Gas-liquid separation system, control method, controller and air conditioner

Abstract

The application discloses a gas-liquid separation system, a control method, a controller and an air conditioner. The gas-liquid separation system comprises a heat exchanger, a flow distribution valve and a gas-liquid separation device. The heat exchanger comprises bypass openings and a backflow opening arranged at different positions. The flow distribution valve comprises a valve input end, a first output end and a second output end. The bypass openings are connected to the valve input end through pipelines. The second output end is connected to the backflow opening through a pipeline. The gas-liquid separation device comprises a gas-liquid input end, a gaseous output end and a liquid output end. The first output end is connected to the gas-liquid input end. The gaseous output end is connected to a compressor. The liquid output end is connected to the backflow opening through a pipeline. According to the present application, the flow distribution valve is arranged between the gas-liquid separation device and the heat exchanger. The valve opening degree of the flow distribution valve is controlled according to the rotating speed of the compressor. Thus, the refrigerant with different dryness can be returned to the heat exchanger under different working conditions. The working performance of the air conditioner is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of air conditioner technology, and in particular to a gas-liquid separation system, control method, controller, and air conditioner. Background Technology

[0002] During the evaporation process of refrigerant within a circular tube, the flow pattern and heat transfer coefficient of the refrigerant vary with changes in dryness fraction, resulting in different heat exchange capacities in the evaporator. Therefore, controlling the dryness fraction within an appropriate range can effectively enhance heat exchange to a certain extent. Currently, gas-liquid separation evaporator technology is used, which involves introducing a gas-liquid separator into the flow path of the heat exchanger. This reduces the number of flow paths while minimizing the pressure drop under evaporation conditions, thereby improving heat exchange performance by reducing the dryness fraction of the refrigerant within the evaporator.

[0003] However, in existing evaporator separation technology, when facing different actual operating conditions, all the refrigerant in the heat exchanger is introduced into the gas-liquid separation device, which makes it difficult to achieve ideal working performance. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The following is an overview of the subject matter described in detail herein. This overview is not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

[0005] This invention provides a gas-liquid separation system, a control method, a controller, and an air conditioner, which can optimize the distribution of refrigerant in a heat exchanger, thereby improving the performance of the air conditioner.

[0006] A first aspect of the present invention provides a gas-liquid separation system, comprising:

[0007] Heat exchangers, including bypass ports and return ports located at different positions;

[0008] A flow divider valve is used to adjust the flow division ratio according to its own valve opening. The flow divider valve includes a valve input end, a first output end and a second output end. The bypass port is connected to the valve input end through a pipe, and the second output end is connected to the return port through a pipe.

[0009] A gas-liquid separation device includes a gas-liquid input end, a gas output end, and a liquid output end. The first output end is connected to the gas-liquid input end, the gas output end is connected to a compressor, and the liquid output end is connected to the return port through a pipeline.

[0010] The controller is used to set the valve opening of the diverter valve according to the compressor speed when the refrigerant in the heat exchanger is in the condition of evaporation and heat absorption.

[0011] According to the gas-liquid separation system of the first aspect of the present invention, it has at least the following beneficial effects: a diversion valve is provided between the gas-liquid separation device and the heat exchanger. The refrigerant flow rate from the heat exchanger to the gas-liquid separation device is adjusted by controlling the valve opening of the diversion valve. That is, the diversion valve controls a portion of the refrigerant to enter the gas-liquid separation device for gas-liquid separation, while the other portion of the refrigerant flows back to the heat exchanger. Therefore, under different operating conditions of the air conditioner, refrigerant with different dryness fractions can flow back to the heat exchanger, thereby changing the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger. When the heat exchanger is an evaporator and the air conditioner is in heating mode, the present invention embodiment can automatically set the valve opening of the diversion valve according to the compressor speed, so that the current heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger matches the current operating condition of the compressor, achieving better heating performance. When the heat exchanger is an evaporator and the air conditioner is in cooling mode, the present invention embodiment can automatically set the valve opening of the diversion valve according to the compressor speed, so that the current heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger matches the current operating condition of the compressor, achieving better cooling performance.

