WO2018211135A1

WO2018211135A1 - Phase separator for a refrigerant circuit in a ventilation, heating and/or air-conditioning system of a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2018211135A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/063250
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kamel Azzouz; Sofiane KHELLADI
Original assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
Priority date: 2017-05-19
Filing date: 2018-05-21
Publication date: 2018-11-22
Also published as: FR3066403A1; EP3624913A1; FR3066403B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a liquid-gas phase separator (500) for a refrigerant (700), comprising at least two plates (1, 2, 3) including a first plate (1) and a second plate (2). The first plate (1) and the second plate (2) are arranged one against the other, defining a space (501) between them for separating the liquid-gas phases. The phase separation space (501) particularly comprises an admission chamber (12), a separation chamber (13), and a suction chamber (16).

Description

PHASE SEPARATOR FOR A REFRIGERANT FLUID CIRCUIT IN A VENTILATION, HEATING AND / OR

AIR CONDITIONING OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

The present invention relates to the field of the separation of the liquid and gaseous phases of a refrigerant fluid in a ventilation, heating and / or air conditioning system equipping vehicles, especially automobiles.

Such a circuit mainly comprises: a compressor, a condenser or a cooler according to the nature of the refrigerant fluid, an expander and an evaporator. These different organs modify the physical nature of the refrigerant fluid by passing it successively from a gaseous state to a liquid state and vice versa during its passage through the various members. These changes of a physical nature are made by changes in pressure and / or temperature of the refrigerant along the circuit.

The efficiency of the ventilation circuit, heating and / or air conditioning is even higher than the fluid admitted into the evaporator is in liquid form. Indeed, the gas phase is not used by the evaporator, its presence represents a significant loss of efficiency. However, in general, it has been measured that at the evaporator inlet, about 30% by weight of the refrigerant is in the gaseous state and about 70% by weight is in the liquid state.

To ensure the operation and efficiency of such a refrigerant circuit, it is therefore essential that the refrigerant fluid admitted into the evaporator is largely in the liquid phase. To do this, it is known to insert, upstream of the evaporator in the direction of circulation of the refrigerant in the circuit, a liquid-gas phase separator. These separators are nevertheless limited in their ability to separate the different phases, and their architecture is often unfavorable for easy integration in a refrigerant circuit of a small footprint. The invention therefore proposes to improve the situation.

In this context, the invention aims to provide a liquid-gas phase separator for increasing the efficiency of the evaporator of the circuit while reducing its size, including a particular structure and arrangement.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a liquid-gas phase separator for a refrigerant fluid, characterized in that it comprises at least two plates including a first plate and a second plate, the first plate and the second plate being arranged against one another by delimiting between them a separation volume of the liquid-gas phases. Thus, such a phase separator has an architecture that allows it to both integrate easily into any refrigerant circuit while having a minimum footprint and to have an improved ability to separate the different liquid and gaseous phases. a fluid, in particular a refrigerant fluid.

The first plate and the second plate each have a first face and a second face by which they are arranged against each other. The separation volume may be delimited by a shape or recess arranged hollow from at least one of the faces through which the first plate and the second plate are arranged against each other. This hollow shape is then arranged in the thickness of the plate in question, it is not through this plate, and its bottom is substantially parallel to the plane of the face from which the shape is arranged hollow.

The liquid-gas phase separator according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination.

- The separation volume is delimited by a hollow shape arranged in the first plate and a substantially flat face of the second plate. By substantially, it is understood that the manufacturing tolerances are understood to assert that the plate is flat. By "flat face" is meant that the plate does not include any roughness or indentation on its face but may however include orifices through.

- The separation volume is delimited by a recessed shape arranged in the second plate and a substantially flat face of the first plate.

- The separation volume is delimited by a recessed shape arranged partly in the first plate and partly in the second plate.

-The separation volume comprises a first chamber, said inlet chamber, a second chamber, said separation chamber, and a third chamber, said suction chamber. These different chambers each have a specific role in phase separation. The phase separation is done in particular by gravity: the refrigerant flows by gravity from the inlet chamber to the separation chamber.

- One of the plates comprises a coolant admission port, said inlet opening into the inlet chamber. This intake port allows the entry of refrigerant into the phase separator. - The inlet chamber is delimited by lateral edges extending substantially parallel to the side edges of at least one of the plates. Thus, the side edges defining the inlet chamber form a channel extending at least partly parallel to the lateral edges of at least one of the plates.

- The channel extends from the inlet port to the separation chamber.

- The orientation of the channel allows a flow of refrigerant within the intake chamber according to gravity.

- The inlet chamber has a constant width, the width being measured in a transverse direction of the plate substantially perpendicular to the side edges thereof.

- The inlet chamber extends from the inlet port to the phase separation chamber.

- An intake passage is provided between the inlet chamber and the phase separation chamber, said intake passage forming a restriction of the inlet chamber. Thus, the intake passage forms a boundary between the intake chamber and the separation chamber. This restriction participates in guiding the refrigerant fluid.

- The restriction of the intake chamber is formed by at least one advance extending from a first side edge and a second side edge defining the inlet chamber.

- The advances are directed towards each other.

- The intake passage comprises protuberances extending projecting a footprint defining the separation volume.

- A rib extends into the separation chamber. The rib extends projecting a footprint defining the separation volume.

- The rib extends from an edge of one of the plates. More specifically, the rib extends from an edge laterally delimiting the separation chamber.

- The rib is made of material with the edge laterally delimiting the separation chamber.

- The rib forms an angle substantially between 1 and 90 degrees with an edge laterally delimiting the separation chamber. The measured angle is located at the intersection of the direction of elongation of the rib and that of a first edge delimiting the separation chamber, in particular laterally, and from which the rib can extend. In other words, the measurement of the angle can be made from the edge from which the rib extends and the side of the inlet chamber and not the suction chamber.

- The rib forms an angle substantially equal to 70 degrees with the edge from which it extends.

- A line parallel to a vertical edge of one of the plates passes into the intake passage and cuts the rib. By vertical edge of a plate is meant that the edge extends along a vertical axis defined below. Thus, the rib is positioned in the axis of the intake passage and it is ensured that the refrigerant flowing in this intake passage opens to the rib.

- A space is provided between at least one end of the rib and at least one edge laterally delimiting the separation chamber. The edge laterally delimiting the separation chamber extends along a vertical axis defined below.

- The rib comprises two opposite ends and a space is provided respectively between the two ends of the rib and the two edges laterally delimiting the separation chamber.

At least one of the plates comprises a suction orifice configured to extract a gaseous base from the refrigerant fluid, said suction orifice opening into the suction chamber.

- The two plates comprise a suction port opening into the suction chamber.

- A suction port configured to suck a gaseous base of the refrigerant flows through all the plates of the pbase separator.

The suction chamber extends from the chamber separation chamber to the suction port. Thus, the suction chamber does not communicate directly with the intake manifold and the separation chamber acts as an intermediate between the intake manifold and the intake manifold.

- The suction chamber narrows as it moves closer to the suction port. This narrowing is evaluated according to a width of the plate, the width being measured along a transverse axis defined below. This transverse axis corresponds to a transverse direction of the plate and extending substantially perpendicular to the vertical edges thereof. In other words, the width is measured in a longitudinal plane of the plate and along a straight line perpendicular to the vertical edges of the plates.

- The suction chamber includes a suction passage located closer to the suction port.

- The suction passage has a width between 0.1 and 12 millimeters, the width being measured in a longitudinal plane of the plate and along a straight line perpendicular to the vertical edges of the plates.

- The suction passage has a width substantially equal to 2 millimeters. By substantially, it is understood that manufacturing tolerances are included to assert equality.

- The pbases separator comprises a suction passage formed between the suction chamber and the separation chamber, said suction passage forming a restriction of the suction chamber. Thus, the suction passage forms a boundary between the separation chamber and the suction chamber.

- The restriction is formed by at least one advance extending from a first side edge and a second side edge defining the suction chamber.

The restriction is formed by a first advance and a second advance, both respectively arranged from a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge delimiting the suction chamber, the advances being directed towards one another. other.

- The suction passage comprises protuberances extending projecting a footprint defining the separation volume.

- One or more protuberances are arranged in the intake passage and / or in the suction passage. Such protuberances make it possible to introduce turbulence into the flow of the refrigerant fluid towards the separation chamber or towards the suction orifice.

