JPH1194399A - Refrigerant distributor and air conditioner using it - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerant distributor and an air conditioner using this particular distributor in the case where the refrigerant distributor is, by means of a simple constitution, capable of clearing a gas-liquid mixture fluid of unevenness in liquid density. SOLUTION: This refrigerant distributor consists of a three-way branch pipe 4, comprising a main pipe 11 and two branch pipes 12, 13 which branch off from the main pipe 11 downstream. It is possible for unevenness to occur in liquid density in the refrigerant put in a state of gas-liquid mixture in the branch pipes 12, 13. Close to the branch pipe 12 having possibility of the liquid density becoming higher a projecting part 10 which interferes with a flow of refrigerant flowing into the branch pipe 12 is formed on the main pipe 11. The projecting part 10 is formed by depressing a part in the outside surface of the main pipe 11. This three-way branch pipe 4 is connected to the liquid pipe side 2 of an indoor heat exchanger 1 to make up an air conditioner.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerant distribution device provided in a refrigerant flow passage of an air conditioner or the like and an air conditioner including the refrigerant distribution device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 2 is a side view of an indoor heat exchanger 21 provided in an indoor unit of a conventional air conditioner. The indoor heat exchanger 21 is configured as a folded heat exchanger, and a liquid pipe 22 that functions as an evaporator and flows a refrigerant in a gas-liquid mixed state during a cooling operation, and a gas pipe 23 that flows out a refrigerant after evaporation is connected. ing. In addition, the indoor heat exchanger 21 has a plurality of refrigerant circulation paths in order to further exert the heat exchange capacity. That is, the liquid pipe 22 is connected to the main pipe 31.
And two branch branches 32, 3 branching from the main pipe 31.
3 through the three-way branch pipe 24 composed of
And allows the refrigerant in a gas-liquid mixed state to flow to the front side of the indoor heat exchanger 21 as shown by the solid line in the figure and to flow to the back side of the indoor heat exchanger 21 as shown by the broken line. That's what it means. The refrigerant flowing in the indoor heat exchanger 21 is returned to the gas pipe 23 via the gas branch pipes 34, 34, respectively. The plurality of refrigerant flow pipes extending into the indoor heat exchanger 21 are provided with a U-shaped pipe 25 at one end, and the other end (not shown) is bent into a U-shape to form a continuous flow. A refrigerant flow passage is formed. The liquid pipe 22 and the gas pipe 23 are provided with a heat insulating coating 2.
7 are provided.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional air conditioner, the liquid pipe 22 immediately before being connected to the indoor heat exchanger 21 extends substantially in the horizontal direction. Therefore, in the gas-liquid mixed state refrigerant flowing through the liquid pipe 22 during the cooling operation, the lower liquid density is higher than the upper liquid density due to gravity in the laterally extended portion as shown by the oblique lines in FIG. Tend to be. Further, the liquid pipe 22 in the above-mentioned portion is provided with gas branch pipes 34, 34.
It is curved so as to protrude downward so as to avoid interference with For this reason, a centrifugal force is applied to the refrigerant flowing through this portion, so that the liquid density of the refrigerant in the liquid pipe 22 tends to increase further on the lower side. As a result of such an inflow angle being given to the refrigerant flowing into the three-way branch pipe 24, the liquid density in the branch branch pipe 32 of the three-way branch pipe 24 that allows the refrigerant to flow into the front side of the indoor heat exchanger 21 is reduced. , Refrigerant into the indoor heat exchanger 2
There is a problem that the liquid density becomes higher than the liquid density in the branch branch pipe 33 that flows into the back side of the refrigerant pipe 1, and a refrigerant drifts in the indoor heat exchanger 21, and the heat exchange capacity is reduced. When the degree of the drift is high, there is also a problem that dew condensation occurs on a fan rotor (not shown).