[0012] In some embodiments, the second output terminal and the liquid output terminal are connected to the return port through a pipeline, and the outlet of the heat exchanger and the gaseous output terminal are connected to the compressor through a pipeline.

[0013] In some embodiments, a one-way valve is further included, which is disposed between the compressor and the gaseous output terminal, with the input terminal of the one-way valve connected to the gaseous output terminal and the output terminal of the one-way valve connected to the compressor.

[0014] In some embodiments, a first temperature sensor is provided at the air inlet of the compressor, and a second temperature sensor is provided at the return outlet. The controller is further configured to acquire a first temperature value collected by the first temperature sensor and a second temperature value collected by the second temperature sensor, and adjust the valve opening of the flow divider valve according to the compressor speed, the first temperature value, and the second temperature value.

[0015] A second aspect of the present invention provides a control method for a gas-liquid separation system, the gas-liquid separation system comprising:

[0016] Heat exchangers, including bypass ports and return ports located at different positions;

[0017] A flow divider valve is used to adjust the flow division ratio according to its own valve opening. The flow divider valve includes a valve input end, a first output end and a second output end. The bypass port is connected to the valve input end through a pipe, and the second output end is connected to the return port through a pipe.

[0018] A gas-liquid separation device includes a gas-liquid input end, a gas output end, and a liquid output end. The first output end is connected to the gas-liquid input end, the gas output end is connected to a compressor, and the liquid output end is connected to the return port through a pipeline.

[0019] The control method includes:

[0020] When the refrigerant in the heat exchanger is in the condition of evaporation and heat absorption, the valve opening of the flow divider valve is set according to the speed of the compressor.

[0021] In some embodiments, setting the valve opening of the flow divider valve according to the compressor speed includes:

[0022] When the compressor speed is less than the first speed, the valve of the diversion valve is set to the first opening degree; at the first opening degree, all the refrigerant entering the diversion valve flows into the gas-liquid separator.

[0023] When the compressor speed is between the first speed and the second speed, the valve of the flow divider is set to a second opening degree; at the second opening degree, the refrigerant entering the flow divider flows into the gas-liquid separator in a first proportion.

[0024] When the compressor speed is greater than the second speed, the valve of the diversion valve is set to a third opening degree; under the third opening degree, the refrigerant entering the diversion valve flows into the gas-liquid separator at a second ratio.

[0025] Wherein, the first rotational speed is less than the second rotational speed, and the first ratio is greater than the second ratio.

[0026] In some embodiments, a first temperature sensor is provided between the outlet of the heat exchanger and the compressor, and a second temperature sensor is provided between the liquid output end and the return port; after controlling the valve opening of the flow divider valve according to the compressor speed, the control method further includes:

[0027] Acquire the first temperature value collected by the first temperature sensor and the second temperature value collected by the second temperature sensor;

[0028] The valve opening of the flow divider valve is adjusted according to the compressor speed, the first temperature value, and the second temperature value.

[0029] In some embodiments, adjusting the valve opening of the flow divider valve according to the compressor speed, the first temperature value, and the second temperature value includes:

[0030] Determine the temperature difference between the first temperature value and the second temperature value;

[0031] When the temperature difference is greater than the sum of the superheat threshold and the stability threshold, the valve opening of the diversion valve is adjusted according to the speed of the compressor to increase the proportion of refrigerant entering the gas-liquid separation device through the diversion valve.

[0032] When the temperature difference is less than the difference between the superheat threshold and the stability threshold, the valve opening of the diversion valve is adjusted according to the compressor speed to reduce the proportion of refrigerant entering the gas-liquid separation device through the diversion valve.

[0033] The superheat threshold is used to characterize the superheat limit at the outlet of the heat exchanger, and the stability threshold is used to characterize the temperature limit for stable operation of the gas-liquid separation system.

[0034] In some embodiments, adjusting the valve opening of the flow divider valve according to the compressor speed includes:

[0035] The opening adjustment value is determined based on the compressor's rotational speed;

[0036] The valve opening of the diverter valve is adjusted using the opening adjustment value.