- The protuberances have dimensions substantially between 1 and 2 millimeters.

- The space between two protuberances is substantially 1 to 2 millimeters.

- The pbase separation volume is formed in an imprint made on one side of the first plate and / or the second plate. - The inlet chamber, the separation chamber and the suction chamber are arranged in the cavity of a first face of the first plate disposed against a flat face of the second plate.

- The inlet chamber, the separation chamber and the suction chamber are arranged in the cavity of a first face of the second plate disposed against a flat face of the first plate.

- The phase separator comprises a third plate, said closure plate disposed against the first plate, the first plate being interposed between the second plate and the third plate.

- The phase separator comprises a reservoir configured to accumulate a liquid phase of the refrigerant. The liquid phase flows to the reservoir from the separation chamber, mainly through the space between the rib and at least one downstream edge of one of the plates.

- The tank is formed in part by an opening in the first plate.

- The opening forming a portion of the tank passes through the first plate. This opening crosses it through, especially according to the thickness of the plate. Thus, the opening allows a passage of the liquid phase between the two faces of the same plate.

- The reservoir is formed in part by a reserve imprint made on one side of the first plate and / or the third plate. The reserve footprint corresponds to a shape arranged in hollow from at least one of the faces of the plates. This hollow shape is arranged in the thickness of at least one of the plates considered, it is not through this plate, and its bottom is substantially parallel to the plane of the face from which the shape is arranged in hollow.

- The reserve footprint is formed on one side of the first plate, with said face facing the third plate.

- The phase separator comprises an evacuation volume defined by the reserve footprint. This reserve footprint defines an evacuation volume, in particular located between the first plate and the third plate.

- The third plate has a discharge port through which the liquid phase is routed out of the phase separator. This evacuation orifice opens into an evacuation zone. - The reserve footprint is arranged from a second face of the plate, the first side comprises the separation volume.

- The separation volume and the evacuation volume extend on both sides of the same plate, including the first plate.

- The reserve footprint is arranged from a first face of the third plate contiguous against the second face of the first plate opposite the second plate.

- The reserve footprint comprises a rib extending vertically from an edge of the opening. This rib makes it possible to improve the passage from the liquid phase of the refrigerant fluid to the discharge orifice. This rib extends towards an upstream edge of the plate on which it is formed. It is recalled that vertical means a direction along the axis (Oz) defined below.

At least one of the plates is produced by machining.

At least one of the plates is made by stamping.

All the plates of the phase separator are in a generally rectangular general shape. By substantially, it is understood that the manufacturing tolerances are understood to assert that the shape is rectangular.

- At least one of the plates comprises a width substantially between 10 and 90 millimeters.

- At least one of the plates comprises a width substantially equal to 40 millimeters.

- At least one of the plates comprises a height substantially between 10 and 300 millimeters.

- The height and width of the first plate and the second plate are identical.

- The height and width of the first plate and the third plate are identical.

- At least one of the plates comprises a height substantially between 218 and 219 millimeters.

- The opening forming a portion of the reservoir has a height substantially between 5 and 120 millimeters. - The height of the opening forming a portion of the reservoir is substantially between 80 and 90 millimeters.

- One or more pins are arranged in the separation chamber.

- A pin is located between the rib of the separation chamber and the inlet chamber and / or the suction chamber.

- Two pins are located between the rib of the separation chamber and a transverse edge of one of the plates carrying the rib.

- A pawn is located in the reserve footprint.

The invention also relates to a heat exchanger, characterized in that it incorporates a phase separator as defined above.

The heat exchanger according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination.

- The heat exchanger is used as an evaporator.

- A cheek of the heat exchanger forms a third separator plate, also called closing plate. The cheek is the end plate of the heat exchanger.

- The heat exchanger is used as a liquid cooler.

- The phase separator is integrated on one side where an inlet and a coolant outlet in the heat exchanger are provided.

- The heat exchanger comprises a stack of plates delimiting a refrigerant circuit in which the phase separator is integrated in an extension of the sheet stack. More precisely, since the stack of sheets defines a stacking direction, the phase separator is located at one end of this stack in the stacking direction.

- A height of at least one of the plates of the phase separator is less than a height of the plates of the heat exchanger. The height is measured according to the direction (Oz) defined below, or along a vertical axis perpendicular to the ground.

The invention also relates to a refrigerant fluid circuit of a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a phase separator as defined above. The circuit according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination.

- The phase separator is located upstream of a heat exchanger in the direction of the refrigerant flow along the circuit.

Other features, details and advantages of the invention and its operation will emerge more clearly on reading the description given below as an indication, in relation to the appended figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the operation of a refrigerant circuit of a motor vehicle,

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a phase separator according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 3A represents a first face of a first plate forming the phase separator according to the first embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 3B is an enlarged detail of FIG. 3A,

FIG. 4 represents the first face of the first plate forming the phase separator according to a first variant embodiment of the first embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 5 represents a second face of the first plate of FIG. 4 forming the phase separator according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 represents a first face of the second plate forming the phase separator according to a second embodiment of the present invention,

FIGS. 7A and 7B are perspective views of an example of integration of a phase separator according to the invention with a heat exchanger of the type in which the heat exchange takes place between a refrigerating fluid and air, and on which the phase separator is represented in transparency or not,

FIGS. 8A and 8B are perspective views of an example of integration of a phase separator according to the invention with a heat exchanger known by the English name of "chiller", in which the exchange of heat occurs between a refrigerant and a liquid and on which the phase separator is represented in transparency or not, FIG. 9A is an exploded view of a phase separator according to the first embodiment of the invention intended to be associated with a heat exchanger in which the heat exchange takes place between a refrigerant and a liquid,

FIG. 9B is a perspective representation of an exemplary embodiment of the second face of the first phase separator plate according to the invention illustrated in FIG. 9A,

FIGS. 1 and 3 are exploded views of a phase separator according to the second embodiment of the invention, and intended to be associated with a heat exchanger of the type in which the heat exchange occurs between a refrigerant and air, representing the different plates respectively on one side and then the other.

It should firstly be noted that while the figures show the invention in detail for its implementation, they can of course be used to better define the invention where appropriate. Similarly, it is recalled that, for all the figures, the same elements are designated by the same references.

Figure 1 schematically shows a circuit 1000 of a refrigerant 700 which cooperates with a ventilation system, heating and / or air conditioning of a motor vehicle. The circuit 1000 comprises a compressor 200, a condenser 300, a pressure reducer 400 and a heat exchanger 600, which may especially be of the evaporator type 60 or of the liquid cooler type, also known as "chiller" in English. The refrigerant fluid 700 flows successively through these elements along the circuit 1000.

The refrigerating fluid 700 is admitted, in substantially gaseous form, into the compressor 200. At the outlet of the compressor 200, the refrigerating fluid 700, which has been compressed, is in the form of a gas whose pressure and temperature have increased. The refrigerant 700 is then admitted into the condenser 300, in which it undergoes a first phase change and turns into a liquid. During this phase change, the pressure of the coolant 700 remains substantially constant and its temperature decreases, the refrigerant 700 yielding part of its heat to an external medium through the condenser 300.

The cooling fluid 700, essentially in liquid form at the outlet of the condenser 300, is then conveyed into a pressure regulator 400, in which it undergoes expansion, the result of which is obtaining a two-phase mixture of coolant 700 in liquid form and in gaseous form, especially at low temperature. The two-phase mixture of refrigerant fluid 700 to the result of the expansion operation, that is to say at the outlet of the expander 400, may comprise about 70% by mass of refrigerant fluid 700 in liquid form, also called liquid phase, and about 30% by mass of fluid 700 refrigerant in gaseous form, also called gaseous phase.

The cooling fluid 700 in the form of a two-phase mixture is then conveyed to the heat exchanger 600 in which it undergoes a new change and in which the liquid phase of the cooling fluid 700 converts into gas, which is then re-routed to the compressor 200 for a second time. new cycle. This transition from the liquid state to the gaseous state in the heat exchanger 6θθ makes it possible to lower the temperature of an external medium, for example a flow of air sent into the passenger compartment of the vehicle and flowing in the ventilation, heating and / or air conditioning system, or a liquid.

The efficiency of the heat exchanger 600 is directly related to the fact that the fluid admitted within it is essentially composed of liquid phase. To this end, the circuit 1000 comprises a phase separator 500 of the refrigerant 700, advantageously located between the expander 400 and the heat exchanger 600 in the direction of circulation of the refrigerant 700 in the circuit 1000. A set of valves, of pipes and control elements, not detailed in the figure, allows the operation and control of the assembly formed by the compressor 200, the condenser 300, the expander 400, the phase separator 500 and the heat exchanger 600.

The phase separator 500 according to the invention is compact and easy to integrate with a refrigerant circuit 700 such as that schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, while allowing effective separation between the liquid phase and the gaseous phase of the diphasic mixture of refrigerant 700 from the expander 400.

As shown in FIG. 2, the phase separator 500 according to the invention comprises at least two plates, including a first plate 1 and a second plate 2. The first plate 1 and the second plate 2 are arranged against one another. and delimit between them a separation volume 501. The phase separator 500, here comprises a third plate 3, also called closure plate. The first plate 1 and the third plate 3 are arranged one against the other and delimit between them an evacuation volume 502.

In what follows, the phase separator 500 according to the invention will be described and illustrated in a configuration in which the plates 1, 2, 3 which compose it and, in particular, the first plate 1 and the second plate 2, are substantially in the general form of parallelepipeds rectangles thin. This form is particularly advantageous for an easy combination of the phase separator 500 with different types of heat exchangers 600. It is however not exclusive, and any other form can be envisaged without affecting the the invention, inasmuch as the phase separator has the functionalities described in this document.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the first plate 1 comprises a first face 1a and a second face 1b, both substantially rectangular, substantially parallel to one another and separated from one another by the thickness of the first plate 1 Similarly, the second plate 2 comprises a first face 2a and a second face 2b, both substantially rectangular, substantially parallel to each other and separated from each other by the thickness of the second plate 2. It is thus understood that here that the first plate 1 and the second plate 2 are substantially arranged in such a way that their faces 1a, 2a, 1b, 2b are substantially parallel to each other. More specifically, in the phase separator 500 according to the invention, the first plate 1 and the second plate 2 are arranged one against the other, first or second face la, lb of the first plate 1, against first or second 2a, 2b of the second plate 2. In the following, the faces by which these two plates are joined together to delimit the separation volume 501 in the phase separator 500 according to the invention are arbitrarily designated as being the first face la of the first plate 1 and the first face 2a of the second plate 2.

The third plate 3 comprises, just like the first plate 1 and the second plate 2, a first face 3a and a second face 3b both substantially rectangular, substantially parallel to each other and separated from each other by the thickness of the third plate 3 · The first plate 1 and the third plate 3 are placed against one another with the first face 3a of the third plate 3 against the second face lb of the first plate 1.

In the description that follows, we will define a frame (O, x, y, z) relative to the phase separator 500 according to the invention. A plane parallel to or coincident with a main face of one of the plates of the phase separator 500 is defined by a plane (Oyz). According to this plane (Oyz), a height of a plate is measured along a direction (Oz) and extends along an edge of a plate having the largest dimension. Still according to this same plane (Oyz), it is defined that a width of a plate is measured along a direction (Oy) perpendicularly to the direction (Oz), and that this width is substantially less than height, measured according to the direction (Oz) of the plates. The thickness of a plate, measured between a first main face and a second main face of the same plate, extends in a direction (Ox). This direction (Ox) forms, with the directions (Oz) and (Oy) above, an orthonormal reference shown in Figures 2 to ΙθΒ.

It should be noted that the main faces of all the plates of the phase separator 500 each extend in a plane parallel to the plane (Oyz) of this marker. The thickness of the first plate 1 and the second plate 2, measured in the direction of the longitudinal axis (Ox), is less than both the width of these plates measured in the direction (Oy) and their height measured according to the direction ( oz). Advantageously, the height of the first plate 1 and the height of the second plate 2, in the direction (Oz), are substantially equal, preferably between 10 and 300 millimeters. According to an alternative embodiment, this height is substantially between 218 and 220 millimeters.

Similarly, the width of the first plate 1 and the width of the second plate 2 in the direction (Oy) are preferably substantially equal and may be between 10 and 90 millimeters. According to an alternative embodiment, this width is substantially of the order of 40 millimeters. It should however be noted here that if the production of plates of substantially the same geometry and the same dimensions promotes a reduction in manufacturing costs, first plate 1 and second plate 2 may be of different shapes and sizes insofar as they delimit, between their respective first faces 1a, 2a, the separation volume 501.

According to the invention, the separation volume 501 comprises a first chamber 12, called admission chamber, a second chamber 13, said separation chamber, and a third chamber 16, said suction chamber.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, visible in FIG. 2, the separation volume 501 is delimited in particular by a hollow-shaped shape, also called an imprint 10, formed in the first face 1a of the first plate 1. a second embodiment, described below, the separation volume 501 is delimited by a cavity arranged in the thickness of the second plate 2 from the first face 2a thereof. Of course, it is also possible that the separation volume 501 is partly arranged in the thickness of the first plate 1 from the first face la and partly arranged in the thickness of the second plate 2 from the first face 2a of the latter. In other words, according to the invention, the separation volume 501 is defined by a cavity 10 formed in one of the plates 1, 2 or by a cavity formed in each of the plates 1, 2.

According to the first embodiment, the separation volume 501 is delimited by the recess 10 in the thickness of the first plate 1 from the first face la of the latter, and by the first face 2a, substantially flat, of the second plate 2. Advantageously, the depth of the cavity 10, measured in the direction (Ox) following the thickness of the first plate 1, is less than the thickness of this plate 1, and the bottom, 10a, of the imprint 10, is substantially parallel to the plane of the first face of the first plate 1, that is to say the extension plane (Oyz) previously defined. In other words, the presence of the imprint 10 reduces the thickness of the plate on which it is provided, here, according to this first embodiment, it is the thickness of the first plate 1 which is reduced.

Furthermore, it is observed that in all the embodiments of the invention that the second plate 2 comprises an inlet orifice 11 through which the dipbasic refrigerant mixture 700 is intended to be admitted within the pbase separator 500. According to the embodiment more particularly illustrated by the figures, the inlet orifice 11 is substantially circular. Of course, the inlet port 11 could take any other form, including a rectangular shape. The inlet orifice 11 opens, by a part of its circumference, into the inlet chamber 12 of the separation volume 501.

As can be seen in FIG. 3A, part of the circumference of the inlet orifice 11 constitutes a transition zone 110 with the inlet chamber 12 formed in the first face 1a of the first plate 1. More precisely, the inlet orifice 11 does not pass through the first plate 1 and the transition zone 110 extends from the periphery of the inlet orifice 11 to the bottom 10a of the cavity 10.

The transition zone 110 follows a substantially curved profile and is advantageously located near a first transverse edge, or upstream edge 100, of the first plate 1. This first transverse edge, or upstream edge 100, forms a first end, or upstream end of the first plate 1 according to the latter's bater, that is to say in the direction (Oz).

The admission chamber 12 is delimited, in the cavity 10 arranged in the first plate 1, by a portion 120 of the bottom 10a of the cavity 10 and, respectively, by a first lateral edge 121a and a second lateral edge 121. b substantially parallel to each other and having oriented in the direction (Oz) previously cited. Advantageously, the first lateral edge 121a and the second lateral edge 121b each have an axis of elongation substantially perpendicular to the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1. The intake chamber 12 thus extends substantially parallel to the bender of the first plate 1, and its lateral edges 121a, 121b are substantially parallel both to the direction (Oz), to a first lateral edge 100a and to a second lateral edge 100b of the first plate 1. More specifically, the casing intake 12 constitutes, within the cavity 10, a channel shape which extends, from the inlet orifice 11, in the direction of a second transverse edge 101 or downstream edge 101 of the first plate 1, opposite the upstream edge 100 previously cited. In other words, the intake manifold comprises an axis 12A substantially parallel to the direction (Oz).

Advantageously, the first lateral edge 121a of the intake chamber 12 is situated as close as possible to the first lateral edge 100a of the first plate 1, and the width of the intake chamber 12, measured along the direction (Oy), is substantially between 1 and 30 millimeters. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, this width is substantially of the order of ten millimeters and more particularly the width is equal to 6.85 millimeters.

It should be understood that the separation of pbases occurs essentially by gravity: the first plate 1 and the second plate 2 are arranged in such a way that the refrigerant 700 admitted into the separation volume 501 through the inlet orifice 11, that is to say in the vicinity of the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1, flows naturally by gravity towards the downstream edge 101 of the first plate 1. In other words, the first plate 1 and the second plate 2 are arranged in such a way that the coolant 700 admitted in the vicinity of the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1 can flow naturally by gravity to the downstream edge 101 thereof. This can be achieved, for example, by placing the first and second plates 1, 2 of the pbase separator 500 such that their axes of extension in the direction (Oz) are substantially vertical, that is to say perpendicular to the ground, and more specifically, that the upstream edge 100 and the downstream edge 101 of the first plate 1 are substantially aligned relative to each other in this vertical direction, the upstream edge 100 being in the upper position. However, in a general manner, it will suffice for the first and second plates 1, 2 of the pbase separator 500 to be arranged in such a way that the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1 is, in the vertical direction, above the downstream edge 101 of this first plate, whether they are aligned or not.

As previously described, the inlet chamber 12 extends substantially in the direction (Oz) from the inlet port 11 to the partition chamber 13, arranged in the cavity 10 formed in the first plate 1, and allows the flow of coolant 700 according to gravity.

The intersection between the intake chamber 12 and the separation chamber 13 may comprise an intake passage 122. The intake passage 122, more visible in FIG. 3B, comprises a first advance 123 arranged projecting from the first edge. 121 of the intake manifold 12 and a second projection 124 arranged projecting from the second lateral edge 121 b of the intake chamber 12. The first advance 123 and the second advance 124 are substantially directed towards each other , such that they form a narrowing of the channel formed by the first edge 121a and the second edge 121b of the admission chamber 12. According to this embodiment of the invention, the first advance 123 and the second advanced 124 are arranged, in the direction (Oz), at substantially different distances from the upstream edge 100: here the first advance 123, arranged on the first lateral edge 121a of the intake chamber 12 is further away the direction (Oz) of the upstream edge 100 compared to the second advance 124, which is arranged at a lower distance from the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1. Advantageously, the dimension of the first advance 123 and the second advance 124 in the direction (Oz) is substantially between 1 and 2 millimeters.

When the dipbasic refrigerant mixture 700 is admitted through the inlet orifice 11 into the separation volume 501, it is first conveyed, by gravity, through the transition zone 110 into the chamber 12. It follows from the foregoing that this mixture flows naturally, by gravity, along the inlet chamber 12, in particular along the channel formed by the lateral edges 121a, 12b, until the passage intake 122 which then forms a boundary between the inlet chamber 12 and the separation chamber 13. The first advance 123 and the second advance 124 then help to move the coolant 700 from the first edge 121a and the second edge 12lb of the inlet chamber 12, and guide the coolant 700 towards the axis 12A of the inlet chamber 12. In other words, the first advance 123 and the second advance 124 contribute to direct the dipbasic mixture of refrigerant fluid 700 to the axis 12A of the intake chamber 12, for guiding and channeling the gravity flow of this fluid substantially along this axis 12A.

The intake passage 122 may also comprise one or more protuberances 125 which extend, from the bottom 120 of the admission chamber 12, in the direction of the longitudinal axis (Ox), or in other words from the bottom 10a of the cavity 10. Advantageously, this or these protuberances 125 are arranged along an imaginary line 800 which interconnects the first advance 123 and the second advance 124. According to this embodiment, two protuberances 125 are arranged between the first advance 123 and the second advance 124. The protuberances 125 are regularly distributed between the advances 123, 124 · Advantageously, the dimension of each protuberance 125 in the direction of the imaginary line 800 previously defined is substantially equal to millimeter order, and the distance, in the same direction, between two adjacent protuberances 125 or between a protuberance 125 and the first or second advance 123 o The most procbe is also substantially of the order of a millimeter. The presence of this or these protuberances 125 in the intake passage 122 contributes to accelerate the dipbasic mixture in the direction of the separation chamber 13 while stirring it. More precisely, the presence of the protuberances 125 makes it possible to divide the flow, for example having a doucbe effect, and their presence makes it possible to avoid the suction of the liquid base in the direction of a suction chamber 16, as this will be described later.

On the other hand, FIG. 3A shows that the separation chamber 13 extends in a central part of the first plate 1. The separation chamber 13 extends, from the intake passage 122, both in the direction (Oy) and according to the direction (Oz). More specifically, according to the direction (Oy), the separation chamber is delimited by a first edge 130 which substantially extends, in the direction (Oz), the first edge 121a of the inlet chamber 12, in the vicinity of the first side edge 100a of the first plate 1, and a second edge 131 which extends adjacent the second side edge 100b of the first plate 1. The direction of the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13 is substantially parallel to the direction of extension (Oz ) of the intake chamber 12. Advantageously, at least a portion of the second edge 131 of the separation chamber 13 is substantially parallel to the first and second edges 100a, 100b, of the first plate 1. In other words, a at least part of the second edge 131 of the separation chamber 13 is substantially parallel to the extension direction (Oz).

According to the direction (Oz), the separation chamber 13 extends towards the downstream edge 101 mentioned above, to an end edge 132 substantially parallel to the direction (Oy). More precisely still, in a first part of the separation chamber 13, said upper part, the first edge 130 and the second edge 131 delimiting the separation chamber 13 move away from each other in the direction (Oy) as they get closer, in the direction (Oz) perpendicular to the end edge 132 of this separation chamber 13. In a second part of the separation chamber 13, said lower part, the first edge 130 and the second edge 131 are parallel to each other and to the direction (Oz) and are each located in the vicinity, respectively, of the first lateral edge 100a and the second lateral edge 100b of the first plate 1. In other words, the chamber on the first face 1a of the first plate 1, it has the shape of a trapezium in its upper part and then a rectangle in its lower part, the edges of which are formed by the first edge 130, the second me edge 131 and the end edge 132 above.

According to one characteristic of the invention, a rib 14 extends projecting along the longitudinal axis (Ox) from the bottom 10a of the cavity 10 and more precisely from the bottom of the separation chamber 13. According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3A, the rib 14 extends here from the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13, to an end 141. The end 141 of the rib 14 is directed towards the second edge 131 of the separation chamber 13, without touching it. Thus, there is a space 145 between the end 141 of the rib 14 and the second edge 131 of the separation chamber 13. Advantageously, the rib 14 extends in a direction substantially oblique with respect to both the direction ( Oy) and to the direction (Oz).

More precisely, the rib 14 originates on the first edge 130 and is, in the direction (Oz), closer to the downstream edge 101 than its end 141. In other words, the rib 14 is extends obliquely with respect to the lateral edges 100a, 100b of the first plate 1 and towards the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1.

The rib 14 thus forms, with the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13, an angle 14 advantageously between 1 and 90 degrees. It should be noted here that, as has been said previously, the direction of the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13 is in the extension of the direction of the first edge 121a of the inlet chamber 12: the angle 142 can therefore be considered as the angle made by the rib 14 with the direction followed by the first edge 121a of the inlet chamber 12. Advantageously, the angle 142 is substantially equal to 70 degrees. The angle 142 is therefore an acute angle: in other words, the rib 14 forms a reserve defined between the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13 and the rib 14 itself.

According to an alternative embodiment visible in FIG. 4, the rib 14 may not be contiguous with the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13. Thus, the rib 14 comprises a first end 140 located as close as possible to the first edge 130 and a second end 141 located closest to the second edge 131 of the separation chamber 13. An additional space 143 of small size, is then present between the first end 140 of the rib 14 and the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13. Thus in this case there is no longer any reserve between the rib 14 and the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13. More precisely, according to this variant embodiment, the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13 can form an appendage 134 substantially shaped bevel whose tip extends on the side of the rib 14 and closest to the admission chamber 12. The additional space 143 is between the tip of the bise formed by the appendix 134 and the first end 140 of the rib 14.

In all cases, and as shown in the figures, the rib 14, as just described, is located, in the direction (Oz), substantially in the extension of the inlet chamber 12, in particular between the intake passage 122 when it is present and the end edge 132 of the separation chamber 13. Whatever the embodiment variant chosen, a straight line substantially parallel to the direction (Oz) and passing through the chamber In other words, the rib 14 forms an obstacle to the flow of the dipbasic refrigerant mixture 700 in the separation chamber 13.

It follows that a dipbasic mixture of refrigerant fluid 700 flowing by gravity from the intake chamber 12 to the separation chamber 13 is naturally gravity-enhanced on the rib 14 previously defined. The liquid base of the dipbasic mixture thus flows along the rib 14 towards the first edge 130 of the separation chamber under the effect of gravity, while the gaseous base of the dipbasic mixture remains, for its part, in the upper part of the separation chamber 13 situated on the side of the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1.

In the case where the rib 14 is contiguous to the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13, the liquid phase accumulates in the reserve formed between the rib 14 and the first edge 130 until reaching the end 141, so-called also second end, of the rib 14 to flow overflow in the lower part of the separation chamber 13.

In the presence of the additional space 143 between the rib 14 and the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13, the liquid phase flows along the rib 14 towards the first edge 130 and then in the lower part of the chamber It is understood that the upper part and the lower part of the separation chamber 13 are separated from each other by the rib 14.

Advantageously, in order to reinforce the guiding of the liquid phase towards the lower part of the separation chamber 13, and thus to further increase the efficiency of the phase separation, a bead 135, visible in FIG. 4, can be arranged on the second edge 131 of the separation chamber 13. Of course, whatever embodiment variant chosen, this bead 135 may be present. More precisely, the bead 135 extends from the second edge 131 of the separation chamber 13 towards the inside of the separation chamber 13. The bead 135 is substantially in the form of a portion of an ellipse whose vertex of the curvature is substantially directed in the direction (Oy). More precisely, the bead 135 is aligned with the main and oblique extension axis of the rib 14. The shapes and dimensions of the bead 135 are advantageously defined so that the bead forms, in the flow of the two-phase coolant mixture 700 which circulates within the separation chamber 13, a complementary phase separation zone, in addition to the rib 14 mentioned above. In addition, by its presence and its location, the bead 135 modifies the flow of the gas phase present in the two-phase mixture, and this, in the vicinity of a suction passage l60 described below. In the same way, the bead 135 also modifies the flow of the liquid phase.

To further optimize the flow of fluid within the separation volume 501 for the desired phase separation, one or more pins 136 may be arranged within the separation volume 501. Specifically, this or these pins 136 are arranged from the bottom 130 of the separation chamber 13, substantially in the direction (Ox). In other words, these pins 136 extend projecting from the bottom 10a of the cavity 10. These pins 136 participate in the mechanical reinforcement of the phase separator 500, in particular by having a dimension in the direction (Ox) as it allows a support of the second plate 2 on these pins 136. Of course, the pins could also be located on the second plate 2 and allow a support of the first plate 1. In addition, the pins 136 play on the flow of the fluid and participate in the proper mixing of the refrigerant 700.

The gaseous base resulting from the separation of pbases carried out, inter alia, by the rib 14, for its part, is conveyed to a suction chamber 16 which communicates with the separation chamber 13. A suction passage l60, such as it will be described later, may be provided to form a boundary between these two chambers 13, 16 of the separation volume 501.

With reference in particular to FIG. 3A or FIG. 4, the suction chamber 16 is delimited in particular by a first edge 16 and by a second edge 162. The second edge 161 extends the second edge 131 of the separation chamber 13 into two portions. direction of the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1. The first edge 16 of the suction chamber 16 extends substantially parallel to the direction (Oz) or to one of the lateral edges 100a, 100b of the first plate 1, and the second edge 162 of the suction chamber 16 extends towards the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1 by approaching the first edge 16 of the suction chamber 16 in the direction (Oy). In other words, the second edge 162 of the suction chamber 16 extends obliquely with respect to the first edge 16 of the suction chamber 16. Thus, the width of the suction chamber 16, measured along the direction (Oy), decreases from the boundary with the separation chamber 13 towards the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1 and more precisely towards a suction orifice 15 formed in the first plate 1.

The suction chamber 16 and the inlet chamber 12 delimit between them, on the first face of the first plate 1, an island 102 substantially placed on a central axis of the first plate 1 according to the bauteur thereof. The island 102 is delimited respectively by the second edge 121b of the admission chamber 12, by the first edge 16 of the suction chamber 16, and by a third edge 133. which connects the second edge 121b to one another. of the intake chamber 12 and the first edge 16 of the suction chamber 16 forming an upstream edge to the separating chamber 13. It should be noted that the first edge 16 of the suction chamber 16 forms, at its intersection with the third edge 133 of the island 102, a point 103 whose role will be specified later. It should also be noted here that the tip 103 extends, in the direction (Oz), towards the downstream edge 101 of the first plate 1. In other words, the tip 103 enters the separation chamber 13, towards the downstream edge 101 of the first plate 1.

The tip 103, formed on the island 102, at the intersection of the first edge 16 of the suction chamber 16 and the third edge 133 of the island 102, helps to optimize the separation of pbases. Indeed, this tip 103 possibly allows to ooze part of the base liquid refrigerant fluid from the inlet chamber 12 along the third edge 133 of the island 102 and then guide by gravity to the rib 14 or to the lower part of the separation chamber 13. The particular arrangement of the tip 103 facing the second end 141 of the rib 14 can then lead this liquid phase to flow directly, by gravity, to said rib 14, where the liquid phase is trapped and conveyed to the lower part of the chamber separation 13 (see Figure 3A).

As can be seen in FIG. 3A, the relative dimensions of the inlet chamber 12, of the suction chamber 16, and in particular of the rib 14 can be defined in such a way that a straight line D substantially parallel to the axis (Oz) and passing through the point 103 intersects the rib 14 in the vicinity of its second end 141. In other words, the second end 141 of the rib 14 is substantially in the extension, according to the direction (Oz ), the first edge 16l of the suction chamber 16, itself advantageously substantially parallel to this direction (Oz) as previously indicated.

At its end closest to the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1, the suction chamber 16 opens into a suction orifice 15 passing through the first plate 1. As shown in the figures, the end closest to the edge Upstream 100 of the first plate 1 also forms the end of the suction chamber 16 where the first edge 16 and the second edge 161 of the latter are as close as possible to one another, particularly in the transverse direction ( Oy). In other words, the suction chamber 16 forms, at its border with the suction port 15, a so-called suction narrowing 166. The suction narrowing 166 opens, here in the suction port 15 substantially tangentially to this one. According to an alternative embodiment, the suction narrowing 166 opens radially into the suction orifice 15. Advantageously, the dimension, measured in the transverse direction (Oy), of the suction narrowing 166 is substantially between a few tenths of a millimeter and a dozen millimeters. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, this width is substantially of the order of 2 millimeters.

The gaseous phase of the two-phase refrigerant mixture 700 is, firstly because of its density and secondly thanks to the configurations of the separation and suction chambers 13, 16 entrained in the suction passage l60 and is fed to the suction port 15 through the suction chamber 16. It should be noted that the shape of the suction chamber 16, narrowing towards the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1, contributes to inducing and amplifying a suction phenomenon of this gaseous phase, suction phenomenon further reinforced by the presence of the previously defined suction narrowing 166. The suction narrowing 166 opening substantially tangentially into the orifice 15, this suction phenomenon is further reinforced by a swirling shape induced during the tangential injection of the gas phase into the suction orifice 15. It should be noted that the presence of the suction narrowing 166 also avoids aspiration of the liquid phase.

According to the invention, the suction orifice 15 passes through all the plates 1, 2, 3 constituting the phase separator 500: it can therefore be connected, by appropriate means, to a set of suction ducts. the gas phase outside the phase separator 500. It should be noted that the suction orifice 15 is located near the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1, that is to say in the upper part of the plate 1.

Furthermore, with reference to FIG. 3A or FIG. 4, the presence of a through opening 18 located between the end edge 13 of the separation chamber 13 and the downstream edge 101 of the first plate 1 is observed. This through opening 18 is arranged only in the first plate 1, that is to say in the plate 1 sandwiched by the other two plates 2, 3. Rectangularly rectangular according to the embodiment shown in the figures, opening 18 is delimited in the direction (Oz), by the end edge 132 of the separation chamber 13 and, in the vicinity of the downstream edge 101 of the first plate 1, by a distal edge 180 substantially parallel to the downstream edge 101. According to the direction (Oy), the opening 18 is delimited by a first edge 18 substantially forming an extension in the direction (Oz) of the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13, and by a second edge 182 forming substantially an extension according to the direction (Oz) of the second edge 131 of the separation chamber 13. First edge 18l and second edge 182 of the opening 18 are thus substantially parallel respectively to the first lateral edge 100a and the second lateral edge 100b of the first plate 1 .

Depending on the circuit on which the phase separator 500 is mounted, the dimensions of the through aperture 18 may vary. Indeed, the dimensions of the through opening 18 vary depending on the amount of refrigerant 700 present in the circuit or more precisely the amount of liquid phase of the coolant 700. For example, the through opening 18 of a phase separator 500 mounted on a circuit comprising a heat exchanger 600 of the liquid cooler type is smaller than a through opening 18 of a phase separator 500 mounted on a circuit comprising a heat exchanger 600 of the evaporator type 60. Depending on the size of these heat exchangers 600, the size of the through aperture 18 may also vary. In general, the height of the opening 18, measured along the direction (Oz), is substantially between 1 and 120 millimeters. According to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3A, intended to equip a circuit comprising a heat exchanger 6θθ of the evaporator type 60, this height is between 85 and 87 millimeters. according to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, also intended to equip a circuit comprising a heat exchanger 600 of the evaporator type 60, the height of the opening 18 measured along the direction (Oz) is substantially between 15 and 50 millimeters . According to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8A to 10B, intended to equip a circuit comprising a heat exchanger 600 of the liquid cooler type, the height of the opening 18 measured along the direction (Oz) is substantially between 1 and 30 millimeters. Furthermore, it should be noted that in all cases, a width of this through opening 18 measured in the direction (Oy) is substantially between 1 and 89 millimeters and is preferably substantially equal to 40 millimeters.

FIG. 5 illustrates the second face 1b of the first plate 1 according to the variant embodiment of FIG. 4. It will be noted here that, according to the first embodiment, the second face 1b of the first plate 1 comprises an impression of FIG. 115. The through opening 18 and the reserve cavity 115 together form a reservoir for receiving the liquid phase of the two-phase refrigerant mixture 700 admitted within the phase separator 500 according to the invention. In other words, the through opening 18 puts in communication the first face la and the second face lb of the first plate 1 downstream of the rib 14, the downstream being understood in the direction of gravity flow of the fluid in the phase separator 500. According to another embodiment, the reserve footprint 115 is formed in the closure plate 3, the first plate 1 being flat. By "plane" is meant that the plate does not include any roughness or impression on its face but may however include orifices through. The first plate 1 necessarily comprises a suction port 15.

Once the liquid phase has been trapped by the rib 14, the latter flows naturally by gravity towards the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13. In other words, the liquid phase is naturally guided by gravity in the hollow formed by the angle 14 previously defined. The liquid phase then flows by gravity to the reservoir formed by both the opening 18 and the recess 115, either by overflow relative to the rib 14 or by the space 143 formed between one end of the rib 14 and the edge 130 of the separation chamber 13. It should be noted that the presence of the space 143 between the rib 14 and the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13 allows a faster evacuation of the trapped liquid phase by said rib 14, without waiting for sufficient liquid to have accumulated in the hollow formed by the aforementioned angle 14 so that an overflow of this liquid phase portion occurs at the second end 141 of the rib 14. Such a space 143 it is also possible to avoid any liquid phase stagnation and / or two-phase mixing in the hollow formed by the angle 14 between the rib 14 and the first edge 130 of the separation chamber 13. The liquid phase then accumulates at the same time, within the through opening 18 and in the reserve cavity 115 arranged in the second face 1b of the first plate 1, visible in FIG. 5 · Depending on the volume of the refrigerant fluid 700, the liquid phase can also accumulate in the lower part of the separation chamber 13, within the cavity 10 formed on the first face la of the first plate 1.

As shown more particularly in FIG. 5, the reserve footprint 115 may comprise a discharge rib 31 which extends from the opening 18, substantially parallel to the direction (Oz) and toward the upstream edge 100 of the plate on which it is provided, here the first plate 1. In other words, the discharge rib 31 has a main direction of extension perpendicular to the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1. This discharge rib 31 participates in the guiding the liquid phase accumulating in the resist cavity 115 to an evacuation zone 190 described later while participating in the mechanical reinforcement of the phase separator 500. More specifically, the discharge rib 31 disturbs the flow refrigerant 700 in liquid form within the reserve cavity 115 and may also help to drive the liquid phase by capillarity towards the evacuation zone 190.

The reserve footprint 115 may also comprise at least one pin 136. The pin 136 extends from the bottom of the reserve footprint 115, in the direction (Ox). The pin 136 makes it possible, on the one hand, to reinforce the mechanical strength of the phase separator 500 and, on the other hand, its presence can modify the flow of the liquid phase within the reserve cavity 115 and promote the evacuation of this liquid phase to the evacuation zone 190.

It should be noted that the phase separator 500 according to the invention comprises a third plate 3 (visible in FIGS. 9A, 10A and 10B), or closure plate, of which a first face 3a is contiguous to the second face 1b of the first plate 1 so as to form a volume 502 for discharging the liquid phase portion from the two-phase mixture of refrigerant 700. The evacuation volume 502 is then delimited by the first plate 1 on one side and by the plate closing 3 on the other side. In order to allow the evacuation of the liquid phase accumulating in the reserve cavity 115, the third plate 3 comprises an evacuation orifice 19 (visible in FIGS. 9A, 10A and 10B) passing right through it. This discharge orifice 19 is positioned in such a way that it opens into the evacuation zone 190 of the reserve cavity 115 · When the liquid level, in the evacuation volume 502, reaches this evacuation orifice 19, the liquid is driven, by appropriate means, out of the phase separator 500. It should be noted here that, according to the embodiments illustrated by the figures, inlet orifice 11 of the two-phase refrigerant mixture 700 within of the phase separator 500 and the discharge port 19 of the liquid phase portion contained in this mixture are both located at adjacent the upstream edge 100 of the first plate 1 and preferably have coaxial axes.

The reserve footprint 115 extends, in the vicinity of the upstream edge 100 of the plate on which it is formed, by the evacuation zone 190 intended to communicate with the discharge orifice 19 (visible in FIGS. 9A, 10A and ΙθΒ). It can be seen that this evacuation zone 190 is narrower than the reserve imprint 115. Indeed, the reserve imprint 115 is delimited in the direction (Oy) by two edges 115a, 115b originating from the through opening 18 and parallel to the direction (Oz) and the edges 100a, 100b of the plate 1 on which the reserve footprint 115 is formed. In an upper portion of the resist footprint 115, the edges 115a 115b are extended by oblique edges 115c, 115d tending to approach one another. These oblique edges 115c, 115d are neither perpendicular nor parallel to the direction (Oz). The oblique edges 115c, 115d then extend to upper edges 115e, 115f forming the discharge zone 190. The upper edges 115e, 115f are parallel to the direction (Oz) and the edges 100a, 100b of the plate 1 on which the reserve footprint 115 is formed. The width measured in the direction (Oy) between the two upper edges 115e, 115f is at least two times smaller than the width measured in the direction (Oy) between the two edges 115a 115b. Finally, the two upper edges 115e, 115f extend into an upstream edge 115g, here in the shape of an arc of a circle, making it possible to close the reserve footprint 115 and the evacuation zone 190.

It should be noted that the elements that have just been described with reference to FIG. 5 can of course be applied to any embodiment or any other embodiment of the invention and in particular to the second face 1b of the first plate 1 shown in Figure 3A.

A pbase separator 500 as just presented thus makes it possible to achieve the separation of pbases recbercbée with a small footprint and for a limited manufacturing cost thanks to the implementation of different plates 1, 2, 3 that come to be described: on the one hand, first plate 1 and second plate 2 which, contiguous with their respective first faces 1a and 2a, delimit the separation volume 501, and, on the other hand, first plate 1 and third plate 3 which contiguated respectively by their second face 1b and their first face 3a, delimit between them the evacuation volume 502 of the liquid pbase portion contained in the dipbasic mixture of coolant 700 admitted in the pbases separator 500.

Furthermore, the efficiency of the pbase separation is optimized in the pbase separator 500 according to the invention, by the particular conformation of the different bunches which constitute the separation volume 501. According to a second embodiment, the different bins forming the separation volume 501 are located in a recess 20 formed on the first face 2a of the second plate 2 contiguous to the first face 1a of the first plate 1, who can be flat. In this case, the configuration of the second plate 2 may be a mirror of the configuration of the first plate described according to the first embodiment.

However, some differences may be provided, Figure 6 illustrates an exemplary embodiment according to the second embodiment of the invention. It should be noted that these differences can also be applied to any embodiment or any other embodiment of the invention.

