WO2012016855A1

WO2012016855A1 - Air-conditioning loop comprising a device for receiving a refrigerant

Info

Publication number: WO2012016855A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/062624
Authority: WO
Inventors: Imed Guitari
Original assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
Priority date: 2010-08-05
Filing date: 2011-07-22
Publication date: 2012-02-09
Also published as: US20130186131A1; EP2601458A1; FR2963665B1; JP2013535372A; FR2963665A1

Abstract

The subject of the invention is an air-conditioning loop (1) comprising a refrigerant circuit including at least one compressor (2), one external heat exchanger (11), one internal heat exchanger (5) or one refrigerant/heat transfer fluid exchanger (53), a device (16) for receiving the refrigerant, an expansion member (21) and an evaporator (24). The receiving device (16) comprises an inlet (17) coupled to the external heat exchanger (11), a first outlet (18) coupled to the expansion member (21) and a second outlet (19) coupled to a bypass device (28) for bypassing the evaporator (24).

Description

Air conditioning loop comprising a device for receiving a refrigerant

The technical field of the present invention is that of reversible air conditioning loops, otherwise called loops or refrigeration circuits. The invention aims at such a loop intended to operate at least in a so-called 'heating' mode and in a so-called 'cooling' mode.

An air conditioning loop is conventionally used on motor vehicles to generate an interior air flow at the desired temperature and sent into the cabin of the vehicle. The air conditioning loop conventionally comprises an outdoor heat exchanger, one or more expansion members, an evaporator, an accumulator and a compressor, traversed in this order by a refrigerant. The external heat exchanger is an exchanger crossed by an outside air flow while the evaporator is an exchanger crossed by the interior air flow, that is to say the flow of air to be distributed in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. The refrigerant circulating between an outlet of the compressor and an inlet of the expansion member is subjected to a high pressure and a high temperature while the refrigerant flowing between the outlet of the expansion member and the inlet of the compressor is subjected to a low pressure and a low temperature.

In the context of vehicles with electric or hybrid propulsion, it has been proposed to use the conventional air conditioning loop described above to heat or cool the interior air flow intended to be distributed in the passenger compartment. To do this, an additional exchanger and switching means, allowing the circulation of the refrigerant fluid in various directions of circulation, are integrated into the air conditioning loop, the additional exchanger being placed in a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system. allowing the heating of the interior air flow. The air conditioning loop is then able to operate in a mode called 'heating' or a mode called 'cooling' or a combined mode to dehumidify the indoor airflow.

According to some embodiments, the accumulator is conventionally installed upstream of the compressor, according to the direction of circulation of the cooling fluid in the air conditioning loop. Such an accumulator placed upstream of the compressor does not allow the creation of an overheating of the refrigerant before entering the compressor.

However, in the case of high thermal loads, overheating may be necessary to increase the performance of the air conditioning loop and lower its impact on consumption.

Furthermore, known air conditioning loops do not allow the installation of an internal heat exchanger because its integration significantly degrades the efficiency of the air conditioning loop when it is used in so-called 'heating' mode.

The object of the present invention is therefore to solve the disadvantages described above mainly by modifying the architecture of the air conditioning loop and the structure of the accumulator so that it can also function as a bottle. The modified accumulator thus becomes a device for receiving the refrigerant fluid able to operate in so-called 'heating' mode or so-called 'cooling' mode and for obtaining an overheating of the refrigerant fluid, for example in the case of large thermal loads. The refrigerant receiving device is placed in the high pressure part of the air conditioning loop in certain modes and more particularly between the external heat exchanger and the expansion member.

The subject of the invention is therefore an air conditioning loop comprising a refrigerant circuit comprising at least one compressor, an external heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger or a fluid exchanger. refrigerant / heat transfer fluid, a refrigerant receiving device, an expansion member and an evaporator. More particularly, the receiving device comprises an input connected to the external heat exchanger, a first output connected to the expansion member and a second output connected to a device for bypassing the evaporator.

