JPH09318203A - Oil separator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to separate oil from the flow of a refrigerant to a satisfactory extent in an oil separator which is used for the refrigeration cycle of an air conditioning device. SOLUTION: A third conductive pipe A3a is connected to a space between a first conductive pipe 1 which runs through the upper part of a cylinder-shaped enclosed vessel 109 and a second conductive pipe which runs through the lower part where a plurality of holes 4 are provided on this third conductive pipe A3a. An oil return pipe 108 is connected to the enclosed vessel 109, penetrating through the bottom of the enclosed vessel 109. This construction allows the refrigerant gas discharged form a compressor and the oil to be collided against the wall of the third conductive pipe A3a during their passage. This collision forces the oil to be deposited on the wall of the pipe and the deposited oil is ejected from the holes 4 and returns to the compressor by way of the oil return pipe 108. On one hand, the refrigerant gas is vented to the top passing through the pipe. In this process when the oil drops, there is no large flow of refrigerant gas, which makes it possible to prevent the generation of phenomena which whirl up oil or scattering, once again of oil and thereby enhance vapor oil separation.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigeration cycle for an air conditioner and an oil separator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a refrigerating cycle of a conventional air conditioner, a refrigerating cycle diagram shown in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-14075 is generally used. The configuration and operation will be described below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 6, a four-way valve 1 is attached to a compressor 101.
02, the outdoor heat exchanger 103, a decompression mechanism such as an expansion valve 104, and an indoor heat exchanger 105 are sequentially connected in a pipe, and a refrigeration cycle configuration in which the suction pipe 106 returns to the compressor 101 is provided. An oil separator 107 is provided between the discharge side of the compressor 101 and the four-way valve 102. An oil return pipe 108 is connected to the lower portion of the oil separator 107, and the other end of the oil return pipe 108 is connected to the suction pipe 106.

Next, the operation will be described. In FIG. 6, solid arrows indicate the flow of the refrigerant during the cooling operation, and broken arrows indicate the flow of the refrigerant during the heating operation. The dashed-dotted line arrow shows the flow of oil. During the cooling operation, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 101 flows from the four-way valve 102 to the outdoor heat exchanger 103, and the expansion valve 104 and the indoor heat exchanger 1
05, it returns to the compressor 101 through the four-way valve 102 and the suction pipe 106 again. The oil discharged from the compressor 101 together with the refrigerant is separated from the refrigerant in the oil separator 107 and returns from the oil return pipe 108 to the compressor 101 through the suction pipe 106 to lubricate the inside of the compressor 101. The refrigerant discharged from the compressor 101 during the heating operation is the four-way valve 1.
02 to the indoor heat exchanger 105, the expansion valve 104, the outdoor heat exchanger 103, the four-way valve 102 again, and the suction pipe 1
Return to the compressor 101 through 06.

As the structure of the oil separator 107, the refrigeration cycle configuration diagram shown in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-106324 is generally used. As shown in FIG. 7, a refrigerant gas inlet pipe 110 is provided at the bottom of the closed container 109.
Outlet pipes 111 are connected to the upper part of the closed container 109, and a demister 112 that is an element for separating oil is arranged inside the closed container 109.
An oil return pipe 108 for returning oil is provided in the lower part of the.

Refrigerant gas discharged from the compressor 101 is
It is introduced into the closed container 109 via the inlet pipe 110, the introduced gas is discharged to the outlet pipe 111 side via the demister 112, and when passing through the demister 112, mist-like oil particles are attached, When the particles come into contact with each other, they grow larger and fall by their own weight, and are separated from the refrigerant gas. The separated oil is led out of the closed container 109 from the oil return pipe 108 and returns to the compressor 101. As described above, the conventional oil separator mainly has a mechanism for separating oil by an element (demister).

[0007]

In the structure of such a conventional oil separator, the oil introduced together with the refrigerant gas into the demister collides against the wall inside the demister, and the mist-like oil is generated by the phenomenon such as expansion and diffusion. Although it is made into large particles and dropped by its own weight, since the flow of the refrigerant gas and the flow of the falling oil coexist in the demister, the oil once separated in the demister may be affected by the flow velocity of the refrigerant gas and re-scattered. Therefore, good separation is required.

The present invention is intended to solve such a conventional problem, and an object thereof is to provide an oil separator capable of excellently separating a refrigerant and an oil.

