KR102127382B1 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an air conditioning apparatus, according to an aspect of the present invention, a plurality of inlet ports and a plurality of discharge ports connected to each inlet port and a plurality of refrigerant tubes connecting each inlet port and a corresponding discharge port, and A heat exchanger including a plurality of fins for supporting the refrigerant tube; and a plurality of inlet tubes connected to each inlet port; And a plurality of discharge tubes connected to each discharge port, wherein at least two refrigerant tubes are provided with air conditioning devices having different lengths through which refrigerant flows.

Description

Air conditioner {Air conditioner}

The present invention relates to an air conditioning apparatus, and more particularly, to an air conditioning apparatus capable of increasing operating efficiency.

In general, an air conditioner is a device that cools or heats an indoor space such as a residential space, restaurant, or office.

In addition, the air conditioner includes a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and an outdoor heat exchanger, and cools or heats the indoor space according to the circulation direction of the refrigerant.

The air conditioner may include an outdoor unit installed in an outdoor space and an indoor unit installed in an indoor space, wherein the outdoor unit is a compressor for compressing refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger for heat exchange of refrigerant with outdoor air, a blower fan, and the compressor And various piping connecting the indoor unit, and the indoor unit may include an indoor heat exchanger and an expansion valve for heat exchange between indoor air and refrigerant.

At this time, in order to check the status information of the air conditioning system, various pipes are equipped with temperature sensors, and the temperature sensors measure the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the pipes through contact with the pipes.

Specifically, the temperature sensors are respectively mounted at predetermined positions of the corresponding pipe to measure the refrigerant inlet temperature and the refrigerant discharge temperature of the indoor heat exchanger or the outdoor heat exchanger.

Here, since the superheat degree of the refrigerant is an important indicator for increasing the operation efficiency, it is important to accurately measure the superheat degree of the refrigerant with a temperature sensor and maintain it at an appropriate level.

Meanwhile, the indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger may have a fin-tube method, and a plurality of refrigerant tubes for flowing refrigerant have a structure supported by a plurality of fins.

At this time, pressure loss occurs in the process of the refrigerant passing through the refrigerant tube. The pressure loss of the refrigerant causes a difference between the measured superheat and the actual superheat, and the difference in actual operation efficiency is caused by this difference.

An object of the present invention is to solve the problem of providing an air conditioner capable of improving the operation efficiency.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to solve the problem of providing an air conditioner capable of reducing the difference between the measured superheat and the actual superheat of the evaporator or condenser.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to solve the problem of providing an air conditioner capable of increasing the reliability of the measurement superheat.

In addition, the present invention is to solve the problem of providing an air conditioning apparatus that can improve the rated performance of the evaporator or condenser.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to solve the problem of providing an air conditioner capable of optimally implementing superheat control regardless of the refrigerant flow rate.

In order to solve the above problems, according to an aspect of the present invention, a plurality of inlet ports and a plurality of discharge ports connected to each inlet port and a plurality of refrigerant tubes connecting each of the inlet ports and the corresponding discharge ports and the refrigerant A heat exchanger including a plurality of fins for supporting the tube; and a plurality of inlet tubes connected to each inlet port; And a plurality of discharge tubes connected to each discharge port.

Here, at least two refrigerant tubes have different lengths through which the refrigerant flows.

Further, the length of one refrigerant tube may be determined to be equal to or less than the length of the other refrigerant tube.

In addition, the length of one refrigerant tube may be determined such that a pressure loss of ½ or less of the pressure loss occurring in the other refrigerant tube occurs.

In addition, the air conditioning device may further include at least one temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the refrigerant tube having a short length.

In addition, the air conditioning apparatus may include a first pipe branched into the plurality of inlet tubes; and a second pipe connected to the plurality of discharge tubes; And a first temperature sensor provided in the inlet tube connected to the refrigerant tube having a short length.

In addition, the air conditioning device may further include a second temperature sensor provided in the second pipe.

Further, at least two refrigerant tubes may be formed to have the same length in which the refrigerant flows.

In addition, according to another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of inlet ports and a plurality of discharge ports connected to each inlet port and a plurality of refrigerant tubes connecting each of the inlet ports and the corresponding discharge ports and for supporting the refrigerant tubes A heat exchanger including a plurality of fins; and a plurality of inlet tubes connected to each inlet port; and a plurality of outlet tubes connected to each outlet port; and a first pipe branched into the plurality of inlet tubes; and the plurality of A second pipe to which the discharge tube is laminated; and an expansion valve provided on the first pipe; and a plurality of temperature sensors for measuring the degree of superheat of the refrigerant passing through the refrigerant tube and a control unit for adjusting the opening degree of the expansion valve An air conditioning apparatus comprising a.