According to a first mode of the air conditioning loop, so-called 'heating' mode, the refrigerant circulates successively in the compressor, the indoor heat exchanger or the refrigerant / heat transfer fluid exchanger, an expansion device, the heat exchanger. external heat, operating as an evaporator, the input of the receiving device, the second output of the receiving device and the bypass device before returning to the compressor.

The bypass device advantageously comprises a circulation line connected to an inlet of the compressor.

Furthermore, a stop member controls the flow of refrigerant in the bypass device, in particular in the circulation line connected to the compressor inlet.

In addition, the air conditioning loop includes a means of bypassing the indoor heat exchanger or a refrigerant / heat transfer fluid exchanger. Thus arranged, the air conditioning loop is configured according to a second mode, so-called 'cooling' mode, in which the cooling fluid circulates successively in the compressor, the bypass means, the external heat exchanger, functioning as a condenser, input of the receiving device, the first output of the receiving device, the detent and the evaporator before returning to the compressor. Advantageously, a stop member controls the circulation of refrigerant fluid in the bypassing means of the indoor heat exchanger or the refrigerant / heat transfer fluid exchanger. According to an additional characteristic, a first outlet of the expansion member is connected to an inlet of the evaporator and an outlet of the evaporator is connected to a second inlet of the expansion member.

Complementarily or optionally, the air-conditioning loop comprises an internal heat exchanger comprising a high-pressure part exchanging heat with a low-pressure part, the high-pressure part being installed between the first output of the receiving device and the and the low pressure portion being installed between the evaporator and the compressor.

Preferably, the expansion member is of the thermostatic or thermostatically controlled type.

According to an alternative embodiment, the air conditioning circuit comprises a secondary coolant circuit interacting with the refrigerant circuit by means of a refrigerant / heat transfer fluid exchanger.

In this alternative configuration, the secondary circuit comprises a heater, for heating the interior air flow, and means for circulating the coolant, such as a pump.

In a particular embodiment, the receiving device comprises a wall delimiting an internal volume defining a space for separating the cooling fluid and a refrigerant storage space, the inlet and the second outlet of the receiving device opening into the chamber. separation space and the first output receiving device opening into the space of storage.

In particular, the receiving device comprises an extraction tube comprising a first part connected to the second output of the receiving device, a second part comprising an end opening into the separation space and a connecting portion, in particular made under the shape of a bend, connecting the first portion and the second portion of the extraction tube and extending into the storage space. A first advantage of the invention lies in the possibility of obtaining an overheating upstream of the compressor which allows to maintain a high level of performance when the thermal load on the air conditioning loop is important. Another advantage lies in the possibility of integrating an internal heat exchanger without the latter having a negative impact on the performance of the air conditioning loop when it operates in so-called 'heating' mode.

In addition, the present invention makes it possible to have a device for receiving the refrigerating fluid located at the outlet of the external heat exchanger and functioning as:

Accumulator for storing the coolant and allowing separation of the liquid phase and the gaseous phase of the coolant when the external heat exchanger operates as an evaporator, or

· Bottle for storing, filtering and dehydrating the high-pressure refrigerant when the outdoor heat exchanger is operating as a condenser.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, which may serve to complete the understanding of the invention. present invention and the presentation of its realization, but also, where appropriate, contribute to its definition on which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an air conditioning loop according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the refrigerant receiving device fitted to the air conditioning loop according to the invention,

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the air-conditioning loop in cooling mode,

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the so-called cooling cooling loop according to a first variant of the invention,

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the air-conditioning loop operating in so-called heating mode, and

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the air conditioning loop according to a second variant of the invention.

Figure 1 is a schematic view of an air conditioning loop 1 according to the invention and shows a non-limiting embodiment. Figure 1 illustrates the relative position of the components of the air conditioning loop 1 relative to each other without prejudging the mode in which the air conditioning loop is used.

A refrigerant circulates in a closed circuit in the air conditioning loop 1. The refrigerant is set in motion by a compressor 2 which receives the refrigerant at a suction temperature and a suction pressure through an inlet 3, compresses it and then discharges it through an outlet 4 at a temperature pressure and discharge pressure higher than the suction temperature and the suction pressure.