[0009]

One means of an oil separator according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is a cylindrical hermetic container and a cylindrical hermetic container, which penetrates the central part of the bottom surface of the hermetic container and projects into the hermetic container. First conduit, a second conduit penetrating the central portion of the top surface of the closed container, the first conduit and the second conduit
The third conduit A having a plurality of holes in the pipe wall arranged between the conduits and the oil return pipe penetrating the bottom surface of the closed container are provided.

Another means is the structure of claim 1 in which the third conduit B is formed of cloth.

Further, as another means, the wool filling the inside of the cylindrical closed container and the third conduit C is provided by providing a resistance between the first conduit and the second conduit in the wool. It is configured.

Further, the other means is the constitution of claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the third conduit D arranged between the first conduit and the second conduit is meandered.

[0013] Further, as another means, the third conduit E arranged between the first conduit and the second conduit is constituted by a plurality of conduits.

According to the present invention, by the above means, an oil separator capable of excellently separating the refrigerant and the oil can be obtained.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a cylindrical hermetic container, a first conduit penetrating a central portion of the bottom surface of the hermetic container and projecting into the hermetic container, and the hermetically sealed container. A second conduit penetrating the central part of the top surface of the container, a third conduit A having a plurality of holes in the pipe wall arranged between the first conduit and the second conduit, and a bottom face of the closed container. The oil return pipe is provided to prevent the oil from being rolled up due to the refrigerant gas and to prevent the oil from re-scattering, thereby improving the oil separation efficiency. The invention according to claim 2 is one in which the third conduit B is formed of a cloth-like material, and further has the effect of improving the oil separation efficiency. According to a third aspect of the present invention, the wool filling the inside of the cylindrical closed container and the first wool
A third conduit C is formed by providing a resistance between the conduit and the second conduit, and further functions to prevent the oil winding phenomenon and re-scattering. According to the invention described in claim 4, the third conduit D arranged between the first conduit and the second conduit is meandered, and further has the effect of improving the oil separation efficiency. In the invention according to claim 5, the third conduit E arranged between the first conduit and the second conduit is composed of a plurality of conduits, and has an effect of further improving the oil separation efficiency.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an oil separator according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a cylindrical closed container 109 penetrates a bottom center portion of the closed container 109 and projects into the closed container 109. First conduit 1
And the second conduit 2 penetrating the central portion of the bottom surface of the closed container 109.
Are connected by brazing, welding or gluing. A third conduit A3a is connected between the first conduit 1 and the second conduit 2 in the closed container 109 by brazing, welding or bonding, and the third conduit A3a is provided with a plurality of holes 4. . An oil return pipe 108 penetrating the bottom surface of the closed container 109 is brazed below the closed container 109,
Connected by welding or gluing. In the configuration described above, the solid line arrow in FIG. 1 indicates the flow of the refrigerant gas, and the broken line arrow indicates the flow of the oil. The refrigerant gas and oil discharged from the compressor 101 enter from the first conduit 1 and pass through the third conduit A3a. While the refrigerant and the oil collide with the wall while passing through the third conduit A3a, the collision action causes the oil to adhere to the wall of the third conduit A3a and the refrigerant gas to flow into the third conduit A3a.
It passes through a as it is, passes through to the upper part, flows out of the closed container 109 from the second conduit 2, and circulates in the cycle. On the other hand, the third
The oil adhering to the wall of the conduit A3a is jetted from the flow hole 4 along the wall, and the oil falls by its own weight, so that the refrigerant gas and the oil are separated. In the process of dropping the oil, there is no large flow of the refrigerant gas, and therefore the oil winding phenomenon due to the refrigerant gas does not occur. The dropped oil is led out of the closed container 109 through the oil return pipe 108 that penetrates the bottom surface of the closed container 109, returns to the compressor 101, and lubricates the sliding portion. Prevents re-scattering, improves oil separation efficiency, and improves the performance of the air conditioner. In this embodiment, the hole 4 is a round hole having a diameter of 1 mm, but the size, type and number of hole diameter are not limited.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of an oil separator according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.
A third conduit B3b is connected between the first conduit 1 and the second conduit 2 therein by brazing or gluing. In the above configuration, the refrigerant gas and the oil collide with the wall when passing through the third conduit B3b, but due to this collision action, the oil adheres to the wall of the third conduit B3b and the refrigerant gas collects the refrigerant gas.
Continue to pass through and go to the top. On the other hand, the third conduit B3b
Since the oil adhering to the wall of the third conduit B3b is made of cloth, the oil permeates the pipe wall, oozes out of the pipe, and falls by its own weight, so that the refrigerant gas and the oil are separated.
The oil that has fallen is led out of the closed container 109 through an oil return pipe 108 that penetrates the bottom surface of the closed container 109 and the compressor 101
By returning to and lubricating the sliding portion, the oil separation efficiency is improved and the performance of the air conditioner can be improved. In this embodiment, the pipe is constructed by braiding the third conduit B3b with a wire of 0.1 mm, but the material, diameter and knitting of the braiding thread are not limited.

