, if the upper and lower ends of the header pipe are closed by end caps, the gaps at the upper and lower ends of the partition walls can be formed more easily, and the manufacture can be facilitated.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, by adjusting the amount of liquid refrigerant accumulated in the gas-liquid separator, even when a fixed throttle is provided, a refrigeration cycle apparatus that can control the degree of superheat of the evaporator outlet refrigerant to a desired value, A so-called high pressure side accumulator cycle will be described. The basic idea of this technique is disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1.

  FIG. 1 also shows a schematic equipment system and a Mollier diagram of an example of this refrigeration cycle apparatus. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a compressor that compresses and discharges refrigerant, 2 denotes a condenser that condenses the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 1, and the condenser 2 is arranged in a refrigerant flow direction. It is divided into 1 heat exchange part 2a and 2nd heat exchange part 2b. A gas-liquid separator 3 is provided between the first heat exchange part 2a and the second heat exchange part 2b, and the gas refrigerant separated by the gas-liquid separator 3 is introduced into the second heat exchange part 2b and condensed. It has come to be. The refrigerant that has passed through the condenser 2 is depressurized by a fixed throttle 4 as a depressurizing device, and the depressurized refrigerant is evaporated by the evaporator 5 and then sucked into the compressor 1 again. In the refrigeration cycle apparatus shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerating machine oil collected at the bottom of the liquid refrigerant separated by the gas-liquid separator 3 and stored in the gas-liquid separator 3 is further downstream (in the illustrated example, the gas-liquid separator 3 A refrigerating machine oil return passage 6 returning to the downstream side is added.

  The compression in the compressor 1 is basically adiabatic compression and isentropic change. When the state of the discharged refrigerant gas is determined, the degree of superheat of the suction side refrigerant (the outlet side refrigerant of the evaporator 5) is determined. Therefore, even if the superheat degree of the suction-side refrigerant fluctuates due to circumstances, the superheat degree of the suction-side refrigerant is set to about 0 to 20 ° C. by appropriately setting the heat exchange amount of the first heat exchange unit 2a in advance. It becomes possible to control the range. For example, when the degree of superheat of the refrigerant gas discharged from the compressor increases, the refrigerant flowing into the gas-liquid separator 3 from the first heat exchange unit 2a enters the superheated region and accumulates in the gas-liquid separator 3. Since the amount of liquid refrigerant is reduced, the circulating refrigerant flow rate in the cycle is increased. As a result, an increase in the degree of superheat of the suction side refrigerant is suppressed. On the other hand, when the superheat degree of the refrigerant gas discharged from the compressor decreases, the refrigerant flowing into the gas-liquid separator 3 from the first heat exchange part 2a becomes a gas-liquid two-phase state, and the gas-liquid separator 3 Since the amount of liquid refrigerant accumulated in the refrigerant is increased, the circulating refrigerant flow rate in the cycle is reduced. As a result, a decrease in the degree of superheat of the suction side refrigerant is suppressed. In this way, the degree of superheat of the discharged refrigerant gas and the degree of superheat of the suction side refrigerant (the outlet side refrigerant of the evaporator 5) are adjusted to a predetermined range. Therefore, even when the fixed throttle 4 is provided, the superheat degree of the evaporator outlet refrigerant can be controlled to a desired value.

  A condenser having a pair of header pipes and a heat exchange tube extending between the header pipes to condense the refrigerant discharged from the compressor; and a decompression device for decompressing the refrigerant that has passed through the condenser; An evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant depressurized by the depressurization device, and a refrigeration cycle apparatus for sucking the refrigerant that has passed through the evaporator into the compressor, wherein the condensers are arranged in the flow direction of the refrigerant Gas refrigerant separated into a first heat exchange part and a second heat exchange part, a gas-liquid separator provided between the first heat exchange part and the second heat exchange part, and separated by the gas-liquid separator In the refrigeration cycle apparatus in which the refrigerant is introduced into the second heat exchange section and condensed, two chambers are provided in the interior of one header pipe of the condenser so as to communicate with each other in the header pipe by providing a partition extending vertically. By dividing into Consisting of those wherein the have a function of the gas-liquid separator to the header pipe itself.

  In such a refrigeration cycle apparatus, the present invention is particularly applied to a portion from the first heat exchange section 2a through the gas-liquid separator 3 to the second heat exchange section 2b.

