KR20200048378A - Outdoor heat exchanger and Air conditioner having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an outdoor heat exchanger and an air conditioner. The outdoor heat exchanger comprises: a first header pipe connected to a compressor; a first heat exchange portion which has one side connected to the first header pipe and exchanges heat between a refrigerant and air; a first distribution pipe connected to the other side of the first heat exchange portion and an indoor heat exchanger; a variable pass pipe connected to the first distribution pipe; a variable pass valve disposed on the variable pass pipe; a second header pipe connected to the first header pipe and the variable pass pipe; a second heat exchange portion which has one side connected to the second header pipe and exchanges heat between the refrigerant and the air; a second distribution pipe connected to the other side of the second heat exchange portion and the indoor heat exchanger; a bypass pipe connecting the first header pipe and the second header pipe; a bypass valve disposed on the bypass pipe and opened and closed to regulate the flow of the refrigerant; and a first expansion valve disposed on the first distribution pipe and a second expansion valve disposed on the second distribution pipe.

Description

Outdoor heat exchanger and air conditioner including the same

The present invention relates to an outdoor heat exchanger, and more particularly, to an outdoor heat exchanger with improved heat exchange capability.

In general, an air conditioner is a device for cooling or heating a room using a refrigeration cycle including a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and an indoor heat exchanger. That is, it may be composed of a cooler for cooling the room, and a heater for heating the room. In addition, it may be configured as an air conditioner combined with air conditioning to cool or heat the room.

When the air conditioner is configured as an air conditioner for both air conditioning and heating, it includes a four-way valve that changes the flow path of the compressed refrigerant in the compressor according to the cooling operation and the heating operation. That is, in the cooling operation, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor passes through the four-way valve to flow to the outdoor heat exchanger, and the outdoor heat exchanger acts as a condenser. Then, the refrigerant condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger expands in the expansion valve and then flows into the indoor heat exchanger. At this time, the indoor heat exchanger acts as an evaporator, and the refrigerant evaporated from the indoor heat exchanger passes through the four-way valve again and flows into the compressor.

Meanwhile, the refrigerant compressed in the compressor during the heating operation passes through the four-way valve to flow to the indoor heat exchanger, and the indoor heat exchanger serves as a condenser. Then, the refrigerant condensed in the indoor heat exchanger expands in the expansion valve and then flows into the outdoor heat exchanger. At this time, the outdoor heat exchanger acts as an evaporator, and the refrigerant evaporated from the outdoor heat exchanger passes through the four-way valve again and flows into the compressor.

The air conditioner according to the prior art has the same flow rate and path of the refrigerant passing through the outdoor heat exchanger in the cooling operation and the heating operation, and thus simply adjusts the frequency of the compressor according to the load when the cooling load and the heating load increase or decrease. The refrigerant path was not variable.

Therefore, the conventional air conditioner has a problem in that the efficiency of the air conditioner is deteriorated in various load environments, and there is a problem in that operation cannot be performed for various loads.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an outdoor heat exchanger in which the flow path of the refrigerant is variable during cooling operation and heating operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an outdoor heat exchanger in which a flow path of a refrigerant is variable during high load cooling operation and low load cooling operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an outdoor heat exchanger that reduces heat exchange between refrigerant and air during heating operation and increases heat exchange between refrigerant and air during cooling operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an outdoor heat exchanger with improved heat exchange amount and efficiency.

The problems of the present invention are not limited to the problems mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention features an outdoor heat exchanger that can be varied in various passes according to the operation mode and the heating and cooling load.

