Heat exchangers and air conditioners

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of air conditioning, and discloses a heat exchange device provided with a first refrigerant inlet and outlet and a second refrigerant inlet and outlet. The heat exchange device comprises: a plurality of heat exchange tubes for connecting the first refrigerant inlet and outlet and the second refrigerant inlet and outlet; a liquid storage tank connected to the upper heat exchange tube of the heat exchange device, for storing refrigerant when the heat exchange device functions as a condenser and the air conditioner is in a low-load operating condition. When the heat exchange device functions as a condenser and the air conditioner is in a low-load operating condition, the liquid storage tank can be used to store refrigerant, so that the amount of circulating refrigerant in the heat exchange tube matches the optimal refrigerant amount for the current operating condition, thereby improving the energy efficiency of the air conditioner. The present application also discloses an air conditioner.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of air conditioning, for example, to a heat exchange device and an air conditioner. Background Art

[0002] The heat exchange device is an important component of the air conditioner. A refrigerant circulation pipeline is provided in the heat exchange device, and the heat is transferred between the indoor environment and the outdoor environment through the circulation flow of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation pipeline.

[0003] In the related art, the amount of refrigerant filled in the refrigerant circulation pipeline is the optimal amount of refrigerant required under the rated working conditions of the air conditioner, and the amount of circulating refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation pipeline is a fixed value.

[0004] During the implementation of the embodiments of the present disclosure, it was found that at least the following problems exist in the related art:

[0005] The optimal circulating refrigerant volume varies with the air conditioner's load, with lower loads requiring less. In related art air conditioners, when the heat exchanger acts as a condenser and the air conditioner is operating at low load, the optimal refrigerant volume required is less than the refrigerant volume circulating in the refrigerant circulation piping. A higher circulating refrigerant volume causes the compressor to operate at a higher frequency, resulting in a loss of energy efficiency and contradicting the design philosophy of energy conservation and consumption reduction. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed embodiments, a brief summary is given below. The summary is not an extensive review, nor is it intended to identify key / critical elements or delineate the scope of protection of these embodiments, but rather serves as a prelude to the detailed description that follows.

[0007] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a heat exchange device and an air conditioner. When the heat exchange device serves as a condenser and the air conditioner is in a low-load operating condition, a liquid storage tank can be used to store refrigerant, so that the amount of circulating refrigerant in the heat exchange tube matches the optimal refrigerant amount for the current operating condition, thereby improving the energy efficiency of the air conditioner.

[0008] In some embodiments, the heat exchange device is provided with a first refrigerant inlet and outlet and a second refrigerant inlet and outlet, and the heat exchange device includes: a plurality of heat exchange tubes for connecting the first refrigerant inlet and outlet and the second refrigerant inlet and outlet; a liquid storage tank connected to the upper heat exchange tube of the heat exchange device, for storing refrigerant when the heat exchange device acts as a condenser and the air conditioner is under low load.

[0009] Optionally, the height of the heat exchange device in the vertical direction is a first height, and the liquid storage tank is arranged at a position greater than or equal to 2 / 3 of the first height.

[0010] Optionally, the heat exchange device includes m heat exchange tubes, m is a positive integer, and the m heat exchange tubes are distributed in the vertical direction, the heat exchange tube at the highest position is the first heat exchange tube, and the heat exchange tube at the lowest position is the mth heat exchange tube; wherein, the height between the first heat exchange tube and the mth heat exchange tube is the first height, and the liquid storage tank is arranged at the i-th heat exchange tube, i∈[1, m], and i is a positive integer; wherein the height difference between the i-th heat exchange tube and the m-th heat exchange tube is greater than 3 / 4 of the first height.

[0011] Optionally, the liquid storage tank is arranged at one end of the first heat exchange tube, and the other end of the first heat exchange tube is connected to the first refrigerant inlet and outlet.

[0012] Optionally, the liquid storage tank is arranged in a vertical direction, and the liquid storage tank includes: a first connecting pipe, which is arranged at the top of the liquid storage tank and extends into the interior of the liquid storage tank; and a second connecting pipe, which is arranged at the top of the liquid storage tank and extends into the interior of the liquid storage tank; wherein the length of the first connecting pipe located inside the liquid storage tank is greater than the length of the second connecting pipe located inside the liquid storage tank, and when the heat exchange device serves as a condenser, the refrigerant enters the liquid storage tank from the first connecting pipe.

[0013] Optionally, the liquid storage tank is configured as a cylinder, the height of the cylinder ranges from 75 mm to 90 mm, and the diameter of the cylinder ranges from 25 mm to 35 mm.

