US20140326008A1 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Air conditioner Download PDF

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Publication number
US20140326008A1
US20140326008A1 US14/353,106 US201214353106A US2014326008A1 US 20140326008 A1 US20140326008 A1 US 20140326008A1 US 201214353106 A US201214353106 A US 201214353106A US 2014326008 A1 US2014326008 A1 US 2014326008A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
oil
refrigerant
air conditioner
compressor
case
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Abandoned
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US14/353,106
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English (en)
Inventor
Pil Hyun Yoon
Yong Cheol Sa
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LG Electronics Inc
Original Assignee
LG Electronics Inc
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Publication date
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Assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC. reassignment LG ELECTRONICS INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: SA, YONG CHEOL, YOON, PIL HYUN
Publication of US20140326008A1 publication Critical patent/US20140326008A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B43/00—Arrangements for separating or purifying gases or liquids; Arrangements for vaporising the residuum of liquid refrigerant, e.g. by heat
    • F25B43/02—Arrangements for separating or purifying gases or liquids; Arrangements for vaporising the residuum of liquid refrigerant, e.g. by heat for separating lubricants from the refrigerant
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F1/00—Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B1/00—Compression machines, plants or systems with non-reversible cycle
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B1/00—Compression machines, plants or systems with non-reversible cycle
    • F25B1/10—Compression machines, plants or systems with non-reversible cycle with multi-stage compression
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B31/00—Compressor arrangements
    • F25B31/002—Lubrication
    • F25B31/004—Lubrication oil recirculating arrangements
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B49/00—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
    • F25B49/02—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for compression type machines, plants or systems
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2400/00—General features or devices for refrigeration machines, plants or systems, combined heating and refrigeration systems or heat-pump systems, i.e. not limited to a particular subgroup of F25B
    • F25B2400/07—Details of compressors or related parts
    • F25B2400/075—Details of compressors or related parts with parallel compressors
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2600/00—Control issues
    • F25B2600/25—Control of valves
    • F25B2600/2519—On-off valves
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2700/00—Sensing or detecting of parameters; Sensors therefor
    • F25B2700/03—Oil level

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly, to an air conditioner in which oil mixed with refrigerant compressed by a plurality of compressors is separated altogether for recovering the oil, effectively.
  • the air conditioner is a machine for cooling or heating a room by using a refrigerating cycle including a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, and an indoor heat exchanger. That is, the air conditioner may have a room cooler for cooling the room, and a room heater for heating the room. And, the air conditioner may be a room cooling and heating air conditioner for cooling or heating the room.
  • the air conditioners there may be an ordinary air conditioner in which one indoor unit is connected to one outdoor unit, or a multi-type air conditioner in which a plurality of the indoor units are connected to at least one outdoor unit.
  • the multi-type air conditioner is used for selective air conditioning of a plurality of spaces partitioned in a building, and provided with a plurality of compressors for selective operation of the compressors as many as required numbers of the compressors according to a total air conditioning load.
  • the compressor a machine for compressing the refrigerant, has a large amount of the oil for preventing friction portions of operational parts from wearing, cooling a portion of heat generated in compression, spreading fatigue of metal parts, and preventing the refrigerant compressed thus from leaking by forming an oil film at a sealing line.
  • the oil in the compressor is mixed with the refrigerant as the refrigerant is compressed in the compressor. If the refrigerant flows in a state the oil is mixed with the refrigerant, the oil is collected at one side of a flow passage to interfere with a refrigerant flow, to reduce the amount of the oil in the compressor making a performance of the compressor poor.
  • the air conditioner has an oil separator provided thereto for separating the oil from the refrigerant discharged from the compressor and returning the oil to the compressor. If the compressor is provided in plural, the oil separator is also provided in plural for the plurality of the oil separators to separate the oil from the plurality of compressors, respectively.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner in which oil mixed with refrigerant compressed by a plurality of compressors is separated altogether for recovering the oil, effectively.