On the other hand, FIG. 3 shows a three-way branch pipe 2 as described above.
4 shows a conventional air conditioner in which the liquid pipe 22 and the branch pipes 32 and 33 are connected via a flow divider 36 instead of using the conventional air conditioner 4. The flow divider 36 causes the refrigerant flowing from the liquid pipe 22 side to once collide with a wall formed therein, and agitates the gas-liquid mixed refrigerant by the impact at this time, thereby eliminating uneven distribution of liquid density. It is like that. However, in such an air conditioner, although the drift of the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger 21 can be eliminated, a special flow divider 36 is required, which complicates the structure and contributes to an increase in cost. Piping 2
There is a problem in that it is difficult to route the devices 2 and 23, which hinders downsizing of the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, and an object of the invention is to provide a refrigerant capable of eliminating uneven distribution of liquid density in a gas-liquid mixed fluid with a simple configuration. An object of the present invention is to provide a flow dividing device and an air conditioner using the refrigerant dividing device.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerant distribution device, comprising: a main pipe in a refrigerant flow passage; and a plurality of branch pipes branching from the main pipe to a downstream side.
2 and 13, wherein the liquid density in the gas-liquid mixed fluid is likely to be unevenly distributed due to the inflow angle of the refrigerant and the like. It is characterized in that a protruding portion 10 that interferes with the refrigerant flow flowing into the branch branch pipe 12 is provided in the vicinity of the branch branch pipe 12 that is likely to be formed.

In the refrigerant distribution device of the first aspect, the main pipe 1
The flow direction of the gas-liquid mixed fluid having a high liquid density is deflected by interfering the protrusion 10 provided on the inner side surface 1 with the refrigerant flow. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate uneven distribution of liquid density in the refrigerant distribution device without separately providing a special member.

[0008] The refrigerant distribution device according to claim 2 is characterized in that the protruding portion 10 is formed by recessing the outer surface of the main pipe 11 inward.

In the refrigerant distribution device according to the second aspect, the amount of interference between the protrusion 10 and the refrigerant flow can be easily adapted to the degree of uneven distribution of the liquid density.

Further, an air conditioner using the refrigerant distribution device according to claim 3 is configured such that the refrigerant distribution device according to claim 1 or 2 is connected to the liquid pipe 2 side of the indoor heat exchanger 1. Features.

In the air conditioner using the refrigerant distribution device according to the third aspect, the liquid density of the refrigerant flow in the refrigerant distribution device is made uniform, so that the indoor heat exchanger having a plurality of refrigerant distribution paths can be efficiently used. It is possible to function.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, specific embodiments of the refrigerant distribution device and the air conditioner using the refrigerant distribution device of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view of an indoor heat exchanger 1 provided in an indoor unit of the air conditioner. The indoor heat exchanger 1 is configured as a folded heat exchanger, and a liquid pipe 2 that functions as an evaporator and that allows a refrigerant in a gas-liquid mixed state to flow during a cooling operation;
A gas pipe 3 through which the evaporated refrigerant flows out is connected. The liquid pipe 2 is connected to the main pipe 11 of the three-way branch pipe 4 including a main pipe 11 and two branch pipes 12 and 13 branched from the main pipe 11. Then, as shown by two solid arrows in the figure, the refrigerant in a gas-liquid mixed state is circulated from each of the branch pipes 12 and 13 to both the front side and the rear side of the indoor heat exchanger 1, and the indoor heat exchange is performed. A plurality of refrigerant flow paths are formed in the vessel 1 so that the heat exchange capacity of the refrigerant flow path is exerted more. That is, the three-way branch pipe 4 functions as a refrigerant distribution device. The refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchanger 1 during the cooling operation is returned to the gas pipe 3 via the gas branch pipes 14 and 14, respectively.

The liquid pipe 2 and the gas pipe 3 are extended laterally from the upper rear side to the front side of the indoor heat exchanger 1 so as not to interfere with the fan motor. It is to be connected. Further, in order to route the liquid pipe 2 so as to avoid interference with the extended gas branch pipes 14, 14, a portion of the three-way branch pipe 4 immediately before being connected to the main pipe 11 has a downward convex shape. It is formed so as to be curved. The plurality of refrigerant flow pipes extending into the indoor heat exchanger 21 are provided with a U-shaped pipe 5 at one end, and the other end (not shown) is bent into a U-shape to form a continuous flow. A refrigerant flow passage is formed. Further, a heat insulating coating 7 is provided on the liquid pipe 2 and the gas pipe 3.

Next, the three-way branch pipe 4 will be described. The three-way branch pipe 4 functions as a refrigerant distribution device as described above, and includes a main pipe 11 and two branch branches 12 and 13 branched from the main pipe 11. Further, the main pipe 11 is adjacent to a branch branch pipe 12 through which the refrigerant flows into the front side of the indoor heat exchanger 1 during the cooling operation, and a peripheral surface near the branch point is recessed inward. Due to this depression, a mountain-shaped projection 10 is formed on the inner surface of the main pipe 11.