The imprint 20 defining the separation volume 501 is arranged in the first face 2a of the second plate 2. The imprint 20 is arranged in the thickness of the second plate 2, from the first face 2a by which this plate 2 is contiguous to the first plate 1 to form the phase separator 500.

The second plate 2 again comprises an inlet opening 11 opening into the inlet chamber 12 which is formed directly from the circumference of this intake port 11. It is seen that here the admission chamber 12 comprises a clearance 128 projecting from the bottom of the cavity 20. The presence of this clearance 128 makes it possible to increase the section of the intake chamber 12 and thus to reduce the pressure drops in this configuration.

The inlet chamber 12 then communicates with the separation chamber 13 via the intake passage 122, which here is devoid of protuberances. The separation chamber 13 comprises the rib 14 arranged in a mirror with respect to the first embodiment. According to this embodiment, two spaces 143 145 are provided between the rib 14 and the two edges 130, 131 laterally defining the separation chamber 13. Of course, it is quite possible to provide that the rib 14 is made of material with one of the two edges 130, 131 laterally defining the separation chamber 13 so that the rib 14 extends opposite the inlet chamber 12.

It should be noted that according to this second embodiment, the lower part of the separation chamber 13 has no through opening 18. In effect, the liquid phase reservoir is formed by a through opening formed on the first plate 1 and by a cavity imprint formed indifferently in the second face lb of the first plate 1 or in the first face 3a of the closure plate 3

The separation chamber 13 communicates with the suction chamber 16 via a suction passage 160. According to this exemplary embodiment, it can be seen that the suction passage l60 may comprise one or more protuberances 165, similar to the protuberances 125 be present in the intake passage 122, as has been previously described in connection with the first embodiment. It should be noted that either the intake passage 122 or the suction passage 160 includes protuberances.

The protuberances 165 of the suction passage l60 extend from the bottom of the footprint 20, in the direction (Ox). More specifically, the suction passage 160 comprises a first advance 163 arranged from the first lateral edge 16 of the suction chamber 16 and a second advance 164 arranged from the second lateral edge 162 of the suction chamber 16, the second edge 162 extending a second edge 131 of the separation chamber 13 towards the upstream edge 200 of the second plate 2.

The first advance 163 and the second advance 164 are substantially directed towards each other, such that they form a narrowing of the suction passage l60. According to this variant embodiment of the invention, the first advance 163 and the second advance 164 are arranged at substantially different distances along the direction (Oz) of the upstream edge 200 of the second plate 2: here, the first advance 163, arranged on the first side edge 16l of the suction chamber 16 is more procbe of this upstream edge 200 than is the second advance 164 Advantageously, the dimension of the first advance 163 and the second advance 164 according to the direction (Oz) is substantially between 1 and 2 millimeters.

Advantageously, the one or more protuberances 165 are arranged on an imaginary line 900 which connects the first and the second advances 163, 164 · It should be noted here that, according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, this imaginary line 900 passes by the point 203 of the island 202.

Here, two protuberances 165 are arranged in the suction passage l60, regularly distributed therein along the imaginary line 900. Advantageously, the dimension, in the direction of the imaginary line 900 previously defined, cbaque protuberance 165, is substantially of the order of one millimeter, and the distance, in the same direction, between two adjacent protuberances 165 or between a protuberance 165 and the advance 163, 164 the most procbe suction passage l60 is also substantially of the order of a millimeter.

The suction chamber 16 then opens to the suction port 15 here still present on the second plate 2.

Furthermore, it is observed that this second plate 2 comprises pins 136 extending projecting from the impression 20. These pins 136 are identical to the first embodiment of FIG. the invention. It should be noted that by its conformation and its location in relation, in particular, to the pins 136 and to any protuberances 165 in the suction passage 160, the tip 203 also participates in the establishment, within the separation chamber 13, a flow regime favorable to the separation of pbases recbercbée.

The pbase separator 500 thus produced allows an optimal separation of pbases, thus contributing to the efficiency of the coolant circuit 700 as shown in FIG. 1.

Due to its compact and simple design, the pbase separator 500 that has just been described can be an individual pbase separator in the circuit 1000 of the refrigerant fluid 700 which collaborates with a ventilation, heating and / or air conditioning system. of a motor vehicle. It may also, according to other embodiments, be integrated inside a heat exchanger 600 for example of the evaporator type 60 or the liquid cooler type, also called "chiller" in English.

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate the integration of such a phase separator 500 into an evaporator 60, at the input thereof, while FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate a phase separator 500 integrated with a liquid cooler. .

In these two integration cases, the heat exchanger 600 is advantageously formed of a set of sheets 605, substantially parallel to each other and stacked in a direction substantially perpendicular to that of the plane in which they extend. In the integration of a phase separator 500 as previously described with such a heat exchanger 600, the invention provides that the plates and sheets forming this heat exchanger are advantageously arranged each along a transverse plane of extension substantially parallel to the plane (Oyz) of the previously defined orthonormal coordinate system, and that they are stacked substantially in the direction (Ox) previously defined. It follows that the first plate 1, the second plate 2, and the third plate 3 of the phase separator 500 according to the invention are then arranged in planes parallel to the various plates 605 forming the heat exchanger 600.

It should be noted that the set of sheets 605 forming part of the heat exchanger 600 may comprise corrugated sheets or internal interlayers for disturbing the fluid flowing on these sheets 605.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show, in the case of a heat exchanger 600 of the evaporator type 60, that the different plates 1, 2, 3 constituting the phase separator 500 are stacked in the same manner as the set of plates 605. forming the evaporator 60. Otherwise said, each sheet 605 and each plate of the separator 500 extend in a plane parallel to the air flow intended to pass through the evaporator 60.

The coolant 700 enters the evaporator 60 via an inlet pipe 510 which communicates with the inlet orifice 11 of the phase separator 500. Thus, the refrigerant 700 entering the evaporator 60 necessarily passes through the separator After the phase separation has been carried out, the liquid phase of the refrigerant 700 leaves the phase separator 500 through the discharge orifice (not visible in these figures) and then flows along the plates 605 of the evaporator. 60 so as to cool the flow of air passing between these sheets 605. During its passage between the plates of the evaporator 60, the refrigerant 700 vaporizes in the gas phase and leaves the evaporator 60 passing successively through the suction port 15 present on each of the plates 1, 2, 3 of the phase separator 500 and then by a suction pipe 515 · Thus, the suction pipe 515 allows the passage of both the phase ga zeuse resulting from the phase separation carried out in the phase separator 500 and the gas phase resulting from the heat exchange carried out within the evaporator 60. These gaseous phases meet and mix to, in particular, move towards the compressor 200 of the circuit 1000.

Moreover, with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B, the liquid to be cooled is admitted within the heat exchanger 600 of the cooler type 6l via an inlet pipe 7 and spring, after heat exchange with the cooling fluid 700, by an outlet pipe 8.

The coolant 700 is, for its part, admitted into the heat exchanger 600 via an intake pipe 510 which communicates, as shown in FIG. 8B, with the inlet orifice 11 of the separator 500 phases. Thus, the coolant 700 entering the cooler 6l necessarily passes through the phase separator 500.

Once the phase separation has been carried out, the gas phase contained in the two-phase refrigerant mixture 700 admitted into the phase separator 500 is conveyed out of it by the suction orifice 15, which communicates with a pipe 515. visible in Figure 8A.

The liquid phase contained in this two-phase mixture of coolant 700 is, for its part, conveyed through the discharge orifice (not visible in FIGS. 8A and 8B) to the cooler 61 in which it is vaporized to exit from this cooler. 6l in gaseous form. This gaseous phase is extracted from the cooler 61 through the suction port 15 of the phase separator 500. In fact, the suction orifice 15 passing through all the plates 1, 2, 3 of the phase separator 500 a single outlet pipe 515 is provided for the gas phase both for the gas phase resulting from the phase separation carried out in the separator of phases 500 and for the gas phase resulting from the heat exchange carried out within the cooler 61.

In all cases of integration, whether with an evaporator 60 or a cooler 61, the closure plate 3 is the seat of both the inlet of the liquid phase of the refrigerant 700 to the heat exchanger 600 and the exit of the gas phase of the coolant 700 from the heat exchanger 600 at the end of the heat exchange. The phase separator 500 is here arranged in the extension of the longitudinal stack according to (Ox) plates and sheets forming the heat exchanger 600, more precisely at one end thereof. To this end, a recess 30, visible in FIGS. 7A and 7B, can be arranged on the closure plate 3 in order to allow the fixing of this plate directly on the cheek 601 of the heat exchanger 6θθ. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, this third plate 3, or closing plate, of the phase separator 500, corresponds to the end plate, or the cheek, 601, of the heat exchanger 600. Thus, the role the interface of this closure plate 3 between the phase separator 500 and the exchanger 600 makes perfect sense.