FIG. 3 shows a vertical sectional view of an oil separator according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.
Steel wool block 31 and steel wool block 31 inside
A hole is provided between the first conduit 1 and the second conduit 2 in the third conduit C3.
c, the first conduit 1 and the second conduit 2 are respectively the third conduit C
It is plugged into 3c. In the above-described configuration, the refrigerant gas and the oil collide with the wall when passing through the third conduit C3c, but due to this collision action, the oil adheres to the wall of the third conduit C3c and the refrigerant gas remains in the third conduit C3c. Pass through and exit to the top. On the other hand, the oil adhering to the wall of the third conduit C3c is
Since the wall of the conduit C3c is composed of the steel wool block 31, it is quickly taken inside. Since the oil taken in falls by its own weight, the refrigerant gas and the oil are separated. In the process of dropping the oil, there is no flow of the refrigerant gas inside the steel wool lump 31. Therefore, the phenomenon of rolling up the oil by the refrigerant gas and the phenomenon that the oil once taken in returns to the main stream together with the refrigerant do not occur. The dropped oil is led out of the closed container 109 through the oil return pipe 108 that penetrates the bottom surface of the closed container 109, returns to the compressor 101, and lubricates the sliding portion. Prevents re-scattering and improves the performance of the air conditioner. In this embodiment, the steel wool lump 31 is made by randomly forming a wire of 0.1 mm, but the material, diameter and knitting of the yarn are not limited.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of an oil separator according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.
A third conduit D3d is connected between the first conduit 1 and the second conduit 2 therein by brazing or gluing. In the above configuration, since the third conduit D3d uses the meandering pipe, when the refrigerant gas and the oil pass through the third conduit D3d, the passage is bent, so that the wall is reliably impacted and more oil is collected. Can be caught. The oil adhering to the wall of the third conduit D3d jets out from the hole 4 in the wall of the third conduit D3d and falls by its own weight. The oil that fell is a closed container 109
The oil return pipe 108 penetrating the bottom surface of the oil is drawn out of the closed container 109 to return to the compressor 101 to lubricate the sliding portion, more reliably capture the oil, improve the oil separation efficiency, and improve the air conditioning. The performance of the machine can be improved.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of an oil separator according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, a third conduit E3e is shown.
Has a configuration in which one of the pipe A6a and the pipe B6b is connected to the pipe inlet portion 5a, and the other is connected to the pipe inlet portion 5b. The third conduit E3e is the first in the closed container 109.
A third conduit E3e is connected between the conduit 1 and the second conduit 2 by brazing or gluing. In the above-described configuration, the third conduit E3e has two passages of the pipe A6a and the pipe B6b, so that the area of the pipe wall is widened, so that the refrigerant gas and the oil collide with the wall more reliably, so that more oil can be captured. it can. The oil adhering to the wall of the third conduit E3e is the third
It jets out from the hole 4 in the wall of the conduit E3e and falls by its own weight. The dropped oil is led out of the closed container 109 through the oil return pipe 108 penetrating the bottom surface of the closed container 109, and returns to the compressor 101 to lubricate the sliding portion. By preventing the oil from rolling up and re-scattering due to, the oil separation efficiency is improved and the performance of the air conditioner can be improved.

In this embodiment, the third conduit E3e is composed of two pipes A6a and B6b, but the number of pipes is not limited.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. The same parts as those in the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted.