In the air conditioner, during the cooling operation, the refrigerant decompressed by the decompression mechanism (not shown) such as a capillary tube flows into the indoor heat exchanger 1 via the liquid pipe 2 and the three-way branch pipe 4. I do. At this time, the refrigerant flowing into the indoor heat exchanger 1 is in a gas-liquid mixed state. However, in the liquid pipe 2 extending in the lateral direction, the lower liquid density is lower than the upper liquid density due to gravity. Get higher. Further, the liquid pipe 2 is curved so that the portion immediately before being connected to the indoor heat exchanger 1 is convex downward as described above. Therefore, the liquid density of the refrigerant in the gas-liquid mixed state is further higher on the lower side of the liquid pipe 2 than on the upper side due to the centrifugal force when passing through the curved portion. When the refrigerant flows into the three-way branch pipe 11 as it is,
Depending on the inflow angle, the liquid density of the refrigerant in the branch pipes 12 and 13 differs as in a conventional air conditioner. However, in the air conditioner, as a refrigerant distribution device,
A three-way branch pipe 4 having a protruding portion 10 provided on the inner surface of a main pipe 11 is used in the vicinity of a branch branch pipe 12 where the liquid density may be high. Accordingly, the flow of the refrigerant toward the branch branch pipe 12 interferes with the protruding portion 10, and a part thereof flows toward the other branch branch pipe 13. Therefore, of the three-way branch pipe 4, the liquid density in the branch branch pipe 12 for flowing the refrigerant to the front side of the indoor heat exchanger 1 and the branch branch pipe for flowing the refrigerant to the rear side of the indoor heat exchanger 1 are described. The liquid density at 13 becomes substantially equal, and the conventional problem that the heat exchange capacity is reduced due to the drift of the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger 1 can be solved. Therefore, dew condensation on the fan rotor that occurs when the degree of the drift is strong can be avoided. In addition, since a special member such as the above-described conventional flow divider is not required, this does not contribute to an increase in cost and does not hinder downsizing of the device.

The projecting portion 10 of the three-way branch pipe 4 is formed by recessing the outer surface of the main pipe 11 inward. Therefore, it can be easily formed and the amount of protrusion can be freely adjusted. Therefore, the protrusion 10 suitable for uneven distribution of the liquid density in the liquid pipe 2 can be easily formed.

Although the specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be implemented with various modifications within the scope of the present invention. Although the refrigerant distribution device is formed as the three-way branch pipe 4 in the above description, it may be configured as a branch pipe having more branch branches. In the above description, the refrigerant distribution device configured as the three-way branch pipe 4 is used for an indoor unit of an air conditioner. Can be used.

[0019]

According to the refrigerant distribution device of the first aspect, the flow direction of the gas-liquid mixed fluid having a high liquid density is deflected by causing the refrigerant flow to interfere with the protrusion provided on the inner surface of the main pipe. . Therefore, it is possible to eliminate uneven distribution of liquid density in the refrigerant distribution device without separately providing a special member.

Further, in the refrigerant distribution device according to the second aspect, the amount of interference between the protrusion and the refrigerant flow can be easily adapted to the degree of uneven distribution of the liquid density.

Furthermore, in the air conditioner using the refrigerant distribution device according to the third aspect, since the liquid density of the refrigerant flow in the refrigerant distribution device is made uniform, the indoor heat exchanger having a plurality of refrigerant distribution paths can be efficiently used. It is possible to function.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an indoor heat exchanger provided in an air conditioner using a refrigerant distribution device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an indoor heat exchanger provided in a conventional air conditioner.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an indoor heat exchanger provided in a conventional air conditioner.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Indoor heat exchanger 2 Liquid pipe 10 Projection part 11 Main pipe 12 Branch branch 13 Branch branch

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A main pipe (11) in a refrigerant flow passage.
And a plurality of branch branches (12) (13) branching from the main pipe (11) to the downstream side. The gas-liquid mixed fluid in each branch branch (12) (13) depends on the inflow angle of the refrigerant and the like. In the refrigerant distribution device in which the liquid density may be unevenly distributed, the inner branch surface of the main pipe (11) is located close to the branch pipe (12) in which the liquid density of the gas-liquid mixed fluid may be higher. And a protrusion (10) that interferes with the flow of the refrigerant flowing into the branch branch pipe (12). 2. The main pipe (1), wherein the projecting portion (10) is connected to the main pipe (1).
The refrigerant distribution device according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of (1) is formed by recessing inward. 3. An air using a refrigerant distribution device, wherein the refrigerant distribution device according to claim 1 or 2 is connected to a liquid pipe (2) side of an indoor heat exchanger (1). Harmony machine.