US20240247846A1 - Refrigerant reservoir container and refrigeration cycle device including the same - Google Patents

Refrigerant reservoir container and refrigeration cycle device including the same Download PDF

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Publication number
US20240247846A1
US20240247846A1 US18/564,131 US202118564131A US2024247846A1 US 20240247846 A1 US20240247846 A1 US 20240247846A1 US 202118564131 A US202118564131 A US 202118564131A US 2024247846 A1 US2024247846 A1 US 2024247846A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
container body
refrigerant
region
container
outlet
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Abandoned
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US18/564,131
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English (en)
Inventor
Shinya Higashiiue
Ryo TSUKIYAMA
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Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Assigned to MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION reassignment MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HIGASHIIUE, SHINYA, TSUKIYAMA, Ryo
Publication of US20240247846A1 publication Critical patent/US20240247846A1/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
    • F25B13/00—Compression machines, plants or systems, with 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
    • F25B41/00—Fluid-circulation arrangements
    • F25B41/40—Fluid line 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
    • F25B43/00—Arrangements for separating or purifying gases or liquids; Arrangements for vaporising the residuum of liquid refrigerant, e.g. by heat
    • F25B43/006—Accumulators
    • 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—Component parts or details not otherwise provided for in this subclass
    • F25B2400/23—Separators
    • 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
    • F25B2500/00—Problems to be solved
    • F25B2500/01—Geometry problems, e.g. for reducing size

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to a refrigerant reservoir container reserving refrigerant therein, and also relates to a refrigeration cycle device including the refrigerant reservoir container.
  • a configuration of a refrigeration cycle device in which a refrigerant reservoir container is provided upstream of a suction port through which a compressor suctions refrigerant.
  • the refrigerant reservoir container is configured to separate two-phase gas-liquid refrigerant into gas refrigerant and liquid refrigerant and reserve the liquid refrigerant in the container.
  • Patent Literature 1 discloses a gas-liquid separator located in a refrigeration cycle to separate refrigerant into liquid refrigerant and gas refrigerant.
  • the gas-liquid separator has a function of the refrigerant reservoir container, and includes a gas-phase refrigerant outflow pipe provided in an upper portion of the container to allow the gas refrigerant to flow out from the gas-liquid separator, a liquid-phase refrigerant outflow pipe provided in a lower portion of the container to allow the liquid refrigerant to flow out from the gas-liquid separator, a first plate configured to partition a refrigerant inflow chamber from a liquid-phase refrigerant accumulation chamber, and a second plate configured to partition the refrigerant inflow chamber from a gas-phase refrigerant collection chamber.
  • the plates are used to simply partition a region into which refrigerant flows, a region in which liquid refrigerant is reserved, and a region in which gas refrigerant is reserved, from each other.
  • This cannot always suppress roll-up of the accumulating liquid refrigerant, or restrain scattering liquid droplets from entering the refrigerant outflow pipe.
  • the reserved liquid refrigerant may ripple and scatter, and the scattering liquid droplets may reach the refrigerant outflow pipe and flow into the compressor along with gas refrigerant.
  • the present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a refrigerant reservoir container that restrains liquid refrigerant from flowing out along with gas refrigerant from the refrigerant reservoir container, and a refrigeration cycle device including the refrigerant reservoir container.
  • a refrigerant reservoir container includes: a container body reserving refrigerant; an inflow pipe inserted into an upper space of the container body, the inflow pipe having an inlet through which the refrigerant flows into the container body; and an outflow pipe inserted into the upper space of the container body, the outflow pipe having an outlet through which the refrigerant flows out from the container body, wherein a cross-sectional area of an inner space of the container body where the outlet of the outflow pipe is located is larger towards a bottom of the container body and away from the outlet.
  • a refrigeration cycle device includes: the refrigerant reservoir container described above; and a compressor connected to the refrigerant reservoir container through the outflow pipe.
  • the cross-sectional area of the inner space where the outlet of the outflow pipe is located increases towards the bottom of the container body.
  • the outflow pipe is inserted into the upper space of the container body, and thus the cross-sectional area of the inner space near the outlet is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the inner space near the bottom of the container body.
