A gas-liquid separator and thermal management system

Abstract

The application discloses a gas-liquid separator and a heat management system. The gas-liquid separator comprises a container, a heat exchanger and an inlet part. The container has a containing cavity. The heat exchanger is at least partially located in the containing cavity. The heat exchanger is fixedly connected or positionally connected with the container. The inlet part has a first inlet. The first inlet is located in the containing cavity and faces the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger has a first channel and a second channel. The fluid in the first channel and the fluid in the second channel can exchange heat. The first inlet is directly or indirectly communicated with the first channel of the heat exchanger. In the application, the heat exchanger in the gas-liquid separator has the dual functions of gas-liquid separation and heat exchange, and the structure is simplified.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the air conditioning technical field, and particularly relates to a gas-liquid separator and a thermal management system. BACKGROUND

[0002] In an air conditioning system, an intermediate heat exchanger is used to exchange heat between high-temperature refrigerant from a condenser and low-temperature refrigerant from an evaporator, so that the temperature of the refrigerant entering a compressor is increased, and the temperature of the refrigerant before throttling is also reduced in a refrigeration mode, thereby improving the refrigeration efficiency of the evaporator. Most compressors can only compress gaseous refrigerant, and if liquid refrigerant enters the compressor, liquid hammering will occur, damaging the compressor. In order to reduce the liquid hammering of the compressor, a gas-liquid separator is installed between the compressors.

[0003] The gas-liquid separator generally uses a cup-shaped or umbrella-shaped gas-liquid separation component to separate the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant at the inlet, and the liquid-phase refrigerant is deposited and stored, and the gas-phase refrigerant enters the heat exchanger after passing through the gas outlet pipe and exchanges heat to leave the gas-liquid separator. SUMMARY

[0004] The present application is to solve the above technical problems, and the purpose of the present application is to provide a gas-liquid separator and a thermal management system with simple structure.

[0005] The present application adopts the following technical solutions:

[0006] A gas-liquid separator, the gas-liquid separator comprising a container, a heat exchanger and an inlet portion, the container having a containing cavity, the heat exchanger being at least partially located in the containing cavity, the heat exchanger being fixedly connected or limitingly connected with the container, the inlet portion having a first inlet, the first inlet being located in the containing cavity and facing the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger having a first passage and a second passage, the fluid in the first passage and the fluid in the second passage being capable of heat exchange, the first inlet being directly or indirectly communicated with the first passage of the heat exchanger.

[0007] The thermal management system comprises the above-mentioned gas-liquid separator, and further comprises an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser and a throttling device, the first inlet of the gas-liquid separator being communicated with the outlet of the evaporator, the first outlet of the outlet portion being communicated with the inlet of the compressor, the outlet of the compressor being communicated with the second inlet through the condenser, the first outlet being communicated with the inlet of the throttling device, and the outlet of the throttling device being communicated with the inlet of the evaporator.

[0008] In the above technical solution, the gas-liquid separator includes an inlet section with a first inlet located within a cavity and facing a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger has a first channel and a second channel, allowing for heat exchange between the fluid in the first channel and the fluid in the second channel. The first inlet is directly or indirectly connected to the first channel of the heat exchanger, which has both gas-liquid separation and heat exchange functions. The gas-liquid separator is equipped with cup-shaped or umbrella-shaped gas-liquid separation components, resulting in a relatively simplified structure. Attached Figure Description

[0009] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0010] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0011] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a gas-liquid separator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0012] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Top view of the intermediate heat exchanger;

[0013] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the intermediate heat exchanger from below;

[0014] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Rear view of the heat exchanger;

[0015] Figure 5 for Figure 1 A top view of another type of heat exchanger structure;

[0016] Figure 6 for Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the intermediate heat exchanger from below;

[0017] Figure 7 for Figure 6 Rear view of the heat exchanger;

[0018] Figure 8 for Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the V-shaped fin unit;

[0019] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of another type of Z-shaped fin unit;

[0020] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a 1-shaped fin unit;

[0021] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of a gas-liquid separator according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 12 for Figure 11 Top view of the intermediate heat exchanger;

[0023] Figure 13 for Figure 12 A schematic diagram of the intermediate heat exchanger from below;

[0024] Figure 14 for Figure 13 Rear view of the heat exchanger;

[0025] Figure 15 for Figure 11 Another schematic diagram of a heat exchanger from top view;

[0026] Figure 16 for Figure 12 Another schematic diagram of a heat exchanger viewed from below;

[0027] Figure 17 for Figure 16 Rear view of the heat exchanger;

[0028] Figure 18 This is a connection diagram of a thermal management system.

