JPH03236596A - Filter device for heat exchanger - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the clogging of fluid passages formed in a heat exchanger by a method wherein the title device is provided with a filter, filtrating fluid, a clogging detecting means, detecting the clogging of the filter, and an alarming means, notifying the clogging of the filter to the outside of the device. CONSTITUTION:Refrigerant, expanded adiabatically in an expansion valve, flows through an inlet pipe 9. In this case, dust, products by corrosion and the like, which are contained in refrigerant, are arrested by a filter 3 attached to the inside of the inlet pipe 9. The refrigerant, filtrated by the filter 3, is gasified by heat exchange between ambient air upon flowing through the refrigerant passages of respective flat tubes 6 from an inlet header 8 and flows out of an outlet header through an outlet pipe. When the filter 3 is clogged in accordance with the operation of a refrigerating cycle, the pressure of the refrigerant, which is applied on the filter 3, is increased and, therefore, the filter 3 is pushed and deformed toward the side of the inlet header 8. In this case, a strain gauge 4, attached to the filter 3, changes the deformation of the filter 3 into the change of an electric resistance and outputs it to an alarming device 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a filter device for a heat exchanger that controls impurities contained in a fluid flowing into the heat exchanger.

[Prior Art and Its Problems] Generally, in a refrigeration cycle, a strainer is disposed inside a receiver to filter the refrigerant in order to remove dust that is splattered in the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle.

However, in recent years, in heat exchangers such as refrigerant evaporators and refrigerant condensers used in refrigeration cycles, tubes have become smaller and the cross-sectional area of the tubes has become smaller in order to improve the performance of the heat exchanger. (Refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-34466). Therefore, as mentioned above, it is not enough to simply filter the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle with a strainer.
There has been an increased risk that the interior of the heat exchanger tubes will become clogged by dirt, corrosion products, etc. contained in the refrigerant after it passes through the receiver.

The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and its purpose is to remove impurities contained in fluid flowing into a heat exchanger and prevent clogging of fluid passages formed within the heat exchanger. An object of the present invention is to provide a filter device for a heat exchanger that can be used in a heat exchanger.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is provided in a fluid passage that guides a fluid to a fluid passage for heat exchange, and a fluid that flows into the fluid passage. The technical means includes a filter for filtering the filter, a clogging detection means for detecting clogging of the filter, and an alarm means for notifying the outside of the clogging of the filter detected by the detection means.

The invention of claim 2 also provides a filter that is disposed in a fluid passage that guides fluid to a fluid passage for heat exchange and filters fluid flowing into the fluid passage; The technical means is to include a clogging observation window that allows observation from the outside of the fluid flow path.

Furthermore, the invention according to claim 3 provides a filter that is removably disposed in a fluid passage that guides fluid to a heat exchange fluid passage and filters fluid flowing into the fluid passage; and a fluid flow path opening/closing means for opening and closing the fluid flow path, the fluid flow path opening/closing means being pushed by the filter when the filter is attached to the fluid flow path, and the fluid flow path opening/closing means opens and closes the fluid flow path. a closing member that airtightly closes the fluid flow path by being pushed out when the filter is opened and removed from the fluid flow path;
and a biasing means for biasing the closing member toward the filter.

[Operations and Effects of the Invention] In the invention of claim 1 having the above configuration, the fluid flowing into the heat exchanger is filtered by the filter, and impurities contained in the fluid are removed. Furthermore, in the heat exchanger filter device of the present invention, by providing a clogging detection means for detecting clogging of the filter and an alarm means for notifying the outside of the clogging of the filter, it is possible to appropriately know when to replace a clogged filter. be able to.

As a result, for example, when this filter device is applied to the refrigerant evaporator of a refrigeration cycle, impurities such as dust and corrosion products contained in the refrigerant flowing into the refrigerant evaporator are removed by the filter, so the tube It is possible to prevent performance deterioration of the refrigerant evaporator due to internal clogging. and,
By properly replacing a clogged filter, you can prevent abnormally high pressure on the refrigerant condenser side and prevent refrigerant leaks and
It is possible to prevent adverse effects on the refrigerant condenser.

Further, in the invention according to claim 2, by providing the clogging observation window, the user can directly observe the clogging state of the filter from outside the fluid flow path. Therefore, similarly to the invention of claim 1 described above, it is possible to appropriately know when to replace a clogged filter. Furthermore, the invention according to claim 2 does not require clogging detection means and alarm means, and the structure of the apparatus is simplified compared to the invention according to claim 1, so that costs can be reduced.