Specifically, a first header pipe connected to a compressor, a first heat exchange unit having one side connected to the first header pipe and exchanging refrigerant with air, a first distribution pipe connected to the other side of the first heat exchange unit and an indoor heat exchanger, the A variable pass pipe connected to the first distribution pipe, a variable pass valve disposed on the variable pass pipe, the first header pipe, a second header pipe connected to the variable pass pipe, and one side connected to the second header pipe, A second heat exchange unit for heat exchange of refrigerant with air, a second distribution pipe connected to the other side of the second heat exchange unit and the indoor heat exchanger, a bypass pipe connecting the first header pipe and the second header pipe, and to the bypass pipe A bypass valve that is disposed and is opened and closed to regulate the flow of refrigerant, a first expansion valve disposed in the first distribution pipe, and a second distribution pipe Includes a second expansion valve.

The first header pipe is connected to the second header pipe, and is disposed on the first header pipe and further includes a check valve to prevent refrigerant from flowing into the second header pipe from the first header pipe during cooling operation. can do.

The second heat exchange part may be disposed under the first heat exchange part.

The variable pass pipe may be connected to a first distribution pipe between the first window valve and the first heat exchanger.

In a high load cooling operation, the first expansion valve and the second expansion valve are opened, the variable pass valve is closed, and the bypass valve can be opened.

During a high load cooling operation, refrigerant compressed by the compressor may be introduced into the first heat exchanger, and refrigerant passing through the first header pipe and the second header pipe may be introduced into the second heat exchanger.

In a low load cooling operation, the first expansion valve is closed, the second expansion valve is opened, the variable pass valve is opened, and the bypass valve can be closed.

During a low load cooling operation, refrigerant compressed in the compressor may be introduced into the first heat exchange unit, and refrigerant exchanged in a first heat exchange unit may be introduced into the second heat exchange unit.

In the heating operation, the first expansion valve and the second expansion valve are opened, the variable pass valve is closed, and the bypass valve can be opened.

Details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and drawings.

According to the outdoor heat exchanger of the present invention, there are one or more of the following effects.

First, since the flow path of the refrigerant is variable during cooling operation and heating operation, there is an advantage that efficiency is improved during cooling and heating.

Second, since the flow path is variable in the high load cooling operation and the low load cooling operation, there is an advantage in that the cooling efficiency is improved.

Third, there is an advantage of evenly defrosting a plurality of heat exchange parts.

The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims.

1 is a block diagram of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram of an outdoor heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a view showing the flow of refrigerant during a high load cooling operation in an outdoor heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a view showing the flow of refrigerant during a low load cooling operation in an outdoor heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a view showing the flow of refrigerant during the heating operation in the outdoor heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Advantages and features of the present invention, and methods for achieving them will be clarified with reference to embodiments described below in detail together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but may be implemented in various different forms, and only the embodiments allow the disclosure of the present invention to be complete, and common knowledge in the art to which the present invention pertains It is provided to completely inform the person having the scope of the invention, and the present invention is only defined by the scope of the claims. The same reference numerals refer to the same components throughout the specification.

The spatially relative terms “below”, “beneath”, “lower”, “above”, “upper”, etc., are as shown in the figure. It can be used to easily describe the correlation between components and other components. The spatially relative terms should be understood as terms including different directions of components in use or operation in addition to the directions shown in the drawings. For example, when a component shown in the drawing is turned over, a component described as "below" or "beneath" of another component will be placed "above" another component. Can be. Accordingly, the exemplary term “below” can include both the directions below and above. Components can also be oriented in different directions, and thus spatially relative terms can be interpreted according to orientation.

The terminology used herein is for describing the embodiments and is not intended to limit the present invention. In the present specification, the singular form also includes the plural form unless otherwise specified in the phrase. As used herein, "comprises" and / or "comprising" refers to the components, steps and / or actions mentioned, excluding the presence or addition of one or more other components, steps and / or actions. I never do that.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the present specification may be used as meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. In addition, terms defined in the commonly used dictionary are not ideally or excessively interpreted unless explicitly defined.

In the drawings, the thickness or size of each component is exaggerated, omitted, or schematically illustrated for convenience and clarity. In addition, the size and area of each component does not entirely reflect the actual size or area.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings for explaining an air conditioner according to embodiments of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an outdoor unit (OU) and an indoor unit (IU).