[0037] In some embodiments, after adjusting the valve opening of the flow divider valve, a first temperature value and a second temperature value are reacquired after a preset time interval, so as to adjust the valve opening of the flow divider valve according to the compressor speed, the first temperature value and the second temperature value.

[0038] In some embodiments, when the refrigerant is in a state of condensation and heat release, the valve opening of the diversion valve is set so that all the refrigerant entering the diversion valve flows into the gas-liquid separator.

[0039] A third aspect of the present invention provides a controller, including a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein the processor executes the computer program to implement the control method as described in the second aspect.

[0040] A fourth aspect of the present invention provides an air conditioner, including a gas-liquid separation system as described in the first aspect, or a controller as described in the third aspect.

[0041] A fifth aspect of the present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions for performing the control method as described in the second aspect.

[0042] Other features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent in part from the description, or may be learned by practicing the invention. The objects and other advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the structures particularly pointed out in the description, claims and drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0043] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the gas-liquid separation system provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 2 This is an overall flowchart of the control method for the gas-liquid separation system provided in the embodiments of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of setting the valve opening size according to the compressor speed, provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 4 This is a flowchart provided by an embodiment of the present invention for adjusting the valve opening based on the compressor speed, a first temperature value, and a second temperature value;

[0047] Figure 5 This is a flowchart of adjusting the valve opening based on the temperature difference and compressor speed provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 6 This is a flowchart of determining the opening adjustment value based on the compressor speed, provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] Figure 7 This is a flowchart of setting the valve opening under condensation and heat release conditions provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0050] Figure 8 This is an overall flowchart of the control method provided in the example of the present invention.

[0051] Figure 9 This is a structural connection diagram of the controller provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0052] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention. Furthermore, the features, operations, or characteristics described in the specification can be combined in any suitable manner to form various implementations. Simultaneously, the steps or actions in the method description can be rearranged or adjusted in a manner readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the various orders in the specification and drawings are merely for the clear description of a particular embodiment and do not imply a mandatory order, unless otherwise stated that a particular order must be followed.

[0053] In the description of this invention, "several" means one or more, "more than" means two or more, "greater than," "less than," and "exceeding" are understood to exclude the stated number, while "above," "below," and "within" are understood to include the stated number. The use of "first" and "second" in the description is merely for distinguishing technical features and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features, or implicitly indicating the order of the indicated technical features.

[0054] The serial numbers assigned to components in this document, such as "first" and "second," are used only to distinguish the described objects and have no sequential or technical meaning. The terms "connection" and "linkage" used in this application, unless otherwise specified, include both direct and indirect connections (linkages).

[0055] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly defined, terms such as "set up," "install," and "connect" should be interpreted broadly, and those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention in conjunction with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0056] Refrigerant is a substance that readily absorbs heat to become a gas and readily releases heat to become a liquid. In the field of air conditioning, refrigerant is used to transfer heat energy. Refrigerant is filled into a circular tube, which is sequentially connected to a compressor, heat exchanger A, a throttling device, and heat exchanger B to form a closed loop. The air conditioner uses the compressor and throttling device to adjust the refrigerant pressure, causing the refrigerant to release heat at heat exchanger A and absorb heat at heat exchanger B, or vice versa, thus achieving heat energy transfer. It is easy to know that refrigerant undergoes a phase change process of absorbing or releasing heat within the closed loop. Therefore, refrigerant exists in different gaseous or liquid states at different locations within the closed loop. For example, at some locations the refrigerant is purely gaseous, at others it is purely liquid, and more often it is in a gas-liquid mixture. In this gas-liquid mixture state, the ratio of the mass of the gaseous refrigerant at a certain location to the total mass of the refrigerant at that location is called the refrigerant's dryness fraction. Clearly, dryness is related to factors such as the refrigerant's flow pattern and heat transfer coefficient, resulting in different heat transfer capacities at the heat exchanger for refrigerants with varying dryness. When dryness is too high, the small wetted area inside the tubes is detrimental to heat transfer, leading to a lower heat transfer coefficient; conversely, when dryness is too low, the refrigerant's flow velocity is often low, worsening heat transfer within the tubes. Therefore, properly controlling the dryness within an appropriate range can effectively enhance heat transfer to a certain extent.

[0057] Related technologies separate refrigerant in a gas-liquid mixture using gas-liquid separation technology. This involves introducing a gas-liquid separator into the heat exchanger flow path to reduce the number of flow paths and minimize pressure drop during evaporation. Heat exchange performance is improved by reducing the dryness of the refrigerant within the evaporator. However, current gas-liquid separation technologies introduce all the refrigerant into the separator for various operating conditions, making it difficult to achieve optimal heat exchange performance. For example, during evaporation, the low dryness and slow flow rate of the refrigerant in the initial flow path from the gas-liquid separator to the evaporator result in poor heat exchange capacity, presenting an opportunity to improve heating capacity. Furthermore, the improved heat exchange capacity achieved through gas-liquid separators is often accompanied by a loss of pressure drop.

[0058] Based on this, embodiments of the present invention provide a gas-liquid separation system, a control method, a controller, and an air conditioner. By rationally distributing and diverting the refrigerant flow into the gas-liquid separation device through a three-way valve, the heat exchange effect of the gas-liquid separation device can be further optimized to a certain extent.

[0059] The following explanation is based on the accompanying drawings:

[0060] Reference Figure 1 The present invention provides a gas-liquid separation system, comprising:

[0061] Heat exchanger 100 includes a bypass port 110 and a return port 120 located at different positions;

[0062] The diverter valve 200 is used to adjust the diversion ratio according to its own valve opening. The diverter valve 200 includes a valve input end 230, a first output end 210 and a second output end 220. The bypass port 110 is connected to the valve input end 230 through a pipe, and the second output end 220 is connected to the return port 120 through a pipe.

[0063] The gas-liquid separation device 300 includes a gas-liquid input end 330, a gas-liquid input end 310 and a liquid output end 320. The first output end 210 is connected to the gas-liquid input end 330, the gas-liquid input end 310 is connected to the compressor, and the liquid output end is connected to the return port 120 through a pipeline.

[0064] The controller is used to set the valve opening of the diversion valve 200 according to the compressor speed when the refrigerant in the heat exchanger 100 is in the condition of evaporation and heat absorption.

[0065] Reference Figure 1It can be seen that the input end of the diverter valve 200 is connected to the bypass port 110 of the heat exchanger 100, introducing the refrigerant from the bypass port 110 into the diverter valve 200 for distribution. The diverter valve 200 distributes the refrigerant proportionally to the first output port 210 and the second output port 220 according to its own valve opening. The first output port 210 is connected to the gas-liquid separator 300, and the second output port 220 is connected to the return port 120. The refrigerant flowing out of the first output port 210 is processed by the gas-liquid separator 300; its gaseous portion is sent to the compressor, and its liquid portion is sent to the return port 120 of the heat exchanger 100. The return port 120 of the heat exchanger 100 receives the refrigerant from the second output port 220 of the diverter valve 200 and... The refrigerant at the liquid output terminal 320 of the gas-liquid separator 300 allows the returned refrigerant to continue absorbing heat in the heat exchanger 100. It is evident that part of the returned refrigerant is in a gas-liquid mixed state (output from the second output terminal 220), and the other part is in a liquid state (output from the liquid output terminal 320). Compared to related technologies that only use the gas-liquid separator 300, the returned refrigerant in this embodiment has higher dryness and a higher flow rate (in the case of using only the gas-liquid separator 300, the refrigerant returned to the heat exchanger 100 is pure liquid or mostly liquid, with very low dryness and a very low flow rate). Therefore, the solution of this embodiment can improve the heat exchange capacity of the heat exchanger 100.