[0014] Optionally, the liquid storage tank is configured as a cylinder, the height of the cylinder ranges from 78 mm to 82 mm, and the diameter of the cylinder ranges from 28 mm to 32 mm.

[0015] Optionally, the length of the first connecting pipe located inside the liquid storage tank ranges from 60 mm to 80 mm; and / or the length of the second connecting pipe located inside the liquid storage tank ranges from 5 mm to 15 mm.

[0016] Optionally, the length of the first connecting tube located inside the liquid storage tank ranges from 68 mm to 75 mm, and the length of the second connecting tube located inside the liquid storage tank ranges from 8 mm to 12 mm.

[0017] In some embodiments, the air conditioner includes the above-mentioned heat exchange device.

[0018] The heat exchange device and air conditioner provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure can achieve the following technical effects:

[0019] The liquid storage tank is connected to the upper heat exchange tube of the heat exchanger. When the heat exchanger is operating as a condenser and the air conditioner is under low load, refrigerant can enter the liquid storage tank and be stored there. Therefore, when the heat exchanger is operating as a condenser and the air conditioner is under low load, the amount of circulating refrigerant in the heat exchange tube is reduced. Matching the circulating refrigerant amount in the heat exchange tube with the optimal refrigerant amount for the current operating conditions keeps the compressor operating frequency within the appropriate range and reduces energy efficiency losses in the air conditioner. By connecting the liquid storage tank to the upper heat exchange tube, the circulating refrigerant amount in the refrigerant circulation circuit is closer to the optimal refrigerant amount for the current operating conditions, effectively improving the air conditioner's energy efficiency.

[0020] The above general description and the following description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not intended to limit the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] One or more embodiments are exemplarily described by corresponding drawings. These exemplary descriptions and drawings do not limit the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are shown as similar elements. The drawings do not constitute a scale limitation. In addition,

[0022] Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a heat exchange device provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0023] Figure 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a liquid storage tank provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0024] Figure 3 is a structural diagram of an air conditioner provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0025] Figure 4 1 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant flow path of an air conditioner in cooling mode provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0026] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow path of an air conditioner in cooling mode provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0027] Reference numerals:

[0028] 01: First refrigerant inlet and outlet; 02: Second refrigerant inlet and outlet;

[0029] 1: heat exchange tube; 2: liquid storage tank; 21: first connecting pipe; 22: second connecting pipe;

[0030] 3: Refrigerant circulation pipeline; 31: Compressor; 32: Outdoor heat exchanger; 33: Throttling device; 34: Indoor heat exchanger. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] In order to be able to understand the features and technical content of the embodiments of the present disclosure in more detail, the implementation of the embodiments of the present disclosure is described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are for reference only and are not used to limit the embodiments of the present disclosure. In the following technical description, for the sake of convenience of explanation, a full understanding of the disclosed embodiments is provided through multiple details. However, one or more embodiments can still be implemented without these details. In other cases, to simplify the drawings, well-known structures and devices can be simplified for display.

[0032] In the description and claims of the embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as in the accompanying drawings, the terms "first," "second," and the like are used to distinguish similar items and are not necessarily used to describe a particular order or precedence. It should be understood that the terms used in this manner are interchangeable where appropriate to describe the embodiments of the present disclosure herein. In addition, the terms "including," "having," and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions.

[0033] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the terms "upper", "lower", "inside", "middle", "outside", "front", "back" and the like indicate directions or positional relationships based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are mainly intended to better describe the embodiments of the present disclosure and their embodiments, and are not intended to limit the indicated devices, elements or components to having a specific direction, or to be constructed and operated in a specific direction. Moreover, in addition to being used to indicate directions or positional relationships, some of the above terms may also be used to indicate other meanings. For example, the term "upper" may also be used to indicate a certain dependency or connection relationship in certain circumstances. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of these terms in the embodiments of the present disclosure can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0034] Furthermore, the terms "disposed," "connected," and "fixed" should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connected" can mean a fixed connection, a removable connection, or an integral structure; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, an indirect connection through an intermediary, or an internal connection between two devices, elements, or components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of these terms in the embodiments of this disclosure based on the specific circumstances.

[0035] Unless otherwise stated, the term "plurality" means two or more.

[0036] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the character " / " indicates that the preceding and following objects are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B.

[0037] The term "and / or" describes an association between objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B means: A or B, or A and B.

[0038] The term "air conditioning load" generally refers to the amount of heat removed from (or added to) a space per unit time to maintain a specific environment. This load is affected by factors such as the difference in indoor and outdoor temperature, solar radiation, heat and moisture dissipation from equipment, and human body heat and moisture dissipation.