  • FIG. 1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of a refrigeration cycle device including a refrigerant reservoir container according to Embodiment 1.
  • FIG. 2 is a front view of the refrigerant reservoir container according to Embodiment 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a plan view of the refrigerant reservoir container according to Embodiment 1.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a relationship between a height and a cross-sectional area of a container body of the refrigerant reservoir container according to Embodiment 1.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a relationship between the height and an inner volume of the container body of the refrigerant reservoir container according to Embodiment 1.
  • FIG. 6 is a front view of a refrigerant reservoir container according to Embodiment 2.
  • FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating an A-A cross section of FIG. 6 .
  • FIG. 8 is a front view of a refrigerant reservoir container according to Embodiment 3.
  • FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating a B-B cross section of FIG. 8 .
  • FIG. 10 is a sectional view illustrating a C-C cross section of FIG. 8 .
  • a refrigerant reservoir container according to the present embodiment and a refrigeration cycle device including the refrigerant reservoir container will be described with reference to the drawings.
  • the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described below, and can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the present disclosure.
  • the present disclosure includes all combinations of configurations that can be combined among the configurations shown in the embodiments described below.
  • the configurations of the refrigerant reservoir container and the refrigeration cycle device are illustrated in the drawings merely as examples.
  • the refrigerant reservoir container and the refrigeration cycle device illustrated in the drawings are not intended to limit the configurations of the present disclosure.
  • the same reference signs denote the same or equivalent components, which are common throughout the entire specification. Note that the relative relationship of sizes of the constituent components, the shapes of the constituent components, and the like in the drawings may differ from those of actual ones.
  • the X-direction shows a left-right direction of the refrigerant reservoir container, and is illustrated with the arrow pointing to the leftward direction from the rightward side.
  • the Y-direction shows a front-rear direction of the refrigerant reservoir container, and is illustrated with the arrow pointing to the rearward direction from the forward side.
  • the Z-direction shows an up-down direction of the refrigerant reservoir container, and is illustrated with the arrow pointing to the upward direction from the downward side.
  • FIG. 1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of the refrigeration cycle device 100 including the refrigerant reservoir container 101 according to Embodiment 1.
  • the refrigeration cycle device 100 according to Embodiment 1 includes a compressor 10 , a flow switching device 11 , an outdoor heat exchanger 12 , an expansion mechanism 13 , an indoor heat exchanger 14 , and the refrigerant reservoir container 101 .
  • the compressor 10 , the flow switching device 11 , the outdoor heat exchanger 12 , the expansion mechanism 13 , the indoor heat exchanger 14 , and the refrigerant reservoir container 101 are connected by a refrigerant pipe 15 .
  • a refrigerant circuit 200 is formed in which refrigerant circulates through the refrigerant pipe 15 .
  • the refrigerant reservoir container 101 is connected to the compressor 10 through an outflow pipe 3 that is a portion of the refrigerant pipe 15 .
  • the compressor 10 suctions refrigerant, compresses the suctioned refrigerant into a high-temperature high-pressure state, and discharges the compressed refrigerant.
  • the compressor 10 is, for example, an inverter compressor. Refrigerant discharged from the compressor 10 flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 12 or the indoor heat exchanger 14 via the flow switching device 11 .
  • the flow switching device 11 has a function of switching between refrigerant flow passages.
  • the flow switching device 11 switches operation between cooling and heating.
  • refrigerant discharged from the compressor 10 flows through the outdoor heat exchanger 12 , the expansion mechanism 13 , the indoor heat exchanger 14 , and the refrigerant reservoir container 101 in this order, and flows back to the compressor 10 .
  • refrigerant discharged from the compressor 10 flows through the indoor heat exchanger 14 , the expansion mechanism 13 , the outdoor heat exchanger 12 , and the refrigerant reservoir container 101 in this order, and flows back to the compressor 10 .
  • the outdoor heat exchanger 12 serves as a condenser, while the indoor heat exchanger 14 serves as an evaporator.