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an oil separator according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, a cylindrical closed container 109 is penetrated through the central portion of the bottom surface of the closed container 109 to form an inside of the closed container 109. First conduit 1 protruding to the outside and closed container 10
A second conduit 2 penetrating the central part of the bottom surface of 9 is connected by brazing, welding or gluing. Airtight container 109
A third conduit A3a is connected between the first conduit 1 and the second conduit 2 therein by brazing, welding or gluing, and a plurality of holes 4 are provided in the third conduit A3a. An oil return pipe 108 that penetrates the bottom surface of the closed container 109 is connected to the lower part of the closed container 109 by brazing, welding or bonding.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. In FIG. 1, solid arrows indicate the flow of refrigerant gas, and broken arrows indicate the flow of oil. The refrigerant gas and oil discharged from the compressor 101 enter from the first conduit 1 and pass through the third conduit A3a. While the refrigerant and the oil collide with the wall while passing through the third conduit A3a, the collision causes the oil to adhere to the wall of the third conduit A3a, and the refrigerant gas passes through the third conduit A3a as it is and escapes to the upper part. It flows out of the closed container 109 through the conduit 2 and circulates in the cycle. On the other hand, the oil adhering to the wall of the third conduit A3a is ejected from the flow hole 4 along the wall and drops due to its own weight, so that the refrigerant gas and the oil are separated. In the process of dropping the oil, there is no large flow of the refrigerant gas, and therefore the oil winding phenomenon due to the refrigerant gas does not occur. The dropped oil is led out of the closed container 109 through the oil return pipe 108 that penetrates the bottom surface of the closed container 109, returns to the compressor 101, and lubricates the sliding portion.

As described above, according to the oil separator of the first embodiment of the present invention, the oil-winding phenomenon and re-scattering due to the refrigerant gas are prevented, the oil separation efficiency is improved, and the performance of the air conditioner can be improved.

Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
Will be described with reference to. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the figure, a third conduit B3b is connected between the first conduit 1 and the second conduit 2 in the closed container 109 by brazing welding or bonding.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. When the refrigerant gas and the oil pass through the third conduit B3b, they impact the wall, but due to this collision action, the oil adheres to the wall of the third conduit B3b, and the refrigerant gas passes through the third conduit B3b as it is and escapes to the upper part. .
On the other hand, the oil attached to the wall of the third conduit B3b is
Since the wall of b is made of cloth, it permeates the pipe wall, oozes out of the pipe, and falls by its own weight, so that the refrigerant gas and oil are separated. The dropped oil is led out of the closed container 109 through the oil return pipe 108 that penetrates the bottom surface of the closed container 109, returns to the compressor 101, and lubricates the sliding portion.

As described above, according to the oil separator of the second embodiment of the present invention, the efficiency of oil separation from the refrigerant gas is improved, and the performance of the air conditioner can be improved.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
Will be described with reference to. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the figure, the steel wool lump 31 is provided inside the closed container 109, and the first conduit 1 is attached to the steel wool lump 31.
And a hole between the second conduit 2 to form a third conduit C3c,
The first conduit 1 and the second conduit 2 are respectively inserted into the third conduit C3c.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. The refrigerant gas and the oil collide with the wall when passing through the third conduit C3c, but due to this collision action, the oil adheres to the wall of the third conduit C3c, and the refrigerant gas passes through the third conduit C3b as it is and escapes to the upper part. .
On the other hand, the oil attached to the wall of the third conduit C3c is
Since the wall of c is composed of the steel wool block 31, it is quickly taken inside. Since the oil taken in falls by its own weight, the refrigerant gas and the oil are separated.
In the process of dropping the oil, there is no flow of the refrigerant gas inside the steel wool lump 31. Therefore, the phenomenon of rolling up the oil by the refrigerant gas and the phenomenon that the oil once taken in returns to the main stream together with the refrigerant do not occur. The dropped oil is led out of the closed container 109 through the oil return pipe 108 that penetrates the bottom surface of the closed container 109, returns to the compressor 101, and lubricates the sliding portion.

As described above, according to the oil separator of the third embodiment of the present invention, the performance of the air conditioner can be improved by preventing the oil winding phenomenon and re-scattering due to the refrigerant gas.

Next, the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
Will be described with reference to. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the figure, a third conduit D3d is connected between the first conduit 1 and the second conduit 2 in the closed container 109 by brazing welding or bonding.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. Third conduit D3
Since d is a meandering pipe, when the refrigerant gas and the oil pass through the third conduit D3d, the passage is bent, so that it reliably collides with the wall, so that more oil can be captured. The oil attached to the wall of the third conduit D3d is
It spouts out from the hole 4 in the wall and falls by its own weight. The oil that has dropped is the oil return pipe 10 that has penetrated the bottom surface of the closed container 109.
8 is led out of the closed container 109 and returns to the compressor 101 to lubricate the sliding portion.

As described above, according to the oil separator of the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the oil can be captured more reliably, the oil separation efficiency is improved, and the performance of the air conditioner can be improved.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
Will be described with reference to. The same parts as those in the fourth embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the figure, the third conduit E3e is provided with a pipe inlet 5
One of the pipe A6a and the pipe B6b is connected to a, and the other is connected to the pipe inlet portion 5b.
The third conduit E3e is connected to the first conduit 1 and the second conduit 1 in the closed container 109.
A third conduit E3e is connected between the conduits 2 by brazing or gluing.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. Third conduit E3
Since e has two passages of the pipe A6a and the pipe B6b, the area of the pipe wall is widened, so that the refrigerant gas and the oil collide with the wall more reliably, so that more oil can be captured. The oil adhering to the wall of the third conduit E3e jets out from the hole 4 in the wall of the third conduit E3e and falls by its own weight. The dropped oil is led out of the closed container 109 through the oil return pipe 108 that penetrates the bottom surface of the closed container 109, returns to the compressor 101, and lubricates the sliding portion.

As described above, according to the oil separator of the fifth embodiment of the present invention, the oil can be captured more reliably, the oil separation efficiency can be improved, and the performance of the air conditioner can be improved.

[0042]

As is apparent from the above embodiments, according to the present invention, the refrigerant gas and the oil flowing from the first conduit are separated into the third gas.
When passing through the conduit A, it collides with the wall of the third conduit A, and due to this collision, oil adheres to the wall and flows out of the pipe through the hole in the wall, and the refrigerant and oil flows do not interfere with each other, so they are separated. The effect of preventing re-scattering of oil and achieving good oil separation efficiency is obtained.

Further, since the pipe wall is made of a cloth-like material and has innumerable holes, more oil adhering to the wall can be ejected outside the pipe, so that the refrigerant and the oil can be separated. The effect that can be performed more favorably is obtained.

Further, when the refrigerant gas and oil flowing from the first conduit collide with the wall of the third conduit C when passing through the third conduit C,
A part of the refrigerant may spout out of the pipe together with the mist-like oil, and then enter the pipe through the other holes into the pipe together with the oil, but part of the spout comes out by the wool filling the inside of the cylindrical closed container. Since the refrigerant and the oil can also be separated, the effect that the refrigerant and the oil can be separated more favorably is obtained.

Since the third conduit D is meandering,
The refrigerant gas and the oil flowing from the first conduit are more likely to collide with the wall of the third conduit D when passing through the third conduit D, so that the refrigerant and the oil can be more effectively separated. .

Further, since the wall surface area can be increased by providing a plurality of conduits arranged between the first conduit and the second conduit, it becomes easier to collide with the wall of the third conduit E, and the refrigerant and oil It is possible to obtain the effect that the separation can be performed even better.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an oil separator according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of an oil separator according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of an oil separator according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of an oil separator according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of an oil separator according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a refrigeration cycle configuration diagram of a conventional air conditioner.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a conventional oil separator.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 1st conduit 2 2nd conduit 3a 3rd conduit A 3b 3rd conduit B 3c 3rd conduit C 3d 3rd conduit D 3e 3rd conduit E 4 hole 108 oil return pipe 109 closed container

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A cylindrical hermetic container, a first conduit penetrating a central portion of a bottom surface of the hermetic container and protruding into the hermetic container, and a second conduit penetrating a central portion of a top surface of the hermetic container.
An oil separator provided with a third conduit A having a plurality of holes in a pipe wall arranged between the first conduit and the second conduit, and an oil return pipe penetrating a bottom surface of the closed container. 2. The oil separator according to claim 1, wherein the third conduit B is formed of a cloth-like material. 3. The oil separator according to claim 1, wherein a wool filling the inside of the cylindrical closed container and a third conduit C are formed by providing a resistance between the wool and the first conduit and the second conduit. 4. The oil separator according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a third conduit D arranged between the first conduit and the second conduit is meandered. 5. The first conduit E arranged between the first conduit and the second conduit is constituted by a plurality of conduits.
The oil separator according to 2, 3, or 4.