Furthermore, in the invention of claim 3, by providing a fluid flow path opening/closing means for opening and closing the fluid flow path as the filter is attached and detached, for example, when the filter is removed, the closing member is activated by the biasing means. It can be pushed out and hermetically close the fluid flow path.

Therefore, even when the filter needs to be replaced due to clogging, there is no need to drain the refrigerant from the cycle.
Filters can be replaced without releasing refrigerant gas into the atmosphere.

[Example] Next, a heat exchanger filter device according to the invention of claim 1 will be described based on an example shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of a refrigerant evaporator to which a heat exchanger filter device is applied, and FIG. 2 is a night view of A in FIG. 1.

The heat exchanger filter device 1 of this embodiment is applied to a refrigerant evaporator 2 which is a component of a refrigeration cycle, and includes a filter 3 for filtering refrigerant flowing into the refrigerant evaporator 2, and a filter 3 for filtering the refrigerant flowing into the refrigerant evaporator 2. A strain gauge (clogging detection means) 4 for detecting clogging of the filter 3 and an alarm device (alarm means) 5 which receives a signal from the strain gauge 4 and notifies the outside of the clogging of the filter 3 are installed at the bottom of the tank. There is.

The refrigerant evaporator 2 has a plurality of refrigerant passages (not shown) inside.
It has a well-known structure in which a large number of flat tubes (fluid passages) 6 and corrugated fins 7 are stacked vertically, and an inlet header 8 and an outlet header (not shown) are arranged at both ends of each flat tube 6. be.

The inlet header 8 and the outlet header each have an inlet vibe (fluid flow path) 9 connected to a refrigerant pipe (not shown).
and an exit vibrator (not shown) are provided.

The filter 3 has a mesh-like central part (il!i-th size 0.
It is a metal body formed to a diameter of about 5 to 2.0 mm, and the outer circumferential portion is configured in a ring shape. As shown in FIG. 1, it is inserted into the middle of the inlet vibrator 9, and is bonded to the inner peripheral wall of the inlet vibrator 9 by brazing (or may be fixed by caulking).

The strain gauge 4 is a metal foil several microns thick glued onto a resin film base, and is attached to the upstream outer peripheral surface of the filter 3 to measure the deformation of the filter 3 by converting it into a change in electrical resistance. It is something to do.

The alarm device 5 lights up a lamp 5a based on a change in the electrical resistance of the strain gauge 4 to notify the user that the filter 3 is clogged.

The operation of this embodiment will be explained below.

A refrigerant that has been adiabatically expanded by an expansion valve (not shown) flows into the refrigerant evaporator 2 via an inlet vibrator 9 .

At this time, the filter 3 installed inside the inlet vibrator 9
This traps dirt and corrosion products contained in the refrigerant.

When the refrigerant passed through the filter 3 flows through the refrigerant passage of each flat tube 6 from the inlet header 8, it exchanges heat with the surrounding air, becomes gasified, and flows out from the outlet header via the exit vibrator.

When the filter 3 becomes clogged during operation of the refrigeration cycle, the pressure of the refrigerant acting on the filter 3 increases, causing the filter 3 to be pushed toward the inlet header 8 and deformed.

At this time, the strain gauge 4 attached to the filter 3
Alarm device l by converting the deformation of the filter 3 into a change in electrical resistance! Output to 5.

The alarm device 5 lights up a lamp 5a when the resistance value of the strain gauge 4 falls below a predetermined value to notify the user that the filter 3 is clogged.

In this way, in this embodiment, by disposing the filter 3 in the inlet vibrator 9 of the refrigerant evaporator 2, the refrigerant that has passed through the strainer in the receiver (not shown) is filtered again.
Dust and corrosion products contained in the refrigerant can be reliably removed. Therefore, in order to improve the performance of the refrigerant evaporator 2, even if the flat tube 6 is made finer and the cross-sectional area of the refrigerant passage formed in the flat tube 6 becomes smaller,
It is possible to prevent clogging in the refrigerant passage due to dirt, corrosion products, etc.

In addition, since the user knows when to replace the filter 3 and can replace it appropriately, abnormally high pressure on the refrigerant condenser side can be prevented, resulting in refrigerant leakage and adverse effects on the refrigerant condenser. etc. can be prevented.

