JP2015218982A - Gas-liquid separator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a gas-liquid separator capable of being easily manufactured, reducing costs with a compact and simple structure without increased in size, and improving gas-liquid separation efficiency.SOLUTION: A spiral refrigerant guide plate 12 is formed at an inner wall 11a side of a refrigerant inflow pipe 11 to which a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows, the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flowing into the refrigerant inflow pipe 11 is circulated along a spiral refrigerant guide plate 12 formed at the inner wall 11a side of the refrigerant inflow pipe 11 to generate swirl flow in the flow of the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant, and the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant is separated into a gas-phase refrigerant and a liquid-phase refrigerant by centrifugal separating action generated by the swirl flow.

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas-liquid separator that separates a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant (gas-liquid mixed refrigerant) used in a refrigeration cycle apparatus into a gas-phase refrigerant (gas refrigerant) and a liquid-phase refrigerant (liquid refrigerant).

  A refrigeration cycle device for cooling the internal atmosphere of a heat-insulated housing provided in vending machines, refrigerated / refrigerated showcases, beverage dispensers, etc., includes a compressor, radiator, evaporator, ejector, gas-liquid separator, etc. Configured.

  The compressor compresses the supplied refrigerant. The radiator radiates heat from the high-pressure refrigerant compressed by the compressor. An evaporator is arrange | positioned inside heat insulation housing | casings, such as goods storage, and evaporates the supplied refrigerant | coolant.

  The ejector uses the energy generated by depressurizing the high-pressure refrigerant (high-pressure refrigerant) supplied from the radiator to suck the low-pressure refrigerant (low-pressure refrigerant) evaporated in the evaporator, and the sucked low-pressure refrigerant is used as the high-pressure refrigerant. And the low-pressure refrigerant is discharged after being pressurized. The gas-liquid separator separates the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant supplied from the ejector into a gas-phase refrigerant and a liquid-phase refrigerant, and sends the gas-phase refrigerant to the compressor, while sending the liquid-phase refrigerant to the evaporator. It is.

  A compressor, a radiator, an ejector, and a gas-liquid separator are sequentially connected in an annular manner through a refrigerant pipe, and an evaporator is provided between the low-pressure refrigerant inlet of the ejector and the liquid-phase refrigerant outlet of the gas-liquid separator. Is provided to constitute a refrigerant circulation circuit, and the refrigerant is circulated through the refrigerant circulation circuit. Thereby, the peripheral region of the evaporator is cooled by absorbing heat by evaporating the refrigerant, and the internal atmosphere of the heat insulating housing is cooled (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  In the method of condensing droplets in the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant and separating them into the gas-phase refrigerant and the liquid-phase refrigerant in the gas-liquid separator provided in the refrigeration cycle apparatus having such a configuration, mainly, There are three methods: gravity separation method, surface tension separation method, and centrifugal separation method.

  For example, in a gas-liquid separator that combines a gravity separation method and a surface tension separation method, a refrigerant inflow pipe into which a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows is provided with an inflow pipe bent portion in which the direction of the pipe is bent halfway. In the middle of the refrigerant inflow pipe, a gas phase refrigerant outflow pipe having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the refrigerant inflow pipe is connected through the pipe wall of the inflow pipe bent portion, and the refrigerant inflow pipe and the gas phase refrigerant outflow pipe are provided. The gas-phase refrigerant outflow pipe is arranged so that the center axis of the gas-phase refrigerant is substantially coincided and the gas-phase refrigerant inflow port, which is the end of the gas-phase refrigerant outflow pipe inside the refrigerant inflow pipe, is located at a predetermined distance from the bent part of the inflow pipe The liquid-phase refrigerant outflow pipe from which the liquid-phase refrigerant flows out after gas-liquid separation is constituted by the same pipe as the refrigerant inflow pipe.

  By configuring the gas-liquid separator in this way, when the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant is in an annular flow near the end of the gas-phase refrigerant outflow pipe, the central axes of the refrigerant inflow pipe and the gas-phase refrigerant outflow pipe are Since they substantially coincide, the gas-phase refrigerant can be separated and taken out from the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant. On the other hand, even when the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant is not in an annular flow near the end of the gas-phase refrigerant outflow pipe, the liquid phase refrigerant with a large inertial force going in the flow direction flows in the liquid phase refrigerant outflow pipe direction, Since the gas-phase refrigerant passes through the gas-phase refrigerant outflow pipe, the gas-phase refrigerant can be separated and taken out (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  In addition, the gas-liquid separator using the centrifugal separation system includes a main body portion in which a spiral channel is formed, a refrigerant inflow pipe provided so as to communicate with one end of the spiral channel, and a spiral channel. The liquid phase refrigerant is provided so as to communicate with the outer peripheral side portion of the spiral flow path when viewed from the axial direction of the spiral flow path, and causes the liquid phase refrigerant separated in the spiral flow path to flow out. Provided to communicate with the outflow pipe and the inner peripheral side portion of the spiral flow path when viewed from the axial direction on the other end side of the spiral flow path, and flows out the gas-phase refrigerant separated in the spiral flow path A gas-phase refrigerant outflow pipe.