Here, in order to reduce the difference between the measured superheat and the actual superheat, the length of at least one refrigerant tube is formed shorter than the remaining refrigerant tubes, and at least one temperature sensor is provided to measure the temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the refrigerant tube having a shorter length. do.

In addition, the plurality of temperature sensors may include a first temperature sensor provided in an inlet tube connected to a refrigerant tube having a short length and a second temperature sensor provided in the second pipe.

Here, the length of the refrigerant tube having a short length may be determined to be equal to or less than the length of another refrigerant tube.

In addition, the length of the refrigerant tube having a short length may be determined to cause pressure loss of ½ or less of the average pressure loss occurring in other refrigerant tubes.

As described above, the air conditioning apparatus related to an embodiment of the present invention has the following effects.

By optimally implementing superheat control regardless of the refrigerant flow rate, it is possible to improve the rated performance of the evaporator or condenser.

In addition, the reliability of the measured superheat can be improved by reducing the difference between the measured superheat and the actual superheat of the evaporator or condenser.

In addition, by minimizing the error between the superheat measured by the temperature sensor and the actual superheat, it is possible to perform practical high-efficiency operation.

1 is a conceptual diagram of an air conditioner related to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram of an air conditioning apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 and 4 are conceptual views of a heat exchanger constituting an air conditioning apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, an air conditioner related to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings illustrate exemplary forms of the present invention, which are provided to describe the present invention in detail, and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention.

In addition, regardless of reference numerals, the same or corresponding components are assigned the same reference numerals, and duplicate description thereof will be omitted, and for convenience of description, the size and shape of each component shown may be exaggerated or reduced. have.

1 is a conceptual diagram of an air conditioning apparatus related to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an air conditioning apparatus related to an embodiment of the present invention.

The air conditioning apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a compressor 13, an indoor heat exchanger 11, an expansion valve 15, and an outdoor heat exchanger 12.

The compressor 13 performs a function of making a refrigerant at a high temperature and a high pressure capable of condensing a low temperature and low pressure refrigerant, and a plurality of the compressors 13 may be provided. In addition, when a plurality of the compressors 13 are provided, the plurality of compressors may be provided in parallel along the flow direction of the refrigerant, or may be provided in series.

In addition, the indoor heat exchanger 11 and the outdoor heat exchanger 12 may perform the functions of the evaporator and the condenser in the cooling mode, respectively, and may perform the functions of the condenser and the evaporator in the heating mode, respectively. The indoor heat exchanger 11 and the outdoor heat exchanger 12 may be fin-tube heat exchangers.

In addition, an indoor fan 16 may be provided on the indoor heat exchanger 11 side, and an outdoor fan 17 may be provided on the outdoor heat exchanger 12 side.

In addition, the air conditioner 10 may include a flow path switching valve 14 for switching the circulation direction of the refrigerant so that the cooling cycle and the heating cycle are switched, and the flow path switching valve 14 is four-way (Four -way) valve.

The air conditioner 10 separates the oil separator (not shown) for returning the oil discharged together with the refrigerant from the compressor 13 back to the compressor 13 and the refrigerant not evaporated in the evaporator, so that the liquid refrigerant is a compressor. (13) It may further include a liquid separator (not shown) for preventing entry into.

In addition, the air conditioning device 10 may be provided with one or more sensors for detecting the state information of the air conditioning device and the air conditioning device 10, such as a temperature sensor and / or humidity sensor, the flow of refrigerant Various valves may be provided for controlling.

Specifically, the air conditioner 10 measures the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the first heat sensor 19 and the indoor heat exchanger or the outdoor heat exchanger for measuring the temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the indoor heat exchanger or the outdoor heat exchanger. It may include a second temperature sensor 20 for.

In addition, the air conditioning device 10 adjusts the opening degree of the compressor 13 and/or the expansion valve 15 based on temperature information sensed by the first temperature sensor 19 and the second temperature sensor 20. It may include a control unit 18 for. The control unit 18 may control the indoor fan 16 and the outdoor fan 17 according to the required load.

As described above, the indoor heat exchanger 11 and the outdoor heat exchanger 12 may be fin-tube heat exchangers, and perform different functions (evaporation and condensation of refrigerant) based on the cooling mode and the heating mode. can do.