[0066] On the other hand, the valve opening of the diverter valve 200 can be adjusted according to the compressor speed. Specifically, under different operating conditions, the compressor speed is different, and the heat exchange capacity required by the air conditioner is also different. In order to flexibly cope with different operating conditions, this embodiment of the invention can adjust the valve opening according to the compressor speed, thereby adjusting the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing into the gas-liquid separator 300 and adjusting the dryness of the refrigerant returning to the heat exchanger 100, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 100. That is, the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 100 is adjusted according to the compressor speed, thereby improving the working performance of the air conditioner.

[0067] It is understood that the heat exchanger 100 in this embodiment of the invention can be an evaporator in heating mode or a condenser in cooling mode. In heating mode, the refrigerant in the evaporator evaporates and absorbs heat, carrying the heat to the condenser for release, thereby achieving heating on the condenser side. At this time, the diversion valve 200 adjusts the valve opening according to the heating mode to improve the heat absorption efficiency of the evaporator and improve the performance of the air conditioner in heating mode. In cooling mode, the refrigerant in the condenser evaporates and absorbs heat, carrying the heat to the evaporator for release, thereby achieving cooling on the condenser side. At this time, the diversion valve 200 adjusts the valve opening according to the cooling mode to improve the heat absorption efficiency of the condenser and improve the performance of the air conditioner in cooling mode.

[0068] The valve opening of the diversion valve 200 in this embodiment of the invention is used to regulate the refrigerant flow rate of the first output terminal 210 and the second output terminal 220. When the valve opening is adjusted, if the flow rate of one output terminal decreases, the flow rate of the other output terminal increases, and vice versa. For ease of description, in some embodiments below, it is assumed that the valve opening size is positively correlated with the flow rate of the second output terminal 220. That is, when the valve opening size increases, the flow rate of the second output terminal 220 increases, and the refrigerant flow rate returning to the heat exchanger 100 increases. Correspondingly, the flow rate of the first output terminal 210 decreases, and the refrigerant flow rate entering the gas-liquid separator 300 decreases.

[0069] In some embodiments, the diverter valve 200 may be a three-way proportional valve, which divides the refrigerant input to itself into two output ports in a certain proportion. This proportion is determined by the valve opening degree of the three-way proportional valve. When the flow rate at one output port decreases, the flow rate at the other output port increases. The diverter valve 200 may also adopt other forms of diverter devices, which are not limited here.

[0070] It is worth noting that the bypass port 110 and the return port 120 are different from the inlet and outlet of the heat exchanger 100 itself. The bypass port 110 and the return port 120 are additional holes opened on the heat exchanger 100. The heat exchanger 100 itself is composed of hollow refrigerant pipes. The refrigerant in the refrigerant pipes flows under the drive of the compressor. The refrigerant flows in from the inlet of the heat exchanger 100, exchanges heat with the outside environment in the heat exchanger 100, and finally flows out from the outlet of the heat exchanger 100. Those skilled in the art will know that the refrigerant pipes of the heat exchanger 100 can be configured as coils and composed of multiple components. In this case, the bypass port 110 and the return port 120 are located on the pipe wall of the refrigerant pipe, and the two holes are in different positions, for example, referring to... Figure 1 In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 100 is divided into two regions. The first region has an inlet and a bypass port 110 of the heat exchanger 100. Refrigerant enters from the inlet of the heat exchanger 100 and flows out through the bypass port 110 to the diversion valve 200. The second region has an outlet and a return port 120 of the heat exchanger 100. Refrigerant from the second output terminal 220 of the diversion valve 200 and the liquid output terminal 320 of the gas-liquid separator 300 flows into the return port 120. After heat exchange in the second region, the refrigerant flows out from the outlet of the heat exchanger 100. It is worth noting that there can be multiple return ports 120, and the refrigerant enters these return ports 120 respectively to perform heat exchange in the second region, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency. There can also be multiple bypass ports 110, and at least some of these bypass ports 110 are connected to the valve input terminal 230 of the diversion valve 200 (i.e., some bypass ports 110 can be directly connected to the gas-liquid separator 300). There are many structural forms of heat exchangers, which will not be listed here. Those skilled in the art can make adjustments according to the design requirements of heat exchangers in air conditioners.