The outdoor unit (OU) includes a compressor (110), an outdoor heat exchanger (140), and a supercooler (180). The air conditioner may include one or more outdoor units (OUs).

The compressor 110 compresses the incoming low temperature low pressure refrigerant into a high temperature high pressure refrigerant. Various structures may be applied to the compressor 110, and an inverter type compressor or a constant speed compressor may be adopted. A discharge temperature sensor 171 and a discharge pressure sensor 151 are installed on the discharge pipe 161 of the compressor 110. In addition, a suction temperature sensor 175 and a suction pressure sensor 154 are installed on the suction pipe 162 of the compressor 110.

The outdoor unit OU includes one compressor 110, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the outdoor unit OU may include a plurality of compressors, and may include an inverter type compressor and a constant speed compressor together.

An accumulator 187 may be installed in the suction pipe 162 of the compressor 110 to prevent the liquid refrigerant from flowing into the compressor 110. An oil separator 113 may be installed in the discharge pipe 161 of the compressor 110 to recover oil from the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 110.

The four-way valve 160 is a flow path switching valve for switching air-conditioning, and guides the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 110 to the outdoor heat exchanger 140 during cooling operation and to the indoor heat exchanger 120 during heating operation. The four-way valve 160 is in the A state during cooling operation and the B state during heating operation.

The outdoor heat exchanger 140 is disposed in an outdoor space, and the refrigerant passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 140 exchanges heat with outdoor air. The outdoor heat exchanger 140 functions as a condenser during cooling operation and as an evaporator during heating operation.

The outdoor heat exchanger 140 is connected to the first inlet pipe 166 and is connected to the indoor unit IU through the liquid pipe 165. The outdoor heat exchanger 140 is connected to the second inlet pipe 167 and connected to the four-way valve 160.

The supercooler 180 includes a heat exchanger 184 for supercooling, a second variable pass pipe 181, a supercooling expansion valve 182, and a discharge pipe 185. The supercooling heat exchanger 184 is disposed on the first inlet pipe 166. During the cooling operation, the second variable pass pipe 181 functions to bypass the refrigerant discharged from the heat exchanger 184 for supercooling and flow into the supercooling expansion valve 182.

 The supercooling expansion valve 182 is disposed on the second variable-pass pipe 181, throttles the liquid refrigerant flowing into the second variable-pass pipe 181, lowers the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant, and then exchanges heat for supercooling. (184). Various types of supercooled expansion valves 182 may be used, and a linear expansion valve may be used for ease of use. A supercooling temperature sensor 183 is installed on the second variable pass pipe 181 to measure the temperature of the refrigerant throttled by the supercooling expansion valve 182.

In the cooling operation, the condensed refrigerant that has passed through the outdoor heat exchanger 140 is heat exchanged in the heat exchanger 184 for cooling and the low-temperature refrigerant introduced through the second variable pass pipe 181, and then flows to the indoor unit IU. do.

The refrigerant that has passed through the second variable pass pipe 181 flows into the accumulator 187 through the discharge pipe 185 after heat exchange in the supercooled heat exchanger 184. On the discharge pipe 185, a discharge pipe temperature sensor 178 for measuring the temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the accumulator 187 is installed.

A liquid pipe temperature sensor 174 and a liquid pipe pressure sensor 156 are installed on the liquid pipe 165 connecting the supercooler 180 and the indoor unit IU.

In the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, the indoor unit IU includes an indoor heat exchanger 120, an indoor blower 125 and an indoor expansion valve 131. The air conditioner may include one or a plurality of indoor units (IU).

The indoor heat exchanger 120 is disposed in the indoor space, and the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger 120 exchanges heat with indoor air. The indoor heat exchanger 120 functions as an evaporator during cooling operation and as a condenser during heating operation. The indoor heat exchanger 120 is provided with an indoor temperature sensor 176 for measuring the indoor temperature.