[0039] It should be noted that, unless there is any conflict, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of the present disclosure can be combined with each other.

[0040] An air conditioner is a device that uses artificial means to regulate and control parameters such as temperature, humidity, cleanliness, and flow rate of indoor air. It can operate in cooling or heating mode to maintain the indoor temperature within a set range. The heat exchanger is a key component of an air conditioner. It houses refrigerant circulation piping, which circulates the refrigerant through the piping to transfer heat between the indoor and outdoor environments.

[0041] In the related art, the amount of refrigerant filled in the refrigerant circulation pipeline is the optimal amount of refrigerant required under the rated operating conditions of the air conditioner, and the amount of circulating refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation pipeline is a fixed value. However, the optimal amount of circulating refrigerant changes with the load of the air conditioner, and the smaller the load of the air conditioner, the less optimal amount of circulating refrigerant required. In the air conditioner provided in the related art, when the heat exchange device acts as a condenser and the air conditioner is in a low-load operating condition, the optimal amount of refrigerant required is less than the amount of circulating refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation pipeline. A larger amount of circulating refrigerant will cause the compressor to maintain a higher operating frequency, resulting in energy efficiency loss of the air conditioner, which is contrary to the design concept of energy saving and consumption reduction.

[0042] Therefore, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a heat exchange device and an air conditioner. When the heat exchange device serves as a condenser and the air conditioner is in a low-load operating condition, a liquid storage tank can be used to store refrigerant, so that the amount of circulating refrigerant in the heat exchange tube matches the optimal refrigerant amount under the current operating conditions, thereby improving the energy efficiency of the air conditioner.

[0043] In one aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a heat exchange device.

[0044] In some embodiments, see Figure 1 The heat exchange device is provided with a first refrigerant inlet and outlet 01 and a second refrigerant inlet and outlet 02. The heat exchange device includes a plurality of heat exchange tubes 1 and a liquid storage tank 2.

[0045] The plurality of heat exchange tubes 1 are used to connect the first refrigerant inlet and outlet 01 and the second refrigerant inlet and outlet 02. The liquid storage tank 2 is connected to the upper heat exchange tube 1 of the heat exchange device and is used to store refrigerant when the heat exchange device is used as a condenser and the air conditioner is under low load.

[0046] The heat exchange device provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure has a liquid storage tank 2 connected to the upper heat exchange tube 1 of the heat exchange device. When the heat exchange device acts as a condenser and the air conditioner is under low load, the refrigerant can enter the liquid storage tank 2 and use the liquid storage tank 2 to store a portion of the liquid refrigerant. Therefore, when the heat exchange device acts as a condenser and the air conditioner is under low load, the amount of circulating refrigerant in the heat exchange tube 1 is reduced. The amount of circulating refrigerant in the heat exchange tube 1 matches the optimal amount of refrigerant under the current working conditions, which can keep the operating frequency of the compressor within a suitable range and reduce the energy efficiency loss of the air conditioner. By connecting the liquid storage tank 2 to the upper heat exchange tube 1, the amount of circulating refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation pipeline is closer to the optimal amount of refrigerant under the current working conditions, which can effectively improve the energy efficiency of the air conditioner.

[0047] Regarding the heat exchange tube 1 , a refrigerant flows inside the heat exchange tube 1 , and the refrigerant exchanges heat with the external environment through the heat exchange tube 1 .

[0048] The connection modes of the plurality of heat exchange tubes 1 include parallel connection, series connection or parallel connection and series connection.

[0049] The liquid storage tank 2 is used to store refrigerant when the heat exchange device serves as a condenser and the air conditioner is in a low-load condition, and does not affect the heat exchange effect when the heat exchange device serves as a condenser and the air conditioner is in a high-load condition and when the heat exchange device serves as an evaporator.

[0050] Optionally, the liquid storage tank 2 is configured as a cylinder, the height of the cylinder is in the range of 75 mm to 90 mm, and the diameter of the cylinder is in the range of 25 mm to 40 mm. For example, the height of the cylinder can be 75 mm, 80 mm, 85 mm, 87 mm, or 90 mm. The diameter of the cylinder can be 25 mm, 28 mm, 30 mm, 33 mm, 35 mm, or 40 mm.

