JPH05180539A - Oil separator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To separate oil in a gas-liquid two phase fluid comprising oil and gas without causing re-scattering of the oil. CONSTITUTION:An entrance pipe 12 is connected to a straight trunk part 8 of a body 6 of a first separation part 2. A protruding cylinder 13 provided on the straight trunk part 12a of the entrance pipe 12. The protruding cylinder 13 is located having at least a space between it and the entrance pipe 12 into which an oil film flows. Hereby, an oil reservoir part 22 is formed between the protrude cylinder 13 and the entrance pipe 12, into which part a circumferential flow in an annular flow comes in. A central flow is introduced into the body 6 through the protruding cylinder 13 for oil separation. In contrast, the circumferential flow flowing into the oil reservoir part 22 is sent to a second separation part 3 through a communication pipe 27 for oil separation. Hereby, an oil film flowing into the first separation part 2 is reduced and rescattering of lubrication oil is prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an oil separator used in an air conditioner and the like, and more particularly to a measure for reducing the flow of oil flowing into the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Oil separators are used in various devices, for example, when they are used in air conditioners, they are installed in the discharge pipe of a refrigerant circuit to maintain the amount of lubricating oil in the compressor and to condense by the lubricating oil. We are trying to prevent the heat transfer surface of the evaporator and evaporator from being damaged.

There are various types of oil separators such as centrifugal type and gas collision type. For example, a centrifugal type oil separator used in an air conditioner is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 47-2949. As described above, the first discharge pipe on the inflow side is disposed on the inner wall of the inverted conical container, and the second discharge pipe on the outflow side is disposed on the top wall, and the lubricating oil flows from the first discharge pipe into the container. The refrigerant gas containing is blown out in the tangential direction, and the lubricating gas is centrifugally separated by swirling along the inner wall of the inverted conical container.

[0004]

The above oil separator is effective in separating the lubricating oil from the mist-like flow in which the lubricating oil is dispersed in the refrigerant gas in the form of mist. However, in the discharge pipe, a large amount of lubricating oil flows from the compressor, a mist-like lubricating oil flows in the central portion of the pipe, and an annular flow occurs in which an oil film annularly flows on the pipe wall. Therefore, the oil separator has a problem that a large amount of lubricating oil is stored because the oil film flows into the container, and the lubricating oil in the storage is re-scattered by the refrigerant gas swirling at high speed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to separate oil from a gas-liquid two-phase fluid of oil and gas without causing re-scattering.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems To achieve the above object, the means taken by the invention according to claim 1 is that the peripheral flow is led out from the peripheral flow passage and flows into the first separating portion in the main body. The amount of oil film is reduced.

Specifically, the inlet pipe (12) is attached to the main body (6).
Is connected to the inside of the inlet pipe (12) to form a fluid flow formed along the wall of the pipe and composed of an oil film and a gas containing mist-like oil, and separates the oil from the flow of the fluid. It is based on an oil separator.

Then, as shown in FIG. 1, in the base end portion (12a) of the inlet pipe (12), a projecting cylinder (13) into which a central flow of the fluid flows is introduced into the main body ( 6) The structure is extended from the above.

Further, the projecting cylinder (13) is arranged at a distance between the projecting cylinder (13) and the inlet pipe (12) so that the oil film can flow into the projecting cylinder (13) and the inlet pipe (12).
And an oil reservoir (22) into which a peripheral flow of the fluid flows is formed between the above and the above.

In addition, a first separating portion (2) is formed in the main body (6) so as to communicate with at least the projecting cylinder (13) and separate the central flow oil.

Further, a second separating portion (3) is provided which communicates with the oil storage portion (22) and separates the oil in the peripheral flow.

The means taken by the invention according to claim 2 embodies the invention according to claim 1 and has a structure in which a first separating portion and a second separating portion are provided in the main body. ..

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, in addition to the oil separator, the main body (39) is formed by housing an inner casing (41) in an outer casing (40). I am trying.

The inlet pipe (12) is connected to the outer casing (40) and the inlet pipe (1)
In the base end portion (12a) of 2), a protruding cylinder (13) into which the central flow of the fluid flows is extended from the inner casing (41) through the outer casing (40). It is configured.

Further, the projecting cylinder (13) is arranged at a distance from the inlet pipe (13) through which at least the oil film flows, and the projecting cylinder (13) and the inlet pipe (12).
An oil reservoir (22) into which a peripheral flow of the above fluid flows is formed between and.