The indoor expansion valve 131 is a device that throttles refrigerant introduced during cooling operation. The indoor expansion valve 131 is installed in the indoor inlet pipe 163 of the indoor unit IU. Various types of indoor expansion valves 131 may be used, and a linear expansion valve may be used for ease of use. The indoor expansion valve 131 is opened to a predetermined opening degree during cooling operation, and is preferably opened completely during heating operation.

An indoor inlet pipe temperature sensor 173 is installed on the indoor inlet pipe 163. The indoor inlet pipe temperature sensor 173 may be installed between the indoor heat exchanger 120 and the indoor expansion valve 131. In addition, an indoor outlet pipe temperature sensor 172 is installed on the indoor outlet pipe 164.

The flow of the refrigerant during the cooling operation of the air conditioner described above is as follows.

The high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor 110 flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 140 through the second inlet pipe 167 through the four-way valve 160. The refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger (140) condenses by exchanging heat with outdoor air. The refrigerant flowing out from the outdoor heat exchanger 140 flows into the supercooler 180 through the first inlet pipe 166. The introduced refrigerant is supercooled in the heat exchanger 184 for supercooling and then flows into the indoor unit (IU).

A portion of the refrigerant supercooled in the supercooling heat exchanger 184 is throttled by the supercooling expansion valve 182 to supercool the refrigerant passing through the supercooling heat exchanger 184. The supercooled heat exchanger 184 supercooled refrigerant flows into the accumulator 187.

The refrigerant introduced into the indoor unit (IU) is throttled in the indoor expansion valve 131 opened to a predetermined opening degree, and then evaporates by exchanging heat with indoor air in the indoor heat exchanger 120. The evaporated refrigerant flows into the compressor 110 through the four-way valve 160 and the accumulator 187.

The flow of refrigerant during the heating operation of the air conditioner described above is as follows.

The high temperature and high pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor 110 flows into the indoor unit IU through the four-way valve 160. The indoor expansion valves 131 of the indoor unit IU are completely opened. The refrigerant flowing out of the indoor unit (IU) flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 140 through the first inlet pipe 166 and heats up with outdoor air to evaporate. The evaporated refrigerant flows into the suction pipe 162 of the compressor 110 through the four-way valve 160 and the accumulator 187 through the second inlet pipe 167.

2 is a block diagram of an outdoor heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The outdoor heat exchanger 140 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first header pipe connected to a compressor, a first heat exchange portion having one side connected to the first header pipe and exchanging refrigerant with air, and the first heat exchange portion A first distribution pipe connected to the other side and the indoor heat exchanger, a variable pass pipe connected to the first distribution pipe, a variable pass valve disposed on the variable pass pipe, the first header pipe and a second connected to the variable pass pipe Header pipe, one side is connected to the second header pipe and a second heat exchanger for heat exchange of refrigerant with air, a second distribution pipe connected to the other side of the second heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger, the first header pipe and the first 2 A bypass pipe connecting the header pipe, a bypass valve disposed on the bypass pipe and opened and closed to regulate the flow of refrigerant, and a first expansion disposed on the first distribution pipe It includes a window valve and a second expansion valve disposed in the second distribution pipe.

The outdoor heat exchanger (140) according to another embodiment of the present invention is connected to the first header pipe (141a) and the first header pipe (141a) through which the refrigerant compressed in the compressor flows in the cooling operation, and the refrigerant to air A first heat exchange unit (143a) for heat exchange, a variable pass pipe (144) through which refrigerant exchanged in the first heat exchange unit passes during cooling operation, and a first distribution pipe (148a) connected to the variable pass pipe (144). , A second heat exchanger (143b) connected to the second header pipe (141b) and the second header pipe (141b) through which the refrigerant passes through the variable pass pipe (144) during cooling operation, and heat exchanges the refrigerant with air. , Bypass piping 146 connecting the second distribution pipe 148b through which the refrigerant exchanged in the second heat exchange unit 143b passes during cooling operation, and the first header pipe 141a and the second header pipe 141b. And a bypass valve 149 disposed in the bypass pipe 146 and opened and closed to regulate the flow of the refrigerant.