Note that the lamp 5a changes depending on the resistance value change of the strain gauge 4.
It is also possible to vary the lighting of the filter 3 so that the clogged state of the filter 3 can be identified. For example, a plurality of lamps 5a may be provided, and the number of lamps 5a turned on may be increased as the degree of clogging worsens.

Alternatively, the clogging state of the filter 3 may be identified by the color of the lit lamp 5a.

In this embodiment, the filter 3 was attached to the artificial vibrator 9 by brazing, but in order to facilitate the replacement of the filter 3, a unit pipe (not shown) to which the filter 3 was attached was installed separately from the inlet vibrator 9. Alternatively, the unit pipe may be detachably attached to the inlet vibrator 9 (for example, by screwing).

Next, an embodiment of a filter device for a heat exchanger according to the invention of claim 2 will be described based on FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a heat exchanger filter device attached to a refrigerant evaporator, and FIG. 4 is a view from B in FIG. 3.

The heat exchanger filter device 1 of this embodiment includes a refrigerant evaporator 2
A connecting nut 10 is installed between the inlet vibrator 9 and the refrigerant pipe.
It is removably attached via 11.

This filter device 1 for a heat exchanger includes a filter 3 that filters a refrigerant passing therethrough, a casing (fluid flow path) 12 that houses the filter 3, and a sight glass (clogging observation window) fitted into the wall of the casing 12. 〉13.

The casing 12 is formed with an outlet 12a connected to the inlet vibrator 9 of the refrigerant evaporator 2 via the connecting nut 10, and an inlet 12b connected to the refrigerant pipe on the expansion valve side via the connecting nut 11. ing.

Similar to the first embodiment, the filter 3 is a thin disc-shaped metal body with a mesh-like central part, and the casing 1
2, it is arranged so as to partition the inlet 12b side and the outlet 12a side.

The sight glass 13 includes a filter 3 as shown in FIG.
The clogging state of the filter 3 can be observed from the outside of the casing 12.

In the heat exchanger filter device 1 having the above configuration, a user can look into the inside of the gauging 12 through the sight glass 13 and directly observe the clogging state of the filter 3. Therefore, in addition to obtaining the same effect as the first embodiment, this embodiment does not require the strain gauge 4 or the alarm device 5, and the structure of the heat exchanger filter device 1 is simplified. It is possible to lower the cost than the device shown in the example.

Next, an embodiment of a filter device for a heat exchanger according to the third aspect of the invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 9.

5 and 6 are cross-sectional views of a filter device for a heat exchanger.

The heat exchanger filter device 1 of this embodiment has a refrigerant evaporator (
It is comprised of a filter 3 that is removably attached to the inlet vibrator 9 of 2 (see FIG. 9), and a fluid passage opening/closing means 14 that opens and closes the inlet vibrator 9 as the filter 3 is attached and detached.

The fluid passage opening/closing means 14 includes a cylindrical casing body 15 formed integrally with the inlet vibrator 9, and the casing body 1.
a casing cap 16 screwed onto the open end side of 5;
Cylinder (closing member) accommodated in the casing body 15
17 and a spring (biasing means) 18 for biasing the cylinder 17.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the gauging body 15 is formed perpendicularly to the inlet vibe 9, and one end (p!l (upper side in FIG. 6) to which the casing cap 16 is screwed is open). In addition, the entrance vibe 9 on the inner wall surface on one end side
On the other hand, when removing filter 3, spring 1
A seal portion 15a is formed against which the head of the cylinder 17, which is biased by the pressure applied to the cylinder 8, comes into contact.

As shown in FIG. 7, this seal portion 15a is provided so as to protrude toward the center of the casing body 15 so as to form a rectangular opening 15b. In addition, Fig. 7 shows
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the casing body 15 viewed from the top of one end of the casing body 15 with the casing cap 16 removed.

The opening 15b formed by the seal portion 15a has a size that allows the filter 3 to fit in the opening 15b in the long side direction. Therefore, when the casing cap 16 is screwed onto the casing body 15, the filter 3 does not rotate together with the casing cap 16 (the filter 3
(The filter 3 is rotatably assembled inside the casing character 116) When the casing cap 16 is screwed on, the filter 3 blocks the refrigerant passage of the inlet vibrator 9, as shown in FIG. It is arranged. Note that a packing 19 is attached to the seal portion 15a on the side of the contact surface with the cylinder 17 in order to prevent leakage of refrigerant.