[0051] By limiting the height and diameter of the cylinder to the above range, the liquid storage tank can store an appropriate amount of refrigerant when the heat exchange device is used as a condenser and the air conditioner is in a low-load operating condition. As a result, the amount of circulating refrigerant in the heat exchange tube 1 is appropriately reduced, and the amount of circulating refrigerant in the heat exchange tube 1 matches the optimal amount of refrigerant required for the low-load operating condition. This not only avoids excessive circulating refrigerant causing the compressor to operate at an excessively high frequency and reduce the energy efficiency of the air conditioner, but also avoids insufficient circulating refrigerant causing the heat exchange effect to deteriorate and reduce the cooling effect of the air conditioner. In addition, when the heat exchange device is used as a condenser and the air conditioner is in a high-load operating condition, and when the heat exchange device is used as an evaporator, the amount of stored refrigerant is small and does not affect the heat exchange effect of the heat exchange device.

[0052] When the heat exchange device is a condenser, under different load conditions of the air conditioner, the effect of the size of the liquid storage tank 2 on the amount of refrigerant stored in the liquid storage tank 2 is shown in Table 1.

[0053] Table 1 The influence of the size of liquid storage tank 2 on the amount of refrigerant stored in liquid storage tank 2

[0054]

[0055]

[0056] The data in Table 1 was tested using the outdoor heat exchanger of a 35-unit residential air conditioner. This outdoor heat exchanger is a single-row unit with 12 heat exchange tubes. The test conditions for the data in Table 1 include: the air conditioner is in cooling mode, the inner diameter of the throttling capillary is 1.2mm, the refrigerant volume is 580g, and the liquid reservoir 2 is located at the outlet of the fourth heat exchange tube. The difference in liquid storage capacity between high and low loads is calculated by subtracting the liquid storage capacity at the low-temperature intermediate operating condition from the liquid storage capacity at the rated operating condition.

[0057] Here, the air conditioning load is represented by the indoor and outdoor temperature difference. That is, the greater the indoor and outdoor temperature difference, the greater the air conditioning load, and correspondingly, the smaller the indoor and outdoor temperature difference, the smaller the air conditioning load.

[0058] Table 1 shows that, within a certain range, the larger the size of liquid storage tank 2, the greater the difference in the amount of refrigerant stored in liquid storage tank 2 between high-load and low-load operating conditions of the air conditioner. In other words, within a certain range, the larger the size of liquid storage tank 2, the less refrigerant it stores under high-load conditions, while the larger the amount of refrigerant stored under low-load conditions, the more beneficial it is for improving the air conditioner's energy efficiency. Within a certain range, the volume of liquid storage tank 2 has little effect on the amount of refrigerant stored in liquid storage tank 2 under different operating conditions of the air conditioner.

[0059] It is understandable that if the liquid storage tank 2 is set too large, the amount of liquid refrigerant stored in the liquid storage tank 2 may be too much, thereby affecting the normal operation of the heat exchange device; if the liquid storage tank 2 is set too small, it cannot play the role of regulating the amount of circulating refrigerant in the heat exchange tube 1.

[0060] Optionally, the liquid storage tank 2 is configured as a cylinder, the height of the cylinder is in the range of 78 mm to 82 mm, and the diameter of the cylinder is in the range of 28 mm to 32 mm. For example, the height of the cylinder is 80 mm, and the diameter of the cylinder is 30 mm.

[0061] Within a certain range, the size of the liquid storage tank 2 has little effect on the amount of refrigerant stored in the liquid storage tank 2, so a conventional liquid storage tank with a height of 80 mm and a diameter of 30 mm is selected. Such a setting is convenient for processing and manufacturing, and is conducive to reducing costs.

[0062] Alternatively, see Figure 2The liquid storage tank 2 is arranged in a vertical direction. The liquid storage tank 2 includes a first connecting pipe 21 and a second connecting pipe 22.

[0063] The first connecting pipe 21 is provided at the top of the liquid storage tank 2 and extends into the interior of the liquid storage tank 2. The second connecting pipe 22 is provided at the top of the liquid storage tank 2 and extends into the interior of the liquid storage tank 2. The length of the first connecting pipe 21 located inside the liquid storage tank 2 is greater than the length of the second connecting pipe 22 located inside the liquid storage tank 2.

[0064] When the heat exchange device functions as a condenser, the refrigerant enters the liquid storage tank 2 through the first connecting pipe 21 and flows out of the liquid storage tank 2 through the second connecting pipe 22. When the heat exchange device functions as an evaporator, the refrigerant enters the liquid storage tank 2 through the second connecting pipe 22 and flows out of the liquid storage tank through the first connecting pipe 21.

[0065] The liquid storage capacity of the liquid storage tank 2 can be adjusted by adjusting the length of the first connecting tube 21 and the length of the second connecting tube 22 located inside the liquid storage tank 2. When the heat exchange device functions as a condenser and the air conditioner is operating at a low load, the liquid storage tank 2 stores an appropriate amount of refrigerant, so that the amount of circulating refrigerant in the heat exchange tube 1 matches the optimal refrigerant capacity required for the low-load operating condition.