  • the indoor heat exchanger 14 serves as a condenser, while the outdoor heat exchanger 12 serves as an evaporator.
  • the flow switching device 11 is, for example, a four-way valve.
  • the flow switching device 11 may be made up of a combination of two-way valves or three-way valves.
  • the expansion mechanism 13 is a pressure-reducing device configured to reduce the pressure of refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant circuit 200 to expand the refrigerant.
  • the expansion mechanism 13 is constituted by, for example, an electronic expansion valve whose opening degree is variably controlled.
  • the refrigeration cycle device 100 it is optimal that superheated gas is suctioned into the compressor 10 as refrigerant.
  • the state of refrigerant to be suctioned into the compressor 10 depends on a refrigerant distribution in the refrigerant circuit 200 .
  • refrigerant containing liquid refrigerant may sometimes be suctioned into the compressor 10 .
  • refrigerating machine oil in a shell of the compressor 10 is diluted with the liquid refrigerant. This may cause seizure of sliding parts of the compressor 10 .
  • the refrigerant reservoir container 101 is installed upstream of the compressor 10 in the refrigerant flow direction.
  • the two-phase gas-liquid refrigerant flowing into the refrigerant reservoir container 101 is separated into gas refrigerant and liquid refrigerant.
  • the liquid refrigerant accumulates in the refrigerant reservoir container 101 .
  • the gas refrigerant passes through the outflow pipe 3 , flows out from the refrigerant reservoir container 101 , and is suctioned into the compressor 10 .
  • liquid refrigerant is separated from the two-phase gas-liquid refrigerant and reserved in the refrigerant reservoir container 101 , so that the liquid refrigerant can be restrained from being suctioned into the compressor 10 .
  • the refrigeration cycle device 100 is not limited to being an air-conditioning apparatus capable of switching operation between cooling and heating as described above.
  • the refrigerant reservoir container 101 may be applied to a refrigeration cycle device such as a dehumidifier or a refrigerator-freezer.
  • FIG. 2 is a front view of the refrigerant reservoir container 101 according to Embodiment 1.
  • the arrows in FIG. 2 conceptually illustrate a refrigerant flow.
  • FIG. 3 is a plan view of the refrigerant reservoir container 101 according to Embodiment 1.
  • the refrigerant reservoir container 101 includes a container body 1 , the inflow pipe 2 , and the outflow pipe 3 .
  • the container body 1 has a substantially truncated conical shape with its inner space having a cross-sectional area that gradually increases from the upper end towards the bottom. Refrigerant accumulates in the inner space of the container body 1 .
  • the inflow pipe 2 and the outflow pipe 3 are inserted into the upper space of the container body 1 .
  • the inflow pipe 2 and the outflow pipe 3 may be inserted from the upper end portion of the container body 1 .
  • the inflow pipe 2 and the outflow pipe 3 may be inserted from a lateral surface of the container body 1 such that the inflow pipe 2 and the outflow pipe 3 are located in the upper space of the container body 1 .
  • Refrigerant in a two-phase gas-liquid state passes through the inflow pipe 2 , and flows into the container body 1 from an inlet 2 a of the inflow pipe 2 .
  • Liquid refrigerant flowing into the container body 1 from the inlet 2 a drops to the bottom of the container body 1 due to gravity and accumulates in the container body 1 .
  • the level of a gas-liquid interface GLI rises.
  • the gas-liquid interface GLI moves towards the upper portion of the container body 1 . Accordingly, as the volume of accumulating liquid refrigerant increases, the gas-liquid interface GLI becomes closer to the inflow pipe 2 and the outflow pipe 3 in distance.
  • Gas refrigerant entering the container body 1 from the inlet 2 a flows into the outflow pipe 3 from an outlet 3 a .
  • the gas refrigerant flowing into the outflow pipe 3 passes through the outflow pipe 3 , flows out from the container body 1 , and is suctioned into the compressor 10 .
  • an end portion of the inflow pipe 2 is located in the container body 1 and has a bent portion 2 b that is bent in the X-direction.
  • the inlet 2 a is provided at the bent portion 2 b to be opposite to the lateral surface of the container body 1 .