One end of the first header pipe 141a is connected to the second inlet pipe 167 to be connected to the compressor 110. The other end of the first header pipe 141a is connected to the variable pass pipe 144 and the second header pipe 141b. A check valve 142 is disposed at the other end of the first header pipe 141a. The check valve 142 controls the flow direction of the refrigerant to prevent the refrigerant from flowing from the first header pipe 141a to the second header pipe 141b, and the first header pipe from the second header pipe 141b. Refrigerant is allowed to flow into 141a.

The first header pipe 141a is connected to one side of the first heat exchange unit 143a. The first header pipe 141a is connected to a plurality of refrigerant tubes 14 of the first heat exchange unit 143a. That is, the first header pipe 141a is branched into a plurality of refrigerant tubes 14 of the first heat exchange unit 143a.

One side of the first heat exchange unit 143a is connected to the first header pipe 141a, and the other side is connected to the first distributor 147a. The first heat exchange unit 143a is composed of a plurality of refrigerant tubes 14 through which refrigerant flows and a plurality of heat transfer fins to heat exchange the refrigerant with air. One side of the plurality of refrigerant tubes 14 of the first heat exchange section 143a is joined to the first header pipe 141a, and the other side is joined to the first distributor 147a.

The first distributor 147a connects the other side of the first heat exchange unit 143a to the first distribution pipe 148a. The first distributor 147a is connected to a plurality of refrigerant tubes 14 of the first heat exchange unit 143a.

The first distribution pipe 148a is connected to the first distributor 147a. The first distribution pipe 148a is connected to the other side of the first heat exchange unit 143a through the first distributor 147a. The first distribution pipe 148a is connected to the first inlet pipe 166. The first distribution pipe 148a and the second distribution pipe 148b are joined to the first inlet pipe 166.

A first expansion valve 132a for adjusting the opening degree of the first distribution pipe 148a is disposed in the first distribution pipe 148a. The first expansion valve 132a may throttle, bypass, or block the refrigerant passing through the first distribution pipe 148a. The first expansion valve 132a is opened during a high-load cooling operation, closed during a low-load heating operation, and the opening degree is adjusted during a heating operation to throttle the refrigerant.

The variable pass pipe 144 has one end connected to the first distribution pipe 148a and the other end connected to the second header pipe 141b. Specifically, the variable pass pipe 144 has one end connected to the first distribution pipe 148a between the first paddle valve 132a and the first heat exchange unit 143a, and the other end connected to the bypass pipe. More specifically, the variable pass pipe 144 has one end connected to the first distribution pipe 148a between the first paddle valve 132a and the first distributor 147a, the other end of the bypass valve and the second header pipe ( 141b).

A variable pass valve 145 that is opened and closed to control the flow of refrigerant is disposed in the variable pass pipe 144. The variable pass valve 145 is opened during low load cooling operation to allow refrigerant to flow from the first distributor 147a to the second header pipe 141b, and closed during high load cooling operation to remove the refrigerant from the second header pipe 141b. It is possible to block the flow of refrigerant to the 1 distributor (147a). The variable pass valve 145 may be closed during the heating operation to prevent the refrigerant from flowing from the first distribution pipe 148a to the second header pipe 141b).

Depending on the embodiment, the variable pass pipe 144 may be connected to the first distributor 147a or the other side of the first heat exchanger 143a.

The second header pipe 141b is connected to the variable pass pipe 144 and the first header pipe 141a. The second header pipe 141b is connected to one side of the second heat exchange unit 143b. The second header pipe 141b is connected to a plurality of refrigerant tubes 14 of the second heat exchange unit 143b. That is, the second header pipe 141b is branched into a plurality of refrigerant tubes 14 of the second heat exchange unit 143b.