  • an air conditioner includes a plurality of compressors for compressing refrigerant, an oil separator connected to the plurality of compressors for separating oil mixed with the refrigerant as the compressed refrigerant is mixed with the oil at the plurality of compressors, an oil discharge pipeline connected to the oil separator for discharging the oil separated at the oil separator, and a plurality of oil recovery pipelines which are branches from the oil discharge pipeline for recovering the oil separated at the oil separator to the plurality of compressors.
  • the air conditioner of the present invention has one or more than one of following advantageous effects.
  • the air conditioner of the present invention since the oil mixed with the refrigerant compressed at the plurality of compressors is separated with one oil separator altogether and recovered to the compressor which requires the oil, the air conditioner of the present invention has an advantage of resolving imbalance of the oil.
  • the air conditioner of the present invention also has an advantage of enabling to reduce an amount of the oil the compressor has.
  • the air conditioner of the present invention also has an advantage of efficient separation of the oil mixed with the refrigerant.
  • the air conditioner of the present invention also has an advantage of controlling the recovery of the oil according to an oil level.
  • the air conditioner of the present invention also has an advantage of efficient recovery of the oil.
  • the air conditioner of the present invention since the oil is recovered to the refrigerant inlet port of the compressor, the air conditioner of the present invention also has an advantage of efficient recovery of the oil.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an air conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an oil separator in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, having a cut-away portion;
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a section of the oil separator in FIG. 2 across a line A-A′;
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the oil separator in FIG. 2 ;
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of an air conditioner in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an air conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • the air conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of compressors 110 for compressing refrigerant, a condenser 130 for the refrigerant compressed thus to be condensed as the refrigerant heat exchanges with air, an expansion device 140 for the refrigerant condensed thus to be expanded, an evaporator 150 for the refrigerant expanded thus to be vaporized as the refrigerant heat exchanges with the air, and an oil separator 160 for separating oil from the refrigerant compressed by, and discharged from, the plurality of compressors 110 .
  • the condenser 130 corresponds to the outdoor unit heat exchanger which is arranged outdoors for heat exchange between the refrigerant and outdoor air
  • the evaporator 150 corresponds to the indoor heat exchanger which is arranged indoors for heat exchange between the refrigerant and room air.
  • the condenser 130 corresponds to the indoor heat exchanger which is arranged in the room for heat exchange between the refrigerant and the room air
  • the evaporator 150 corresponds to the outdoor heat exchanger which is arranged outdoors for heat exchange between the refrigerant and the outdoor air.
  • the plurality of compressors 110 compress the low temperature and low pressure refrigerant being introduced thereto to high temperature and high pressure refrigerant.
  • the plurality of compressors 110 may have a variety of structures applied thereto, wherein inverter type compressors or constant speed compressors may be employed.
  • the plurality of compressors 110 include a first compressor 110 ( 1 ) and a second compressor 110 ( 2 ). It is preferable that both of the first compressor 110 ( 1 ) and the second compressor 110 ( 2 ) are the inverter type compressors which vary compression performances with operation states.
  • the compressor 110 includes a refrigerant inlet port 111 for introducing the refrigerant therethrough, a refrigerant outlet port 112 for discharging compressed refrigerant therethrough, an oil level sensor 113 for measuring a height of the oil in the compressor 110 , and an oil pump 114 for making the oil to flow into the compressor 110 .
  • the refrigerant inlet port 111 a port for introduction of the refrigerant, is connected to a suction pipeline 119 .
  • the refrigerant which passes the gas-liquid separator 120 and flows through the suction pipeline 199 is introduced to the refrigerant inlet port 111 .
  • the first compressor 110 ( 1 ) includes a first refrigerant inlet port 111 ( 1 )
  • the second compressor 110 ( 2 ) includes a second refrigerant inlet port 111 ( 2 ).
  • the first refrigerant inlet port 111 ( 1 ) is connected to a first suction pipeline 199 ( 1 )
  • the second refrigerant inlet port 111 ( 2 ) is connected to a second suction pipeline 199 ( 2 ).
  • the refrigerant outlet port 112 discharges the refrigerant compressed in the compressor.
  • the refrigerant outlet port 112 is connected to a refrigerant discharge pipeline 194 .
  • the refrigerant outlet port 112 discharges the oil in the compressor 110 together with the compressed refrigerant.