  Then, the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant that has flowed into the main body of the gas-liquid separator from the refrigerant inflow pipe is given a swirling component by the spiral flow path, and is separated into a liquid-phase refrigerant and a gas-phase refrigerant by the centrifugal force. . That is, since the liquid refrigerant having a large specific gravity receives a greater centrifugal force, it gathers on the outer peripheral side of the spiral flow path, while the gas phase refrigerant having a low specific gravity is the other part, that is, the inner peripheral side of the spiral flow path. (See, for example, Patent Document 3).

JP 2008-57941 A JP 2011-247473 A JP 2008-51344 A

  However, in order to increase the gas-liquid separation efficiency of the gas-liquid separator that separates the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant into the gas-phase refrigerant and the liquid-phase refrigerant, the centrifugal-type gas-liquid separator is increased in size and diameter. Although it is required, there is a restriction on the arrangement space accompanying the increase in cost, enlargement, and large diameter.

  Further, the gas-liquid separator based on the surface tension separation method is suitable for downsizing, but has a problem that the structure becomes complicated, and the cost and pressure loss increase.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and is easy to manufacture, can be reduced in cost with a compact and simple structure without increasing the diameter, and increases the efficiency of gas-liquid separation. An object of the present invention is to provide a gas-liquid separator that can be used.

In order to achieve the above object, a gas-liquid separator according to claim 1 of the present invention is a gas-liquid separator that separates a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant into a gas-phase refrigerant and a liquid-phase refrigerant.
Forming a helical refrigerant guide plate on the inner wall side of the refrigerant inflow pipe into which the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows,
The gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant that has flowed into the refrigerant inflow pipe is swung into the flow of the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant by flowing along the spiral refrigerant guide plate formed on the inner wall side of the refrigerant inflow pipe. A flow is generated, and the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant is separated into the gas-phase refrigerant and the liquid-phase refrigerant by a centrifugal force separation action generated in the swirling flow.

  The gas-liquid separator according to claim 2 of the present invention is the gas-liquid separator according to claim 1 described above, wherein the spiral-shaped refrigerant guide plate is formed in a spiral shape in accordance with an inner diameter of the refrigerant inflow pipe. A coil is formed by winding, and the coil is passed through the refrigerant inflow pipe to be installed.

A gas-liquid separator according to a third aspect of the present invention is the gas-liquid separator according to the first or second aspect, wherein one end of the refrigerant inflow pipe provided with the helical refrigerant guide plate is opened downward. And
A pipe end provided with a gas phase refrigerant outflow pipe for flowing out the gas phase refrigerant separated from the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant and a liquid phase refrigerant outflow pipe for flowing out the liquid phase refrigerant It is connected to the opening of the refrigerant inflow pipe.