[0029] Figure 19 This is a flowchart of a control method. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The technical solution of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0031] like Figure 1 As shown, the present invention provides an embodiment of a gas-liquid separator 10, which includes a container 1, an inlet section, and an outlet section, as shown. Figure 1 As shown, the inlet is an inlet pipe 2, and the outlet is an outlet pipe 3. The inlet has a first inlet 21, and the outlet has a first outlet 33. Of course, in other embodiments, the inlet and outlet can also be inlet connectors or other structures. The direction of the central axis of container 1 is defined as axial, and the direction perpendicular to the axial direction is defined as radial. The inlet pipe 2 and the outlet pipe 3 are arranged along the axial direction of container 1. The inlet pipe 2 is fixedly connected to container 1, and the outlet pipe 3 is fixedly connected to container 1. Figure 1As shown, in the embodiment, the inlet pipe 2 and the outlet pipe 3 are fixedly connected to the container 1 by welding, and in other embodiments, the inlet pipe 2 and the outlet pipe 3 can be connected to the container 1 by other connection modes such as limiting connection. The gas-liquid separator 10 further comprises a heat exchanger 4, and the container 1 has a containing cavity 11, the heat exchanger 4 is at least partially located in the containing cavity 11, the heat exchanger 4 is arranged along the radial direction of the container 1, the heat exchanger 4 has a first passage 41, the containing cavity 11 has a first cavity 111 and a second cavity 112, the first cavity 111 and the second cavity 112 are located on two sides of the heat exchanger 4 along the axial direction of the container 1, the first cavity 111 is in communication with the second cavity 112 through the first passage 41, the first inlet 21 is located in the first cavity 111, the first inlet 21 faces the heat exchanger 4, the first inlet 21 is directly or indirectly in communication with the first passage 41 of the heat exchanger 4, and the projection of the wall where the first inlet 21 is located in the axial direction at least partially covers the heat exchanger. Specifically, as shown in Figure 1 As shown, the inlet pipe 2 has a pipe end 211, the pipe end 211 is located at one end of the inlet pipe 2 and in the containing cavity 11, the pipe end 211 is connected to the heat exchanger 4, and the pipe end 211 has the first inlet 21, or the wall forming the first inlet 21 is located in the pipe end 211, as shown in Figure 2 As shown, the first passage 41 is divided into a first sub-passage 411 and a second sub-passage 412, the second sub-passage 412 is arranged away from the first inlet 21 along the radial direction, the first sub-passage 411 is in communication with the second cavity 112 and the first inlet 21, and the projection of the inlet pipe 2 in the axial direction at least partially covers the first passage 411. In the present application, the inlet pipe 2 and the outlet pipe 3 are arranged in different directions along the axial direction and the radial direction with respect to the heat exchanger 4, the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows into the inlet pipe 2 and can impact the heat exchanger 4, the pipe end 211 of the inlet pipe 2 is connected to the heat exchanger 4, the heat exchanger 4 has the first passage 41, at least part of the first passage 41 is in communication with the second cavity 112 and the first inlet 21, at this time, the first inlet 21 is directly in communication with the first passage 41, and the pipe end 211 covers at least part of the first passage 41, and the part of the heat exchanger 4 covered by the pipe end 211 plays a role in gas-liquid separation and heat exchange. The pipe end 211 of the inlet pipe 2 can also not be connected to the heat exchanger 4, and the pipe end is arranged in a gap with respect to the heat exchanger along the axial direction, so that the first inlet is indirectly in communication with the first passage.

[0032] In the embodiment, as shown in Figure 1As shown, the inlet pipe 2 comprises two pipe sections, i.e. a first pipe section 22 and a second pipe section 23, the first pipe section 22 and the second pipe section 23 are connected, the pipe diameter of the second pipe section 23 at any position is greater than the pipe diameter of the first pipe section 22 at any position, the first pipe section 22 is a circular pipe, and the second pipe section 23 is a conical pipe, of course, in other embodiments, the pipe can also be of other shapes. Here, the second pipe section is a conical pipe, the pipe diameter of the second pipe section at any position is greater than the pipe diameter of the first pipe section at any position, the cross-sectional area of the second pipe section is greater than the cross-sectional area of the first pipe section, and the inlet pipe 2 with the shape of a trumpet mouth helps to increase the heating area and the heat exchange area of the inlet pipe 2 and the heat exchanger involved in the gas-liquid separation, and helps the gas-liquid separation.