  • the refrigerant mixed with the oil being discharged from the refrigerant outlet port 112 flows to the oil separator 160 through the refrigerant discharge pipeline 194 .
  • the first compressor 110 ( 1 ) includes a first refrigerant outlet port 112 ( 1 )
  • the second compressor 110 ( 2 ) includes a second refrigerant outlet port 112 ( 2 ).
  • the first refrigerant outlet port 112 ( 1 ) is connected to the first refrigerant discharge pipeline 194 ( 1 )
  • the second refrigerant outlet port 112 ( 2 ) is connected to the second refrigerant discharge pipeline 194 ( 2 ).
  • the oil level sensor 113 measures a height of the oil in the compressor 110 .
  • the compressor 110 has the oil provided therein for lubrication and cooling of machine parts required for compression of the refrigerant. The oil is filled on a bottom of the compressor 110 and pumped when the compressor 110 is driven.
  • the oil level sensor 113 measures the height of the oil on the bottom in the compressor 110 . Depending on the height of the oil measured by the oil level sensor 113 , whether an oil recovery valve 196 to be described later is opened or closed is determined.
  • the first compressor 110 ( 1 ) includes a first oil level sensor 113 ( 1 ), and the second compressor 110 ( 2 ) includes a second oil level sensor 113 ( 2 ).
  • the oil pump 114 is connected to an oil recovery pipeline 195 for introduction of the oil separated at the oil separator 160 to an inside of the compressor 110 .
  • the oil pump 114 is provided in the compressor 110 for filling the oil separated at the oil separator 160 to the bottom of the compressor 110 . It is preferable that the oil pump 114 is provided to place in the compressor 110 lower than the oil level sensor 113 .
  • the first compressor 110 ( 1 ) includes a first oil pump 114 ( 1 ) and the second compressor 110 ( 2 ) includes a second oil pump 114 ( 2 ).
  • the oil pump 114 is a trochoid pump for pressurized transfer of the oil. It is preferable that the oil pump 114 is provided if the compressor 110 is of a high pressure type, and the oil pump may be omitted if the compressor 110 is of a low pressure type. It is preferable that the oil recovery pipeline 195 is connected to the compressor 110 directly if the compressor 110 is of the low pressure type.
  • the oil pump 114 may be a pump, not provided separately, but provided in the compressor 110 for pumping the oil from the bottom of the compressor to an upper side. It is preferable that such a pump is a trochoid pump for pressurized transfer of the oil to the upper side. As the oil is made pressurized transfer to the upper side from the inside of the compressor 110 , the compressor 110 draws in the oil from the oil recovery pipeline 195 . In this case, the oil recovery pipeline 195 is connected to the oil pump 144 , not directly.
  • the oil separator 160 is connected to the plurality of compressors 110 for having the refrigerant compressed at the plurality of compressors 110 introduced thereto in forms of arcs and mixed as the refrigerant swirls that separates the oil from the refrigerant. A detailed structure of the oil separator 160 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4 .
  • the oil separator 160 is provided singular and connected both to the first compressor 110 ( 1 ) and the second compressor 110 ( 2 ).
  • the oil separator 160 and the plurality of compressors 110 are connected with a plurality of refrigerant discharge pipelines 194 .
  • the plurality of refrigerant discharge pipelines 194 are connected to the refrigerant outlet ports 112 of the plurality of compressors 110 , respectively. It is preferable that the plurality of refrigerant discharge pipelines 194 have check valves provided thereto for preventing the refrigerant from flowing in a reverse direction, respectively.
  • the plurality of refrigerant discharge pipelines 194 include a first refrigerant discharge pipeline 194 ( 1 ) which connects the first compressor 110 ( 1 ) to the oil separator 160 , and a second refrigerant discharge pipeline 194 ( 2 ) which connects the second compressor 110 ( 2 ) to the oil separator 160 .
  • the oil separated at the oil separator 160 is discharged to an oil discharge pipeline 192 .
  • the oil discharge pipeline 192 is connected to the oil separator 160 for discharging the oil separated at the oil separator 160 .
