JP2013257081A - Gas/liquid separating heat exchanger and air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a gas/liquid separating heat exchanger or the like that can separate wet refrigerant vapor into gas and liquid, while facilitating heat exchange between the wet refrigerant vapor and a gas-phase refrigerant, even when the gas-phase refrigerant in a tank is sucked too much.SOLUTION: A gas/liquid separating heat exchanger 5 includes a tank 10 to house a refrigerant, and a tubular member 11 which is installed in the tank 10 and in which a gas-phase refrigerant flows. The tubular member 11 has a flow-out port 12 to discharge the gas-phase refrigerant into the tank 10. The tank 10 has an inlet 13 to spray the wet refrigerant vapor and an outlet 14 of the gas-phase refrigerant in the tank 10, above the tubular member 11.

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas-liquid separation heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between a wet vapor refrigerant and a gas-phase refrigerant and gas-liquid separation of the wet vapor refrigerant, and an air conditioner using the same.

  In order to ensure high heating performance and cooling performance, an air conditioner that compresses refrigerant in two stages has been proposed. In such a two-stage compression air conditioner, a gas-liquid separation heat exchanger (intercooler) is used.

  A conventional gas-liquid separation heat exchanger is disclosed in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. 6, the gas-phase refrigerant discharged from the low-pressure compressor (not shown) flows into the tank 51 of the gas-liquid separation heat exchanger 50 along the tangent line of the wall surface of the tank 51. A first inlet 52, a second inlet 53 through which the wet vapor refrigerant fed from the condenser flows along the tangent to the wall surface of the tank 51, and a first outlet through which the gas-phase refrigerant in the tank 51 flows out of the tank 51. 54 and a second outlet 55 through which the liquid-phase refrigerant in the tank 51 flows out of the tank 51 is formed.

  In the gas-liquid separation heat exchanger 50 described above, in the tank 51, the gas-phase refrigerant introduced from the first inlet 52 and the wet vapor refrigerant introduced from the second inlet 53 are caused to flow in a swirling flow. Gas-liquid separation of the wet vapor refrigerant is achieved while exchanging heat with each other.

JP-A-7-301467

  However, in the conventional gas-liquid separation heat exchanger 50, when the high-pressure compressor sucks the gas-phase refrigerant in the tank 51, the gas-phase refrigerant from the low-pressure compressor does not form a swirling flow. There is a risk that the first outlet 54 may flow out as a shortcut. As a result, the time during which the gas-phase refrigerant stays in the tank 51 is shortened, and there is a possibility that heat exchange cannot be promoted between the wet vapor refrigerant and the gas-phase refrigerant.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and even if the vapor phase refrigerant in the tank is sucked, the wet vapor refrigerant is promoted while promoting heat exchange between the wet vapor refrigerant and the vapor phase refrigerant. An object of the present invention is to provide a gas-liquid separation heat exchanger capable of gas-liquid separation, and an air conditioner using the same.

  The present invention includes a tank capable of storing a refrigerant, and a tubular member disposed in the tank and capable of circulating a gas phase refrigerant, and the tubular member causes the gas phase refrigerant to flow out into the tank. An outflow part is provided, and the tank has an inlet part for spraying wet vapor refrigerant on an upper part of the tubular member, and an outlet part for the gas-phase refrigerant in the tank. It is a heat exchanger.

  The inlet portion may be sprayed with the wet vapor refrigerant sprayed. A liquid phase refrigerant separated from the wet vapor refrigerant may be stored in the tank, and the tubular member may be at least partially exposed from the liquid surface of the liquid phase refrigerant. The tubular member may be formed in a spiral shape. The tubular member may be formed in a spiral cone shape. The tubular member may protrude linearly into the tank.

  In another aspect of the invention, the first heat exchanger, the high pressure side pressure reducing means for reducing the pressure of the refrigerant that has passed through the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, and the second heat exchanger are sent. The gas-liquid separation heat exchange according to any one of claims 1 to 6, provided in a refrigerant flow path between the low-pressure side decompression means for decompressing the refrigerant, and the high-pressure side decompression means and the low-pressure side decompression means. And a first compressor that compresses the gas-phase refrigerant that has passed through the second heat exchanger and sends the gas-phase refrigerant to the gas-liquid separation heat exchanger, and the refrigerant from the gas-liquid heat exchanger And a second compressor that compresses the refrigerant and sends it to the first heat exchanger.

  According to the present invention, since the gas-phase refrigerant flows into the tank through the tubular member disposed in the tank, the time for passing through the tubular member is secured as the residence time in the tank, Heat exchange between the wet steam refrigerant is promoted. Accordingly, it is possible to gas-liquid separate the wet vapor refrigerant while promoting heat exchange between the wet vapor refrigerant and the gas phase refrigerant.

1 shows an embodiment of the present invention and is a configuration diagram of a refrigeration cycle apparatus of an air conditioner. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a gas-liquid separation heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention and is a ph diagram of a refrigeration cycle apparatus. FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the 1st modification of a gas-liquid separation heat exchanger. (A) is a schematic sectional drawing of the 2nd modification of a gas-liquid separation heat exchanger, (b) is a schematic side view of the 2nd modification of a gas-liquid separation heat exchanger. It is a schematic front view of the gas-liquid separation heat exchanger of a prior art example.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(One embodiment)
1 and 2 show an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a vehicle air conditioner that is an air conditioner includes a vapor compression refrigeration cycle apparatus 1. The refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 includes a compressor 2, an indoor heat exchanger 3 that is a first heat exchanger, a high-pressure side expansion valve 4 that is a high-pressure side decompression unit, a gas-liquid separation heat exchanger 5, and a low-pressure A low-pressure side expansion valve 6 that is a side pressure reducing means, an outdoor heat exchanger 7 that is a second heat exchanger, and a plurality of refrigerant pipes 8a to 8f that connect them.

  The compressor 2 includes a low-pressure compressor 2a that is a first compressor and a high-pressure compressor 2b that is a second compressor. Each compressor 2a, 2b compresses a refrigerant, respectively.

  The indoor heat exchanger 3 exchanges heat between the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant compressed by the high-pressure compressor 2b and the air supplied to the vehicle interior. The indoor heat exchanger 3 heats the air supplied to the room by the heat dissipation action of the refrigerant. Thereby, a high-pressure liquid phase refrigerant is sent from the indoor heat exchanger 3 to the refrigerant pipe 8b.

  The high-pressure side expansion valve 4 reduces the high-pressure liquid-phase refrigerant that has passed through the indoor heat exchanger 3 to an intermediate pressure. Thereby, from the high pressure side expansion valve 4, the wet vapor refrigerant | coolant containing a liquid phase refrigerant | coolant and a gaseous-phase refrigerant | coolant is sent to the refrigerant | coolant piping 8c.

  The configuration of the gas-liquid separation heat exchanger 5 will be described in detail below.

  The low pressure side expansion valve 6 depressurizes the liquid refrigerant sent from the gas-liquid separation heat exchanger 5 to a low pressure.

  The outdoor heat exchanger 7 exchanges heat between the refrigerant sent from the low pressure side expansion valve 6 and the air outside the vehicle compartment. In the outdoor heat exchanger 7, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the air outside the passenger compartment. From the outdoor heat exchanger 7, a low-pressure gas-phase refrigerant is sent to the refrigerant pipe 8f.

  Next, the configuration of the gas-liquid separation heat exchanger 5 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the gas-liquid separation heat exchanger 5 includes a tank 10 that can store a refrigerant. A tubular member 11 through which a gas-phase refrigerant can flow is disposed in the tank 10. The tubular member 11 is formed in a spiral shape wound with substantially the same radius. The tubular member 11 is arranged so that at least a part thereof is exposed from the liquid level of the liquid-phase refrigerant stored in the tank 10. An opening at one end of the tubular member 11 is formed as a gas-phase refrigerant outflow portion 12. The other end of the tubular member 11 is connected to a refrigerant outlet of the low-pressure compressor 2a by a refrigerant pipe 9a. The intermediate-pressure gas-phase refrigerant compressed by the low-pressure compressor 2 a passes through the inside of the tubular member 11 and flows out from the outflow portion 12 into the tank 10.

  The tank 10 is provided with an inlet portion 13, a first outlet portion 14, and a second outlet portion 15. The inlet portion 13 is provided at a position higher than the upper end of the tubular member 11. The inlet 13 is open toward the tubular member 11. A refrigerant pipe 8 c on the outlet side of the high pressure side expansion valve 4 is connected to the inlet portion 13. The inlet portion 13 sprays wet vapor refrigerant in an atomized state on the upper portion of the tubular member 11.

  The first outlet portion 14 is provided at the uppermost position in the tank 10. That is, the first outlet portion 14 is provided at a high position at a predetermined distance from the liquid level of the liquid-phase refrigerant stored in the tank 10. The first outlet portion 14 is connected to the refrigerant suction port of the high-pressure compressor 2b by a refrigerant pipe 9b. The intermediate-pressure gas-phase refrigerant in the tank 10 is sent to the high-pressure compressor 2b.

  The second outlet portion 15 is provided at the lowest position in the tank 10, that is, at a position lower than the liquid level of the liquid-phase refrigerant stored in the tank 10. The second outlet portion 15 is connected to the refrigerant inlet of the low pressure side expansion valve 6 by a refrigerant pipe 8d. The liquid phase refrigerant in the tank 10 is sent to the low pressure side expansion valve 6.

  Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described focusing on the operation of the gas-liquid separation heat exchanger 5. In the tank 10, the gas-phase refrigerant compressed by the low-pressure side compressor 2 a passes through the tubular member 11 and flows out from the outflow portion 12 into the tank 10, and the liquid phase decompressed by the high-pressure side expansion valve 4. Wet vapor refrigerant containing refrigerant is sprayed from the inlet portion 13. The sprayed wet vapor refrigerant is scattered evenly in the tank 10 and adheres to the outer surface of the tubular member 11 in a film form. The wet steam refrigerant adhering to the tubular member 11 drops down below the tubular member 11 due to its own weight. Therefore, the vapor phase refrigerant and the wet vapor refrigerant exchange heat in the space in the tank 10 and also exchange heat in the process of passing the vapor phase refrigerant through the tubular member 11.

  As described above, while the gas-phase refrigerant and the wet vapor refrigerant exchange heat, the wet vapor refrigerant has a liquid phase refrigerant having a large specific gravity below the tank 10 and a gas refrigerant having a small specific gravity (gas phase refrigerant) is above the tank 10. Separated. Then, the liquid-phase refrigerant is supplied to the low-pressure side expansion valve 6 from the second outlet portion 15 that opens downward in the tank 10. An intermediate-pressure gas-phase refrigerant is supplied to the high-pressure compressor 2b from the first outlet portion 14 that opens upward in the tank 10. The high-pressure compressor 2b is supplied with a gas-phase refrigerant that has been sufficiently heat-exchanged with the wet vapor refrigerant.

  FIG. 3 is a ph characteristic line of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 1. If the gas-phase refrigerant is allowed to flow into the tank 10 without arranging the tubular member 11 in the tank 10, the characteristic line (characteristic B) corresponding to the refrigerant compression of the high-pressure compressor 2b is This is indicated by a broken line in FIG. When the tubular member 11 is disposed in the tank 10 as in the present embodiment, the gas-phase refrigerant and the wet vapor refrigerant exchange heat in the space in the tank 10 as described above, and the gas-phase refrigerant Since the heat exchange is performed even in the process in which the refrigerant passes through the tubular member 11, the high-pressure compressor 2b is supplied with a gas-phase refrigerant having a low degree of superheat (close to saturated vapor). Thereby, the discharge temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the high-pressure compressor is lowered. Therefore, the characteristic line (characteristic A) corresponding to the refrigerant compression of the high-pressure compressor 2b is shown by a solid line in FIG. Thereby, the improvement of the compression efficiency of the refrigerant | coolant discharged from the high pressure side compressor 2b can be aimed at.

  In the operation process of the gas-liquid separation heat exchanger 5 described above, even if the gas-phase refrigerant in the tank 10 is strongly sucked by the high-pressure compressor 2b, the gas-phase refrigerant is disposed in the tubular member 11 in the tank 10. Since it flows into the tank 10 through the inside, the time for passing through the tubular member 11 is ensured as the residence time in the tank 10, and the heat exchange between the gas-phase refrigerant and the wet vapor refrigerant is promoted. Therefore, even if the gas-phase refrigerant in the tank 10 is strongly sucked by the high-pressure compressor 2b, it is possible to gas-liquid-separate the wet-vapor refrigerant while promoting heat exchange between the wet-vapor refrigerant and the gas-phase refrigerant. is there.

  Further, in the process in which the liquid phase refrigerant in the wet vapor refrigerant adhering to the upper part of the tubular member 11 drops toward the lower part of the tubular member 11, the liquid phase refrigerant and the gas phase refrigerant in the tubular member 11 exchange heat. This also promotes heat exchange.

  The inlet 13 sprays the wet vapor refrigerant in the tank 10 on the upper portions of the tubular members (11), (11A), (11B). Accordingly, since the liquid phase refrigerant can be attached to the outer surface of the tubular member 11 in a film shape, heat exchange between the liquid phase refrigerant and the gas phase refrigerant is also promoted in this respect.

  The tubular member 11 is at least partially exposed from the liquid level of the liquid-phase refrigerant stored in the tank 10. Thereby, heat exchange between the wet vapor refrigerant and the gas phase refrigerant can be promoted while suppressing an increase in size of the tank 10. That is, if the tubular member 11 is completely immersed in the liquid phase refrigerant, the heat exchange performance is improved, but the liquid level of the liquid phase refrigerant and the first outlet portion to the extent that the liquid phase refrigerant is not sucked from the first outlet portion 14. It is necessary to take a distance between 14, and the tank 10 is increased in size when configured in this way. Therefore, heat exchange is promoted by immersing a part of the tubular member 11 in the liquid phase refrigerant, and the other part of the tubular member 11 is exposed from the liquid level of the liquid phase refrigerant. A predetermined distance from the first outlet portion 14 can be ensured, thereby suppressing an increase in size of the tank 10.

  The tubular member 11 is formed in a spiral shape. Therefore, since the path of the tubular member 11 can be lengthened while reducing the accommodation space for the tubular member 11, heat exchange can be promoted while reducing the size of the tank 10.

(First modification of gas-liquid separation heat exchanger)
FIG. 4 shows a first modification of the gas-liquid separation heat exchanger 5A. In FIG. 4, the gas-liquid separation heat exchanger 5 </ b> A of the first modification is different only in the form of the tubular member 11 </ b> A as compared with that of the above embodiment. That is, the tubular member 11A is formed in a spiral cone shape wound with gradually different radii (on the conical surface).

  Since other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  Even in the gas-liquid separation heat exchanger 5A of the first modification, the same operations and effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

  The tubular member 11A is formed in a spiral cone shape. Therefore, since the path of the tubular member 11A can be lengthened while reducing the accommodation space for the tubular member 11A, heat exchange can be promoted while reducing the size of the tank 10. In addition, since the upper portion of the tubular member 11A is located at a shifted position without being located directly below the lower portion, the sprayed wet vapor refrigerant is on the surface of each step of the tubular member 11A. From this point, heat exchange can be promoted.