Hereinafter, for convenience of description, a case will be described in which the indoor heat exchanger operates as an evaporator (cooling mode of the air conditioner) based on an indoor heat exchanger (hereinafter also referred to as a heat exchanger or a first heat exchanger).

3 and 4 are conceptual diagrams of a heat exchanger 100 constituting an air conditioning apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As described above, the heat exchanger 100 corresponds to the indoor heat exchanger 11 described through FIG. 1.

The heat exchanger 100 has a plurality of inlet ports (101 to 103) and a plurality of discharge ports (111 to 113) and each of the inlet ports (101 to 103) and corresponding discharge respectively connected to each inlet port (101 to 103) It includes a plurality of refrigerant tubes (171 to 173) connecting the ports (111 to 113) and a plurality of fins (120: 121 to 123) for supporting the refrigerant tubes (171 to 173).

For convenience of description, the plurality of inlet ports 101 to 103 are referred to as first inlet ports 101 to third inlet ports 103, and the plurality of outlet ports 111 to 113 are first outlet ports ( 111) to the third discharge port 113, the plurality of refrigerant tubes (171 to 173) is referred to as the first refrigerant tube (171) to the third refrigerant tube (173).

At this time, the refrigerant introduced through the first inlet port 101 flows through the first refrigerant tube 171 and is then discharged through the first outlet port 111. In addition, the refrigerant introduced through the second inlet port 102 flows through the second refrigerant tube 172 and is then discharged through the second outlet port 112. In addition, the refrigerant introduced through the third inlet port 103 flows through the third refrigerant tube 173 and is then discharged through the third outlet port 113.

In this case, the first to third refrigerant tubes 171 to 173 through which the refrigerant flows may be referred to as a first to third pass (Path: P1 to P3). The passes P1 to P3 of the heat exchanger 100 are designed based on the rated refrigerant flow rate.

In particular, when the indoor heat exchanger operates as an evaporator, the operation efficiency at low load becomes important, and when the indoor heat exchanger operates as a condenser, the rated/high load operation efficiency can be an important indicator. That is, assuming the case of operating as an evaporator, in the case of an indoor heat exchanger for low flow response, performance may decrease when operating as a condenser.

On the other hand, even when the refrigerant superheat degree measured from the first temperature sensor 19 and the second temperature sensor 20 is optimized to around 1 degree, when the refrigerant flow rate increases as the rated flow rate increases, due to the pressure loss inside the heat exchanger 100 In fact, it forms a high degree of superheat. In this way, when an error between the measured superheat and the actual superheat occurs, inefficient operation may be performed.

Therefore, when operating as an evaporator, it is possible to respond to a low flow rate, and when operating as a condenser, a pass design is required to increase the rated performance. That is, there is a need for a structure capable of optimally implementing superheat control regardless of the refrigerant flow rate.

To this end, at least two refrigerant tubes (for example, 171 and 172) are formed with different lengths through which the refrigerant flows.

For example, the first refrigerant tube 171 and the second refrigerant tube 172 have different lengths through which the refrigerant flows, and the first refrigerant tube 171 has a relatively short length through which the refrigerant flows. , The second refrigerant tube 172 may be formed to have a relatively long length in which the refrigerant flows.

That is, the above-described pass is divided into a control pass for efficiently performing superheating measurement and control regardless of the refrigerant flow rate and a low-load operation when operating as an evaporator, and a performance pass that can correspond to a rated flow rate when operating as a condenser. Can be. For example, the first refrigerant tube (first pass) may be a control pass, and the second refrigerant tube 172 and the third refrigerant tube 173 may be a performance pass.

In addition, in order to reduce the difference between the measured superheat and the actual superheat, the length of at least one refrigerant tube is shorter than the other refrigerant tubes.

In the case of a refrigerant tube (pass) formed with a relatively short length, a pressure loss is small in a process in which the refrigerant flows, so it is advantageous for temperature measurement to control superheat. That is, in the case of the control pass, the difference between the superheat measured by the temperature sensor and the actual superheat will not be large.

Meanwhile, when at least two refrigerant tubes have different lengths in which the refrigerant flows, the length of one refrigerant tube may be determined to be equal to or less than the length of the other refrigerant tube. For example, the length of the first refrigerant tube 171 may be determined to be less than or equal to the length of the second refrigerant tube 172.

In addition, when at least two refrigerant tubes have different lengths through which refrigerant flows, the length of one refrigerant tube may be determined such that a pressure loss of ½ or less of the pressure loss occurring in the other refrigerant tube occurs. For example, the length of the first refrigerant tube 171 may be determined such that a pressure loss of ½ or less of the pressure loss occurring in the second refrigerant tube 172 occurs.

As described above, both the second refrigerant tube 172 and the third refrigerant tube 173 may be performance passes.

In this case, the length of the refrigerant tube (first refrigerant tube) formed to have a short length may be determined to cause pressure loss of ½ or less of the average pressure loss occurring in other refrigerant tubes (second and third refrigerant tubes).

In addition, at least two refrigerant tubes may have the same length in which refrigerant flows, and when both the second refrigerant tube 172 and the third refrigerant tube 173 are performance passes, the second refrigerant tube 172 And the third refrigerant tube 172 may have the same length in which the refrigerant flows.

Hereinafter, the piping structure of the heat exchanger 100 will be described in more detail, the first refrigerant tube 171 is a control path P1, and the second and third refrigerant tubes 172 and 173 are performance paths P2. , P3) will be described as an example.

The air conditioner 10 includes a plurality of inlet tubes (131 to 133) connected to each inlet port (101 to 103) and a plurality of outlet tubes (141 to 143) connected to each outlet port (111 to 113). Includes.

A plurality of inlet tubes (131 to 133) includes a first inlet tube to a third inlet tube (131 to 133), the first inlet tube 131 is connected to the first inlet port 101, the second inlet The tube 132 is connected to the second inlet port 102, and the third inlet tube 133 is connected to the third inlet port 103.

Similarly, the plurality of discharge tubes 141 to 143 include first discharge tubes to third discharge tubes 141 to 143, and the first discharge tubes 141 are connected to the first discharge ports 111, and 2 The discharge tube 142 is connected to the second discharge port 112, and the third discharge tube 143 is connected to the third discharge port 113.

In addition, the air conditioning apparatus 10 includes a first pipe 150 branched into the plurality of inlet tubes 131 to 133 and a second pipe 160 to which the plurality of discharge tubes 141 to 143 are joined. Includes. Here, the above-described expansion valve 15 is provided on the first pipe 150.

In addition, the first pipe 150 may be provided with a refrigerant distributor 151 for branching refrigerant through the first to third inlet tubes 131 to 133.

On the other hand, the mounting position of the temperature sensor is important to reduce the error between the actual superheat and the measured superheat.

The air conditioner 10 includes at least one temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the refrigerant tube (the first refrigerant tube) having a short length.

Specifically, the air conditioner 10 includes a first temperature sensor 19 located in the inlet tube connected to the refrigerant tube having a short length. That is, the first temperature sensor 19 is provided on the first inlet tube 131 connected to the first refrigerant tube 171. The first temperature sensor 19 measures the inlet temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the control path (first refrigerant tube).

In addition, the air conditioning device 10 may further include a second temperature sensor 20 positioned in the second pipe 160. The second temperature sensor 20 measures the outlet temperature of the refrigerant that has passed through the heat exchanger 100. That is, the second temperature sensor 20 may be provided at a point where refrigerants passing through the first to third passes P1 to P3 are respectively collected.

Alternatively, the second temperature sensor 20 may be provided in the first discharge tube 141 connected to the control path P1.

So far, the case where the heat exchanger 100 (indoor heat exchanger) operates as an evaporator has been described as an example. Alternatively, when the heat exchanger 100 operates as a condenser, the second temperature sensor 20 will measure the condenser inlet temperature, and the second temperature sensor 19 will measure the condenser outlet temperature.

The controller 18 determines the superheat degree based on the temperature information detected by the first temperature sensor 19 and the second temperature sensor 20. In addition, the control unit 18 may adjust the opening degree of the compressor 13 and/or expansion valve 15 so that the measured superheat is maintained at an appropriate level.

4, the first to third refrigerant tubes 171 to 173 are fixed and supported by a plurality of fins 121 to 123. In addition, each refrigerant tube 171 to 173 may be mounted to a plurality of fins 121 to 123 in a bent state at least once. Reference numeral B denotes a return band, and indicates a bent region of each refrigerant tube 171 to 173.

In addition, the first refrigerant tube 171 is a control path (P1), the second and third refrigerant tubes (172, 173) is a performance path (P2, P3).

Therefore, the first refrigerant tube 171 has a shorter flow length of refrigerant than the second and third refrigerant tubes 172 and 173, and the second and third refrigerant tubes 172 and 173 are substantially refrigerant. The flow length of may be the same.