In addition, the inside of the inner casing (41) constitutes a first separating portion (2) for communicating with the projecting cylinder (13) to separate a central flow oil. .

Furthermore, the outer casing (4
0) and the inner casing (41) are connected to the oil storage section (22) to form a second separation section (3) for separating oil from the peripheral flow.

Moreover, a gas outflow pipe (45) is connected to the first separation part (2), and the second separation part (3) is connected to the outflow pipe (45) at the upper part. I am trying.

Further, the outer casing (40) and the inner casing (41) are respectively provided with oil outlets (47) and (52) at their lower portions.

[0020]

With the above structure, according to the first aspect of the invention, the flow of the fluid formed of the oil film formed along the wall of the inlet pipe (12) and the gas containing the mist-like oil is generated. The central flow of the fluid flow is formed from the projecting cylinder (13) into the first separating portion (2) to separate the oil.

On the other hand, the peripheral flow containing the oil film is the oil reservoir (2
2), is led out by the peripheral flow conducting part (25), is sent to the second separating part (3), and is oil-separated by the second separating part (3). Therefore, the oil film flowing into the first separation portion (2) is reduced, and re-scattering of oil does not occur in the first separation portion (2).

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the inner casing (41) forms the first separating portion (2) and the second separating portion (3) in the main body (39), so that the fluid flow The central flow of the oil flows into the first separating portion (2) through the projecting cylinder (13) to separate the oil. On the other hand, the peripheral flow including the oil film enters the oil storage part (22), and enters the second separation part (3) from the oil storage part (22) to be oil-separated.

The oil separated in the first separating section (2) and the second separating section (3) is respectively discharged from the oil outlet (4).
It is discharged from 7) and (52). Further, the gas separated from the oil by the first separation part (2) and the second separation part (3) flows into the gas outflow pipe (45) and is discharged to the outside of the main body (39).

[0024]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the peripheral flow including the oil film is separated from the central flow by the projecting cylinder (13), so that the peripheral flow flows into the first separation portion (2). The oil film can be reduced, the amount of oil stored in the first separation part (2) can be reduced, and re-scattering of oil can be prevented.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the inner casing (41) forms the first separating portion (2) and the second separating portion (3) in the main body (39), so that the apparatus is compact. Can be converted. Also, the first separating part (2) and the second
It is possible to discharge the gas after the oil is separated in the separation section (3) together, and it is possible to simplify the piping.

[0026]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention according to claim 1. This embodiment is an example in which the oil separator of the present invention is applied to an oil separator used in an air conditioner. Although not shown, in the air conditioner, a compressor, a condenser, an expansion mechanism, and an evaporator are connected by a refrigerant pipe so that the refrigerant can circulate.

Since a large amount of lubricating oil flows from the compressor to the discharge pipe between the compressor and the condenser together with the refrigerant gas, it is formed in an annular shape along the pipe wall to form an oil film and a mist. An annular flow of fluid, consisting of a refrigerant gas containing oil, circulates.
The volume ratio of the oil film to the mist-like lubricating oil in the discharge pipe is about 1:12, and the thickness of the oil film formed on the pipe wall is about 1 mm.

An oil separator (1) is provided on the discharge pipe, and the oil separator (1) flows through the central portion of the discharge pipe.
A first separation part (2) for performing oil separation of a central flow in which the refrigerant gas containing mist-like oil flows in the annular flow, and a refrigerant gas containing mist-like oil in the annular flow, which flows through the peripheral part. It comprises a second separation part (3) for separating oil in the peripheral flow through which the oil film flows, and the first separation part (2) and the second separation part (3) are formed separately.

The first separating part (2) is of a centrifugal type, and the main body (6) is continuous with the ceiling wall (7), the cylindrical straight body part (8), and the straight body part (8). And a conical section (9) that

An inlet pipe (12) is connected to the straight body portion (8) outward in the tangential direction, and the proximal end portion (12a) of the inlet pipe (12) is connected to the straight body portion (8). The projecting cylinder (13) which is projected is inserted. The tip of the inlet pipe (12) is connected to the discharge pipe on the upstream side so that an annular flow can flow through the pipe.

The projecting cylinder (13) is disposed at a distance from the inlet pipe (12) at least through which the oil film flows, and between the projecting cylinder (13) and the inlet pipe (12). An oil reservoir (22) is formed into which the peripheral flow of the annular flow flows. Further, the projecting cylinder (13) has a tip opening into the inlet pipe (12) to allow the central flow to flow therein, and a proximal end opening into the main body (6) to serve as an inlet through which the central flow flows.