The gas-liquid separator according to claim 4 of the present invention is the gas-liquid separator according to claim 3, wherein the liquid-phase refrigerant outflow pipe is connected to the body of the pipe end and opens.
The gas-phase refrigerant outflow pipe has an outer diameter smaller than that of the refrigerant inflow pipe, and penetrates through the bottom face of the pipe end so that the central axis of the refrigerant inflow pipe substantially coincides with the refrigerant inflow pipe. A gas phase refrigerant outlet is provided above the phase refrigerant outlet pipe.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the gas-liquid separator that separates the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant into the gas-phase refrigerant and the liquid-phase refrigerant, a spiral shape is formed on the inner wall side of the refrigerant inflow pipe into which the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows. The gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant that has flowed into the refrigerant inlet pipe is caused to flow along the spiral refrigerant guide plate formed on the inner wall side of the refrigerant inlet pipe. Production is facilitated by generating a swirling flow in the flow of the liquid two-phase refrigerant and separating the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant into the gas-phase refrigerant and the liquid-phase refrigerant by a centrifugal force separation action generated in the swirling flow. Therefore, it is possible to provide a gas-liquid separator capable of reducing the cost with a compact and simple structure without increasing the diameter and improving the gas-liquid separation efficiency.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the spiral refrigerant guide plate is formed in a coil by winding an elongated thin plate-like metal into a spiral shape in accordance with the inner diameter of the refrigerant inflow pipe, and the coil is formed into the refrigerant. By providing it through the inflow pipe, it is possible to provide a gas-liquid separator that is easy to manufacture, can be reduced in cost with a compact and simple structure.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, one end of the refrigerant inflow pipe provided with the spiral refrigerant guide plate is opened downward, and the gas-phase refrigerant separated from the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant is removed. A pipe end provided with a gas-phase refrigerant outflow pipe for letting out and a liquid-phase refrigerant outflow pipe for letting out the liquid-phase refrigerant is connected to the opening of the refrigerant inflow pipe so as to be compact. It is possible to provide a gas-liquid separator that can increase the efficiency of gas-liquid separation with a simple structure.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the liquid-phase refrigerant outflow pipe is connected to and opened at a body portion of the pipe end, and the gas-phase refrigerant outflow pipe has an outer diameter smaller than that of the refrigerant inflow pipe. The gas-phase refrigerant outlet is provided above the liquid-phase refrigerant outlet pipe through the bottom face of the pipe end so that the central axis of the refrigerant inlet pipe in the refrigerant inlet pipe substantially coincides. It is possible to provide a gas-liquid separator that can further increase the gas-liquid separation efficiency with a compact and simple structure.

It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the structure of the gas-liquid separator which concerns on this invention. It is a cross-sectional side view which shows a part of gas-liquid separator shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining the piping internal diameter and gas-liquid separation efficiency of the refrigerant | coolant inflow piping of the gas-liquid separator shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining the gas-liquid separation efficiency by the width | variety and space | interval of the helical refrigerant guide plate of the gas-liquid separator shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining the channel resistance of the refrigerant | coolant inflow piping of the gas-liquid separator shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining the width | variety and space | interval of the helical refrigerant guide plate of the gas-liquid separator shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a gas-liquid separator according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

  The gas-liquid separator according to this embodiment condenses droplets in a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant (gas-liquid mixed refrigerant) used in a refrigeration cycle apparatus and the like, thereby vapor-phase refrigerant (gas refrigerant) and liquid phase It is an apparatus that separates into refrigerant (liquid refrigerant).

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a configuration of a gas-liquid separator according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view showing a part of the gas-liquid separator shown in FIG.

  As shown in the figure, the gas-liquid separator 1 forms a helical refrigerant guide plate 12 on the inner wall 11a side of the refrigerant inflow pipe 11 into which the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant supplied from the ejector 2 flows, and the refrigerant inflow pipe The gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant that has flowed into the flow path 11 is caused to flow along the spiral-shaped refrigerant guide plate 12 formed on the inner wall 11a side of the refrigerant flow-in pipe 11, thereby generating a swirl flow in the flow of the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant. The gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant is separated into the gas-phase refrigerant and the liquid-phase refrigerant by utilizing the centrifugal force separation action generated in the swirling flow.

  A manufacturing method for forming the spiral refrigerant guide plate 12 on the inner wall 11a side of the refrigerant inflow pipe 11 will be described in detail. An elongated thin plate-like metal (for example, stainless steel) is matched with the inner diameter of the pipe (the refrigerant inflow pipe 11). A coil is formed by winding in a spiral shape. Next, the pipe is placed vertically, a coil formed by winding a thin and thin metal plate in a spiral shape is passed through the pipe, and a brazing material (for example, copper brazing) is placed on the top of the coil. At this time, a slight gap is provided between the coil formed by winding in a spiral shape and the inside of the pipe. Then, the pipe is placed in a heating furnace in a vertically placed state and heated, and the brazing material is melted and the brazing material is spread over the gap between the coil and the pipe, thereby completing the brazing. In this way, a pipe with a spiral guide plate in which the spiral refrigerant guide plate 12 is provided on the inner wall 11a side of the refrigerant inflow pipe 11 is completed.

  Any pipe diameter, pipe width (height), and helix interval (pitch) of the pipe with the spiral guide plate can be manufactured. The smaller the pipe diameter, the wider the spiral metal, and the narrower the spiral interval, the greater the centrifugal force of the swirl flow, and thus the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant can be converted into a gas-phase refrigerant and a liquid-phase refrigerant. Gas-liquid separation efficiency for separation can be increased. However, since these are in a trade-off relationship with an increase in pressure loss, it is important to determine the balance between the two.