  • the inlet 2 a is provided to be opposite to the lateral surface of the container body 1 , so that the distance between the inlet 2 a and the outlet 3 a can be increased. Therefore, this can reduce the likelihood that liquid refrigerant flows into the outlet 3 a from the inlet 2 a .
  • the velocity of liquid refrigerant flowing through the inflow pipe 2 is reduced by the bent portion 2 b .
  • the liquid refrigerant flowing out from the inlet 2 a reduces its momentum, so that when the liquid refrigerant drops to the gas-liquid interface GLI, ripples over the gas-liquid interface GLI can be suppressed.
  • the inlet 2 a it is desirable for the inlet 2 a to be provided at a location where the inlet 2 a does not overlap the outflow pipe 3 in the up-down direction of the container body 1 .
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a relationship between a height and a cross-sectional area of the container body 1 of the refrigerant reservoir container 101 according to Embodiment 1.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a relationship between the height and an inner volume of the container body 1 of the refrigerant reservoir container 101 according to Embodiment 1.
  • the container body 1 has a substantially truncated conical shape with its inner space having a cross-sectional area that gradually increases from the upper end towards the bottom.
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a virtual container body VC with a cylindrical shape by the dotted line in the container body 1 for the purpose of comparison with the container body 1 with a substantially truncated conical shape.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates, on the right side of the drawing, a cross-sectional area relationship diagram showing the relationship between the height of the container body and the cross-sectional area of the container body.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates, on the left side of the drawing, the container body 1 of the refrigerant reservoir container 101 and the virtual container body VC.
  • a first height position HPt 1 and a second height position HPt 2 are illustrated, each of which shows a height position.
  • the height corresponding to the first height position HPt 1 is illustrated as a first reference line L 1
  • the height corresponding to the second height position HPt 2 is illustrated as a second reference line L 2 .
  • the vertical axis represents the height of the container body 1 and the virtual container body VC
  • the horizontal axis represents the cross-sectional area of the container body 1 and the virtual container body VC.
  • the height increases towards the upper side of the drawing
  • the cross-sectional area increases towards the right side of the drawing.
  • the relationship between the height and the cross-sectional area of the container body 1 is illustrated by the solid line
  • the relationship between the height and the cross-sectional area of the virtual container body VC is illustrated by the thick dotted line.
  • the container body 1 has a substantially truncated conical shape with its cross-sectional area increasing towards the bottom, and thus the cross-sectional area of the container body 1 decreases towards the upper portion.
  • the virtual container body VC has a cylindrical shape, and thus the cross-sectional area of the virtual container body VC is constant regardless of its height.
  • the cross-sectional area of the container body 1 is equal to the cross-sectional area of the virtual container body VC. Accordingly, in the cross-sectional area relationship diagram, the point showing the cross-sectional area of the container body 1 at the first height position HPt 1 coincides, at a first point XPt 1 , with the point showing the cross-sectional area of the virtual container body VC at the first height position HPt 1 . In the cross-sectional area relationship diagram, the point showing the cross-sectional area of the container body 1 at the second height position HPt 2 is illustrated as a third point XPt 3 .
  • the point showing the cross-sectional area of the virtual container body VC at the second height position HPt 2 is illustrated as a second point XPt 2 .
  • the cross-sectional area of the container body 1 is larger than the cross-sectional area of the virtual container body VC. Accordingly, the third point XPt 3 is located on the right side relative to the second point XPt 2 .
  • FIG. 5 illustrates, on the right side of the drawing, an inner volume relationship diagram showing the relationship between the height of the container body and the inner volume of the container body. Similar to FIG. 4 , FIG. 5 illustrates, on the left side of the drawing, the container body 1 and the virtual container body VC along with the first height position HPt 1 and the second height position HPt 2 . FIG. 5 also illustrates a third height position HPt 3 showing the upper end portion of the container body 1 and the virtual container body VC. In the inner volume relationship diagram, the height corresponding to the third height position HPt 3 is illustrated as a third reference line L 3 .
  • the vertical axis represents the height of the container body 1 and the virtual container body VC
  • the horizontal axis represents the inner volume of the container body 1 and the virtual container body VC.