  • the oil discharge pipeline 192 is branched to a plurality of the oil recovery pipelines 195 . It is preferable that the oil discharge pipeline 192 has a check valve provided thereto for preventing the oil from flowing in a reverse direction.
  • the refrigerant having the oil separated therefrom at the oil separator 160 is discharged to a discharge pipeline 191 .
  • the refrigerant discharged to a discharge pipeline 191 thus flows to the condenser 13 .
  • the discharge pipeline 191 connects the oil separator 160 to the condenser 130 .
  • the oil recovery pipeline 195 is a pipeline for flowing of the oil separated at the oil separator 160 until the oil is recovered to the compressor 110 .
  • the oil recovery pipeline 195 connects the oil discharge pipeline 192 to the compressor 110 .
  • the oil recovery pipeline 195 is connected to the compressor 110 , and may be connected to the oil pump 114 , directly.
  • the oil recovery pipeline 195 is provided in plural, and the plurality of the oil recovery pipelines 195 are connected to the oil discharge pipeline 192 .
  • the plurality of the oil recovery pipelines 195 are branches from the oil discharge pipeline 192 for recovering the oil separated at the oil separator 160 to the plurality of compressors 110 .
  • the plurality of the oil recovery pipelines 195 include a first oil recovery pipeline 195 ( 1 ) connected between the oil discharge pipeline 192 and the first compressor 110 ( 1 ), and a second oil recovery pipeline 195 ( 2 ) connected between the oil discharge pipeline 192 and the second compressor 110 ( 2 ).
  • the oil recovery valve 196 is mounted to the oil recovery pipeline 195 for opening/closing the oil recovery pipeline 195 .
  • the oil recovery valve 196 allows or blocks recovery of the oil separated at the oil separator 160 to the compressor 110 .
  • the oil recovery valve 196 is opened or closed depending on the height of the oil measured at the oil level sensor 113 . If the oil in the compressor 110 connected to the oil recovery pipeline 195 having the oil recovery valve 196 provided thereto is below the oil level sensor 113 , the oil recovery valve 196 is opened, and, if above the oil level sensor 113 , the oil recovery valve 196 is closed.
  • the oil recovery valve 196 is provided in plural, and the plurality of oil recovery valves 196 are mounted to the plurality of the oil recovery pipelines 195 for opening/closing the plurality of the oil recovery pipelines 195 , respectively.
  • the plurality of oil recovery valves 196 include a first oil recovery valve 196 ( 1 ) mounted to the first oil recovery pipeline 195 ( 1 ), and a second oil recovery valve 196 ( 2 ) mounted to the second oil recovery pipeline 195 ( 2 ).
  • the first oil recovery valve 196 ( 1 ) is opened when the height of the oil in the first compressor 110 ( 1 ) is below the first oil level sensor 113 ( 1 ), and is closed when above the first oil level sensor 113 ( 1 ).
  • the second oil recovery valve 196 ( 2 ) is opened when the height of the oil in the second compressor 110 ( 2 ) is below the second oil level sensor 113 ( 2 ), and is closed when above the second oil level sensor 113 ( 2 ).
  • the gas-liquid separator 120 separates gas refrigerant and liquid refrigerant from the refrigerant evaporated at the evaporator 150 .
  • the gas refrigerant separated at the gas-liquid separator 120 flows to the plurality of suction pipelines 199 .
  • the plurality of suction pipelines 199 include a first suction pipeline 199 ( 1 ) connected to the first compressor 110 ( 1 ) and a second suction pipeline 199 ( 2 ) connected to the second compressor 110 ( 2 ).
  • the refrigerant compressed at the plurality of compressors 110 is discharged through respective refrigerant outlet ports 112 together with the oil.
  • the refrigerant and oil discharged through the refrigerant outlet ports 112 of the plurality of compressors 110 is introduced to the oil separator 160 through the plurality of refrigerant discharge pipelines 194 .
  • the oil separator 160 separates the oil from the refrigerant.
  • the refrigerant having the oil separated therefrom at the oil separator 160 is discharged to the discharge pipeline 191 .
  • the oil separated at the oil separator 160 thus is discharged to the oil discharge pipeline 192 .