The compressor 2 may be of the fixed displacement or variable displacement type and its control may be internal, or through a control valve, or external. The compressor 2 can also be of the electric type.

The outlet 4 of the compressor 2 is connected to a flow line conveying the refrigerant either to an indoor heat exchanger 5 or to a bypass means 6 of the indoor heat exchanger 5.

According to another embodiment not shown, the air conditioning loop 1 does not include bypass means 6 of the indoor heat exchanger 5. The present invention is also specific to this type of arrangement.

The refrigerant enters the indoor heat exchanger 5 through an inlet 7 and exits through an outlet 8 after exchanging heat with a surrounding medium. In the example of FIG. 1, the surrounding medium is an interior air flow 31 that circulates inside a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system 9 of a motor vehicle.

The indoor heat exchanger 5 is adapted to allow an exchange with the interior air flow 31 to be distributed inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle after passing through the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system. 9. It is therefore an air exchanger / coolant for heat treating, in particular to heat, the inner air flow 31 to be distributed inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle. In particular, the indoor heat exchanger 5 is likely to behave as a condenser that transfers heat from condensation of the refrigerant to the interior air flow 31.

The outlet 8 of the indoor heat exchanger 5 is connected to a circulation line which conveys the refrigerant to a first expansion device 10, more particularly to an inlet of the first expansion device 10.

The first expansion device 10 also includes an output fluidly communicating with a circulation line which conveys the refrigerant to an external heat exchanger 11.

The external heat exchanger is adapted to exchange heat with an outside air flow 13, located outside the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Preferably, the outside air flow 13 is not intended to be distributed in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. For example, the outdoor heat exchanger January 1 is disposed on the front of a vehicle. The bypass means 6 of the indoor heat exchanger 5 comprises a circulation line 44 having a refrigerant inlet 44a, arranged between the outlet 4 of the compressor 2 and the inlet 7 of the indoor heat exchanger 5, and a coolant outlet 44b, arranged between the outlet 8 of the indoor heat exchanger 5 and an inlet 12 of the outdoor heat exchanger January 1.

Advantageously, the coolant outlet 44b is arranged between the outlet of the first expansion device 10 and the inlet 12 of the external heat exchanger January 1.

The flow of refrigerant inside the bypass means 6 is placed under the control of a first stop member 15. According to a particular embodiment, the first stop member 5 takes the form of a valve control system ensuring the opening or closing of the circulation pipe 44, allowing or prohibiting the circulation of the refrigerant in the circulation pipe 44.

According to an alternative embodiment, the control valve is of the 'binary' type in that it only allows two positions: total opening or total closing. However, the first stop member 15 may also consist of a progressive opening and closing control valve. Alternatively, the bypass means 6 is made by a 'three-way' valve arranged at the refrigerant inlet 44a or at the refrigerant outlet 44b of the circulation pipe 44. Arranged at the refrigerant inlet 44a the 'three-way' valve allows the circulation of the refrigerant from the outlet 4 of the compressor 2 either to the inlet 7 of the indoor heat exchanger 5 or to the refrigerant outlet 44b of the circulation pipe 44. Arranged at the refrigerant outlet 44b, the 'three-way' valve allows the circulation of the refrigerant either from the outlet 8 of the indoor heat exchanger 5, in particular at the outlet of the expansion element, or from the refrigerant inlet 44a of the circulation pipe 44 to the inlet 12 of the external heat exchanger 11

It is therefore understood that the first stop member 15 controls the circulation of the refrigerant in the circulation line 44.

As the pressure drop inside the indoor heat exchanger 5 is greater than the pressure drop of the bypass means 6, the refrigerant naturally bypasses the indoor heat exchanger 5.

As defined in connection with FIG. 1, the bypass means 6 is therefore installed in parallel with the internal heat exchanger 5.

The external heat exchanger January 1 also comprises an outlet orifice 14 through which the refrigerant is discharged via a flow line to a receiving device 16 of the refrigerant.

The receiving device 16 allows storage, separation between the liquid and gas phases, filtration and dehydration of the refrigerant.