The radial width of the annular space of the oil storage portion (22) is set so as to prevent a large amount of refrigerant gas from flowing into the second separation portion (3) to cause re-scattering of the lubricating oil. It is desirable to set it to about the thickness of the flowing oil film.

The first separating portion (2) is provided with a protruding tube (1
The central flow flowing into the main body (6) via 3) is lowered as a swirl flow by the straight body part (8), and further, the swirl flow is accelerated by the conical part (9) to centrifugally force the oil droplets. It is configured to be separated and stored in the lower part of the main body (1).

At the lower end of the conical portion (9), the oil outlet (1
6) is formed, and this oil outlet (16) is connected to the oil return pipe (1
It is connected to the compressor via 7). Further, a central outflow pipe (23) for outflowing the refrigerant gas separated from the lubricating oil in the main body (6) is supported on the ceiling wall (7), and this central outflow pipe (20) is located at the center of the lower end. The outlet (21) opens into the body (6), while the upper end is connected to the downstream discharge pipe.

On the other hand, the base end portion (12a) of the inlet pipe (12)
And the second separation section (3), the peripheral flow is oil storage section (22).
To the second separating part (3) is connected to the connecting pipe (27). In the connecting pipe (27), the peripheral flow passage opening (26) at the starting end is connected to the base end portion (12a) of the inlet pipe (12) and the ending end is connected to the second separating portion (3).

The second separating section (3) is a gravity type oil separator, which sharply reduces the flow velocity of the peripheral flow flowing in through the connecting pipe (27) to gravity force the lubricating oil from the refrigerant gas. It is configured to separate the lubricating oil. Body (28)
A peripheral flow outflow pipe (31) is connected to the ceiling wall of the and the oil return pipe (17) is connected to the lower wall. Since the peripheral flow that flows into the second separation portion (3) has a large proportion of lubricating oil, the lubricating oil can be sufficiently separated from the refrigerant gas even by the gravity method. The peripheral flow outflow pipe (31) is connected to the downstream discharge pipe, and the oil return pipe (17) is connected to the compressor.

Next, the operation of the oil separator will be described.

In the inlet pipe (12), the central flow of the annular flow enters the first separation section (2) and the first separation section (2).
The lubricating oil is separated by. Then, the separated lubricating oil flows down to the lower part of the main body (6) and is returned to the compressor from the oil outlet (16) via the oil return pipe (17). The refrigerant gas separated from the lubricating oil is delivered to the downstream discharge pipe via the central flow outflow pipe (20).

On the other hand, the peripheral flow containing the oil film is the oil reservoir (2
2), and is discharged from the peripheral flow communication port (26). Therefore, the oil film flowing into the first separation part (2) is reduced,
Re-scattering of the lubricating oil does not occur in the central flow separation section (2). Then, the peripheral flow led out from the peripheral flow communication port (26) flows into the second separation section (3) through the communication pipe (27), and the lubricating oil is separated in the second separation section (3). .. The oil-separated refrigerant gas is sent to the downstream discharge pipe via the peripheral flow outflow pipe (31).

According to this embodiment, the oil film flowing into the first separating portion (2) is reduced by the simple structure in which the projecting cylinder (13) is provided and the peripheral flow including the oil film is separated from the central flow and discharged. It is possible to reduce the amount of oil stored in the first separating portion (2) and prevent re-scattering of oil.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a modification of the previous embodiment.
This modified example relates to the structure of the oil reservoir (22).

Specifically, the protruding cylinder (13) is connected to the inlet pipe (1
While being formed to have the same diameter as 2), the base end portion (12a) of the inlet pipe (12) is formed to have a larger diameter than the protruding cylinder (13) via the enlarged portion (35). For this reason, the central flow flowing through the inlet pipe (12) flows into the protruding tube (13) having the same diameter without resistance, so that the pressure loss at the time of inflow can be reduced.
Further, since the oil film flows into the oil reservoir (22) along the pipe wall of the inlet pipe (12), it does not enter the protruding cylinder (13).

Next, FIG. 3 shows a second aspect of the invention according to claim 2.
An example is shown. This embodiment has a structure in which a first separating part (2) and a second separating part (3) are provided in a main body (39) of an oil separator (1), and a central flow oil separation and a peripheral flow separation Both are used for oil separation.

Specifically, the body (3) of the oil separator (1) is
9) is formed by accommodating the inner casing (41) in the outer casing (40).