[0033] As shown in the embodiment, Figure 1 and Figure 2 the inlet pipe 2 and the outlet pipe 3 are arranged on the same side of the container 1, the inlet pipe 2 and the heat exchanger 4 are coaxially arranged, and the pipe opening 211 end of the inlet pipe 2 covers an area S1 of the heat exchanger 4, which accounts for 1 / 4-2 / 3 of the surface area S2 of the heat exchanger 4. Preferably, the pipe opening end 21 of the inlet pipe 2 covers an area S1 of the heat exchanger, which accounts for 1 / 3 of the surface area S2 of the heat exchanger 4. The arrangement of the covering area can make the refrigerant fully gas-liquid separated under the heating of the heat exchanger.

[0034] As shown in the embodiment, Figures 2 to 7 the heat exchanger 4 further has a second passage 42, and the gas-liquid separator further has a second inlet 423 and a second outlet 424, the second inlet 423 is in communication with the second outlet 424 through the second passage 42. Specifically, one end of the heat exchanger 4 is fixedly connected with the container 1, the other end of the heat exchanger 4 is fixedly connected with the container 1, one end of the heat exchanger has the second inlet 423, and the other end of the heat exchanger has the second outlet 424. Here, the fixing mode of the heat exchanger and the container adopts welding fixing, of course, the fixing mode of limiting connection can also be adopted. The heat exchanger 4 comprises a flat tube 45, and the heat exchanger 4 is at least partially curled by the flat tube 45, and the overall structure of the heat exchanger is disc-shaped. The flat tube 45 can be curled clockwise in one direction, of course, in other embodiments, as shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6 the flat tube 45 can also be curled in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The second passage 42 is a plurality of microchannels (not shown in the figure), the microchannels are uniformly distributed in the interior of the flat tube 45 and penetrate through the flat tube 45, and the fluid in the first passage 41 and the fluid in the second passage 42 can exchange heat. As shown in Figures 2 to 5As shown, the heat exchanger 4 further comprises fins 43, the flat tube 45 comprises a first wall 421 and a second wall 422, the first wall 421 is an inner wall surface of the flat tube 45, the second wall 422 is an outer wall surface of the flat tube 45, the fins 43 are located between the first wall 421 and the second wall 422, the fins 43 are fixedly connected with the first wall 421, the fins 43 are fixedly connected with the second wall 422, the first wall 421, the second wall 422 and the fins 43 form the first channel 41. The first channel 41 increases the flow area, thereby reducing the gas refrigerant pressure drop. The heat exchanger 4 formed by the arrangement of the flat tube 45 and the fins 43 has a simple structure, which can serve as a gas-liquid separation member and a heat exchanger. Moreover, the heat exchanger with fins can prevent oil bubbles from rising, and can avoid the refrigerant entering the compressor with liquid during the startup stage of the compressor. The refrigerant flows from the inlet pipe 2, the two-phase refrigerant encounters the flat tube 45 and the fins 43 in the heat exchanger 4, the two-phase refrigerant is subjected to gas-liquid separation in the channel, the gas refrigerant is partially discharged from the first sub-channel 411 under the compression of the two-phase refrigerant, and moves upwardly to the uncovered second sub-channel 412. The fins can increase the heat exchange area, and the high-temperature heat exchanger can promote gas-liquid separation. The second channel 42 (microchannel) in the flat tube 45 is provided with high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant. The gas refrigerant after gas-liquid separation flows out from the first sub-channel 411, and then flows out from the second sub-channel 412 which is arranged away from the first inlet. After the gas refrigerant passes through the second sub-channel 412, the temperature of the gas refrigerant is increased after heat exchange in the heat exchanger, and the superheat degree of the gas refrigerant flowing out from the outlet pipe 3 is increased.

[0035] According to theoretical estimation, when the refrigeration is rated, the temperature of the gas refrigerant at the inlet pipe 2 of the gas-liquid separator is 20℃, the temperature of the liquid refrigerant at the liquid inlet pipe of the gas-liquid separator is 45℃, the refrigerant obtains more than 10℃ of excess heat exchange after heat exchange in the heat exchanger, the temperature of the gas refrigerant at the outlet pipe 3 of the gas-liquid separator is 30℃, and the temperature of the liquid refrigerant at the liquid outlet pipe of the gas-liquid separator is 35℃. The refrigeration capacity of the system is increased by about 2%, and the energy efficiency is increased by 1.5%.

[0036] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 6 and Figure 8 The fins 43 are composed of a plurality of fin units 431, the fins 43 are regularly composed of the fin units 431, the fin units 431 comprise a first contact portion 4311 and a second contact portion 4312, the first contact portion 4311 is fixedly connected with the first wall 421, the second contact portion 4321 is fixedly connected with the second wall 422, the fins 43 are located between the first wall 421 and the second wall 422, the fin units 431 have a V-shaped structure, of course, in other embodiments, as shown in Figure 9 and 10 The fin units 431 can also have a Z-shaped structure or a 1-shaped structure.