The refrigerant fluid enters the interior of the receiving device 16 via a input 17 and is likely to exit by a first output 18 and / or a second output 19 according to the operating mode of the air conditioning loop 1. The first outlet 18 of the receiving device 16 allows the liquid refrigerant to exit to a first inlet 20 of an expansion member 21 via a circulation pipe. The expansion member 21 may be a second expansion device 21 may be similar to the first expansion device 10. Advantageously, the expansion member 21 or the second expansion device 21 is a thermostatic expansion member.

The second expansion device 21 comprises a first outlet 22 connected to an inlet 23 of an evaporator 24. The refrigerant, passing through the second expansion device 21 between the first inlet 20 and the first outlet 22, is expanded. The pressure of the refrigerant at the inlet 23 of the evaporator 24 is therefore less than the pressure of the refrigerant fluid an upstream of the first inlet 20 of the expansion member 21 in the direction of circulation of the refrigerant.

The evaporator 24 is installed inside the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system 9 so as to be traversed by the internal air flow 31 and exchange heat with the latter. The evaporator 24 cools the interior air flow 31 prior to its diffusion inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

The heating up of the interior air flow 31 prior to diffusion inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle is carried out by a mixture of the interior air flow 31 having passed through the evaporator 24 and / or the heat exchanger. indoor heat 5.

The refrigerant circulates inside the evaporator 24 and leaves it by a 25 before entering the second expansion device 21 by a second inlet 26. The second expansion device 21 finally comprises a second outlet 27 connected to the inlet 3 of the compressor 2 via a circulation pipe .

Preferably, the expansion member 21 or the second expansion device 21 is a thermostatically controlled expansion device or a thermostatic expansion valve so that the degree of opening, and therefore the expansion of the cooling fluid in the second expansion device 21, is controlled by the overheating of the refrigerant at the evaporator outlet 24.

Alternatively, the second expansion device 21 may be in the form of a tube orifice arranged between the first outlet 22 of the receiving device 16 and the inlet 23 of the evaporator 24.

A bypass device 28 of the evaporator 24 is arranged between the second outlet 19 of the receiving device 16 and the inlet 3 of the compressor 2. The bypass device 28 is installed in parallel with at least the evaporator 4 and the second relaxation device 21.

According to a complementary variant which will be described in Figure 4, the bypass device 28 is also installed in parallel with an internal heat exchanger. The bypass device 28 consists of a circulation pipe 29 through which the refrigerant circulates. The flow of refrigerant inside the bypass device 28 is placed under the control of a second stop member 30. According to a particular embodiment, the second stop member 30 takes the form of a valve control system ensuring the opening or closing of the circulation pipe 29, allowing or prohibiting the circulation of the refrigerant in the circulation pipe 29. According to an alternative embodiment, the control valve is of the 'binary' type in that it only allows two positions: total opening or total closing. However, the second stop member 30 may also consist of a progressive opening and closing control valve.

Alternatively, the bypass means 30 is made by a 'three-way' valve arranged between the receiving device 16, the second expansion device 21 and the compressor 2.

It is therefore understood that the second stop device 30 controls or controls the circulation of the refrigerant in the circulation line 29. The pressure drop in the circuit portion constituted by the second expansion device 21 and the evaporator 24 being more important that the pressure drop in the bypass device 28, the refrigerant circulates naturally through the circulation pipe 29 rather than through the evaporator 24.

The evaporator 24 is installed in the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system 9 so as to be traversed by the interior air flow 31.

The circulation of the interior air flow 31 through the indoor heat exchanger 5 is controlled by a first control flap 62, arranged upstream of the heating exchanger in the direction of circulation of the interior air flow 31, and a second mixing flap 63, disposed downstream of the indoor heat exchanger 5 in the direction of flow of the interior air flow 3.

According to an alternative embodiment, it is conceivable to have a single mixing flap arranged upstream or downstream of the indoor heat exchanger 5 in the direction of flow of the interior air flow 31.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the fluid receiving device 16 refrigerant equipping the air conditioning loop 1 according to the invention. The receiving device 16 comprises a wall 32 defining an internal volume 33. Preferably, the wall 32 takes the general shape of a hollow cylinder closed by a bottom 34 closing the lower part of the receiving device 16 and a cover 35 closing the part upper receiving device 16.