  As shown in the figure, the refrigerant inflow pipe 11 having a helical refrigerant guide plate 12 is bent in an inverted U shape, and one end thereof opens downward. In the opening 11b of the refrigerant inflow pipe 11, a gas phase refrigerant outflow pipe 14 for allowing the gas phase refrigerant separated from the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant to flow out, and a liquid phase refrigerant separated from the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant are allowed to flow out. A pipe end 13 provided with a liquid-phase refrigerant outflow pipe 15 is connected.

  The liquid-phase refrigerant outflow pipe 15 is connected to the body 13 a of the pipe end 13 and opens, and the gas-phase refrigerant outflow pipe 14 has an outer diameter smaller than that of the refrigerant inflow pipe 11, and the refrigerant inflow in the refrigerant inflow pipe 11. A gas-phase refrigerant outlet 14 a is provided above the liquid refrigerant outlet pipe 15 so as to pass through the bottom surface 13 b of the pipe end 13 so that the central axis of the pipe 11 substantially coincides with the pipe 11.

  By configuring the gas-liquid separator 1 in this way, manufacturing is easy without reducing the diameter of the refrigerant inflow pipe 11, and the cost can be reduced with a compact and simple structure. The gas-liquid separator 1 which can improve the gas-liquid separation efficiency which makes it isolate | separate into a phase refrigerant | coolant and a liquid phase refrigerant | coolant can be provided.

  Next, the pipe inner diameter and the gas-liquid separation efficiency of the refrigerant inflow pipe 11 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. As the inner diameter of the refrigerant inflow pipe 11 is smaller (thin), the centrifugal force of the swirling flow of the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flowing through the pipe increases, and the gas-liquid separation efficiency between the gas-phase refrigerant and the liquid-phase refrigerant is increased. Can do. When the flow velocity of the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flow through the refrigerant inflow pipe 11 is the same, the centrifugal force acting on the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant (gas-phase refrigerant and liquid-phase refrigerant) increases as the pipe inner diameter decreases. The separation distance between the phase refrigerant and the liquid phase refrigerant can be increased.

  Further, the gas-liquid separation efficiency due to the difference in the width (height) and interval (pitch) of the spiral refrigerant guide plate 12 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. When the pipe inner diameter of the refrigerant inflow pipe 11 is the same, the wider the width of the spiral refrigerant guide plate 12, the smaller the area of the through (through) portion at the center of the pipe, so the swirl flow component increases. Thereby, the centrifugal force due to the swirling flow is increased, and the gas-liquid separation efficiency between the gas-phase refrigerant and the liquid-phase refrigerant can be increased. Furthermore, since the surface area inside the pipe is increased, it is possible to improve droplet capture by surface tension.

  Further, as the interval between the spiral refrigerant guide plates 12 is reduced, the length of the swirling flow can be increased even with the same pipe length, so that the centrifugal force acts on the flowing gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant. become longer. This also increases the gas-liquid separation efficiency between the gas-phase refrigerant and the liquid-phase refrigerant. Furthermore, since the surface area inside the pipe is increased, it is possible to improve droplet capture by surface tension.

  For example, when the width of the spiral-shaped refrigerant guide plate 12 shown in FIG. 5 is increased, the flow path cross-sectional area of the spiral portion of the refrigerant guide plate 12 is increased, so that the flow path resistance is decreased. Since the flow passage cross-sectional area of the through portion is reduced, the flow passage resistance is increased. Further, when the interval between the spiral refrigerant guide plates 12 is reduced, the flow passage resistance increases because the flow passage cross-sectional area of the spiral portion of the refrigerant guide plate 12 decreases, but on the other hand, the through portion at the center of the pipe The flow path resistance does not change because the cross-sectional area of the flow does not change.

  And when the flow path resistances of the spiral refrigerant guide plate 12 part and the through-through part at the center of the pipe are different, more refrigerant flows through the side having the smaller flow path resistance. If “the flow resistance of the spiral-shaped refrigerant guide plate 12> the flow resistance of the through-through portion at the center of the pipe”, a large amount of refrigerant flows through the central portion of the pipe. Since the flow rate flowing through the portion is reduced, the flow rate of the swirling flow generated by the spiral refrigerant guide plate 12 is reduced. In this case, since the flow rate at which the centrifugal force is applied by the swirling flow is small, high gas-liquid separation efficiency cannot be obtained.

  Therefore, by selecting the cross point (balance point) of the flow path resistance shown in FIG. 6 and setting the width and interval of the spiral refrigerant guide plate 12, a swirling flow having a balanced flow rate can be obtained. Will be able to.

  As described above, according to the present invention, in the gas-liquid separator 1 that separates the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant into the gas-phase refrigerant and the liquid-phase refrigerant, the inner wall 11a of the refrigerant inflow pipe 11 into which the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows. A spiral refrigerant guide plate 12 is formed on the side, and the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flowing into the refrigerant inflow pipe 11 flows along the spiral refrigerant guide plate 12 formed on the inner wall 11a side of the refrigerant inflow pipe 11. This makes it possible to generate a swirling flow in the flow of the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant, and to separate the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant into a gas-phase refrigerant and a liquid-phase refrigerant by a centrifugal force separation action generated in the swirling flow, thereby facilitating manufacturing. Thus, it is possible to provide the gas-liquid separator 1 that can reduce the cost with a compact and simple structure without increasing the diameter and can improve the gas-liquid separation efficiency.

  Further, the spiral refrigerant guide plate 12 is formed by winding a thin and thin metal plate into a spiral shape in accordance with the inner diameter of the refrigerant inflow pipe 11 to form a coil, and the coil is passed through the refrigerant inflow pipe 1 to be installed. As a result, it is possible to provide the gas-liquid separator 1 which is easy to manufacture, can be reduced in cost with a compact and simple structure.

  In addition, one end of a refrigerant inflow pipe 11 provided with a spiral refrigerant guide plate 12 is opened downward, and a gas phase refrigerant outflow pipe 14 for flowing out the gas phase refrigerant separated from the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant; By connecting the pipe end portion 13 provided with the liquid phase refrigerant outflow pipe 15 for allowing the liquid phase refrigerant to flow out to the opening 11b of the refrigerant inflow pipe 11, the gas-liquid can be formed in a compact and simple structure. It is possible to provide the gas-liquid separator 1 that can increase the separation efficiency.

  The liquid-phase refrigerant outflow pipe 15 is connected to and opened from the body portion 13 a of the pipe end 13, and the gas-phase refrigerant outflow pipe 14 has a smaller outer diameter than the refrigerant inflow pipe 11, and the refrigerant in the refrigerant inflow pipe 11 A gas-phase refrigerant outlet 14a is provided above the liquid-phase refrigerant outlet pipe 15 through the bottom surface 13b of the pipe end 13 so that the central axis of the inlet pipe 11 is substantially coincident with the inflow pipe 11, thereby providing a compact and simple structure. Thus, it is possible to provide the gas-liquid separator 1 that can further increase the gas-liquid separation efficiency.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Gas-liquid separator 2 Ejector 11 Refrigerant inflow piping 12 Spiral-shaped refrigerant guide plate 13 Pipe end part 14 Gas-phase refrigerant outflow pipe 14a Gas-phase refrigerant outflow pipe 15 Liquid-phase refrigerant outflow pipe

Claims (4)

In a gas-liquid separator that separates a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant into a gas-phase refrigerant and a liquid-phase refrigerant,
Forming a helical refrigerant guide plate on the inner wall side of the refrigerant inflow pipe into which the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows,
The gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant that has flowed into the refrigerant inflow pipe is swung into the flow of the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant by flowing along the spiral refrigerant guide plate formed on the inner wall side of the refrigerant inflow pipe. A gas-liquid separator that generates a flow and separates the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant into the gas-phase refrigerant and the liquid-phase refrigerant by a centrifugal force separation action generated in the swirling flow.   The spiral refrigerant guide plate is a coil formed by winding a thin and thin metal plate in a spiral shape in accordance with the inner diameter of the refrigerant inflow pipe, and the coil is passed through the refrigerant inflow pipe to be installed internally. The gas-liquid separator according to claim 1. One end of the refrigerant inflow pipe provided with the spiral refrigerant guide plate opens downward,
A pipe end provided with a gas phase refrigerant outflow pipe for flowing out the gas phase refrigerant separated from the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant and a liquid phase refrigerant outflow pipe for flowing out the liquid phase refrigerant The gas-liquid separator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the gas-liquid separator is connected to an opening of the refrigerant inflow pipe. The liquid-phase refrigerant outflow pipe is connected to the body of the pipe end and opens,
The gas-phase refrigerant outflow pipe has an outer diameter smaller than that of the refrigerant inflow pipe, and penetrates through the bottom face of the pipe end so that the central axis of the refrigerant inflow pipe substantially coincides with the refrigerant inflow pipe. The gas-liquid separator according to claim 3, wherein a gas-phase refrigerant outlet is provided above the phase refrigerant outlet pipe.

Images