[0037] AsFigure 1 As shown, the container 1 further comprises an oil return pipe 7, which is in communication with the accommodating cavity 11, and is provided with an electromagnetic valve 71, which mainly functions to deliver oil to the compressor when the amount of oil is insufficient.

[0038] The working principle of the gas-liquid separator 10 is as follows. Figures 1 to 7 As shown, the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows in from the inlet pipe 2, and the gas-liquid two-phase liquid refrigerant is subjected to gas-liquid separation in the first sub-channel 411 (the portion of the pipe opening end 211 of the inlet pipe 2 covering the heat exchanger 4), and the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant is arranged in the second channel 42 of the flat tube of the heat exchanger 4. The high-temperature flat tube 42 and the surface of the fin 43 accelerate the evaporation of the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant, so that the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant is rapidly subjected to gas-liquid separation. The gas refrigerant after the gas-liquid separation moves downward through the first sub-channel 411 under the pressure of the two-phase refrigerant, and after touching the bottom of the container 1, it rapidly moves toward the second sub-channel 412 of the heat exchanger 4. The gas refrigerant passing through the second sub-channel 412 moves toward the top of the container 1, and finally flows out from the outlet pipe 3. The temperature sensor 5 detects the superheat degree of the outlet pipe 3.

[0039] As shown in the second embodiment of the present application, Figure 11 As shown, the gas-liquid separator 20 comprises a container 1, an inlet portion, and an outlet portion, as shown in the second embodiment of the present application, Figure 11 As shown, the inlet portion is an inlet pipe 2, and the outlet portion is an outlet pipe 3. The inlet portion has a first inlet 21, and the outlet portion has a first outlet 33. Of course, in other embodiments, the inlet portion and the outlet portion can also be an inlet joint or other structures, and the central axis direction of the container 1 is defined as the axial direction, and the direction perpendicular to the axial direction is defined as the radial direction. The inlet pipe 2 and the outlet pipe 3 are arranged along the axial direction of the container 1, and the inlet pipe 2 and the container 1 are fixedly connected, and the outlet pipe 3 and the container 1 are fixedly connected. In this embodiment, the inlet pipe 2 and the outlet pipe 3 are fixedly connected to the container 1 by welding. Of course, in other embodiments, other connection modes such as limiting connection can also be used. The gas-liquid separator 20 further comprises a heat exchanger 4, and the container 1 has an accommodating cavity 11, and the heat exchanger 4 is at least partially located in the accommodating cavity 11. The heat exchanger 4 is arranged along the radial direction of the container 1, and the heat exchanger 4 has a first channel 41. The accommodating cavity 11 has a first cavity 111 and a second cavity 112, and along the axial direction of the container 1, the first cavity 111 and the second cavity 112 are located on the two sides of the heat exchanger 4. The first cavity 111 is in communication with the second cavity 112 through the first channel 41. The first inlet 21 is located in the first cavity 111, and the first inlet 21 faces the heat exchanger 4. The first inlet 21 is in direct or indirect communication with the first channel 41 of the heat exchanger 4. The projection of the wall where the first inlet 21 is located in the axial direction at least partially covers the heat exchanger. Specifically, as shown in the second embodiment of the present application, Figure 11As shown, the inlet pipe 2 has a pipe end 211 located at one end of the inlet pipe 2 and in the accommodating cavity 11, the pipe end 211 is connected with the heat exchanger 4, the pipe end 211 has the first inlet 21 or the wall forming the first inlet 21 is located at the pipe end 211, the heat exchanger 4 has the first passage 41, as shown in the figure, Figure 13 As shown, the first passage 41 includes a first sub-passage 411 and a second sub-passage 412, the second sub-passage 412 is arranged away from the inlet 21, the first sub-passage 411 communicates the accommodating cavity 11 with the first inlet 21, the projection of the inlet pipe 2 in the axial direction at least partially covers the first passage 41. In this application, the inlet pipe 2 and the outlet pipe 3 are arranged in different axial and radial directions with the heat exchanger 4, the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flowing from the inlet pipe 2 can impact the heat exchanger 4, and the pipe end 211 of the inlet pipe 2 is connected with the heat exchanger 4, the heat exchanger 4 has the first passage 41, at least part of the first passage 41 communicates the second cavity 112 with the first inlet 21, the pipe end 211 covers at least part of the first passage 41, at this time, the first inlet 21 is directly communicated with the first passage 41, the part of the heat exchanger 4 covered by the pipe end 211 plays a role of gas-liquid separation and heat exchange. The pipe end 211 of the inlet pipe 2 can also be not connected with the heat exchanger 4, arranged with a gap between the pipe end 211 and the heat exchanger 4 in the axial direction, so that the first inlet 21 is indirectly communicated with the first passage 41.

[0040] In this embodiment, as shown, Figure 11 As shown, the inlet pipe 2 includes three sections, namely the first pipe section 22, the second pipe section 23 and the third pipe section 24, the second pipe section 23 is located between the first pipe section 22 and the second pipe section 24, the first pipe section 22 and the second pipe section 23 are connected, the second pipe section 23 and the third pipe section 24 are connected, the pipe diameter of any position of the second pipe section 23 is greater than the pipe diameter of any position of the first pipe section 22, the pipe diameter of any position of the third pipe section 24 is greater than the pipe diameter of the second pipe section 23, the first pipe section 22 adopts a circular pipe, the second pipe section 23 adopts a pipe with a straight-angled trapezoidal cross section, and the third pipe section 24 adopts a pipe with an isosceles trapezoidal cross section. Of course, here, the pipe diameter of any position of the second pipe section 23 is greater than the pipe diameter of any position of the first pipe section 22, and the pipe diameter of any position of the third pipe section 24 is greater than the pipe diameter of the second pipe section 23, the tapered pipe horn-shaped inlet pipe 2 helps to increase the heating area and heat exchange area of the inlet pipe 2 and the heat exchanger participating in gas-liquid separation, and helps to gas-liquid separation.

[0041] In this embodiment, as shown, Figure 11As shown, the inlet pipe 2 and the outlet pipe 3 are arranged on the same side of the container 1, the inlet pipe 2 and the heat exchanger 4 are coaxially arranged, the first inlet 21 end of the inlet pipe 2 covers the area S1 of the heat exchanger 4, which accounts for 1 / 4-2 / 3 of the surface area S2 of the heat exchanger 4, preferably, the pipe opening end 21 of the inlet pipe 2 covers the area S1 of the heat exchanger, which accounts for 1 / 3 of the surface area S2 of the heat exchanger 4. The arrangement of the covering area can make the refrigerant fully gas-liquid separated under the heating of the heat exchanger.

[0042] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 11 to 17 The heat exchanger 4 also has a second passage 42, the gas-liquid separator also has a second inlet 423 and a second outlet 424, the second inlet 423 is communicated with the second outlet 424 through the second passage 42. One end of the heat exchanger 4 is fixedly connected with the container 1, the other end of the heat exchanger 4 is fixedly connected with the container 1, one end of the heat exchanger is the second inlet 423, the other end of the heat exchanger is the second outlet 424, here the fixed mode of the heat exchanger and the container adopts welding fixation, here it can also adopt limiting connection, of course, other sealing fixed connection mode can also be adopted. The heat exchanger 4 includes a flat tube 45, the heat exchanger 4 is at least partially curled by the flat tube 45, the flat tube can be curled clockwise in one direction, of course, in other embodiments, as shown in Figure 15 and Figure 16As shown, the flat tube 45 can also be curled in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. Specifically, the flat tube 45 has a plurality of microchannels, and the second channel 42 is a plurality of microchannels (not shown in the figure) uniformly distributed in the interior of the flat tube 45. The microchannels pass through the flat tube 45, and the fluid in the first channel 41 and the fluid in the second channel 42 can exchange heat. The heat exchanger 4 further includes fins 43, and the flat tube 45 includes a first wall 421 and a second wall 422, the first wall 421 being the inner wall surface of the flat tube, and the second wall 422 being the outer wall surface of the flat tube 42. The heat exchanger 4 further includes fins 43, which are located between the first wall 421 and the second wall 422. The fins 43 are fixedly connected to the first wall 421 and the second wall 422, and the first wall 421, the second wall 422 and the fins 43 form a channel. The heat exchanger 4 formed by the arrangement of the flat tube 42 and the fins 43 has a simple structure and can serve as both a gas-liquid separation member and a heat exchanger. The refrigerant flows from the inlet pipe 2, and the two-phase refrigerant encounters the flat tube 45 and the fins 43 in the heat exchanger 4. The two-phase refrigerant is subjected to gas-liquid separation in the channel. The gas refrigerant is partially discharged from the first sub-channel 411 under the pressure of the two-phase refrigerant, and moves upward in the uncovered second sub-channel 412. The fins can increase the heat exchange area, and the high-temperature heat exchanger can promote gas-liquid separation. The second channel 42 (microchannel) in the flat tube 45 is provided with high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant. The gas refrigerant after gas-liquid separation flows out from the first sub-channel 411, and then flows out from the second sub-channel 412 which is located away from the first inlet. After the gas refrigerant passes through the second sub-channel 412 and is subjected to heat exchange in the heat exchanger, the temperature of the gas refrigerant increases, and the outlet pipe 3 discharges the gas refrigerant with increased superheat.

[0043] As shown in the embodiment, Figure 15 and Figure 16 The heat exchanger 4 further includes a hole 44 located at the center of the heat exchanger 4. The hole 44 passes through the heat exchanger 4, and the outlet pipe 3 is at least partially located in the hole 44.

[0044] The inlet pipe 2 is arranged off-axis with the heat exchanger 4, and the outlet pipe 3 is connected to the container 1. The outlet pipe 3 has an air inlet 31, and the outlet pipe 3 has an oil return hole 32 located away from the air inlet 31 and close to the bottom of the container. In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 11 The gas-liquid separator further includes a first temperature sensor 5 and a second temperature sensor 6. The first temperature sensor 5 is located in the outlet pipe 3 of the gas-liquid separator, and the second temperature sensor 6 is located in the second outlet 424 of the gas-liquid separator. Here, the temperature sensor functions to measure temperature.

[0045] The working principle of the gas-liquid separator 20 is as follows, Figure 11As shown, the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant from the inlet pipe 2, the liquid refrigerant is attached to the channel 411 and the wall (the pipe opening end 211 of the inlet pipe 2 covers part of the heat exchanger 4) is gas-liquid separated, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant is arranged in the flat tube 45 of the heat exchanger 4, the high-temperature flat tube 45 and the fin 43 surface will accelerate the evaporation of the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant with high-temperature heat, so that the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant is quickly gas-liquid separated, the evaporated gas refrigerant moves down through the first sub-channel 411, after touching the bottom of the container, quickly moves to the second sub-channel 412 of the heat exchanger which is not covered by the pipe opening, moves to the top of the container through the second sub-channel 412, and the evaporated gas refrigerant flows into the oil return hole 32 at the bottom of the gas outlet pipe to return oil.

[0046] Figure 18 It is a connection diagram of the heat management system of the exemplary embodiment of the present application, the direction indicated by the arrow is the refrigerant flow direction, and the heat management system is in the refrigeration mode. Please refer to Figure 18 As shown, a heat management system includes a gas-liquid separator (10, 20), an evaporator 100, a compressor 200, a condenser 300, and a throttling device 400. The first inlet 21 of the gas-liquid separator (10, 20) is in communication with the outlet of the evaporator 100, the first outlet 33 of the outlet portion 3 is in communication with the inlet of the compressor 200, the outlet of the compressor 200 is connected to the second inlet 423 through the condenser 300, the outlet of the condenser 300 is connected to the second inlet 423 of the heat exchanger 4 through the gas-liquid separator 10, 20 and is in communication, the inlet of the throttling device 400 is connected to the second outlet 424 of the heat exchanger 4 through the gas-liquid separator (10, 20) and is in communication, and the outlet of the throttling device 400 is connected to the inlet of the evaporator 100.

[0047] In the refrigeration mode, the high-temperature gaseous refrigerant flowing out of the compressor 200 exchanges heat through the condenser 300, then flows through the heat exchanger 4 in the gas-liquid separator (10, 20), and then enters the evaporator 100 after throttling through the throttling device 400. The gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator 100 enters the gas-liquid separator (10, 20), and after gas-liquid separation through the gas-liquid separator (10, 20), the refrigerant flows into the compressor 200, completing a heat exchange cycle. In the gas-liquid separator, the liquid refrigerant is stored in the container through the outlet pipe 3, and the gaseous refrigerant is separated from the heat exchanger and exchanges heat. The gaseous refrigerant is separated through the heat exchanger, and after heat exchange, the temperature of the gaseous refrigerant is increased, and the temperature of the refrigerant flowing in the heat exchanger is reduced, so that the temperature of the refrigerant entering the compressor is increased, and the temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the throttling device is reduced, thereby improving the refrigeration effect of the evaporator. Such a gas-liquid separator can also be used in the heating mode, which is not expanded. Since the heat exchanger 4 and the outlet pipe 3 are arranged in the gas-liquid separator at the same time, the heat exchanger 4 will first be gas-liquid separated, and then the heat exchanger 4 will exchange heat. The gaseous refrigerant with sufficient superheat enters the compressor. The gas-liquid separator in the present application has a simple structure, and the gaseous refrigerant at the outlet has sufficient superheat.