On the other end side of the casing body 15, there is formed a volume portion (see FIG. 6) 15C that is large enough to completely accommodate the cylinder 17 when the filter 3 is attached. A spring 18 is disposed to bias the end point.

As shown in FIG. 8 (a plan view of the filter 3), the filter 3 is formed vertically, and about the lower half thereof is provided in a mesh shape. By screwing the casing cap 16 with the filter 3 assembled onto the casing body 15, as shown in FIG.
The filter 3 is inserted into the refrigerant passage of the artificial vibrator 9.

As described above, when the filter 3 is attached, the cylinder 17 is moved by the filter 3 into the casing body 1.
When the filter 3 is pushed into the volume portion 15c of the spring 18 and removed, the biasing force of the spring 18 (approximately 30 kg/
(preferably a set pressure of aJ), the head of the cylinder 17 is pushed up until it comes into contact with the gasket 19 attached to the seal portion 15a. At this time, the cylinder 17 is provided in a size that blocks the refrigerant passage of the inlet vibrator 9, as shown in FIG.

In addition, FIG. 9 shows the heat exchanger filter device 1 of this embodiment.
A refrigerant evaporator 2 to which this is applied is shown.

As described above, in this embodiment, the filter 3 is made removable, and when the filter 3 is removed, the refrigerant passage of the inlet vibrator 9 can be hermetically closed. Therefore, even when it becomes necessary to replace the filter 3 due to clogging, there is no need to extract the refrigerant in the cycle, and the filter 3 can be replaced without releasing refrigerant gas into the atmosphere. It goes without saying that the clogged filter 3 can be washed and reused.

(Modification) Although the heat exchanger filter device 1 is applied to the refrigerant evaporator 2, it may be applied to other heat exchangers such as a refrigerant condenser, a heater core, and a radiator.

Although a cylinder is shown as the closing member, there is no need to limit it to a cylinder, and a block body or the like may be used.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 show an embodiment according to the invention of claim 1. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of a refrigerant evaporator to which the filter device for a heat exchanger of the present invention is applied, and FIG. This is the view A in FIG. 3 and 4 show an embodiment according to the invention of claim 2, FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a filter device for a heat exchanger attached to a refrigerant evaporator, and FIG. This is the B view. 5 to 9 show an embodiment according to the invention of claim 3, in which FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional views of the filter device for a heat exchanger, FIG. 7 is a plan view of the casing body, and FIG. 8
The figure is a front view of the filter, and FIG. 9 is a side view of a filter device for a heat exchanger applied to a refrigerant evaporator. In the figure 1... Filter device for heat exchanger 2... Refrigerant evaporator (heat exchanger) 3... Filter 4... Strain gauge (clogging detection means) 5... Alarm device (alarm means) 6... Flat tube (fluid passage) 9... Inlet vibe (fluid passage) 12... Casing (fluid passage) 13... Sight glass (window for observing clogging) 14...
・Fluid channel opening/closing means 15...Casing body 16...Casing cap 17...Cylinder (closing member) 18...Spring (biasing means)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) (a) A filter disposed in a fluid passage that guides fluid to a heat exchange fluid passage to filter fluid flowing into the fluid passage; (b) eyes of the filter; A filter device for a heat exchanger, comprising: clogging detection means for detecting clogging; and (c) alarm means for notifying the outside of clogging of the filter detected by the detection means. 2) (a) A filter disposed in a fluid passage that guides fluid to a heat exchange fluid passage and filtering fluid flowing into the fluid passage; (b) A filter that detects the clogging state of the filter by A filter device for a heat exchanger equipped with a clogging observation window that allows observation from the outside of a flow path. 3) (a) a filter that is removably disposed in a fluid passage that guides fluid to a heat exchange fluid passage and filters fluid flowing into the fluid passage; (b) as the filter is attached and detached; , a fluid flow path opening/closing means for opening and closing the fluid flow path, the fluid flow path opening/closing means being pushed by the filter when the filter is attached to the fluid flow path, and the fluid flow path opening/closing means opens and closes the fluid flow path. A closing member that opens the passage and airtightly closes the fluid passage by being pushed out when the filter is removed from the fluid passage, and a biasing means that urges the closing member toward the filter. A filter device for heat exchangers consisting of: