EJECTOR-COLLECTOR REFRIGERATION CIRCUIT WITH VALVE

Abstract

Combined ejector collector (44) for a motor vehicle cooling system (40), comprising: a container (48); an internal heat exchanger device (49), IHX device (49) arranged inside the vessel (48), wherein the IHX device (49) accommodates a low-pressure refrigerant; a collector and dryer (52) located inside the container (48) and positioned at least partially inside the IHX device (49), defining a cavity (61) between the collector and dryer (52) and the IHX device (49); and an ejector (54) with a chamber (71) and an ejector outlet line (72) positioned inside the container (48); an ejector supply line (62) positioned in the container (48) and extending from the cavity (61) via an inlet line (64) of the ejector (54) into the ejector (54); and a bypass line (66) which is positioned in the container (48), wherein the bypass line (66) is in communication with the ejector supply line (62) and the ejector (54) and directs part of the flow around the inlet line (64) of the ejector (54) and into the chamber (71) of the ejector (54).

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to climate cycles for motor vehicles. introduction

[0002] Automotive air conditioning systems often employ a variety of components, including a condenser, phase separator, compressor, evaporator, and, if necessary, an ejector. Ejectors can enable more efficient operation than conventional systems without them, but they are not very common. The piping and layout requirements for connecting the multiple components and a compressor, as well as controlling the flow, necessitate complex arrangements that are not easily configured within the engine compartment. Known air conditioning ejector systems incorporate one or more evaporators along with the ejector in a single combined unit, but the complexity of the system piping and layout remains a challenge.

[0003] DE 40 36 854 C1 describes a device for air conditioning the interior of motor vehicles with a refrigerant circuit, in which refrigerant in vapor phase is drawn from an evaporator via a collection container acting as a phase separator between the liquid and gaseous phases through an outlet for the gaseous phase by a compressor and fed to a condenser for cooling and liquefaction under pressure increase, and in which refrigerant exiting the condenser in liquid phase can be returned to the evaporator via a throttling element under pressure drop and cooling.It is provided that the throttling element is designed as an ejector, the high-pressure inlet of which is connected to the outlet of the condenser and the low-pressure inlet of which is connected to the outlet of the evaporator, and the outlet of which is connected to or forms the inlet of the collection tank, and that the collection tank is provided with an outlet for the liquid phase, which is connected to the inlet of the evaporator.

[0004] EP 0 652 124 A1 describes a system consisting of a cylindrical, vertically oriented canister with an upper and a lower end. The internal return pipe is a one-piece, continuous pipe with a complex shape, uniquely packed within the limited internal volume of the container. For space reasons, the interior of the container is divided lengthwise into four equal quadrants, and the return pipe is routed through all four quadrants in a special, tightly packed arrangement.The return pipe begins at an open inlet near the top of the container, runs in a first, initial leg downwards through a first quadrant to a lower bay that transitions into a second quadrant. From there, a second, transitional leg runs upwards and across a third quadrant to an upper bay located directly below the inlet and transitioning into a fourth quadrant. Finally, in a third and final leg, it descends back down through the fourth quadrant and exits through the bottom of the container. The vent hole is located at the lower bend, close to the liquid reservoir.

[0005] JP 2005-76914A concerns the provision of a cost-effective refrigeration circuit for a vehicle air conditioning system that uses an ejector. A compressor is a variable displacement compressor driven by a vehicle engine, and a displacement control valve directs it to a specific refrigerant discharge displacement. Diverter valves are arranged on the refrigerant outlet side of a condenser to selectively direct condensed liquid refrigerant to either an ejector or an evaporator. A thermostatic expansion valve is located between a gas / liquid separator and the evaporator.When a high cooling capacity or a low condensing capacity generates a high circulating refrigerant flow, the changeover valve closes. This allows the suction power developed by the refrigerant flow to the ejector to draw the refrigerant into the evaporator, where a liquid refrigerant from the gas / liquid separator is decompressed and expanded in the thermostatic expansion valve. When a reduced cooling capacity shuts off the ejector's suction power, the changeover valve closes to direct the liquid refrigerant from the condenser to the evaporator.

[0006] US Patent 2004 / 0031596A1 describes a heat exchanger device for a vapor-compression refrigerant circuit in which an internal heat exchanger is attached to one end of a radiator. The internal heat exchanger is positioned so that the high-pressure refrigerant channels are closer to the radiator than the low-pressure refrigerant channels. The heat exchanger device can be mounted on a vehicle in such a way that the radiator receives more cooling air than the internal heat exchanger. Because the internal heat exchanger performs heat exchange between the high-pressure and low-pressure refrigerants, its performance is not affected even if it is located on a part that receives less cooling air.

[0007] US 2007 / 0 261 433 A1 describes the process of integrating at least two components of a cooling circuit into an assembly before attaching it to an object. For example, a decompression device and a gas-liquid separator are integrated into an assembly, and the assembly is then attached to an object. Alternatively, the decompression device and an internal heat exchanger are integrated into an assembly, and the assembly is then attached to an object. Another example is that the decompression device, the gas-liquid separator, and the internal heat exchanger are integrated into an assembly and then attached to an object.

[0008] US 6,579,351 B2 describes an integrated filter body and adsorbent unit that can be integrally joined for simple and economical installation in a refrigerant pressure vessel assembly. The integrated filter and adsorbent unit comprises a filter puck, an adsorbent unit attached to the filter puck, and an integrated feature on the filter puck for integrally attaching the adsorbent unit to the filter puck. The adsorbent unit includes a desiccant bag and a flap that has a mounting opening and a mounting hole passing through it. The filter puck has a disc-shaped body portion and a projection that engages with the mounting hole of the adsorbent unit. The projection is offset to form an enlarged head that retains the flap of the desiccant bag on the filter puck.

[0009] Although current air conditioning systems for motor vehicles fulfill their purpose, the object of the invention is to provide a more efficient and improved system and method for accommodating components and arranging air conditioning systems for motor vehicles. Description of the invention

[0010] The invention is defined by the claims.

[0011] From several perspectives, a motor vehicle cooling system can combine an ejector, a valve, a dryer, and a receiver in a single container, collectively defining an ejector-receiver. An internal heat exchanger (IHX) device is positioned inside the container. The IHX device ( Fig. 4) or a separate container ( Fig. 3) Includes a phase separation function. A collector and dryer are located inside the tank and are at least partially positioned within the IHX device. An ejector is also positioned inside the tank.

[0012] In another aspect of the present disclosure, an inner wall of the IHX device and an outer wall of the collector and dryer are positioned within the device, defining a heat exchange cavity, wherein the heat exchange cavity receives the refrigerant as a refrigerant gas, which is supplied by an evaporator ( Fig. 3) is supplied, which is positioned outside the ejector receiver via a liquid gas inlet line extending into the ejector collector or from an external ejector outlet.

[0013] In another aspect of the present disclosure, an ejector inlet is positioned in the container, which provides a connection for the refrigerant flow between the cavity of the IHX device and an inlet of the ejector.

[0014] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a bypass line includes a throttle valve in conjunction with the ejector supply line, and the ejector enables a portion of a refrigerant fluid in the ejector supply line to generate a swirl in the inlet of the ejector.

[0015] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a refrigerant phase separator function is arranged within the container in conjunction with the ejector and receives the refrigerant discharged from the ejector for separation into a refrigerant gas and a refrigerant liquid, respectively.

[0016] In another aspect of the present disclosure, the refrigerant phase separator includes: a gas outlet line connected to an inlet of a compressor located outside the vessel to transfer the refrigerant gas to the compressor; and a liquid drain line transferring the refrigerant liquid to an evaporator located outside the vessel, the liquid drain line having a throttle valve located inside the vessel.

[0017] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a condenser outlet line directs the refrigerant flow from a phase-separation condenser, which is arranged outside the vessel, into the receiver and dryer. A receiver and dryer line arranged inside the vessel is connected between the condenser and an ejector inlet.

[0018] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a refrigerant phase separator is arranged inside the canister of the heat exchanger, wherein the refrigerant phase separator receives the refrigerant exiting from the ejector.

[0019] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a drain line is connected to the ejector, which directs a discharge from the ejector into the IHX device. A liquid drain line is connected to the IHX device, which directs the refrigerant in liquid phase, exiting from the heat exchanger canister, into an evaporator located outside the canister, the liquid drain line having a throttle valve positioned in the IHX device.

[0020] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a gas outlet line extending from the IHX device directs refrigerant in a gaseous phase into an inlet of a compressor located outside the vessel. A condenser return line directs the refrigerant flow from a phase separation condenser located outside the vessel into the integrated heat exchanger of the receiver and dryer.

[0021] From several perspectives, a combined ejector valve and receiver of an automotive cooling system includes a reservoir. A heat exchanger is positioned inside the reservoir. A receiver and dryer are located entirely within the reservoir and are at least partially arranged within the heat exchanger, which defines a cavity between the receiver and dryer and the heat exchanger for holding a refrigerant. An ejector is located within the reservoir in conjunction with the heat exchanger, and the ejector receives the refrigerant after it exits the cavity. A refrigerant phase separator is positioned within the reservoir, serving to separate the refrigerant into a gas and a liquid.

[0022] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a cold gas inlet line is connected to the container, wherein the refrigerant, when the gas is supplied from an evaporator positioned outside the container, enters the cold gas inlet line.

[0023] In another aspect of the present disclosure, the refrigerant phase separator is connected to the ejector, wherein the refrigerant phase separator receives the refrigerant after it exits the ejector.

[0024] In another aspect of the present disclosure, an inlet line drawn in by the ejector connects the cavity to the ejector, wherein the inlet line drawn in by the ejector receives the refrigerant after exiting the cavity for introduction into the ejector.

[0025] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a bypass line includes a throttle valve in conjunction with the ejector supply line, and the ejector allows a portion of a refrigerant in the ejector supply line to bypass an inlet of the ejector.

[0026] In another aspect of the present disclosure, the refrigerant phase separator is positioned entirely within the heat exchanger device.

[0027] In another aspect of the present disclosure, an outlet line is connected to the ejector, which directs a discharge of the refrigerant from the ejector into the heat exchanger device so that it can flow into the refrigerant phase separator.

[0028] From several perspectives, a combined ejector-collector of an automotive cooling system includes a reservoir. An internal heat exchanger (IHX) is located entirely within the reservoir. The IHX contains a canister. A receiver and dryer are located entirely within the reservoir and are at least partially positioned within the canister, defining a cavity between the receiver and dryer and the canister to hold the refrigerant. An ejector is located inside the reservoir. An ejector feed line is connected to the IHX, receiving the refrigerant after it discharges from the receiver and dryer to flow into the ejector. A refrigerant phase separator is located within the reservoir. The refrigerant phase separator receives the refrigerant after it discharges from the ejector to separate it into a refrigerant gas and a refrigerant liquid.

[0029] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a refrigerant gas outlet line is connected to the refrigerant phase separator to transfer the refrigerant gas from the vessel. A refrigerant liquid outlet line is connected to the refrigerant phase separator to transfer the refrigerant liquid outside the vessel, the refrigerant liquid outlet line having a throttle valve positioned inside the vessel.

[0030] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a liquid refrigerant outlet line is included for transferring the liquid refrigerant from the container, wherein the liquid refrigerant outlet line has an electronically controlled throttle valve positioned inside the container.

[0031] Further areas of application will become apparent from the description presented here. It should be noted that the description and specific examples serve only for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Brief description of the drawings

[0032] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. Fig. 1 is a diagram of a conventional cooling system for a motor vehicle; Fig. Figure 2 is a diagram of a cooling system according to an exemplary embodiment; Fig. Figure 3 is a schematic view of an ejector collector with components integrated into a single container according to an exemplary embodiment; and Fig. Figure 4 is a schematic view of an ejector collector with components that, according to a further embodiment, are integrated into a single container. Detailed description

[0033] The following description is merely exemplary and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application or uses.

[0034] With reference to Fig. Figure 1 includes a conventional automotive cooling system 10 (not shown) with a separator 12, which supplies refrigerant gas to the intake side of a compressor 14. The discharge from the compressor 14 is then cooled in a condenser 16. An outlet of the condenser 16 is fed into an ejector 20 via a supply line 18. Part of the discharge from the condenser 16 can also be diverted in a bypass line 22 through a vortex controller or a throttle valve 24 to generate a vortex flow 26 in the ejector 20. An outlet 28 of the ejector 20 is connected to the separator 12 via a return line 30. Refrigerant in the liquid phase is discharged from the separator 12 and retained in the liquid phase by reducing the flow rate and maintaining the pressure via a metering or throttle valve 34 for introduction into an evaporator 36.A gas phase of the refrigerant exiting the evaporator 36 is then directed into a drawn-in inlet line 38 of the ejector 20 downstream of the position of an ejector chamber, which provides space for the eddy current 26.

[0035] With reference to Fig. 2 and again on Fig. In the first section, a cooling system 40 is modified from the cooling system 10 and provides a phase separation condenser 42 that receives the refrigerant gas from the compressor 14'. An outlet of the phase separation condenser 42 is directed into a combined ejector-collector 44. The refrigerant gas is directed from the ejector-collector 44 back to an intake port of the compressor 14'. Refrigerant in the liquid phase is discharged from the ejector-collector 44 via the connection to an evaporator 46. Several functions of the conventional cooling system 10 are integrated into the ejector-collector 44, thereby reducing the system's packaging size and improving system efficiency. The components and configurations within the ejector-collector 44 are described with respect to the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 described in more detail.

[0036] With reference to Fig. 3 and again on Fig. 2. In a first aspect, components of the ejector-collector 44 are integrated into a single heat exchanger tank 48. The tank 48 can assume any desired geometric shape, including cylindrical, rectangular, square, or oval. The tank 48 can be connected to the structure of a vehicle, such as an engine compartment firewall, with system connections to the compressor 14', the phase separation condenser 42, and the evaporator 46. An internal heat exchanger (IHX) 49 is integrated into the tank 48, which exchanges heat with a heat exchanger device 50 containing a collector and a dryer 52. Also integrated into the heat exchanger tank 48 are an ejector 54 and a refrigerant phase separator 56. A refrigerant in the form of a cold gas, for example at approximately 10 degrees Celsius, is drawn from the... Fig. The evaporator 46 shown in Figure 2 is fed into the heat exchanger device 50 via a cold gas inlet line 58. An inner wall 59 of the heat exchanger device 50 and an outer wall 60 of the collector and dryer 52, which are arranged inside the heat exchanger device 50, define a device cavity 61.

[0037] The cold gas in the heat exchanger device 50 flows through the device cavity 61 and is heated by contact with the outer wall 60. The outer wall 60 insulates the hot, high-pressure refrigerant fluid in the receiver and dryer 52, which is received by the phase separation condenser 42, which is located in relation to Fig. As described in section 2, the cooled high-pressure fluid is drawn in via the cold gas inlet line 58. The cooled fluid then flows via an ejector supply line 62 into an inlet line 64 of the ejector 54. Part of the flow in the ejector supply line 62 can also be diverted around the inlet line 64 by using a bypass line 66, which contains a vortex control or a throttle valve 68 that generates an eddy current 70 in a chamber 71 of the ejector 54.

[0038] An ejector outlet line 72 directs the refrigerant from the ejector 54 to the phase separator 56. The phase separator 56 receives the refrigerant and separates it into a gaseous and a liquid phase. The refrigerant gas is discharged from the phase separator 56 via a gas outlet line 74 and to an inlet of the Fig. The refrigerant, in liquid form, is returned to the compressor 14' shown in Figure 2. It is discharged from the phase separator 56 via a liquid drain line 76 into the evaporator 46. During transfer through the throttled flow, the refrigerant is kept in the liquid phase by a metering or electronically controlled throttle valve 78, which is located in the liquid drain line 76. The refrigerant flowing through the heat exchanger 59 is directed via an IHX line 80 into a suction inlet port 82 in the ejector 54 downstream of the chamber 71, which is designed for the eddy current 70.

[0039] A capacitor outlet line 84 conducts the current from the in Fig. The phase separation condenser 42 shown in Figure 2 is located in the collector and dryer 52. In addition to the heat exchanger device 50, the collector and dryer 52, the ejector 54, and the phase separator 56, the container 48 also encloses the ejector supply line 62, the bypass line 66, the throttle valve 68, the ejector outlet line 72, and the IHX line 80. Connections 86, 88, 90, and 92 can also be provided through a wall of the container 48 for each of the cold gas inlet lines 58, the gas outlet lines 74, the liquid drain lines 76, and the condenser outlet lines 84. It should be noted that the throttle valve 68 and the throttle valve 78 are shown and described in several aspects as being positioned inside the container 48, but according to other aspects either the throttle valve 68 or the throttle valve 78 or both valves may be positioned outside the container 48 of the ejector collector 44.

[0040] With reference to Fig. 4 and again onto the Fig. 2 and Fig. In a further aspect, components of an ejector collector 94 are integrated into a single container 96, similar to the components of the ejector collector 44, but with different internal flow paths, different internal connections, and different external connections. Like the container 48, the container 96 can assume any desired geometric shape, including cylindrical, rectangular, square, or oval. The container 96 incorporates a heat exchanger device 98, which includes a collector and dryer 100. The container 96 also includes an ejector 54', similar to or modified from the ejector 54.

[0041] A refrigerant in the form of a cold gas is extracted from the Fig. The evaporator 46, as shown in Figure 2, is fed via a cold gas inlet line 104 directly into the intake inlet nozzle 82' of the ejector 54'. An outlet line 106, connected to the ejector 54', directs a discharge from the ejector 54' into the heat exchanger device 98. The cold gas flows through a heat exchanger formed within the heat exchanger device 98, through a cavity defined between the heat exchanger device 98 and an outer wall of the collector and dryer 100, and then flows via a gas outlet line 120 to the compressor. Part of the flow in an ejector supply line 108 can also be bypassed in a bypass line 112 by a vortex controller or an electronically controlled throttle valve 114 to generate a swirl flow in the ejector 54', as previously described in Figure 2. Fig. 3 described.

[0042] The refrigerant in the liquid phase is transferred from the heat exchanger device 98 via a liquid refrigerant outlet line 116 into the Fig. The liquid refrigerant is discharged from the evaporator 46 shown in section 2 and kept in the liquid phase during transmission by a throttled flow using a metering or electronically controlled throttle valve 118 arranged in the liquid refrigerant outlet line 116. Heated low-pressure refrigerant in a gas phase is drawn from the heat exchanger canister 98 via the gas outlet line 120 into an inlet side of the evaporator 46 shown in section 2. Fig. The refrigerant flow is discharged from the compressor 14' shown in section 2. A condenser return line 122 carries the refrigerant flow from the compressor 14' shown in section 2. Fig. The phase separation condenser 42 shown in Figure 2 is located in the collector and dryer 100. Connections 124, 126, 128, and 130 can also be provided through a wall of the vessel 96 for each of the cold gas inlet lines 104, the gas outlet lines 120, the liquid refrigerant drain lines 116, and the condenser return lines 122. Similar to the connection shown in Figure 2, the connections 124, 126, 128, and 130 can also be provided through a wall of the vessel 96 for each of the cold gas inlet lines 104, the gas outlet lines 120, the liquid refrigerant drain lines 116, and the condenser return lines 122. Fig. In the configuration described in section 3, it should be noted that the throttle valve 114 and the throttle valve 118 are shown and described in several aspects as being positioned inside the container 96, but according to other aspects either the throttle valve 114 or the throttle valve 118 or both valves may be positioned outside the container 96 of the ejector collector 94.