  • the height increases towards the upper side of the drawing
  • the inner volume increases towards the right side of the drawing.
  • the relationship between the height and the inner volume of the container body 1 is illustrated by the solid line
  • the relationship between the height and the inner volume of the virtual container body VC is illustrated by the thick dotted line.
  • the container body 1 Since the container body 1 has a substantially truncated conical shape with its cross-sectional area increasing towards the bottom, the inner volume of the container body 1 increases at a greater rate closer to the bottom. In contrast, since the virtual container body VC has a cylindrical shape, the inner volume of the virtual container body VC increases at a constant rate regardless of its height.
  • the container body 1 has the same shape as the shape of the virtual container body VC, and thus their shapes overlap each other.
  • the inner volume of the container body 1 increases between the first height position HPt 1 and the third height position HPt 3 at the same rate as the increase in the inner volume of the virtual container body VC between the first height position HPt 1 and the third height position HPt 3 .
  • the difference in inner volume between the container body 1 and the virtual container body VC remains unchanged.
  • the point showing the inner volume of the container body 1 at the second height position HPt 2 is illustrated as a fifth point XPt 5 .
  • the point showing the inner volume of the virtual container body VC at the second height position HPt 2 is illustrated as a fourth point XPt 4 .
  • the inner volume of the container body 1 is larger than the inner volume of the virtual container body VC. Accordingly, the fifth point XPt 5 is located on the right side relative to the fourth point XPt 4 .
  • the container body 1 has a substantially truncated conical shape.
  • the inner volume of the container body 1 is larger than that of the virtual container body VC with a cylindrical shape, provided that the container body 1 and the virtual container body VC with a cylindrical shape both have the same height and the same shape of the upper end portion. Accordingly, the container body 1 can reserve a greater volume of liquid refrigerant than the volume of liquid refrigerant that can be reserved in the virtual container body VC.
  • the container body 1 since the container body 1 has a substantially truncated conical shape, the volume of liquid refrigerant per unit height is larger closer to the bottom.
  • liquid refrigerant can be kept reserved for a longer time with an adequate distance kept between the outlet 3 a and the gas-liquid interface GLI.
  • ripples may be generated on the gas-liquid interface GLI due to an inertial force of the two-phase gas-liquid refrigerant flowing into the container body 1 .
  • the liquid refrigerant scatters as liquid droplets in the container body 1 .
  • the liquid refrigerant can be restrained from flowing out from the container body 1 .
  • the volume of scattering liquid droplets increases in proportion to the area of the gas-liquid interface GLI.
  • the cross-sectional area on the gas-liquid interface GLI is smaller compared to the cross-sectional area at the bottom of the container body 1 . Accordingly, the volume of scattering liquid droplets can be reduced, so that the liquid droplets are less likely to reach the outlet 3 a .
  • the container body 1 can reserve a relatively large volume of liquid refrigerant at a location away from the outlet 3 a , and can reduce the likelihood that the liquid droplets reach the outlet 3 a when the gas-liquid interface GLI becomes close to the outlet 3 a in distance.
  • the refrigerant reservoir container 101 includes the container body 1 reserving refrigerant, the inflow pipe 2 inserted into the upper space of the container body 1 and having the inlet 2 a through which the refrigerant flows into the container body 1 , and the outflow pipe 3 inserted into the upper space of the container body 1 and having the outlet 3 a through which the refrigerant flows out from the container body 1 .
  • the cross-sectional area of the inner space of the container body 1 where the outlet 3 a of the outflow pipe 3 is located is larger towards the bottom of the container body 1 and away from the outlet 3 a.
  • the cross-sectional area of the inner space of the container body 1 is smaller closer to the outlet 3 a . That is, even when liquid refrigerant accumulates in the container body 1 , and the gas-liquid interface GLI becomes close to the outlet 3 a in distance, the volume of liquid droplets that scatter due to ripples of the liquid refrigerant over the gas-liquid interface GLI is still reduced. Accordingly, the liquid refrigerant can be restrained from flowing out from the container body 1 .