  In FIG. 3, the condenser component part in the refrigerating-cycle apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention is shown. In FIG. 3, 11 indicates the entire condenser. The condenser 11 includes a pair of header pipes 12a and 12b, a heat exchange tube 13 extending between the header pipes 12a and 12b, and a heat exchange tube 13. It has the outer fin 14 arrange | positioned on the outer side of the heat exchange tube 13 of the outermost layer, and the end plate 15a, 15b arrange | positioned at the upper and lower ends. A refrigerant inlet pipe 16 and an outlet pipe 17 are attached to the header pipe 12 b, and the interior is divided into two chambers by a partition plate 18. The condenser 11 includes a first heat exchange part 11a (upper part of the partition plate 18) and a second heat exchange part 11b (lower part of the partition plate 18) arranged in the refrigerant flow direction (the arrow direction in the figure). The gas-liquid separator 19 is provided between the first heat exchange unit 11a and the second heat exchange unit 11b. The refrigerant introduced from the inlet pipe 16 flows into the gas-liquid separator 19 from the first heat exchange unit 11a, and the gas refrigerant separated by the gas-liquid separator 19 is introduced into the second heat exchange unit 11b and condensed. From the outlet pipe 17 to the downstream side of the cycle.

  The gas-liquid separator 19 is configured inside one header pipe 12 a itself of the condenser 11. That is, the header pipe 12a and the gas-liquid separator 19 are not configured as separate members, but the function of the gas-liquid separator 19 is given to the header pipe 12a itself as follows. A partition wall 20 extending in the vertical direction is provided inside the header pipe 12a itself, and the header pipe 12a is partitioned into two chambers (a first chamber 21 and a second chamber 22) communicating with each other. The upper and lower portions of the header pipe 12a are closed by end caps 23a and 23b, and gaps 24a and 24b are formed between the upper and lower ends of the partition wall 20 and the upper and lower end caps 23a and 23b, respectively. The first chamber 21 and the second chamber 22 communicate with each other through the gaps 24a and 24b. Among these, the first chamber 21 mainly functions as the gas-liquid separator 19, and the separated liquid refrigerant 25 is stored on the lower side in the first chamber 21, and the separated gas refrigerant 26 is separated from the upper gap 24 a. Through the second chamber 22. The refrigerating machine oil 27 that accumulates mainly on the bottom side of the accumulated liquid refrigerant 25 flows into the second chamber 22 from the first chamber 21 through the lower gap 24b. Accordingly, the lower gap 24b constitutes a refrigeration oil return passage for returning the refrigeration oil 27 into the cycle.

  In the present embodiment, the peripheral wall portion of the header pipe 12a and the partition wall 20 are made of the same plate material. As shown in FIG. 3A, a part of the peripheral wall of the header pipe 12a is formed by bending or bending a plate-shaped material, and then a partition wall 20 is formed by bending or bending from there, and further bending. Alternatively, the remaining portion of the peripheral wall of the header pipe 12a is formed by bending and bending or bending. After the peripheral wall portion of the header pipe 12a and the partition wall 20 are formed, the header pipe 12a is completed by closing with the upper and lower end caps 23a and 23b. Usually, when partitioning the inside of one header pipe into two chambers, it is often difficult to guarantee and detect the leak by sealing the gap generated between the partition wall and the end cap, but in this embodiment, Since the gas refrigerant passage and the refrigerating machine oil return passage are formed using the gaps 24a and 24b generated between the partition wall 20 and the end caps 23a and 23b, there is no need to seal the gaps 24a and 24b, and the structure is easy to manufacture. It has become.

  Further, in this embodiment, the heat exchange tube 13 of the first heat exchange unit 11a extends through the second chamber 22 and the partition wall 20 and then into the first chamber 21, and heat exchange of the second heat exchange unit 11b. The tube 13 extends from the second chamber 22 to the second heat exchange unit 11b side. Therefore, with a very simple configuration, a predetermined passage structure in the order of the first heat exchange unit 11a, the first chamber 21, the second chamber 22, and the second heat exchange unit 11b as functional units of the gas-liquid separator 19 is provided. It is configured.

  In the condenser 11 portion including the gas-liquid separator 19 configured as described above, the refrigerant introduced from the inlet pipe 16 is cooled and condensed by heat exchange with the external fluid in the first heat exchange section 11a. The gas refrigerant 26 flows into the first chamber 21 as the gas-liquid separator 19, where it is gas-liquid separated, and the separated gas refrigerant 26 is sent into the second chamber 22 through the gap 24a. After being introduced into 11b and cooled and condensed by heat exchange with the external fluid in the second heat exchange section 11b, it is sent from the outlet pipe 17 to the downstream side of the cycle. In the first chamber 21, the liquid refrigerant 25 separated into gas and liquid is stored. Among these, the refrigerating machine oil existing on the bottom side due to the specific gravity is sent into the second chamber 22 through the gap 24b and from there during the cycle. And is used for lubricating the compressor 1 and the like.