As described above, the length of the first refrigerant tube 171 may be determined to be less than or equal to the length of the second refrigerant tube 172.

In addition, the length of the first refrigerant tube 171 may be determined such that a pressure loss of ½ or less of the pressure loss occurring in the second refrigerant tube 172 occurs.

Further, the length of the first refrigerant tube 171 may be determined such that pressure loss of ½ or less of the average pressure loss occurring in the second and third refrigerant tubes 172 and 173 occurs.

3 and 4, the number of return bands of the second pass P2 and the number of return bands of the third pass P3 are the same, and the number of return bands of the first pass P1 is the second pass ( It can be seen that it is smaller than the number of return bands of P2).

For example, referring to FIG. 3, when the second pass P2 and the third pass P3 have five return bands, the first pass P1 may have two return bands.

In addition, the intervals d1 and d2 of the two inflow ports may be formed identically, and any interval h1 of the intervals h1 and h2 of two adjacent discharge ports is the other interval h2 It can be formed smaller.

Specifically, the interval d1 between the first inlet port 101 and the second inlet port 102 and the interval d2 between the second inlet port and the third inlet port 103 may be formed identically.

In addition, the distance h1 between the first discharge port 111 and the second discharge port 112 may be formed smaller than the distance h2 between the second discharge port 112 and the third discharge port 113.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention described above are disclosed for the purpose of illustration, and those skilled in the art having various knowledge of the present invention will be able to make various modifications, changes, and additions within the spirit and scope of the present invention. And additions should be considered to fall within the scope of the following claims.

10: air conditioning system 11: indoor heat exchanger
12: outdoor heat exchanger 13: compressor
14: four-way valve 15: expansion valve
18: control unit 19: first temperature sensor
20: second temperature sensor 100: heat exchanger

Claims (13)

A heat exchanger including a plurality of refrigerant tubes through which refrigerant flows;
It includes a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through any one of the plurality of refrigerant tubes,
The plurality of refrigerant tubes include a first refrigerant tube having the shortest length among the plurality of refrigerant tubes,
The temperature sensor is a first temperature sensor for measuring the inlet temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the first refrigerant tube,
An air conditioning apparatus comprising: measuring a temperature of the outlet of the refrigerant discharged from the first refrigerant tube, and including a second temperature sensor spaced apart from the first temperature sensor. According to claim 1,
The heat exchanger includes a plurality of inlet ports connected to the plurality of refrigerant tubes, and a plurality of inlet ports through which the refrigerant is supplied, and a plurality of outlet ports through which the refrigerant is discharged, respectively.
And a plurality of inflow tubes connected to the plurality of inflow ports, respectively, to which the refrigerant flows.
It is further connected to each of the plurality of discharge ports further comprises a plurality of discharge tubes through which the refrigerant is discharged,
The plurality of inlet tubes include a first inlet tube connected to the first refrigerant tube,
The plurality of discharge tubes include a first discharge tube connected to the first refrigerant tube,
The first temperature sensor is coupled to the first inlet tube,
The second temperature sensor is air conditioning apparatus characterized in that coupled to the first discharge tube. delete According to claim 2,
The first temperature sensor is provided in plurality in the first inlet tube,
The second temperature sensor is air conditioning apparatus characterized in that provided in plural number in the first discharge tube. According to claim 2,
A first pipe branched into the plurality of inflow tubes and
And a second pipe to which the plurality of discharge tubes are laminated. The method of claim 5,
Air conditioning apparatus characterized in that it further comprises a second temperature sensor provided in the second pipe. According to claim 1,
At least two refrigerant tubes among the plurality of refrigerant tubes are air-conditioning devices, characterized in that the same length of the refrigerant flow. According to claim 2,
The air conditioning apparatus characterized in that the intervals between two adjacent inflow ports among the plurality of inflow ports are all formed identically. The method of claim 8,
The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein any one of the gaps between two adjacent discharge ports among the plurality of discharge ports is formed smaller than the remaining gaps. The method of claim 5,
Expansion valve provided on the first pipe and
Air conditioning apparatus further comprising a control unit for adjusting the opening of the expansion valve. delete The method according to claim 1 or 10,
The air conditioning apparatus characterized in that the length of the first refrigerant tube is determined to be equal to or less than the length of another refrigerant tube. The method according to claim 1 or 10,
The length of the first refrigerant tube is air conditioning apparatus characterized in that the pressure loss is determined to occur less than ½ of the average pressure loss occurring in the other refrigerant tubes.

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