Side wall (40a) of outer casing (40)
Is connected to the base end portion (12a) of the inlet pipe (12) outward in the tangential direction, and the side wall (4) of this connection portion is connected.
In the outer casing (40) and the inlet pipe (12)
An opening (42) communicating with and is formed. An upstream discharge pipe is connected to the tip portion (12b) of the inlet pipe (12) so that an annular flow can flow therein.

The inside of the inner casing (41) is constituted by a first separating portion (2) for separating the lubricating oil by centrifugal force, while the space between the outer casing (40) and the inner casing (41) is Second separation of lubricating oil by gravity
It is configured in the separation section (3).

The inner casing (41) has a cylindrical straight body portion (43) and a conical portion (4) continuous with the straight body portion (43).
4) and.

A projecting cylinder (13) having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the base end portion (12a) of the inlet pipe (12) is projectingly provided on the straight body part (43), and the projecting cylinder (13) is first separated. While communicating with the portion (2) and allowing the central flow to flow, it is inserted into the base end portion (12a) through the opening (42) of the side wall (40a).

Further, the projecting cylinder (13) is provided with an inlet pipe (12).
And an oil reservoir (wherein the peripheral flow of the annular flow flows in between the projecting cylinder (13) and the inlet pipe (12) at least with an interval for the oil film to flow in). 22)
Are formed.

The radial width of the annular space of the oil reservoir (22) may be set to about the thickness of the flowing oil film in order to prevent re-scattering of the lubricating oil in the second separating part (3). desirable.

The first separating portion (2) is provided with a protruding tube (1
The central flow of the annular flow is introduced via 3), and the central flow is swirled by the straight body part (43) to be lowered, and the swirl flow is further accelerated by the conical part (44) to remove oil droplets. It is configured to separate by centrifugal force.

The ceiling wall (4) of the outer casing (40)
0b) supports a gas outflow pipe (45) for outflowing the refrigerant gas separated from the lubricating oil in the first separation part (2), and this gas outflow pipe (45) is located at the lower central outlet ( 21) opens into the inner casing (41), while the upper end is connected to the discharge pipe on the downstream side, and the refrigerant gas separated from the lubricating oil is discharged from the central outlet (21) to the outside of the main body (39). It is like this.

Further, a first oil outlet (47) opening into the outer casing (40) is formed at the lower end of the inner casing (41), and the separated lubricating oil is discharged to the lower part of the outer casing (40). It is designed to run down.

The side wall (4) of the outer casing (40)
0a) has an annular peripheral flow passage (26) formed between the opening (42) and the projecting cylinder (13). From the peripheral flow passage (26), the oil reservoir (22) is formed. The peripheral flow inside flows into the second separation part (3). In order to prevent the re-scattering of the lubricating oil in the second separation part (3), the peripheral flow communication port (26) is set to have an opening area where the refrigerant gas flowing into the second separation part (3) is reduced as much as possible. There is.

The second separating part (3) is connected to the outer casing (4
0) is formed between the side wall (40a) and the inner casing (41), and the flow velocity of the peripheral flow introduced from the peripheral flow communication port (26) is rapidly reduced to separate the lubricating oil by gravity. The lubricating oil is stored in the lower part of the outer casing (40).

Further, the upper end of the inner casing (41) is arranged below the ceiling wall (40b) of the outer casing (40), and a communication portion (48) for communicating the inside and the outside of the inner casing (41) is formed. ing. Further, the gas outlet pipe (45) is provided with a peripheral outlet (49), while the gas outlet pipe (45) and the upper end of the inner casing (41) are provided with a peripheral outlet (49). Two baffle plates (50), (50) for guiding the flow of the refrigerant gas from the two separation section (3) to the peripheral outlet port (49) are arranged at a predetermined interval.

A second oil outlet (52) is formed on the lower wall of the outer casing (40) and is connected to the compressor via an oil return pipe (17). This second oil outlet (5
2) is configured to discharge the lubricating oil that is separated by the first separating portion (2) and the second separating portion (3) and collects in the lower portion of the outer casing (40).

Next, the operation of the oil separator will be described.

The central flow of the annular flow flowing in the inlet pipe (12) enters the first separating portion (2) from the protruding cylinder (13), and the lubricating oil is centrifugally separated in the first separating portion (2). While flowing down from the first oil outlet (47) to the lower part of the outer casing (40), the refrigerant gas separated from the lubricating oil is delivered to the downstream discharge pipe via the gas outflow pipe (45).

On the other hand, the peripheral flow containing the oil film enters the second separating portion (3) in the outer casing (40) through the peripheral flow conducting port (26) and is oil-separated. The separated lubricating oil falls to the lower portion of the outer casing (40), while the refrigerant gas separated from the lubricating oil rises and passes through the communication portion (48) and the gas outlet pipe (45) from the peripheral outlet (49). ) Into the discharge pipe on the downstream side. Also, the outer casing (4
The lubricating oil accumulated in the lower part of (0) is the second oil outlet (52).
More discharged.

As described above, the oil film is included in the peripheral flow and enters the second separating part (3) from the peripheral flow conducting port (26), so that the oil film enters the first separating part (2) through the protruding tube (13). The inflowing oil film is reduced and re-scattering during centrifugation does not occur.

Further, both the central flow and the peripheral flow are oil-separated in the outer casing (40), and the refrigerant gas in both flows is separated by the gas outflow pipe (45) into the lubricating oil. Each of the main body (3
9) It is discharged to the outside.

According to this embodiment, the inner casing (4
According to 1), the second separating part 3 is formed in the outer casing 40 in addition to the first separating part 2, so that the apparatus can be downsized. Further, the discharge of the separated refrigerant gas and the oil return of the lubricating oil in the first separation part (2) and the second separation part (3) can be performed together, and the piping can be simplified. ..

The oil separator of the present invention may be used in devices other than the air conditioner.

The first separating section (2) may be a collision type centrifugal separation type using a swirl plate, and an oil separator, such as an obstacle, that can separate mist type lubricating oil other than the centrifugal type. It may be a collision type oil separator using a plate.

The peripheral flow passage (26) of the third embodiment is also used.
May have a shape other than a ring shape.

The oil separator of the present invention can also be applied to the flow of fluid in which the oil film is not annular.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an oil separator according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a modification of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an oil separator according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 1st separation part 3 2nd separation part 6 Main body of 1st separation part 12 Inlet pipe 12a Base end part of inlet pipe 13 Projecting cylinder 20 Central flow outflow pipe 22 Oil storage part 39 Main body 40 External casing 41 Internal casing 45 Gas outflow Pipe 47 First oil outlet (oil outlet) 48 Communication portion 49 Peripheral outlet 52 Second oil outlet (oil outlet)

Claims (2)

[Claims] An inlet pipe (12) is connected to the body (6), and a fluid consisting of an oil film formed along the pipe wall and a gas containing mist-like oil is formed in the inlet pipe (12). Is formed, and an oil separator for separating oil from the fluid flow is formed. A central flow of the fluid flows into the proximal end portion (12a) of the inlet pipe (12). The protruding cylinder (13) is extended from the main body (6), and the protruding cylinder (13) is disposed at a distance from the inlet pipe (12) so that the oil film can flow into the protruding cylinder (13). An oil reservoir (22) into which a peripheral flow of the fluid flows is formed between the cylinder (13) and the inlet pipe (12), and at least the protruding cylinder (22) is formed in the main body (6). 13)
A first separation part (2) for communicating with the oil to separate the central flow oil is formed, while a second separation part (3) for communicating with the oil storage part (22) and separating the peripheral flow oil is formed. An oil separator, which is provided. 2. An inlet pipe (12) is connected to the main body (39), and a fluid consisting of an oil film formed along the pipe wall and a gas containing mist-like oil is formed in the inlet pipe (12). Is an oil separator for separating oil from the flow of the fluid, wherein the body (39) is formed by accommodating an inner casing (41) in an outer casing (40). A pipe (12) is connected to the outer casing (40) and a proximal end portion (12a) of the inlet pipe (12).
A projecting cylinder (13) into which a central flow of the fluid flows is extended from the inner casing (41) through the outer casing (40), and the projecting cylinder (13) is At least a space is provided between the inlet pipe (13) and the oil film for inflow, and a peripheral flow of the fluid flow is provided between the projecting cylinder (13) and the inlet pipe (12). An oil reservoir (22) into which the oil flows in is formed, and the inside of the inner casing (41) has the protruding cylinder (13).
Are connected to form a first separation part (2) for separating the oil in the central stream, while the outer casing (40) and the inner casing (41) are
And a second separation part (3) communicating with the oil storage part (22) to separate the oil from the peripheral flow, and the first separation part (2) has a gas outflow pipe ( 45) communicates with the outflow pipe (45) and the second separation part (3) communicates with the upper part thereof, while the outer casing (40) and the inner casing (4) are connected.
An oil separator characterized in that oil outlets (47) and (52) are formed in the lower part of 1), respectively.