  • the inflow pipe 2 and the outflow pipe 3 are inserted from the upper end portion of the container body 1 , and the inlet 2 a of the inflow pipe 2 is located on the lower side relative to the outlet 3 a of the outflow pipe 3 .
  • the inlet 2 a is located on the lower side relative to the outlet 3 a , so that the liquid refrigerant that drops from the inlet 2 a is less likely to flow into the outlet 3 a .
  • outlet 3 a is located on the upper side relative to the inlet 2 a , even when liquid refrigerant flowing into the container body 1 from the inlet 2 a ripples over the gas-liquid interface GLI and thus liquid droplets scatter, the scattering liquid droplets are still less likely to flow into the outlet 3 a.
  • the refrigeration cycle device 100 includes the refrigerant reservoir container 101 described above, and the compressor 10 connected to the refrigerant reservoir container 101 through the outflow pipe 3 .
  • liquid refrigerant can be restrained from being suctioned into the compressor 10 from the refrigerant reservoir container 101 through the outflow pipe 3 . Therefore, this configuration can reduce the likelihood that refrigerating machine oil in the compressor 10 is diluted with the liquid refrigerant, which causes seizure of sliding parts of the compressor 10 .
  • a container body 1 A and an inflow pipe 2 A of a refrigerant reservoir container 101 A according to the present embodiment are different in configuration from the container body 1 and the inflow pipe 2 in Embodiment 1, respectively.
  • the refrigerant reservoir container 101 A in the present embodiment is described below, mainly focusing on the differences from the refrigerant reservoir container 101 in Embodiment 1. Note that in the refrigeration cycle device 100 in Embodiment 1, the refrigerant reservoir container 101 according to Embodiment 1 can be replaced with the refrigerant reservoir container 101 A according to the present embodiment.
  • the configuration of the refrigeration cycle device 100 other than the refrigerant reservoir container, is the same as that in Embodiment 1, and therefore descriptions of the configuration are omitted.
  • the same constituent elements as those in Embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference signs, and descriptions thereof are appropriately omitted.
  • FIG. 6 is a front view of the refrigerant reservoir container 101 A according to Embodiment 2.
  • the solid-line arrows in FIG. 6 conceptually illustrate a refrigerant flow.
  • FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating the A-A cross section of FIG. 6 .
  • the container body 1 A of the refrigerant reservoir container 101 A according to the present embodiment has a cylindrical shape.
  • a shielding plate 4 is provided in the container body 1 A.
  • the inflow pipe 2 A and the outflow pipe 3 are inserted into the upper space of the container body 1 A.
  • the inflow pipe 2 A and the outflow pipe 3 may be inserted from the upper end portion of the container body 1 A.
  • the shielding plate 4 partitions the interior of the container body 1 A into a first region SP 1 where the outlet 3 a of the outflow pipe 3 is located, and a second region SP 2 where the inlet 2 a of the inflow pipe 2 A is located. As illustrated in FIG. 6 , the shielding plate 4 is provided such that the cross-sectional area of the inner space of the container body 1 A where the outlet 3 a is located is larger towards the bottom of the container body 1 A and away from the outlet 3 a . In other words, in the present embodiment, while the container body 1 A has a cylindrical shape, the inner space where the outlet 3 a is located is formed as the first region SP 1 with a truncated conical shape by providing the shielding plate 4 in the container body 1 A.
  • the inner space of the container body 1 A is partitioned into the first region SP 1 surrounded by the shielding plate 4 , the second region SP 2 formed between the lateral surface of the container body 1 A and the shielding plate 4 , and a third region SP 3 formed between a lower end portion of the shielding plate 4 and the bottom of the container body 1 A.
  • the first region SP 1 and the second region SP 2 both connect to the third region SP 3 . Accordingly, the first region SP 1 , the second region SP 2 , and the third region SP 3 communicate with each other.
  • the outlet 3 a is located in the first region SP 1
  • the inlet 2 a is located in the second region SP 2 .
  • Two-phase gas-liquid refrigerant flows into the second region SP 2 from the inlet 2 a .
  • Gas refrigerant passes through the third region SP 3 and flows into the first region SP 1 .
  • Gas refrigerant flowing into the first region SP 1 enters the outflow pipe 3 from the outlet 3 a and flows out from the container body 1 A.
  • Liquid refrigerant passes through the second region SP 2 and accumulates in the third region SP 3 .
  • the level of the gas-liquid interface GLI rises.
  • the volume of accumulating liquid refrigerant exceeds the volume of the third region SP 3 , the excessive volume of liquid refrigerant accumulates in the first region SP 1 and the second region SP 2 .
  • the gas-liquid interface GLI is located in the first region SP 1 and the second region SP 2 .
  • the second region SP 2 and the third region SP 3 serve as a passage through which refrigerant flowing from the inlet 2 a reaches the first region SP 1 and the outlet 3 a.
  • the shielding plate 4 is connected to the upper end portion of the container body 1 A.
  • the shielding plate 4 may be connected to a lateral surface of the container body 1 A.
  • the shielding plate 4 may be connected to an inner lateral surface of the container body 1 A through a hook attached to the inner lateral surface of the container body 1 A.
  • the shielding plate 4 may be provided with a through hole through which the outflow pipe 3 passes.
  • the outflow pipe 3 passes through the through hole and reaches the first region SP 1 . Accordingly, it is possible to locate the outlet 3 a in the first region SP 1 .
  • the inflow pipe 2 A may be inserted into the second region SP 2 from the upper end portion of the container body 1 A, or may be inserted into the second region SP 2 from the lateral surface of the container body 1 A.
  • the shielding plate 4 separates the inflow pipe 2 A from the outflow pipe 3 .
  • liquid refrigerant is prevented from directly flowing into the outlet 3 a from the inlet 2 a .
  • Liquid droplets are generated on the gas-liquid interface GLI in the second region SP 2 due to ripples of the liquid refrigerant flowing out from the inlet 2 a and dropping to the gas-liquid interface GLI.
  • the shielding plate 4 there is no likelihood that the liquid droplets reach the outlet 3 a located in the first region SP 1 partitioned off by the shielding plate 4 .
  • the inlet 2 a and the outlet 3 a are not greatly distanced from each other, or the flow rate of refrigerant flowing into the container body 1 A is not decreased. Therefore, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 , it is allowable that the inflow pipe 2 A does not have the bent portion 2 b.
  • the refrigerant reservoir container 101 A includes the shielding plate 4 provided in the container body 1 A.
  • the shielding plate 4 partitions the interior of the container body 1 A into the first region SP 1 that is an inner space where the outlet 3 a of the outflow pipe 3 is located, and the second region SP 2 where the inlet 2 a of the inflow pipe 2 A is located.
  • the third region SP 3 is formed between the lower end portion of the shielding plate 4 and the bottom of the container body 1 A.
  • the first region SP 1 and the second region SP 2 connect to the third region SP 3 .
  • the inlet 2 a is separated from the outlet 3 a by the shielding plate 4 . Accordingly, it is possible to restrain liquid refrigerant flowing out from the inlet 2 a from flowing into the outlet 3 a .
  • the container body 1 A has a cylindrical shape, and thus can reserve an increased volume of liquid refrigerant compared to a container body with a truncated conical shape, provided that the container body with the truncated conical shape and the container body 1 A both have the same height and the same cross-sectional area of the bottom.
  • the shielding plate 4 is provided in the container body 1 A with a cylindrical shape.
  • the shielding plate 4 has a hollow truncated conical shape widening from the upper end portion of the container body 1 A towards the bottom, and being open on a top base and a bottom base.
  • the first region SP 1 is an inner space surrounded by the shielding plate 4
  • the second region SP 2 is a space between the lateral surface of the container body 1 A and the shielding plate 4 .
  • This configuration can be obtained by solely connecting the shielding plate 4 with a hollow truncated conical shape to the container body 1 A with a cylindrical shape, and thus does not complicate the manufacturing process of the refrigerant reservoir container 101 A.
  • a shielding plate 4 A of a refrigerant reservoir container 101 B according to the present embodiment is different in configuration from the shielding plate 4 in Embodiment 2.