[0048] Figure 19 is a connection diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the present application, a control method is applied to the above heat management system, and the steps of the control method include the following steps:

[0049] First step: obtain the temperature of the gaseous refrigerant at the outlet pipe 3 of the gas-liquid separator, the temperature of the liquid refrigerant at the liquid outlet pipe of the gas-liquid separator, the saturation temperature of the evaporator, and the saturation temperature of the condenser. The temperature of the gaseous refrigerant at the outlet pipe 3 of the gas-liquid separator and the temperature of the liquid refrigerant at the liquid outlet pipe of the gas-liquid separator can be obtained by the temperature sensor arranged at the corresponding position in the gas-liquid separator. The saturation temperature of the evaporator and the saturation temperature of the condenser can be obtained simply through various common industry general methods at the level of the heat management system. For example, the saturation temperature of each can be obtained by measuring the pressure of the evaporator and the condenser respectively and then through the pressure-enthalpy diagram or the property software. The saturation temperature of each can also be obtained by measuring the temperature in the middle of the disc tube (not shown in the figure) of the evaporator and the condenser. At this time, the temperature in the middle of the disc tube (not shown in the figure) is equal to the saturation temperature, because the temperature in the two-phase region of the refrigerant is the same as the saturation temperature value;

[0050] Second step: calculate the superheat of the gaseous refrigerant at the outlet pipe 3 of the gas-liquid separator and the subcooling of the liquid refrigerant at the liquid outlet pipe; the superheat of the gaseous refrigerant at the outlet pipe 3 of the gas-liquid separator is the temperature of the gaseous refrigerant at the outlet pipe 3 of the gas-liquid separator minus the saturation temperature of the evaporator, and the subcooling of the liquid refrigerant at the liquid outlet pipe of the gas-liquid separator is the saturation temperature of the condenser minus the temperature of the liquid refrigerant at the liquid outlet pipe of the gas-liquid separator;

[0051] Third step: judging the relationship between the gas refrigerant superheat and the first threshold value, defining the first threshold value as equal to the superheat interval range; when the superheat is less than the first threshold value, the throttling device needs to reduce the opening degree, and when the superheat is greater than the first threshold value, the throttling device needs to increase the opening degree;

[0052] Fourth step: when the superheat is equal to the first threshold value, judging whether the subcooling degree of the liquid refrigerant in the gas-liquid separator outlet pipe is greater than or equal to the specified subcooling degree, defining the specified subcooling degree as a safety value that can meet the normal operation of the system; when the subcooling degree is greater than or equal to the specified subcooling degree, the throttling device does not need to act; when the subcooling degree is less than the specified subcooling degree, the throttling device needs to increase the opening degree. Ensuring sufficient subcooling degree can avoid or alleviate the generation of throttling device noise.

[0053] In particular, the first threshold value range of superheat is generally [5℃, 12℃];

[0054] If the refrigeration operating condition is run at a lower ambient temperature, the ambient temperature is 20℃,

[0055] First step: the temperature of the gas refrigerant at the outlet pipe 3 of the gas-liquid separator is 25℃, the temperature of the liquid refrigerant at the outlet pipe of the gas-liquid separator is 28℃, the saturation temperature of the evaporator is 15℃, and the saturation temperature of the condenser is 30℃;

[0056] Second step: calculating the superheat of the gas refrigerant at the outlet pipe 3 of the gas-liquid separator as 10℃ and the subcooling degree of the liquid refrigerant at the outlet pipe as 2℃;

[0057] Third step: the superheat of the gas refrigerant is 10℃, and the first threshold value range of superheat is [5℃, 12℃];

[0058] Fourth step: when the superheat meets the first threshold value, the specified subcooling degree is 5℃, the subcooling degree is 2℃, which is lower than the specified subcooling degree of 5℃, and when the subcooling degree is less than the specified subcooling degree, the throttling device needs to increase the opening degree.

[0059] Increasing the throttling opening degree of the throttling device increases the amount of low-temperature two-phase refrigerant flowing into the inlet pipe 2 of the gas-liquid separator, and the low-temperature two-phase refrigerant exchanges heat with the high-temperature liquid refrigerant from the condenser in the fin channels of the gas-liquid separator heat exchanger, causing the temperature of the high-temperature liquid phase refrigerant in the outlet pipe of the gas-liquid separator heat exchanger to decrease. It should be noted that according to test experience, after increasing the throttling opening degree of the throttling device, the condensing temperature decreases slightly and the evaporation temperature increases slightly, but the change is not large.

[0060] After heat exchange, the temperature of the gas refrigerant at the outlet pipe 3 of the gas-liquid separator becomes 21℃, the temperature of the liquid refrigerant at the outlet pipe of the gas-liquid separator becomes 22℃, the saturation temperature of the evaporator becomes 16℃, and the saturation temperature of the condenser becomes 29℃. At this time, after recalculation, the subcooling degree is 7℃, which is greater than the specified subcooling degree, and the superheating degree is 5℃, which is within the first threshold range, and both meet the system requirements, so the throttling device does not need to act.