The second heat exchange unit 143b has one side connected to the second header pipe 141b and the other side connected to the second distributor 147b. The second heat exchange unit 143b is composed of a plurality of refrigerant tubes 14 through which refrigerant flows and a plurality of heat transfer fins to heat exchange the refrigerant with air. One side of the plurality of refrigerant tubes 14 of the second heat exchange unit 143b is joined by the second header pipe 141b, and the other side is joined by the second distributor 147b.

The second heat exchange part 143b is disposed at the bottom of the first heat exchange part 143a. That is, the first heat exchange unit 143a and the second heat exchange unit 143b may be vertically disposed to share a plurality of heat transfer fins.

The second distributor 147b connects the other side of the second heat exchange unit 143b and the second distribution pipe 148b. The second distributor 147b is connected to a plurality of refrigerant tubes 14 of the second heat exchange unit 143b.

The second distribution pipe 148b is connected to the second distributor 147b. The second distribution pipe 148b is connected to the other side of the second heat exchange unit 143b through the second distributor 147b. The second distribution pipe 148b is joined to the first distribution pipe 148a and connected to the first inlet pipe 166.

A second expansion valve 132b for adjusting the opening degree of the second distribution pipe 148b is disposed in the second distribution pipe 148b. The second expansion valve 132b may throttle, bypass, or block the refrigerant passing through the second distribution pipe 148b. The second expansion valve 132b opens during the high load cooling operation and the low load cooling operation, and the opening degree is adjusted during the heating operation to throttle the refrigerant.

The bypass pipe 146 connects the first header pipe 141a and the second header pipe 141b. The bypass pipe 146 is branched from the second inlet pipe 167 to the first header pipe 141a.

The bypass pipe 146 is connected to the second header pipe 141b. The bypass piping 146 is preferably connected to the connection point of the first header pipe 141a in the second header pipe 141b.

A bypass valve 149 is opened and closed in the bypass pipe 146 to regulate the flow of refrigerant. The bypass valve 149 is opened during a high load cooling operation and a heating operation, closed during a low load cooling operation, and opened during a defrosting operation to allow refrigerant to flow from the first header pipe 141a to the second header pipe 141b. do. The bypass valve 149 may be opened or closed during heating operation.

According to an embodiment, the second header pipe 141b may be provided with an auxiliary valve (not shown) that is opened and closed to regulate the flow of the refrigerant. The auxiliary valve is preferably disposed at the connection point of the variable pass pipe 144 in the second header pipe 141b. The auxiliary valve is opened during cooling operation and heating operation. The auxiliary valve is closed during the defrosting operation to prevent the refrigerant flowing through the second header pipe 141b from flowing into the variable pass pipe 144.

3 is a view showing the flow of refrigerant during a high load cooling operation in an outdoor heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the flow of refrigerant in the high-load cooling operation of the outdoor heat exchanger described above is as follows.

The air conditioner of the present invention may further include a control unit (not shown) that controls the overall operation of the air conditioner. After determining the indoor cooling load, the control unit may select one of the high load cooling operation and the low load cooling operation to operate. The control unit may determine whether it is a low-load cooling operation or a high-load cooling operation in consideration of the outside temperature, the number of indoor units, and the like.

The control unit opens the first expansion valve and the second expansion valve during high load cooling operation, closes the variable pass valve, and opens the bypass valve.

During a high load cooling operation, refrigerant compressed by the compressor flows into the first heat exchanger, and refrigerant passing through the first header pipe and the second header pipe flows into the second heat exchanger.

The refrigerant compressed in the compressor 110 flows into the first header pipe 141a through the second inlet pipe 167. During the high load cooling operation, the bypass valve 149 is opened, and the refrigerant flowing into the first header pipe 141a flows into the first heat exchange unit 143a and the second header pipe 141b.

The refrigerant flowing into the first heat exchange unit 143a is condensed by exchanging heat with air. The refrigerant condensed in the first heat exchange unit 143a flows through the first distributor 147a to the first distribution pipe 148a. During the high load cooling operation, the first expansion valve 132a is opened, so the refrigerant flowing into the first distribution pipe 148a flows into the first inlet pipe 166.