Advantageously, the bottom 34 of the receiving device 16 has a concave shape so as to receive the refrigerant fluid FR. The internal volume 33 of the refrigerant receiving device 16 is, for example, between 150 cm ³ and 1500 cm ³ , in particular equal to 1000 cm ³ .

The inlet 17 of the receiving device 16 is formed through the cover 35 and is connected to an intake tube 36 ending in the internal volume 33 through an inlet opening 37, in particular a lateral lumen 37.

The first outlet 18 of the receiving device 16 is formed through the bottom 34, in particular at a lowest point of the bottom 34. In any event, the first outlet 18 must be placed at a location on the wall 32 where the coolant in the liquid phase can be sucked.

The second outlet 19 is made through the cover 35 and constitutes a first end of an extraction tube 38. The extraction tube 38 comprises a first straight portion 39 connected to a connecting portion 40, in particular made under the shape of a bend 40 forming a 180 ° arc. The extraction tube 38 further comprises a second rectilinear portion 41 connected to the bend 40 and ends with a second end 42. The second end 42 is open in the internal volume 33 in the upper part of the receiving device 16. The bend 40 comprises a sensing hole 64 installed at the point of inflection of the 180 ° arc formed by the bend 40. The sensing hole 64 allows collect oil to supply the air conditioning loop 1. The catch hole 64 is lined with a filter member 65.

The internal volume 33 of the receiving device 16 is divided into at least two spaces. Immediately adjacent to the lid 35, there is a separation space 43a of the refrigerant fluid and a storage space 43b of the refrigerant fluid, immediately adjacent to the bottom 34.

The operation of the receiving device 16 will now be described. The refrigerant enters the receiving device 16 via the inlet 17 and circulates in the intake tube 36. The refrigerant then enters the internal volume 33 through the inlet opening 37 in a state two-phase, namely a mixture of liquid and gas. Depending on the operating mode of the air conditioning loop 1, the refrigerant enters the receiving device 16 either at low pressure or at high pressure.

The liquid phase of the refrigerant descends by gravity along the wall 32 to accumulate in the storage space 43b while the gaseous phase of the refrigerant remains in the upper part of the internal volume 33.

Depending on the operating mode of the air conditioning loop, the coolant exits the receiving device 16 either in the liquid state through the first outlet 18 or in the gaseous state through the second outlet 19.

The air conditioning loop according to the invention is capable of operating in at least three modes: a so-called 'heating' mode where the indoor heat exchanger 5 heats the interior air flow 31 intended to be distributed in the passenger compartment, a so-called 'cooling' mode in which the evaporator 24 cools the interior air flow 31 to be distributed in the passenger compartment and a so-called 'mixed' mode or 'dehumidification' in which the inner air flow 31 is cooled and dehumidified by the evaporator 24 before being heated by the indoor heat exchanger 5 before being distributed in the passenger compartment. An additional mode, called "defrosting", can also be envisaged in order to defrost the outdoor heat exchanger 11.

FIG. 3 illustrates the so-called 'cooling' mode of the air conditioning loop 1. The refrigerating fluid is set in motion by the compressor 2. The first stop member 15 is in the open position allowing the circulation of the refrigerant through the circulation pipe 44. The circulation of the refrigerant through the exchanger indoor heat 5 is prohibited or weak or almost zero.

The refrigerant circulation duct arranged between the inlet 44a of the bypassing means 6 and the inlet 7 of the indoor heat exchanger 5 and the refrigerant circulation duct arranged between the outlet 8 of the heat exchanger 5 at the exit 44b of the bypass 6 are shown in dashed lines to illustrate the absence of circulation or the low circulation of refrigerant.

As a result, the refrigerant, after the outlet 44b of the bypass means 6, passes through the external heat exchanger January 1 to enter the inlet 17 in the receiving device 16. In this mode called 'cooling' , the second stop member 30 is in the closed position preventing circulation or allowing a small circulation of the refrigerant in the bypass device 28. The absence of circulation or the low flow of refrigerant in the bypass device 28 is illustrated by dots.