[0061] The above heat management system and control method are operable.

[0062] In the description of the present application, it should be noted that unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "mounting", "connection", "linking" should be understood broadly, for example, it can be fixed connection, or detachable connection, or integral connection; it can be mechanical connection, or electrical connection; it can be direct connection, or indirect connection through intermediate medium, or internal communication of two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to the specific circumstances. The above embodiments are only preferred embodiments of the present application, and cannot be used to limit the scope of protection of the present application. Any non-essential changes and replacements made by those skilled in the art on the basis of the present application shall fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A gas-liquid separator, characterized in that, The gas-liquid separator includes a container (1), a heat exchanger (4), and an inlet (2). The container (1) has a receiving cavity (11), and the heat exchanger (4) is at least partially located within the receiving cavity (11). The heat exchanger (4) is fixedly connected or limitedly connected to the container (1). The inlet (2) has a first inlet (21), which is located within the receiving cavity (11) and faces the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger (4) has a first channel (41) and a second channel (42). The first inlet (21) is directly or indirectly connected to the first channel (41) of the heat exchanger (4); the receiving cavity (11) has a first cavity (111) and a second cavity (112), the first cavity (111) is connected to the second cavity (112) through the first channel (41); the heat exchanger (4) is a microchannel heat exchanger, and the gas-liquid separator has a second inlet (423) and a second outlet (424), the second inlet (423) is connected to the second outlet (424) through the second channel (42).

2. The gas-liquid separator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The axial direction of the container (1) is defined as the axial direction, and the direction perpendicular to the axial direction is defined as the radial direction. The heat exchanger (4) is arranged radially along the container (1). Along the axial direction of the container (1), the first cavity (111) and the second cavity (112) are located on both sides of the heat exchanger (4). The first inlet (21) is located in the first cavity (111). The projection of the wall forming the first inlet (21) in the axial direction at least partially covers the heat exchanger (4).

3. The gas-liquid separator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The microchannel heat exchanger includes a flat tube (45), which is at least partially formed by rolling the flat tube (45). The heat exchanger also includes fins (43). The flat tube includes a first wall (421) and a second wall (422). The fins (43) are fixedly connected to the first wall (421) and the second wall (422). The first channel (41) is at least partially formed by the first wall (421), the second wall (422) and the fins (43). The fins include one or more fin units (431). The fin units (431) are V-shaped, I-shaped or Z-shaped.

4. The gas-liquid separator according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The inlet (2) is formed into a tube and includes a first pipe section (22) and a second pipe section (23). The first pipe section (22) and the second pipe section (23) are connected. The first pipe section (22) is fixedly connected to the container (1). The diameter of the second pipe section (23) at any position is greater than the diameter of the first pipe section (22) at any position.

5. The gas-liquid separator as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The gas-liquid separator includes an outlet (3) along the axial direction of the container. The inlet (2) and the outlet (3) are located on the same side of the container (1). The inlet (2) is coaxially arranged with the heat exchanger (4). The area of ​​the first inlet (21) covering the heat exchanger (4) is 1 / 4 to 2 / 3 of the surface area of ​​the heat exchanger (4) on that side of the heat exchanger.

6. The gas-liquid separator as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The inlet (2) is off-axis to the heat exchanger (4), the outlet (3) is connected to the container (1), the outlet (3) has an air inlet (31), the outlet (3) has an oil return hole (32), the oil return hole (32) is away from the air inlet (31) and is located near the bottom of the container.

7. The gas-liquid separator as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The heat exchanger (4) further includes a hole (44) located at the center of the heat exchanger (4) and penetrating the heat exchanger (4), and the outlet (3) is at least partially located in the hole (44), and the outlet (3) and the heat exchanger (4) are connected in a limiting manner.

8. The gas-liquid separator as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The gas-liquid separator also includes an outlet (3), a first temperature sensor (5), and a second temperature sensor (6). The temperature sensor (5) is installed at the first outlet of the outlet (3), and the second temperature sensor (6) is installed at the second outlet (424) of the gas-liquid separator.

9. A thermal management system, characterized in that, The thermal management system includes the gas-liquid separator according to any one of claims 1-7, and the thermal management system further includes an evaporator (100), a compressor (200), a condenser (300), and a throttling device (400). The first inlet (21) of the gas-liquid separator is connected to the outlet of the evaporator (100), the first outlet of the outlet section (3) is connected to the inlet of the compressor (200), the outlet of the compressor (200) is connected to the second inlet (423) through the condenser (300), the second outlet (424) is connected to the inlet of the throttling device (400), and the outlet of the throttling device (400) is connected to the inlet of the evaporator (100).

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