In all cases, it should be noted that the height of the phase separator 500, measured along the direction (Oz) of the orthonormal reference previously defined, is advantageously less than the height of the plates or sheets forming the heat exchanger 600. is made possible by the particular configuration of the phase separator 500 according to the invention, which allows for optimal phase separation in a small footprint. The integration of such a phase separator 500 to a heat exchanger 600 and, beyond, the integration of the assembly thus formed to a refrigerant circuit 1000 of a motor vehicle, is thus found simplified.

It should be noted that a phase separator 500 applied to a liquid cooler 61 is in all respects identical to a phase separator 500 applied to an evaporator 60 except for the size of the through opening 18 forming part of the tank for the liquid phase of the refrigerant 700. As shown in Figures 9A and 9B, the refrigerant 700 enters the phase separator 500 and in particular in the intake chamber 12 via the inlet port 11 and then through the zone The coolant 700 is then admitted into the separation chamber 13 through the inlet passage 122, which comprises protuberances 125. The separation chamber 13 comprises a rib 14 projecting from the impression 10 for trapping the liquid phase of the coolant 700. The gas phase of the coolant 700 is sucked into the suction chamber 16 and out of the phase separator 500 through the suction port 15 while the liquid phase of the refrigerant 700 accumulates in the lower part of the phase separator 500 and more particularly at the through aperture 18.

As shown in FIG. 9B, the second face 1b of the first plate 1 comprises a reserve cavity 115 as well as a discharge zone 190 configured to communicate with the discharge orifice 19 intended to evacuate the liquid phase in the direction of the liquid cooler 6l. It should be noted here that according to this embodiment, the second face 1b of the first plate 1 is devoid of a starting rib on the periphery of the through opening 18. In addition, it is observed here that the opening 18 through has a height measured in the direction (Oz) of between 1 and 30 millimeters. Advantageously, this height is between 1 and 10 millimeters.

The phase separator 500 according to the invention is, moreover, of a simple embodiment and can be manufactured by various inexpensive methods, regardless of its application. FIGS. 9A to 7C illustrate more particularly different possible configurations of such a phase separator, according to different manufacturing processes.

According to a first example of implementation, more particularly illustrated by FIGS. 9A and 9B, the first face 1a and the second face 1b of the first plate 1 are advantageously produced by machining. According to this first example of implementation, the second plate 2 and the closure plate 3 have substantially planar faces intended to be in contact with the first face 1a and with the second face 1b of the first plate 1. "Flat face" means that the plate does not include any roughness or impression on its face but may however include orifices through. Such a manufacture makes it possible to produce the shapes and imprints respectively arranged from the first face 1a and the second face 1b of the first plate 1 with precise manufacturing tolerances. It also allows a simple and inexpensive realization of the second plate 2 and the closing plate 3

According to another example of implementation, not shown in the figures, the reserve footprint 115 and the hollow shapes delimiting the evacuation volume 502 are made by stamping on the closure plate 3, in particular on the face intended to be contiguous to the first plate 1. In this case, the second face lb of the first plate 1 is substantially flat and the cavity and the hollow forms delimiting, on the first face of the first plate 1, the separation volume 501 can also be made by stamping said first face la of the first plate 1.

According to other embodiments, and as previously mentioned, the hollow shapes delimiting the separation volume 501 and the evacuation volume 502 may be, partially or totally, respectively arranged in the second plate 2 and / or in the closing plate 3 ·

For this purpose, the figures ΙθΑ and ΙθΒ illustrate an exemplary implementation in which the indentations and the hollow shapes defining the separation volume 501 are arranged in the first face 2a of the second plate 2, as has been described for the figure 6.

As a reminder, the different chambers constituting the separation volume 501 are arranged within a recess 20 formed in the thickness of this second plate 2, from the first face 2a through which this plate 2 is contiguous to the first plate 1 of the phase separator 500. In this case, the impression 20 is advantageously made by stamping the first face 2a of the second plate 2, and it comprises, as previously described, the different functional elements of the phase separator 500, to namely: an intake chamber, an intake passage, a separation chamber, a rib, a suction passage, a suction chamber and a suction port.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, the first face 1a of the first plate 1 is substantially flat while including the through opening 18 and the suction orifice 15 therethrough. Figure ΙθΒ shows, in turn, that the reserve footprint 115 and the hollow shapes defining the evacuation volume 502 are located on the second face lb of the first plate 1. The evacuation volume 502 is then produced by stamping of the second face lb of the first plate 1. Of course, the reserve footprint 115 and the hollow shapes delimiting the evacuation volume 502 could also have been made by stamping on the closure plate 3, in particular on the face intended to be contiguous to the first plate 1. In this case, the second face lb of the first plate 1 could have been substantially flat.

As shown in these various figures (9A to 10B), an outlet orifice 35 is arranged, in all cases, in the vicinity of an upstream edge 32 of the closing plate 3 · This outlet orifice 35 extends or is confused with the suction orifice 15 arranged on the first plate 1 and on the second plate 2.

The embodiment by stamping of all or part of the indentations and hollow shapes defining the different functional elements of the phase separator 500 according to the invention makes it possible to reduce the manufacturing costs of such a phase separator 500. It goes without saying that Machining and stamping techniques can also be combined to produce one or more of the plates constituting the phase separator 500 according to the invention.

Whatever the chosen manufacturing solution, machining and / or stamping of all or part of the plates 1, 2, 3, forming the phase separator 500 according to the invention, it is by its design, an easy combination, individually, to a refrigerant circuit already existing, or so integrated in a heat exchanger 600 of a circuit 1000 of refrigerant fluid 700 of a motor vehicle.

The invention can not, however, be limited to the modes, variants and configurations described and illustrated, and it also applies to all variants or equivalent configurations and any combination of these variants or configurations. In particular, if the invention has been described and illustrated here in the particular case of a phase separator whose plates have substantially similar general shapes of parallelepipeds rectangle, it also applies to cases where the different plates that make up a such separator have forms substantially different from each other, other than those of rectangular parallelepipeds, insofar as these plates define between them: on the one hand, the separation volume 501 described in this document and the various elements constituting it and on the other hand, the evacuation volume 502 described herein and the various elements constituting it.

Claims

1. Liquid-gas phase separator (500) for a refrigerant fluid (700), characterized in that it comprises at least two plates (1, 2, 3) including a first plate (1) and a second plate (2). ), the first plate (1) and the second plate (2) being arranged one against the other by delimiting between them a volume (50l) separating the liquid-gas phases.

2. phase separator (500) according to claim 1, characterized in that the separation volume (50l) comprises a first chamber, called admission chamber (12), a second chamber, called separation chamber (13), and a third chamber, said suction chamber (16).

3. Phase separator (500) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a rib (14) extends into the separation chamber (13).

4 · phase separator (500) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that one of the plates (1, 2, 3) comprises an inlet (il) of the coolant (700), said orifice of inlet (it) opening into the inlet chamber (12).

5. Phase separator (500) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that an intake passage (122) is provided between the inlet chamber (12) and the phase separation chamber. (13), said intake passage (122) forming a restriction of the intake chamber (12).

6. Phase separator (500) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a straight line parallel to a vertical edge of one of the plates (1, 2) passing through the intake passage (112) intersects the rib (14). ) ·

7. phase separator (500) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a suction passage (16o) formed between the suction chamber (16) and the separation chamber ( 13), said suction passage forming a restriction of the suction chamber (16).

8. Phase separator (500) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a suction orifice (15) configured to suck a gas phase of the refrigerant fluid passes through all the plates (1, 2, 3). phase separator (500).

The phase separator (500) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the phase separation volume (50l) is provided in an impression (10) made on one face (1a, 2a, 1b, 2b) of the first plate (1) and / or the second plate (2). ).

10. separator pbases (500) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a third plate (3), said closure plate disposed against the first plate (1), the first plate (1). being interposed between the second plate (2) and the third plate (3).

11. heat exchanger (600), characterized in that it integrates a separator pbases (500) defined according to any one of the preceding claims.