In this configuration, the coolant in the liquid phase is captured by the first outlet 18 of the receiving device 16 and then flows to the second expansion device 21. After having been relaxed, the refrigerant passes through the evaporator 24 and cools the internal air flow 31 by heat exchange. The cycle ends with the return of the refrigerant to the compressor 2.

The so-called cooling operating mode uses the coolant in the liquid phase in the receiving device 16. It is thus possible to have refrigerant fluid in the pure liquid phase permanently at the inlet of the second expansion device 21 and obtain an efficient subcooling tending to maximize the thermodynamic efficiency of the air conditioning loop 1 in the case of high thermal loads.

Figure 4 is a schematic view of the air conditioning loop 1 in said mode 'cooling' according to a first embodiment of the invention. Reference will be made to the description of FIGS. 1 and 3 for the identical elements.

The refrigerant flowing between the outlet 4 of the compressor 2 and the first inlet 20 of the second expansion device 21 is subjected to a high pressure and a high temperature while the refrigerant flowing between the first outlet 22 of the second expansion device 21 and the inlet 3 of the compressor 2 is subjected to a low pressure and a low temperature.

Such an air conditioning loop can be improved by the addition of an internal heat exchanger 45 whose function is to create a heat exchange between the refrigerant fluid subjected to high pressure / high temperature and the refrigerant fluid subjected to low pressure / low temperature.

The internal heat exchanger 45 comprises a high pressure portion 46 thermally exchanging with a low pressure portion 47.

The internal heat exchanger 45 comprises a high pressure inlet 48 connected to the first outlet 8 of the receiving device 16 and a high pressure outlet 49 connected by a circulation line to the first inlet 20 of the second expansion device 21. The high pressure inlet 48 and the high pressure outlet 49 of the internal heat exchanger 45 both communicate with the high pressure portion 46 of the internal heat exchanger 45.

The internal heat exchanger 45 also comprises a low pressure inlet 50 connected to the second outlet 27 of the second expansion device 21 and a low pressure outlet 51 connected to the inlet 3 of the compressor 2. The low pressure inlet 50 and the low pressure outlet 51 both communicate with the low pressure portion 47 of the internal heat exchanger 45.

In so-called 'cooling' mode, the internal heat exchanger 45 is traversed by the refrigerant fluid and thus plays a role in improving the efficiency of the air conditioning loop 1.

Figure 5 is a schematic view of the air conditioning loop 1 operating in so-called 'heating' mode. In this configuration, the internal heat exchanger 45 is shown as an optional feature, the air conditioning loop 1 according to the invention being able to operate without an internal heat exchanger.

According to the so-called 'heating' mode shown in FIG. 5, the refrigerant is set in motion by the compressor 2. The first stop member 15 is in the closed position preventing the circulation or allowing a low flow of the refrigerant through of the circulation line 44 and allowing the circulation of the refrigerant through the indoor heat exchanger 5. The circulation pipe 44 is shown in dashed lines to illustrate the absence of circulation or the low circulation of refrigerant. The cooling fluid therefore flows towards the indoor heat exchanger 5. A heat exchange is then created between the inner air flow 31 and the refrigerant circulating in the indoor heat exchanger 5. The refrigerant is then relaxed with the aid of the first expansion device 10, the pressure of the coolant downstream of the first expansion device 10 in the direction of circulation of the refrigerant is lower than the pressure of the refrigerant upstream of the first expansion device 10.

As a result, the refrigerant passes through the external heat exchanger January 1 to enter the receiving device 16 through the inlet 17. In the so-called 'heating' mode, the second stop member 30 is in the open position allowing the circulation of the refrigerant in the bypass device 28. The refrigerant gas phase is captured by the second outlet 19 of the receiving device 16 by means of the extraction tube 38. The refrigerant then flows directly to the inlet 3 of the compressor 2 and thus bypasses the second expansion device 21 and the evaporator 24. The absence of circulation of the refrigerant through the second expansion device 21 and through the evaporator 24 is illustrated in Figure 5 by dashed lines.