(Second modification of gas-liquid separation heat exchanger)
5A and 5B show a second modification of the gas-liquid separation heat exchanger 5B. 5 (a) and 5 (b), the gas-liquid separation heat exchanger 5B of the second modified example is different from that of the embodiment only in the form of the tubular member 11B. That is, the distribution header 20 that branches the gas-phase refrigerant from the refrigerant pipe 9 a is provided outside the tank 10. A plurality of tubular members 11B are connected to the distribution header 20. The plurality of tubular members 11B project linearly into the tank 10 along the horizontal direction at intervals. The tip of each tubular member 11B is formed as the outflow portion 12.

  Since other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In the gas-liquid separation heat exchanger of the second modification, the same operation and effect as those of the above embodiment can be obtained.

2a Low pressure side compressor (first compressor)
2b High-pressure side compressor (second compressor)
3 Indoor heat exchanger (first heat exchanger)
4 High pressure side expansion valve (High pressure side pressure reducing means)
5, 5A, 5B Gas-liquid separation heat exchanger 6 Low pressure side expansion valve (low pressure side pressure reducing means)
7 Outdoor heat exchanger (second heat exchanger)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Tank 11 Tubular member 12 Outflow part 13 Inlet part 14 1st exit part (outlet part)

Claims (7)

A tank (10) capable of containing a refrigerant;
Tubular members (11), (11A), (11B) disposed in the tank (10) and capable of circulating a gas-phase refrigerant,
The tubular members (11), (11A), (11B) are provided with an outflow part (12) for allowing the gas-phase refrigerant to flow out into the tank (10),
The tank (10)
An inlet (13) for spraying wet vapor refrigerant on top of the tubular members (11), (11A), (11B);
And a gas-liquid separation heat exchanger (5), (5A), (5B), comprising an outlet (14) for the gas-phase refrigerant in the tank (10). The gas-liquid separation heat exchanger (5), (5A), (5B) according to claim 1,
Gas-liquid separation heat exchangers (5), (5A), (5B), wherein the inlet (13) sprays the wet vapor refrigerant in a sprayed state. The gas-liquid separation heat exchanger (5), (5A) according to claim 1 or 2,
In the tank (10), liquid phase refrigerant separated from the wet vapor refrigerant is stored,
The tubular members (11) and (11A) are at least partially exposed from the liquid level of the liquid-phase refrigerant stored in the tank (10). ), (5A). A gas-liquid separation heat exchanger (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The gas-liquid separation heat exchanger (5), wherein the tubular member (11) is formed in a spiral shape. It is a gas-liquid separation heat exchanger (5A) in any one of Claims 1-3,
The said tubular member (11A) is formed in the shape of a spiral cone, The gas-liquid separation heat exchanger (5A) characterized by the above-mentioned. It is a gas-liquid separation heat exchanger (5B) in any one of Claims 1-3, Comprising:
The gas-liquid separation heat exchanger (5B), wherein the tubular member (11B) projects linearly into the tank (10). A first heat exchanger (3);
High pressure side decompression means (4) for decompressing the refrigerant that has passed through the first heat exchanger (3);
A second heat exchanger (7);
Low pressure side decompression means (6) for decompressing the refrigerant sent to the second heat exchanger (7);
The gas-liquid separation heat exchanger (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, provided in a refrigerant flow path between the high-pressure side pressure reducing means (4) and the low-pressure side pressure reducing means (6). , (5A), (5B),
A first compressor that compresses the gas-phase refrigerant that has passed through the second heat exchanger (7) and sends the gas-phase refrigerant to the gas-liquid separation heat exchangers (5), (5A), and (5B). (2a) and
A second compressor (2b) that sucks the refrigerant from the gas-liquid heat exchangers (5), (5A), (5B), compresses the refrigerant, and sends it to the first heat exchanger (3). And an air conditioner.

Images