  • the oil discharged to the oil discharge pipeline 192 thus flows varied with the oil heights in the plurality of compressors 110 measured at the plurality of the oil level sensors 113 .
  • the first oil recovery valve 196 ( 1 ) is opened, and the second oil recovery valve 196 ( 2 ) is closed.
  • the oil separated at the oil separator 160 thus is recovered to the first compressor 110 ( 1 ), entirely. That is, the oil separated at the oil separator 160 thus is recovered to the first compressor 110 ( 1 ) by the first oil pump 114 ( 1 ) through the oil discharge pipeline 192 and the first oil recovery pipeline 195 ( 1 ).
  • the first oil recovery valve 196 ( 1 ) is closed, and the second oil recovery valve 196 ( 2 ) is opened.
  • the oil separated at the oil separator 160 thus is recovered to the second compressor 110 ( 2 ), entirely. That is, the oil separated at the oil separator 160 thus is recovered to the second compressor 110 ( 2 ) by the second oil pump 114 ( 2 ) through the oil discharge pipeline 192 and the second oil recovery pipeline 195 ( 2 ).
  • the first oil recovery valve 196 ( 1 ) is opened, and the second oil recovery valve 196 ( 2 ) is also opened. In this case, the oil separated at the oil separator 160 thus is recovered to the first compressor 110 ( 1 ) and the second compressor 110 ( 2 ).
  • the oil separated at the oil separator 160 thus is discharged to the oil discharge pipeline 192 , such that oil flowing to the first oil recovery pipeline 195 ( 1 ) is recovered to the first compressor 110 ( 1 ) by the first oil pump 114 ( 1 ), and oil flowing to the second oil recovery pipeline 195 ( 2 ) is recovered to the second compressor 110 ( 2 ) by the second oil pump 114 ( 2 ).
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an oil separator in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, having a cut-away portion
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a section of the oil separator in FIG. 2 across a line A-A′
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the oil separator in FIG. 2 .
  • the oil separator 160 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a cylindrical case 161 having a circular horizontal direction section, a plurality of suction pipes 164 for introduction of the refrigerant having the oil mixed therewith into the case 161 , a refrigerant discharge pipe 163 inserted in the case 161 from a top side thereof in a vertical direction for discharging the refrigerant to an inside of the case 161 , and an oil outlet pipe 165 connected to a lower side of the case 161 for discharging the oil from the inside of the case 161 .
  • the cylindrical case 161 forms an enclosed housing space.
  • the case 161 has a circular horizontal direction section.
  • the horizontal direction section of the case 161 may not be a perfect circle, but have a form which is close to a circle, substantially.
  • the horizontal direction means a direction perpendicular to a direction of gravity that is a height direction of the cylindrical case 161
  • a vertical direction means a height direction of the case 161 which is the gravity direction
  • the case 161 has a side having a plurality of the suction pipes 164 connected thereto, the top side having the refrigerant discharge pipe 163 connected thereto, and the lower side having the oil outlet pipe 165 connected thereto.
  • the case 161 is supported by a supporting member 162 on a ground surface. It is preferable that the supporting member 162 is coupled to a ground surface of the outdoor unit (Not shown) having the compressor 110 of the air conditioner mounted thereto.
  • the plurality of the suction pipes 164 are connected to the case 161 for serving as passages to introduce the refrigerant having the oil contained therein into the case 161 .
  • the plurality of the suction pipes 164 guide the refrigerant compressed at the plurality of compressors 110 so as to be introduced into the case 161 and mixed therein.
  • the plurality of the suction pipes 164 are connected to the plurality of refrigerant discharge pipelines 194 to which the refrigerant compressed at the plurality of compressors 110 is discharged, respectively.
  • Respective suction pipes 164 and refrigerant discharge pipelines 194 may be formed as one unit respectively or may be connected to connection portions of the case 161 , respectively.
  • the plurality of suction pipes 164 are inserted in the side of the case 161 . It is preferable that the plurality of suction pipes 164 are connected to the case 161 on an upper side of the side of the case 161 .
  • each of the plurality of suction pipes 164 is bent in the case 161 in conformity with an inside surface of the case 161 .