[0043] A combined automotive cooling system with an ejector valve and receiver, as described in this disclosure, offers several advantages. These include the integration of an ejector, a heat exchanger, a receiver, and a dryer into a single vessel. For further efficiency gains, a refrigerant phase separator can also be integrated into the vessel. This provides a compact package of these components and their piping, enabling their integration into an efficient ejector air conditioning circuit for a production vehicle. The connection points of the inlet and outlet lines to the vessel can be maintained across various internal receiver configurations.

Claims

[1] Combined ejector collector (44) for a motor vehicle cooling system (40), comprising: a container (48); an internal heat exchanger device (49), IHX device (49) arranged inside the vessel (48), wherein the IHX device (49) accommodates a low-pressure refrigerant; a collector and dryer (52) located inside the container (48) and positioned at least partially inside the IHX device (49), defining a cavity (61) between the collector and dryer (52) and the IHX device (49); and an ejector (54) with a chamber (71) and an ejector outlet line (72) positioned inside the container (48); an ejector supply line (62) positioned in the container (48) and extending from the cavity (61) via an inlet line (64) of the ejector (54) into the ejector (54); and a bypass line (66) which is positioned in the container (48), wherein the bypass line (66) is in communication with the ejector supply line (62) and the ejector (54) and directs part of the flow around the inlet line (64) of the ejector (54) and into the chamber (71) of the ejector (54). [2] Combined ejector collector (44) for a motor vehicle cooling system (40) according to claim 1, wherein the IHX device (49) further comprises an inner wall (59) and wherein the collector and dryer (52), which is positioned at least partially inside the IHX device (49), comprises an outer wall (60), wherein the cavity (61) between the inner wall (59) and the outer wall (60) is defined, wherein the cavity (61) receives the refrigerant as a low-pressure refrigerant gas supplied by an evaporator (46) which is positioned outside the ejector collector (44) via a cold gas inlet line (58) extending into the IHX device (49). [3] Combined ejector collector (44) for a motor vehicle cooling system (40) according to claim 1, further comprising a refrigerant phase separator (56) which is arranged inside the container (48) via the ejector outlet line (72) in conjunction with the ejector (54) and which receives the refrigerant discharged from the ejector (54) for separation into a refrigerant gas and a refrigerant liquid. [4] Combined ejector collector (44) for a motor vehicle cooling system (40) according to claim 3, wherein the refrigerant phase separator (56) comprises: a gas outlet line (74) in conjunction with an inlet of a compressor (14') located outside the container (48) to transfer the refrigerant gas to the compressor (14'); and a liquid drain line (76) which transfers the low-pressure refrigerant liquid to an evaporator (46) which is positioned outside the container (48), wherein the liquid drain line (76) has a throttle valve (78) positioned in the container (48). [5] Combined ejector collector (44) for a motor vehicle cooling system (40) according to claim 1, further comprising: a condenser outlet line that directs the refrigerant flow from a phase-separation condenser (42) positioned outside the vessel (48) to flow into the receiver and dryer (52); and a collector-dryer line positioned inside the container (48) in connection between the collector and dryer (52) and an ejector nozzle of the ejector (54). [6] Combined ejector collector (44) for a motor vehicle cooling system (40) according to claim 5, further comprising a refrigerant phase separator (56) positioned inside the container (48), wherein the refrigerant phase separator (56) receives the refrigerant discharged from the ejector (54).

Images