  Therefore, as a whole, an apparatus equivalent to the refrigeration cycle shown in FIG. 2 is configured. In this refrigeration cycle apparatus, the header pipe 12a itself has the function of a predetermined gas-liquid separator 19 with a simple configuration in which a partition wall 20 is provided inside one header pipe 12a itself of the condenser 11. Therefore, the structure of the inside of the condenser 11 itself provided with the gas-liquid separator 19 part, the part from the first heat exchange part 11a of the condenser 11 to the second heat exchange part 11b through the gas-liquid separator 19 part. Can be greatly simplified, and the entire refrigeration cycle apparatus can be greatly simplified. Therefore, even when the fixed throttle 4 is provided by adjusting the amount of liquid refrigerant accumulated in the gas-liquid separator 19 while simplifying the overall structure, the degree of superheat of the outlet refrigerant of the evaporator 5 can be set to a desired value. A target refrigeration cycle apparatus constituting a so-called high-pressure side accumulator cycle that can be controlled to a value is realized. By simplifying the structure, the cost of the entire refrigeration cycle apparatus can be reduced, and the target gas-liquid separator function can be provided inside the header pipe 12a itself, so that the gas-liquid separator and header as in the conventional structure are provided. The communication structure portion of the refrigerant flow path between the pipes is eliminated, and the possibility of refrigerant leakage can be eliminated.

  The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present invention can be applied to any refrigeration cycle apparatus as long as it constitutes a so-called high-pressure side accumulator cycle, and particularly for a vehicle air conditioner that has a high demand for structure simplification and cost reduction. Is preferred.

It is a schematic equipment system diagram which also showed an example of the refrigeration cycle apparatus made into object by this invention, and also showed the Mollier diagram. FIG. 2 is a schematic system diagram of a refrigeration cycle apparatus in which a refrigerator oil return passage is added to the apparatus of FIG. 1. The condenser component part in the refrigerating-cycle apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention is shown, (A) is a cross-sectional view which follows the AA line in the front view of the condenser of (B), (B) is ( It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which follows the BB line in the cross-sectional view of A).

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Compressor 2 Condenser 2a 1st heat exchange part 2b 2nd heat exchange part 3 Gas-liquid separator 4 Fixed throttle 5 as decompression device Evaporator 6 Refrigerator oil return path 11 Condenser 11a 1st heat exchange part 11b 2nd Heat exchange part 12a, 12b Header pipe 13 Heat exchange tube 14 Outer fin 15a, 15b End plate 16 Inlet pipe 17 Outlet pipe 18 Partition plate 19 Gas-liquid separator 20 Partition 21 First chamber 22 Second chamber 23a, 23b End cap 24a 24b Clearance 25 Liquid refrigerant 26 Gas refrigerant 27 Refrigerating machine oil

Claims (6)

  A compressor that compresses and discharges the refrigerant, a pair of header pipes and a heat exchange tube extending between the header pipes, and a condenser that condenses the refrigerant discharged from the compressor; and the condenser A refrigeration cycle apparatus comprising: a decompression device that decompresses the refrigerant that has passed through; and an evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant decompressed by the decompression device, wherein the refrigerant that has passed through the evaporator is sucked into the compressor, Partitioning the condenser into a first heat exchange part and a second heat exchange part arranged in the flow direction of the refrigerant, and providing a gas-liquid separator between the first heat exchange part and the second heat exchange part, In the refrigeration cycle apparatus in which the gas refrigerant separated by the gas-liquid separator is introduced into the second heat exchange section to condense, a partition extending in the vertical direction is provided inside one header pipe of the condenser. In the header pipes By partitioning the two chambers to be passing, a refrigeration cycle apparatus characterized by having the function of the gas-liquid separator to the header pipe itself.   The heat exchange tube of the first heat exchange unit extends into one of the two compartments, and the heat exchange tube of the second heat exchange unit extends into the other second chamber. The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 1.   A gap is formed between the upper and lower ends of the partition wall and the upper and lower walls of the one header pipe, the upper gap is a gas refrigerant passage between the first chamber and the second chamber, and the lower gap is a refrigerator oil return passage. The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the refrigeration cycle apparatus is configured as follows.   The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the partition wall is formed of a member integrated with a peripheral wall forming member of the one header pipe.   The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the one header pipe includes an end cap that closes the upper and lower ends thereof.   The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the refrigeration cycle apparatus is used for a vehicle air conditioner.

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