The refrigerant flowing into the second header pipe 141b flows into the second heat exchanger 143b, and the refrigerant flowing into the second heat exchanger 143b heat exchanges with air to condense. The refrigerant condensed in the second heat exchange unit 143b flows through the second distributor 147b to the second distribution pipe 148b. During the high load cooling operation, the second expansion valve 132b is completely opened, so the refrigerant flowing into the second distribution pipe 148b flows into the indoor unit IU through the first inlet pipe 166 and the liquid pipe 165.

During the high load cooling operation, the variable pass valve 145 is closed, and the refrigerant that has passed through the first heat exchanger 143a cannot flow to the second heat exchanger 143b.

4 is a view showing the flow of refrigerant during a low load cooling operation in an outdoor heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 4, the flow of the refrigerant during the cooling operation of the outdoor heat exchanger described above is as follows.

The control unit closes the first expansion valve during the low load cooling operation, opens the second expansion valve, opens the variable pass valve, and closes the bypass valve.

In a low load cooling operation, the refrigerant compressed in the compressor flows into the first heat exchanger, and the refrigerant heat exchanged in the first heat exchanger flows into the second heat exchanger.

During the low load cooling operation, the refrigerant compressed in the compressor 110 flows into the first header pipe 141a through the second inlet pipe 167. The refrigerant flowing into the first header pipe 141a is prevented from flowing into the second header pipe 141b by the check valve 142. During the low load cooling operation, the bypass valve 149 is closed, and the refrigerant flowing into the first header pipe 141a flows to the first heat exchange unit 143a.

The refrigerant flowing into the first heat exchange unit 143a is condensed by exchanging heat with air. The refrigerant condensed in the first heat exchange unit 143a flows through the first distributor 147a to the first distribution pipe 148a. Since the first expansion valve 132a is closed during the low load cooling operation, the refrigerant flowing into the first distribution pipe 148a does not flow into the first inlet pipe 166, but flows into the variable pass pipe 144.

During the cooling operation, the variable-pass valve 145 is opened and the refrigerant passing through the variable-pass pipe 144 flows into the second header pipe 141b. The refrigerant flowing into the second header pipe 141b flows into the second heat exchange unit 143b.

The refrigerant flowing into the second heat exchange unit 143b is condensed again by exchanging heat with air. The refrigerant condensed in the second heat exchange unit 143b flows through the second distributor 147b to the second distribution pipe 148b. During the cooling operation, the second expansion valve 132b is completely opened, so the refrigerant flowing into the second distribution pipe 148b flows into the indoor unit IU through the first inlet pipe 166 and the liquid pipe 165.

5 is a view showing the flow of refrigerant during the heating operation in the outdoor heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the flow of refrigerant during the heating operation of the outdoor heat exchanger described above is as follows.

During the heating operation, the control unit opens the first expansion valve and the second expansion valve. Adjust, close the variable pass valve, and open the bypass valve. Also, when the heating operation is performed, the control unit opens the first expansion valve and the second expansion valve? Adjust, close the variable pass valve, and close the bypass valve.

The refrigerant condensed in the indoor heat exchanger (120) of the indoor unit (IU) flows through the liquid pipe (165) to the first inlet pipe (166). The refrigerant flowing into the first inlet pipe 166 flows into the first distribution pipe 148a and the second distribution pipe 148b, respectively.

The refrigerant flowing into the second distribution pipe (148b) expands in the second expansion valve (132b) whose opening degree is adjusted, and the refrigerant expanded in the second expansion valve (132b) expands through the second distributor (147b). (143b). The refrigerant flowing into the second heat exchange unit 143b is evaporated by heat exchange with air. The refrigerant evaporated from the second heat exchange unit 143b flows into the second header pipe 141b.