  • the plurality of suction pipes 164 guide the refrigerant having the oil mixed therewith so as to be introduced to, and to swirl within, the case 161 .
  • the refrigerant having the oil mixed therewith swirls such that the oil having relatively large mass moves toward an inside surface of the case 161 which is a radial direction by centrifugal force.
  • the oil comes into contact with the inside surface of the case 161 , the oil flows down in the vertical direction that is the gravity direction along the inside surface of the case 161 and discharged through the oil outlet pipe 165 .
  • the plurality of suction pipes 164 are formed in arc forms in the case 161 , respectively. In this case, it is preferable that the plurality of suction pipes 164 have curvatures the same with the horizontal direction section of the case 161 in the horizontal direction, respectively.
  • the refrigerant compressed at the compressor 110 is introduced to the case 161 in the arc form according to the arc formed suction pipe 164 , and swirls to separate the oil from the refrigerant.
  • the suction pipe 164 has the arc form formed started from a suction pipe connection portion 164 b at which the suction pipe 164 is connected to the case 161 to a suction pipe end portion 164 a through which the oil is discharged. It is preferable that the suction pipe 164 has the arc with a center angle below 90° started from the suction pipe connection portion 164 b to the suction pipe end portion 164 a.
  • the suction pipe 164 in the case 161 has the arc form with the center angle below 90°.
  • each of the plurality of suction pipes 164 has the arc form with the center angle below 90° for preventing the plurality of suction pipes 164 from interfering with one another in the case 161 .
  • each of the plurality of suction pipes 164 may be bent within the case 161 in the horizontal direction as well as to an upper side in conformity with the inside surface of the case 161 .
  • the upper side is a direction opposite to the gravity direction.
  • the suction pipe 164 may have the suction pipe end portion 164 a formed to be positioned higher than the suction pipe connection portion 164 b.
  • the refrigerant having the oil mixed therewith flows along the suction pipe 164 and is discharged therefrom, since the refrigerant flows in a form of a helix while swirling downward by the gravity, the oil is separated from the refrigerant.
  • the refrigerant flows along the suction pipe 164 which is bent upward and is discharged upward, extending a swirling time period of the refrigerant longer than a case when the refrigerant is discharged horizontally, more oil can be separated.
  • each of the plurality of suction pipes 164 is bent upward, each of the plurality of suction pipes 164 will have an arc formed projected form to a horizontal plane in the case 161 , and will also have the arc formed projected form to a vertical plane. In this case, it is preferable that each of the plurality of suction pipes 164 has the form projected to the horizontal plane the same with a curvature of the horizontal direction section of the case 161 .
  • the plurality of suction pipes 164 include a first suction pipe 164 ( 1 ) inserted in the side of the case 161 , and a second suction pipe 164 ( 2 ) inserted in an opposite side of the first suction pipe 164 ( 1 ) in the side of the case 161 .
  • the first suction pipe 164 ( 1 ) guides the refrigerant compressed at the first compressor 110 ( 1 ) to be introduced to an inside of the case 161
  • the second suction pipe 164 ( 2 ) guides the refrigerant compressed at the second compressor 110 ( 2 ) to be introduced to an inside of the case 161
  • the first suction pipe 164 ( 1 ) is connected to the first refrigerant discharge pipeline 194 ( 1 )
  • the second suction pipe 164 ( 2 ) is connected to the second refrigerant discharge pipeline 194 ( 2 ).
  • the first suction pipe connection portion 164 b ( 1 ) of the first suction pipe 164 ( 1 ), and the second suction pipe connection portion 164 b ( 2 ) of the second suction pipe 164 ( 2 ) are arranged symmetrically opposite to each other with respect to the refrigerant discharge pipe 163 .
  • the first suction pipe connection portion 164 b ( 1 ) and the second suction pipe connection portion 164 b ( 2 ) are arranged on a line which passes a center of the horizontal section of the case 161 . That is, the first suction pipe connection portion 164 b ( 1 ) and the second suction pipe connection portion 164 b ( 2 ) are arranged on a diametral line of the horizontal direction section of the case 161 .