[0071] Reference Figure 1 As shown, in some embodiments, the second output terminal 220 and the liquid output terminal 320 are connected to the return port 120 via a pipeline, and the outlet of the heat exchanger 100 and the gas-liquid input terminal 310 are connected to the compressor via a pipeline. To reduce the number of pipelines and the complexity of the pipeline layout, this embodiment combines two parts of the refrigerant. The first part is the refrigerant flowing from the second output terminal 220 of the diverter valve 200 and the refrigerant flowing from the liquid output terminal 320 of the gas-liquid separator 300, which then flows back to the return port 120. At this point, the two streams of refrigerant are mixed to a certain extent, which is beneficial for returning to the heat exchanger 100 for heat exchange. The second part is the refrigerant flowing from the outlet of the heat exchanger 100 and the refrigerant flowing from the gas-liquid input terminal 310 of the gas-liquid separator 300, which then flows into the compressor's inlet 600. This allows it to be adapted to compressors with only one inlet 600.

[0072] In addition, this embodiment of the invention also includes a one-way valve 400, which is disposed between the compressor and the gas-liquid inlet 310. The inlet of the one-way valve 400 is connected to the gas-liquid inlet 310, and the outlet of the one-way valve 400 is connected to the compressor. The function of the one-way valve 400 is to prevent refrigerant from flowing back into the gas-liquid separator 300. Although the refrigerant output from the gas-liquid inlet 310 is basically gaseous, it may partially liquefy during the transport process in the refrigerant pipe. At this time, the one-way valve 400 can prevent the liquefied refrigerant from flowing back in. It also prevents refrigerant from flowing back into the gas-liquid separator 300 at the junction of the outlet of the heat exchanger 100 and the gas-liquid inlet 310 through the pipe.

[0073] In some embodiments, a first temperature sensor 510 is provided at the compressor inlet 600, and a second temperature sensor 520 is provided at the return port 120. The controller is also used to acquire the first temperature value collected by the first temperature sensor 510 and the second temperature value collected by the second temperature sensor 520, and adjust the valve opening of the diverter valve 200 according to the compressor speed, the first temperature value, and the second temperature value. It is worth noting that the aforementioned controller sets the valve opening of the diverter valve 200 according to the compressor. This valve opening is an initial opening value, which serves as the current valve opening. Then, during the operation of the air conditioner, as the operating conditions change, the valve opening can be fine-tuned based on the current valve opening. The fine-tuning is based on the first temperature value, the second temperature value, and the current compressor speed. For example, when the difference between the first temperature value and the second temperature value exceeds a set range, the controller can determine a fine-tuning value based on the current compressor speed and adjust the current valve opening according to this fine-tuning value (the first adjustment after setting the initial opening value is based on the initial opening value). The fine-tuning method will be described in detail later; only a general explanation is given here.

[0074] Through the above-mentioned gas-liquid separation system, the refrigerant flow from the heat exchanger 100 to the gas-liquid separation device 300 can be adjusted by controlling the valve opening of the diversion valve 200. Thus, under different operating conditions of the air conditioner, refrigerant with different dryness can be returned to the heat exchanger 100, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 100 and enhancing the working performance of the air conditioner.

[0075] This invention also provides a control method for a gas-liquid separation system. The gas-liquid separation system of this embodiment can refer to the structure of the gas-liquid separation system of the aforementioned embodiments, and both include a heat exchanger 100, a diversion valve 200, and a gas-liquid separation device 300. The heat exchanger 100 includes a bypass port 110 and a return port 120 opened at different locations. The bypass port 110 is connected to the valve input terminal 230 of the diversion valve 200 through a pipe. The second output terminal 220 of the diversion valve 200 is connected to the return port 120 through a pipe. The first output terminal 210 of the diversion valve 200 is connected to the gas-liquid input terminal 330 of the gas-liquid separation device 300. The gas-liquid input terminal 310 of the gas-liquid separation device 300 is connected to a compressor. The liquid output terminal of the gas-liquid separation device 300 is connected to the return port 120 through a pipe.