[0066] Optionally, the first connecting tube 21 and the second connecting tube 22 are made of copper.

[0067] By setting the material of the first connecting pipe 21 and the second connecting pipe 22 to copper, the first connecting pipe 21 and the second connecting pipe 22 have good thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance and durability, and are easy to process and manufacture.

[0068] Optionally, the first connecting pipe 21 and the second connecting pipe 22 are both connected to the heat exchange pipe 1 by welding.

[0069] Such an arrangement ensures that the connection between the first connecting pipe 21 and the second connecting pipe 22 and the heat exchange pipe 1 has better sealing performance and greater connection strength.

[0070] Optionally, the length of the first connecting tube 21 inside the liquid storage tank 2 ranges from 60 mm to 80 mm; the length of the second connecting tube 22 inside the liquid storage tank 2 ranges from 5 mm to 15 mm. For example, the length of the first connecting tube 21 inside the liquid storage tank 2 can be 60 mm, 65 mm, 70 mm, 75 mm, or 80 mm, etc.; the length of the second connecting tube 22 inside the liquid storage tank 2 can be 5 mm, 7 mm, 10 mm, 11 mm, 13 mm, or 15 mm, etc.

[0071] By setting the lengths of the first connecting tube 21 and the second connecting tube 22 within the above range, the liquid storage tank 2 can be used to store an appropriate amount of refrigerant when the heat exchange device functions as a condenser and the air conditioner is operating at a low load. Furthermore, the heat exchange effect of the heat exchange device is not affected when the heat exchange device functions as a condenser and the air conditioner is operating at a high load, or when the heat exchange device functions as an evaporator.

[0072] When the heat exchange device is a condenser, under different operating conditions of the air conditioner, the effects of the length of the first connecting pipe 21 located inside the liquid storage tank 2 and the length of the second connecting pipe 22 located inside the liquid storage tank 2 on the amount of refrigerant stored in the liquid storage tank 2 are shown in Table 2.

[0073] Table 2 Effect of the length of the first connecting pipe inside the liquid storage tank and the length of the second connecting pipe inside the liquid storage tank on the amount of refrigerant stored in the liquid storage tank

[0074]

[0075]

[0076] The data in Table 2 was tested using the outdoor heat exchanger of a 35-unit residential air conditioner. This outdoor heat exchanger is a single-row unit with 12 heat exchange tubes. The test conditions for the data in Table 2 include: the air conditioner is in cooling mode, the liquid reservoir 2 has a height of 80 mm and a length of 30 mm, the inner diameter of the throttling capillary is 1.2 mm, the refrigerant volume is 580 g, and the liquid reservoir 2 is located at the outlet of the fourth heat exchange tube. The difference in liquid storage capacity between high and low loads is calculated as: the liquid storage capacity in the liquid reservoir under rated operating conditions minus the liquid storage capacity under low-temperature intermediate operating conditions.

[0077] Table 2 shows that, within a certain range, the longer the length of the first connecting tube 21 within the liquid storage tank 2 and the shorter the length of the second connecting tube 22 within the liquid storage tank 2, the greater the difference in the amount of refrigerant stored in the liquid storage tank 2 between high-load and low-load operating conditions of the air conditioner. In other words, within a certain range, the longer the length of the first connecting tube 21 within the liquid storage tank 2 and the shorter the length of the second connecting tube 22 within the liquid storage tank 2, the less refrigerant is stored in the liquid storage tank 2 under high-load operating conditions. Furthermore, under low-load operating conditions, the greater the amount of refrigerant stored in the liquid storage tank 2, the more beneficial it is for improving the air conditioner's energy efficiency. Within a certain range, the volume of the liquid storage tank 2 has little effect on the amount of refrigerant stored in the liquid storage tank 2 under different operating conditions of the air conditioner.

[0078] Optionally, the length of the first connecting tube 21 inside the liquid storage tank 2 is in the range of 68 mm to 75 mm, and the length of the second connecting tube 22 inside the liquid storage tank 2 is in the range of 8 mm to 12 mm. For example, the length of the first connecting tube 21 inside the liquid storage tank 2 is 70 mm, and the length of the second connecting tube 22 inside the liquid storage tank 2 is 10 mm.

[0079] Within a certain range, the length of the first connecting tube 21 and the length of the second connecting tube 22 inside the liquid storage tank 2 have little effect on the amount of liquid stored in the liquid storage tank 2. Setting the length of the first connecting tube 21 and the length of the second connecting tube 22 inside the liquid storage tank 2 to 70 mm and 10 mm, respectively, can meet the requirements.