It will be particularly noted that the internal heat exchanger 45 is also bypassed by the authorization of circulation of refrigerant in the bypass device 28. It is therefore found that the internal heat exchanger 45 is inactive, which eliminates the negative impact it provides when the latter is traversed by a refrigerant fluid mode said 'heating'.

Alternatively, a more or less coolant circulation through the second expansion device 21 and through the evaporator 24 may also occur to provide an additional mode of operation, such as the so-called 'mixed' or 'dehumidifcation' mode.

Figure 6 is a schematic view of the air conditioning loop 1 according to a second variant of the invention. In this example, the air conditioning loop 1 is illustrated in so-called 'heating' mode. For the identical elements, reference will be made to the description of the preceding figures.

According to this variant embodiment, the indoor heat exchanger 5 is replaced by a refrigerant / heat transfer fluid exchanger 53 arranged in the air conditioning loop 1. The coolant / heat transfer fluid exchanger 53 is also arranged in a secondary circuit 52 in which a coolant circulates. The secondary circuit 52 also comprises a heater 54 mounted in the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system 9.

According to the second variant of the invention shown in FIG. 6, the air-conditioning loop 1 therefore comprises a refrigerant circuit and a secondary heat transfer fluid circuit 52 interacting with each other via the refrigerant / heat transfer fluid exchanger. 53.

The refrigerant / heat transfer fluid exchanger 53 makes it possible to ensure a heat exchange between the refrigerant circuit and the secondary circuit 52. The secondary circuit 52 thus provides a heat transport function exchanged with the refrigerant circuit in the refrigerant circuit. indoor heat exchanger 53 to the heater 54.

Advantageously, the heat transfer fluid is, for example, water with added glycol. The refrigerant / heat transfer fluid exchanger 53 has a first refrigerant circuit 55 which exchanges heat with a second fluid circuit coolant 56.

The second heat transfer fluid circuit 56 communicates with the refrigerant / heat transfer fluid exchanger 53 via an inlet 60 and an outlet 61.

A circulation means 57, in particular a pump 57, is placed in fluid communication with the second heat transfer fluid circuit 56 of the refrigerant / heat transfer fluid exchanger 53 via a circulation pipe. The circulation means 57 sets the heat transfer fluid inside the secondary circuit 52 so as to transport the heat exchanged in the coolant / heat transfer fluid exchanger 53 to the heater 54. The heater 54 comprises a inlet 58 connected to an outlet of the circulation means 57. The heater 54 comprises an outlet 59 connected to the inlet 60 of the second coolant circuit 56 of the refrigerant / heat transfer fluid exchanger 53. air conditioning 1 operates in so-called 'heating' mode, the refrigerant flowing through the first refrigerant circuit 55 of the refrigerant / heat transfer fluid exchanger 53 exchanges heat with the second coolant circuit 56 of the refrigerant / fluid exchanger heat transfer 53. The circulation means 57 circulates the heat transfer fluid to the heater 53 which allows a heat exchange between the fluid coolant and the interior air flow 31 which passes through the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system 9.

In so-called 'cooling' mode, the circulation means 57 is stopped in order to prevent any circulation of coolant in the heater 53. The second variant of the invention presented in FIG. 6 is a so-called 'indirect' configuration since the interior air flow 31 indirectly exchanges heat with the refrigerant circuit of the air conditioning loop 1 via the fluid coolant circulating in the secondary circuit 52.

The configurations shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5 are called 'direct' since the air conditioning loop 1 exchanges heat directly with the interior air flow 31 via the indoor heat exchanger 5. The second variant of FIG. the invention shown in Figure 6 called 'indirect' avoids the location of a component subjected to high pressure in the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system 9.

Although presented in so-called 'heating' mode according to FIG. 6, the so-called 'indirect' configuration is also compatible with the so-called 'cooling' mode as shown in FIGS. 3 or 4.

The air conditioning loop 1 takes advantage of the use of the same component, ie the receiving device 16, which takes the function of a storage bottle when the air conditioning loop operates in a cooling mode and takes the function separation and accumulation of an accumulator when the air conditioning loop operates in so-called 'heating' mode.