During the heating operation, the variable pass valve 145 is closed, and the refrigerant flowing into the second header pipe 141b does not pass through the variable pass pipe 144. The refrigerant flowing into the second header pipe 141b flows into the first header pipe 141a through the check valve 142. When the bypass valve 149 is opened during cooling operation, the refrigerant flowing into the second header pipe 141b may flow into the first header pipe 141a through the bypass pipe 146.

Meanwhile, the refrigerant flowing into the first distribution pipe 148a is expanded in the first expansion valve 132a. Since the variable pass valve 145 is closed during the heating operation, the refrigerant expanded in the first expansion valve 132a does not flow to the second header pipe 141b, and the first heat exchange unit 143a passes through the first distributor 147a. ). The refrigerant flowing into the first heat exchange unit (143a) is evaporated by heat exchange with air.

The refrigerant evaporated in the first heat exchange unit 143a flows into the first header pipe 141a. The refrigerant flowing into the first header pipe (141a) flows into the second inlet pipe 167 and then flows into the compressor 110 after joining the refrigerant passing through the second header pipe (141b).

In the above, preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described specific embodiments, and the technical field to which the present invention pertains without departing from the gist of the present invention claimed in the claims. Of course, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art, and these modifications should not be individually understood from the technical idea or prospect of the present invention.

132a: first expansion valve 132b: second expansion valve
140: outdoor heat exchanger 141a: first header pipe
141b: Second header pipe 142: Check valve
143a: 1st heat exchange part 143b: 2nd heat exchange part
144: variable pass piping 145: variable pass valve
147a: first distributor 147b: second distributor
148a: 1st distribution pipe 148b: 2nd distribution pipe
146: bypass piping 149: bypass valve

Claims (10)

A first header pipe connected to the compressor;
A first heat exchange part having one side connected to the first header pipe and exchanging refrigerant with air;
A first distribution pipe connected to the other side of the first heat exchange part and the indoor heat exchanger;
A variable pass pipe connected to the first distribution pipe;
A variable pass valve disposed in the variable pass pipe;
A second header pipe connected to the first header pipe and the variable pass pipe;
A second heat exchange unit having one side connected to the second header pipe and exchanging refrigerant with air;
A second distribution pipe connected to the other side of the second heat exchange part and the indoor heat exchanger;
A bypass pipe connecting the first header pipe and the second header pipe;
A bypass valve disposed on the bypass pipe and opened and closed to control the flow of refrigerant;
A first expansion valve disposed in the first distribution pipe; And
Outdoor heat exchanger including a second expansion valve disposed in the second distribution pipe. According to claim 1,
The first header pipe is connected to the second header pipe,
An outdoor heat exchanger disposed on the first header pipe and further comprising a check valve preventing refrigerant from flowing into the second header pipe from the first header pipe during cooling operation. According to claim 1,
The second heat exchanger is an outdoor heat exchanger disposed at the bottom of the first heat exchanger. According to claim 1,
The variable pass pipe is an outdoor heat exchanger connected to a first distribution pipe between the first window valve and the first heat exchanger. According to claim 1,
In a high load cooling operation, the first expansion valve and the second expansion valve are opened, the variable pass valve is closed, and the bypass valve is opened. According to claim 1,
In a high-load cooling operation, an outdoor heat exchanger in which the refrigerant compressed by the compressor flows into the first heat exchange unit and refrigerant passing through the first header pipe and the second header pipe flows into the second heat exchange unit. According to claim 1,
In a low load cooling operation, the first expansion valve is closed, the second expansion valve is opened, the variable pass valve is opened, and the bypass valve is closed. According to claim 1,
In a low-load cooling operation, an outdoor heat exchanger in which the refrigerant compressed in the compressor flows into the first heat exchanger and the refrigerant exchanged in the first heat exchanger flows into the second heat exchanger. According to claim 1,
In the heating operation, the first expansion valve and the second expansion valve have an opening degree adjusted, the variable pass valve is closed, and the bypass valve is opened. An air conditioner comprising the outdoor heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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