[0080] Optionally, the height of the heat exchange device in the vertical direction is a first height, and the liquid storage tank 2 is arranged at a position greater than or equal to 2 / 3 of the first height.

[0081] By placing the liquid storage tank 2 at a height greater than or equal to 2 / 3 of the first height, an appropriate amount of liquid refrigerant can be stored when the heat exchange device is used as a condenser. This allows the amount of circulating refrigerant in the heat exchange tube 1 to match the optimal amount of refrigerant required for low-load conditions, avoiding energy efficiency losses of the air conditioner due to excessive circulating refrigerant in the heat exchange tube 1 and excessive operating frequency of the compressor. When the heat exchange device is used as a condenser and the air conditioner is under high load, the amount of refrigerant stored in the liquid storage tank 2 is small, and the amount of circulating refrigerant in the heat exchange tube 1 matches the optimal amount of refrigerant required for high-load conditions, thereby ensuring the heat exchange effect. When the heat exchange device is used as an evaporator, the amount of refrigerant stored in the liquid storage tank 2 is small, which does not affect the heat exchange effect when the heat exchange device is used as an evaporator.

[0082] Optionally, the heat exchange device includes m heat exchange tubes, where m is a positive integer, and the m heat exchange tubes are distributed vertically, with the highest heat exchange tube being the first heat exchange tube and the lowest heat exchange tube being the mth heat exchange tube. The height between the first and mth heat exchange tubes is a first height, and the liquid storage tank 2 is disposed on the i-th heat exchange tube, where i∈[1,m] and i is a positive integer; and the height difference between the i-th and m-th heat exchange tubes is greater than 3 / 4 of the first height.

[0083] This arrangement allows the heat exchange device to store an appropriate amount of liquid refrigerant when used as a condenser. This reduces the amount of circulating refrigerant within heat exchange tube 1, matching the optimal amount required for low-load operation. This prevents both reduced air conditioner energy efficiency due to excessive circulating refrigerant and excessive compressor operation, and reduced cooling efficiency due to insufficient circulating refrigerant and reduced heat exchange.

[0084] When the heat exchange device is a condenser, when the air conditioner is in high-load and low-load conditions, the influence of the installation position of the liquid storage tank 2 on the liquid storage amount of the liquid storage tank 2 is shown in Table 3.

[0085] Table 3 The influence of the location of the liquid storage tank on the liquid storage capacity

[0086]

[0087] The data in Table 3 was tested using the outdoor heat exchanger of a 35-unit household air conditioner. This outdoor heat exchanger consisted of a single-row heat exchanger with 12 heat exchange tubes. The test conditions for the data in Table 3 included the following: the air conditioner was in cooling mode, the liquid storage tank 2 had a height of 80 mm and a length of 30 mm, the inner diameter of the throttling capillary was 1.2 mm, and the refrigerant volume was 580 g.

[0088] Table 3 shows that the location of liquid storage tank 2 significantly affects the amount of refrigerant stored in it. The greater the placement of liquid storage tank 2 at the outlet of the first heat exchange tube, the greater the difference in the amount of refrigerant stored in liquid storage tank 2 between high-load and low-load operating conditions of the air conditioner. In other words, placement of liquid storage tank 2 at the outlet of the first heat exchange tube minimizes the amount of refrigerant stored in liquid storage tank 2 under high-load conditions and maximizes the amount of refrigerant stored in liquid storage tank 2 under low-load conditions, which is most conducive to improving the air conditioner's energy efficiency.

[0089] Optionally, the liquid storage tank 2 is arranged at one end of the first heat exchange tube, and the other end of the first heat exchange tube is connected to the first refrigerant inlet and outlet 01.

[0090] The air conditioner provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure can realize adaptive adjustment of the refrigerant circulation amount and the air conditioner load (ambient temperature is between 35°C and 29°C) by arranging a liquid storage tank 2 on the upper heat exchange tube of the heat exchange device. That is to say, by arranging a liquid storage tank 2 on the upper heat exchange tube of the heat exchange device, when the heat exchange device is used as a condenser and the air conditioner is in a low-load condition, the liquid storage tank 2 can be used to store more refrigerant; when the heat exchange device is used as a condenser and the air conditioner is in a high-load condition, the liquid storage tank 2 can be used to store less refrigerant; when the heat exchange device is used as an evaporator, the normal circulation of the refrigerant is not affected. The following takes the heat exchange device provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure as an outdoor heat exchange device as an example to explain its principle:

[0091] When the air conditioner is in cooling mode, the outdoor heat exchanger is the condenser, and the indoor heat exchanger is the evaporator. When the air conditioner is in heating mode, the outdoor heat exchanger is the evaporator, and the indoor heat exchanger is the condenser. When the air conditioner is in cooling mode and operating at low load (small indoor and outdoor temperature difference), the heat exchange between the evaporator and the indoor environment is small, the required refrigerant circulation volume is small, and the condenser's heat transfer coefficient is large. At this time, the liquid refrigerant content in the condenser increases, and the liquid refrigerant stored in the liquid storage tank 2 increases, playing an important regulatory role. Accordingly, the refrigerant circulation volume in the heat exchange tube 1 decreases, coinciding with the smaller cooling capacity required under these conditions, thereby reducing compressor frequency and improving energy efficiency. When the air conditioner is in cooling mode and operating at high load, the evaporator requires a large amount of gaseous refrigerant. At this time, the surface heat transfer coefficient of the condenser is relatively reduced, and the gaseous refrigerant content in the condenser is relatively high. Because the density of gaseous refrigerant is low and the refrigerant stored in the liquid storage tank 2 is primarily gaseous refrigerant, the amount of circulating refrigerant in the heat exchange tube 1 remains almost unchanged. It satisfies the need for a large amount of circulating refrigerant to ensure the heat exchange capacity when the air conditioner is in cooling mode and under high load. When the air conditioner is in heating mode, the heat exchange device provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure is an evaporator. At this time, the refrigerant enters the interior of the liquid storage tank 2 from the second connecting pipe 22 and is discharged from the liquid storage tank from the first connecting pipe 21. Since the first connecting pipe 21 is close to the bottom of the liquid storage tank 2, the liquid refrigerant is located at the bottom of the liquid storage tank 2 and can be preferentially discharged from the liquid storage tank 2 from the first connecting pipe 21. Therefore, when the air conditioner is in heating mode, the liquid storage tank 2 will not affect the normal operation of the evaporator.

[0092] On the other hand, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides an air conditioner.

[0093] In some embodiments, see Figure 3 The air conditioner provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure includes the heat exchange device of the above aspect.

[0094] When the air conditioner provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure is in a low-load operating condition, the amount of circulating refrigerant in the heat exchange tube 1 matches the optimal refrigerant amount under the current operating condition, which can keep the operating frequency of the compressor within an appropriate range and reduce the energy efficiency loss of the air conditioner.

[0095] Specifically, see Figure 3 The air conditioner includes a refrigerant circulation pipeline 3 and a compressor 31, an outdoor heat exchanger 32, a throttling device 33 and an indoor heat exchanger 34. Among them, the outdoor heat exchanger 32 is the heat exchange device in the above aspect.

[0096] When the air conditioner is in cooling mode, the outdoor heat exchanger 32 is a condenser and the indoor heat exchanger 34 is an evaporator. When the air conditioner is in heating mode, the outdoor heat exchanger 32 is an evaporator and the indoor heat exchanger 34 is a condenser.

[0097] See also Figure 4 When the air conditioner is in cooling mode, compressor 31 compresses the gaseous refrigerant into a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant. This high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant enters outdoor heat exchanger 32, where it condenses and releases heat, forming liquid refrigerant. The liquid refrigerant is throttled by throttling device 33, lowering its temperature before entering indoor heat exchanger 34. Because the temperature of the refrigerant in indoor heat exchanger 34 is lower than the indoor ambient temperature, the refrigerant in indoor heat exchanger 34 absorbs heat from the indoor environment, lowering the indoor ambient temperature.

[0098] See also Figure 5 When the air conditioner is in heating mode, compressor 31 compresses the gaseous refrigerant into a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant. This high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant enters indoor heat exchanger 34, where it condenses and releases heat, raising the indoor temperature. After releasing heat, the refrigerant enters throttling device 33, where its temperature is further reduced. It then enters outdoor heat exchanger 32, where it absorbs heat from the outdoor environment.

[0099] When the air conditioner is in cooling mode and operating at low load, the required refrigerant circulation volume of the indoor heat exchanger 34 is relatively small, while the heat transfer coefficient of the outdoor heat exchanger 32 is relatively high. At this point, the liquid refrigerant content in the outdoor heat exchanger 32 increases, and the liquid refrigerant stored in the liquid storage tank 2 increases, playing a significant regulatory role. Accordingly, the refrigerant circulation volume in the heat exchange tube 1 decreases, matching the lower cooling capacity required in this operating mode. This reduces the compressor frequency and improves energy efficiency.