According to an alternative embodiment, it is conceivable that the bypass means 6 and the bypass device 28 can be arranged to allow a circulation of the refrigerant in the evaporator 24 and the indoor heat exchanger 5 or the fluid exchanger coolant / heat transfer fluid 53 to ensure the 'dehumidification' mode. Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and provided solely by way of example. It encompasses various modifications, alternative forms and other variants that may be considered by those skilled in the art in the context of the present invention and in particular any combination of the various embodiments described above.

Claims

claims

1. Air conditioning loop (1) comprising a refrigerant circuit comprising at least one compressor (2), an external heat exchanger (1 1), an indoor heat exchanger (5) or a refrigerant / heat transfer fluid exchanger (53) a refrigerant receiving device (16), an expansion device (21) and an evaporator (24),

characterized in that the receiving device (16) comprises an inlet (17) connected to the external heat exchanger (1 1), a first outlet (18) connected to the expansion member (21) and a second outlet (19) connected to a control device (28) of the evaporator (24).

2. air conditioning loop (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the contouem device (28) comprises a circulation line (29) connected to an inlet (3) of the compressor (2).

3. Air conditioning loop (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a stop member (30) controls the circulation of refrigerant in the contouement device (28).

4. Air conditioning loop (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the air conditioning loop (1) comprises a means of contoumement (6) of the indoor heat exchanger (5) or exchanger coolant / coolant (53).

5. Air conditioning loop (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that a stop member (15) controls the circulation of refrigerant fluid in the means of contouement (6) of the indoor heat exchanger (5) or the refrigerant / heat transfer fluid exchanger (53).

6. Air conditioning loop (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the air-conditioning loop (1) is configured according to a so-called heating mode in which the refrigerant circulates successively in the compressor (2), the indoor heat exchanger (5) or the fluid / refrigerant exchanger. coolant (53), an expansion device (10), the external heat exchanger (1 1), the inlet (17) of the receiving device (16), the second outlet (19) of the receiving device (16) ) and the bypass device (28) before returning to the compressor (2).

7. Air conditioning loop (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the air conditioning loop (1) is configured according to a mode called

'cooling' in which the refrigerant circulates successively in the compressor (2), the bypass means (6), the external heat exchanger (1 1), the inlet (17) of the receiving device (16), the first outlet (18) of the receiving device (16), the expansion device (21) and the evaporator (24) before returning to the compressor (2).

8. Air conditioning loop (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a first outlet (22) of the expansion member (21) is connected to an inlet (23) of the evaporator (24). ) and an outlet (25) of the evaporator (24) is connected to a second inlet (26) of the expansion member (21).

Air conditioning loop (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air-conditioning loop (1) comprises an internal heat exchanger (45) comprising a high-pressure circuit (46) exchanging heat with a low pressure circuit (47), the high pressure circuit (46) being installed between the first outlet (18) of the receiving device (16) and the expansion element (21) and the low pressure circuit (47) being installed between the evaporator (24) and the compressor (2).

10. Air conditioning loop (1) according to any one of the claims previous, characterized in that the expansion member (21) is thermostatically controlled.

1 1. Air-conditioning loop (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air-conditioning loop (1) has a secondary circuit (52) for heat transfer fluid interacting with the refrigerant circuit via means of a refrigerant / heat transfer fluid exchanger (53).

12. Air conditioning loop (1) according to claim 1 1, characterized in that the secondary circuit (52) comprises a heater (53) and a pump (57).

13. Air conditioning loop (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving device (16) comprises a wall (32) defining an internal volume (33) defining a separation space (43) of the fluid refrigerant and a refrigerant storage space (44), the inlet (17) and the second outlet (19) of the receiving device (16) opening into the separation space (43a) and the first outlet (18) receiving device (16) opening into the storage space (43b).

14. Air conditioning loop (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the receiving device (16) comprises an extraction tube (38) comprising a first portion (39) connected to the second outlet (9) of the device receiver (16), a second portion (41) having an end (42) opening into the separation space (43a) and a connecting portion (40) connecting the first portion (39) and the second portion (41) of the extraction tube (38) and extending into the storage space (43b).