  • the first suction pipe 164 ( 1 ) and the second suction pipe 164 ( 2 ) are bent in the same direction within the case 161 . Both of the first suction pipe 164 ( 1 ) and the second suction pipe 164 ( 2 ) are bent in a clockwise direction or an anticlockwise direction when seen in the horizontal direction. In the embodiment, both of the first suction pipe 164 ( 1 ) and the second suction pipe 164 ( 2 ) are bent in the anticlockwise direction when seen from above to guide the refrigerant to swirl in the anticlockwise direction. Moreover, both of the first suction pipe 164 ( 1 ) and the second suction pipe 164 ( 2 ) may be bent upward within the case 161 .
  • the first suction pipe 164 ( 1 ) and the second suction pipe 164 ( 2 ) are formed to be symmetry to each other with respect to the refrigerant discharge pipe 163 . It is preferable that the first suction pipe 164 ( 1 ) and the second suction pipe 164 ( 2 ) are formed to have the same length and bent in the same direction within the case 161 .
  • the first suction pipe end portion 164 a ( 1 ) of the first suction pipe 164 ( 1 ) and the second suction pipe end portion 164 a ( 2 ) of the second suction pipe 164 ( 2 ) are arranged on opposite sides to each other with respect to the refrigerant discharge pipe 163 .
  • the first suction pipe end portion 164 a ( 1 ) and the second suction pipe end portion 164 a ( 2 ) are arranged on a line passing through a center of the horizontal direction section of the case 161 . That is, the first suction pipe end portion 164 a ( 1 ) and the second suction pipe end portion 164 a ( 2 ) are arranged on a diametral line of the horizontal direction section of the case 161 .
  • the refrigerant discharge pipe 163 is inserted in the case 161 from a top side thereof in a vertical direction. It is preferable that the refrigerant discharge pipe 163 has an end portion which draws-in the refrigerant arranged lower than the plurality of suction pipes 164 .
  • the refrigerant passed through the plurality of suction pipes 164 flows in a helical form as the refrigerant swirls downward and is mixed, and, if the oil is separated, the refrigerant is discharged to an outside of the case 161 through the refrigerant discharge pipe 163 .
  • the refrigerant discharge pipe 163 is connected to the discharge pipeline 191 .
  • the refrigerant discharge pipe 163 may be formed as one unit with the discharge pipeline 191 or may be connected to a case 161 connection portion.
  • the refrigerant discharged to the refrigerant discharge pipe 163 flows to the condenser 130 along the discharge pipeline 191 .
  • the oil outlet pipe 165 is connected to a lower side of the case 161 .
  • the oil which is separated from the refrigerant, flowed down on the inside surface of the case 161 , and collected on a bottom of the case 161 is discharged to an outside of the case 161 through the oil outlet pipe 165 .
  • the oil outlet pipe 165 is connected to the oil discharge pipeline 192 .
  • the oil outlet pipe 165 and the oil discharge pipeline 192 may be formed as one unit.
  • the oil discharged to the oil outlet pipe 165 is recovered to the plurality of compressors 110 through the oil discharge pipeline 192 , and the plurality of oil recovery pipelines 195 .
  • the refrigerant containing the oil discharged from the first compressor 110 ( 1 ) is introduced to an inside of the case 161 through the first suction pipe 164 ( 1 ), and the refrigerant containing the oil discharged from the second compressor 110 ( 2 ) is introduced to the inside of the case 161 through the second suction pipe 164 ( 2 ).
  • the refrigerant introduced through the first suction pipe 164 ( 1 ), and the refrigerant introduced through the second suction pipe 164 ( 2 ) is mixed as the refrigerant flows downward while swirling in the same direction. If the refrigerant containing the oil swirls in the helical form, the oil is brought into contact with the inside surface of the case 161 by centrifugal force, flows down on the inside surface, and is discharged through the oil outlet pipe 165 . The refrigerant having the oil separated therefrom is discharged through the refrigerant discharge pipe 163 .
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of an air conditioner in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • a plurality of oil recovery pipelines 295 in the air conditioner in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention are connected to refrigerant inlet ports 211 of a plurality of compressors 210 , respectively.