[0100] When the air conditioner is in cooling mode and operating at high load, indoor heat exchanger 34 requires a large amount of gaseous refrigerant. At this time, the surface heat transfer coefficient of outdoor heat exchanger 32 is relatively reduced, and the content of gaseous refrigerant in outdoor heat exchanger 32 is relatively high. Because gaseous refrigerant has a low density and the refrigerant stored in liquid storage tank 2 is primarily gaseous refrigerant, the amount of circulating refrigerant in heat exchange tube 1 remains virtually unchanged. This satisfies the requirement for a large amount of circulating refrigerant to ensure heat exchange when the air conditioner is in cooling mode and operating at high load.

[0101] When the air conditioner is in heating mode, the outdoor heat exchanger 32 functions as an evaporator. Refrigerant enters the liquid storage tank 2 through the second connecting pipe 22 and exits the tank through the first connecting pipe 21. Because the first connecting pipe 21 is located near the bottom of the liquid storage tank 2, the liquid refrigerant is located there and preferentially exits the tank 2 through the first connecting pipe 21. Therefore, when the air conditioner is in heating mode, the liquid storage tank 2 does not affect the normal operation of the outdoor heat exchanger 32.

[0102] The above description and the accompanying drawings sufficiently illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure to enable those skilled in the art to practice them. Other embodiments may include structural and other changes. The embodiments represent only possible variations. Unless expressly required, individual components and functions are optional, and the order of operations may vary. Portions and features of some embodiments may be included in or replace portions and features of other embodiments. The embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the structures described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope thereof. The scope of the present disclosure is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A heat exchange device, characterized in that: A first refrigerant inlet and outlet (01) and a second refrigerant inlet and outlet (02) are provided, and the heat exchange device comprises: a plurality of heat exchange tubes (1) for connecting the first refrigerant inlet and outlet (01) and the second refrigerant inlet and outlet (02); and, A liquid storage tank (2) is connected to the upper heat exchange pipe of the heat exchange device and is used to store refrigerant when the heat exchange device serves as a condenser and the air conditioner is in a low-load operating condition. The heat exchange device includes m heat exchange tubes, m is a positive integer, the m heat exchange tubes are distributed in the vertical direction, the heat exchange tube at the highest position is the first heat exchange tube, and the heat exchange tube at the lowest position is the mth heat exchange tube. The height of the heat exchange device in the vertical direction is the first height, and the height between the first heat exchange tube and the mth heat exchange tube is the first height. The liquid storage tank (2) is arranged on the i-th heat exchange tube, i∈[1, m], and i is a positive integer; wherein the height difference between the i-th heat exchange tube and the m-th heat exchange tube is greater than 3 / 4 of the first height, the liquid storage tank (2) is arranged at one end of the first heat exchange tube, and the other end of the first heat exchange tube is connected to the first refrigerant inlet and outlet (01). The liquid storage tank (2) is configured as a cylinder, the height of the cylinder is in the range of 75 mm to 90 mm, and the diameter of the cylinder is in the range of 25 mm to 35 mm. The liquid storage tank (2) is arranged in a vertical direction, and the liquid storage tank (2) comprises: A first connecting pipe (21) is provided at the top of the liquid storage tank (2) and extends into the interior of the liquid storage tank (2), wherein the length of the first connecting pipe (21) ranges from 60 mm to 80 mm; and A second connecting pipe (22) is provided at the top of the liquid storage tank (2) and extends into the interior of the liquid storage tank (2); the length of the second connecting pipe (22) ranges from 5 mm to 15 mm; Wherein, when the heat exchange device serves as a condenser, the refrigerant enters the liquid storage tank (2) from the first connecting pipe (21).

2. The heat exchange device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The height of the cylinder ranges from 78 mm to 82 mm, and the diameter of the cylinder ranges from 28 mm to 32 mm.

3. The heat exchange device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The height of the cylinder is 80 mm, and the diameter of the cylinder is 30 mm.

4. The heat exchange device according to claim 1, characterized in that The length of the first connecting pipe (21) located inside the liquid storage tank (2) ranges from 68 mm to 75 mm, and the length of the second connecting pipe (22) located inside the liquid storage tank (2) ranges from 8 mm to 12 mm.

5. The heat exchange device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The length of the first connecting pipe (21) located inside the liquid storage tank (2) is 65 mm or 70 mm.

6. The heat exchange device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The length of the second connecting pipe (22) located inside the liquid storage tank (2) is 7 mm, 10 mm, 11 mm or 13 mm.

7. The heat exchange device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first connecting pipe (21) and the second connecting pipe (22) are connected to the heat exchange pipe by welding.

8. An air conditioner, characterized in that: Comprising the heat exchange device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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