  • the shielding plate 4 A in the present embodiment is described below, mainly focusing on the differences from the shielding plate 4 in Embodiment 2.
  • the refrigerant reservoir container 101 according to Embodiment 1 can be replaced with the refrigerant reservoir container 101 B according to the present embodiment.
  • the configuration of the refrigeration cycle device 100 other than the refrigerant reservoir container, is the same as that in Embodiment 1, and therefore descriptions of the configuration are omitted.
  • the same constituent elements as those in Embodiments 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference signs, and descriptions thereof are appropriately omitted.
  • FIG. 8 is a front view of the refrigerant reservoir container 101 B according to Embodiment 3.
  • the solid-line arrows in FIG. 8 conceptually illustrate a refrigerant flow.
  • FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating the B-B cross section of FIG. 8 .
  • FIG. 10 is a sectional view illustrating the C-C cross section of FIG. 8 .
  • the shielding plate 4 A has a plurality of through holes 6 .
  • Each of the through holes 6 has, for example, a round shape.
  • Each of the through holes 6 may have an elliptical shape.
  • All of the plurality of through holes 6 do not necessarily have the same shape or the same size.
  • the B-B cross section illustrated in FIG. 8 in which the through holes 6 are not provided, is identical to the A-A cross section of the container body 1 A illustrated in FIG. 6 in Embodiment 2. Therefore, FIGS. 7 and 9 illustrate the identical cross-sectional view.
  • the plurality of through holes 6 are provided at the same height position in the up-down direction of the container body 1 A.
  • the plurality of through holes 6 are provided in the circumferential direction of the shielding plate 4 A. Note that while FIG. 10 illustrates two through holes 6 , it is sufficient that one or more through holes 6 are provided. In the up-down direction of the container body 1 A, another through hole 6 may be provided at a different height position in addition to the plurality of through holes 6 provided at the same height position.
  • the volume of accumulating liquid refrigerant that exceeds the volume of the third region SP 3 accumulates in the first region SP 1 and the second region SP 2 .
  • the pressure in the second region SP 2 is higher than the pressure in the first region SP 1 .
  • This causes pulsation of the refrigerant between the first region SP 1 and the second region SP 2 .
  • the shielding plate 4 is provided with the through holes 6 in the present embodiment, gas refrigerant flows into the first region SP 1 from the second region SP 2 through the through holes 6 . This suppresses an increase in the pressure in the second region SP 2 . Therefore, pulsation of the refrigerant between the first region SP 1 and the second region SP 2 is suppressed.
  • the shielding plate 4 A has the through holes 6 , and the first region SP 1 and the second region SP 2 communicate with each other through the through holes 6 .
  • gas refrigerant flowing into the second region SP 2 passes through the through holes 6 and enters the first region SP 1 . This reduces variations in the pressure in the container body 1 A, and as a consequence, suppresses pulsation of the refrigerant.
  • the shielding plate 4 A has the plurality of through holes 6 . At least two or more of the plurality of through holes 6 are provided at the same height position in the up-down direction of the container body 1 A. With this configuration, gas refrigerant flows more efficiently from the second region SP 2 to the first region SP 1 , compared to a configuration in which the through holes 6 are arranged in a line in the up-down direction of the container body 1 A.
  • the refrigerant reservoir containers 101 , 101 A, and 101 B, and the refrigeration cycle device 100 are not limited to Embodiments 1 to 3 described above.
  • the refrigerant reservoir container may employ a configuration in which the container body 1 in Embodiment 1 is provided with the shielding plate 4 in Embodiment 2.
  • the refrigerant reservoir container may employ a configuration in which the container body 1 A in Embodiment 2 is provided with the inflow pipe 2 in Embodiment 1.
  • Embodiments 1 to 3 can be combined with each other within the range not impairing the functions or structures of each of Embodiments 1 to 3.

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  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Compressor (AREA)
US18/564,131 2021-07-28 2021-07-28 Refrigerant reservoir container and refrigeration cycle device including the same Abandoned US20240247846A1 (en)

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