  • the plurality of compressors 210 are of a low pressure type which does not require the oil pump, separately.
  • the plurality of oil recovery pipelines 295 include a first oil recovery pipeline 295 ( 1 ) connected to a first refrigerant inlet port 211 ( 1 ) of a first compressor 210 ( 1 ), and a second oil recovery pipeline 295 ( 2 ) connected to a second refrigerant inlet port 211 ( 2 ) of a second compressor 210 ( 2 ).
  • the refrigerant inlet port 211 is connected both to a suction pipeline 299 and an oil recovery pipeline 295 for having the refrigerant flowing to a suction pipeline 299 passed through the gas-liquid separator 120 and the oil flowing to the oil recovery pipeline 295 separated at an oil separator 260 introduced thereto.
  • the first oil recovery pipeline 295 ( 1 ) is connected to a first suction pipeline 299 ( 1 )
  • the first oil recovery pipeline 295 ( 1 ) may be connected to the first refrigerant inlet port 211 ( 1 )
  • the second oil recovery pipeline 295 ( 2 ) may be connected to the second refrigerant inlet port 211 ( 2 ).

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Compressor (AREA)
  • Applications Or Details Of Rotary Compressors (AREA)
US14/353,106 2011-10-21 2012-10-19 Air conditioner Abandoned US20140326008A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
KR10-2011-0108202 2011-10-21
KR1020110108202A KR101342649B1 (ko) 2011-10-21 2011-10-21 공기조화기
PCT/KR2012/008589 WO2013058595A1 (ko) 2011-10-21 2012-10-19 공기조화기

Publications (1)

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US20140326008A1 true US20140326008A1 (en) 2014-11-06

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US14/353,106 Abandoned US20140326008A1 (en) 2011-10-21 2012-10-19 Air conditioner

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20140326008A1 (de)
EP (1) EP2778569B1 (de)
KR (1) KR101342649B1 (de)
WO (1) WO2013058595A1 (de)

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CN107923403A (zh) * 2015-08-11 2018-04-17 艾默生环境优化技术有限公司 具有油平衡系统的多压缩机配置
US20180195773A1 (en) 2017-01-12 2018-07-12 Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc. Micro Booster Supermarket Refrigeration Architecture
WO2021063348A1 (zh) * 2019-09-30 2021-04-08 约克（无锡）空调冷冻设备有限公司 油分离装置、冷凝器以及使用油分离装置或冷凝器的制冷系统
US11215370B2 (en) * 2014-11-21 2022-01-04 Yanmar Power Technology Co., Ltd. Heat pump

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JP6296322B2 (ja) * 2013-02-20 2018-03-20 パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 オイルセパレータ
WO2015077275A1 (en) * 2013-11-25 2015-05-28 The Coca-Cola Company Compressor with an oil separator
JP5858187B2 (ja) * 2014-05-13 2016-02-10 ダイキン工業株式会社 油分離装置
CN107771267A (zh) * 2015-02-06 2018-03-06 特灵国际有限公司 润滑剂分离器
CN104791912A (zh) * 2015-04-27 2015-07-22 广东美的暖通设备有限公司 一种多压缩机空调系统及其控制方法
CA3079079A1 (en) * 2017-11-17 2019-05-23 Autoclima S.P.A. Air conditioning kit for vehicles

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US11215370B2 (en) * 2014-11-21 2022-01-04 Yanmar Power Technology Co., Ltd. Heat pump
CN107923403A (zh) * 2015-08-11 2018-04-17 艾默生环境优化技术有限公司 具有油平衡系统的多压缩机配置
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WO2021063348A1 (zh) * 2019-09-30 2021-04-08 约克（无锡）空调冷冻设备有限公司 油分离装置、冷凝器以及使用油分离装置或冷凝器的制冷系统
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Publication number Publication date
KR101342649B1 (ko) 2013-12-17
EP2778569B1 (de) 2020-12-16
WO2013058595A1 (ko) 2013-04-25
EP2778569A4 (de) 2016-01-27
KR20130043978A (ko) 2013-05-02
EP2778569A1 (de) 2014-09-17

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