[0076] Reference Figure 2 As shown, a control method is provided based on the above gas-liquid separation system, including but not limited to the following step S100:

[0077] In step S100, when the refrigerant in the heat exchanger 100 is in the condition of evaporation and heat absorption, the valve opening of the diversion valve 200 is set according to the speed of the compressor.

[0078] In heat exchanger 100, the refrigerant is in an evaporative heat absorption state, changing from liquid to gas and absorbing heat from the surroundings, resulting in a gas-liquid mixture. In related technologies, heat exchanger 100 is directly connected to gas-liquid separator 300, so that all the refrigerant flowing through gas-liquid separator 300 is separated into gaseous and liquid states. The gaseous refrigerant directly enters the compressor, while the liquid refrigerant returns to heat exchanger 100 to absorb heat again. However, the liquid refrigerant has a low dryness and slow flow rate, resulting in low heat exchange efficiency after entering heat exchanger 100. Therefore, the heat exchange efficiency of heat exchanger 100 needs to be improved to meet the different operating conditions of air conditioners. In addition to adding a diversion valve 200 between the gas-liquid separator 300 and the heat exchanger 100, this embodiment of the invention also incorporates a corresponding control method to improve the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger. Specifically, in step S100, the valve opening of the diversion valve 200 can be adjusted according to the compressor speed. In other words, under different operating conditions, the compressor speed is different, and the heat exchange capacity required by the air conditioner is also different. In order to flexibly cope with different operating conditions, this embodiment of the invention can adjust the valve opening according to the compressor speed, thereby adjusting the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing into the gas-liquid separator 300 and adjusting the dryness state of the refrigerant returning to the heat exchanger 100, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 100. That is, adjusting the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 100 according to the compressor speed improves the working performance of the air conditioner.

[0079] The heat exchanger 100 in this embodiment of the invention can be an evaporator in heating mode or a condenser in cooling mode. In heating mode, the refrigerant in the evaporator evaporates and absorbs heat, carrying the heat to the condenser for release, thereby achieving heating on the condenser side. At this time, the diversion valve 200 adjusts the valve opening according to the heating mode to improve the heat absorption efficiency of the evaporator and improve the performance of the air conditioner in heating mode. In cooling mode, the refrigerant in the condenser evaporates and absorbs heat, carrying the heat to the evaporator for release, thereby achieving cooling on the condenser side. At this time, the diversion valve 200 adjusts the valve opening according to the cooling mode to improve the heat absorption efficiency of the condenser and improve the performance of the air conditioner in cooling mode.

[0080] It is understandable that the valve opening of the diverter valve 200 is used to regulate the refrigerant flow rate of the first output terminal 210 and the second output terminal 220. Let x represent the size of the valve opening. When the valve opening is adjusted, if the flow rate of one output terminal decreases, the flow rate of the other output terminal increases, and vice versa. In this embodiment, we take the example of the valve opening x increasing and the flow rate of the second output terminal 220 increasing: In step S100, when the valve opening of the diverter valve 200 is set to x = 0 according to the compressor speed, all the refrigerant entering the diverter valve 200 flows out from the first output terminal 210 and does not flow out from the second output terminal 220 at all. That is, all the refrigerant flowing through the diverter valve 200 flows into the gas-liquid separator 300. When the valve opening is set to 30%, 30% of the refrigerant flowing through the diverter valve 200 flows out from the second output terminal 220, and the remaining 70% of the refrigerant flows out from the first output terminal 210. Therefore, by controlling the valve opening of the diversion valve 200, the ratio of refrigerant entering the gas-liquid separator 300 and the reflux heat exchanger 100 can be adjusted, thereby adjusting the heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger 100.

[0081] Among them, reference Figure 3 Setting the valve opening degree in step S100 can specifically include the following steps:

[0082] Step S110: When the compressor speed is less than the first speed, the valve of the flow divider valve 200 is set to the first opening degree; at the first opening degree, all the refrigerant entering the flow divider valve 200 flows into the gas-liquid separator 300.

[0083] In step S120, when the compressor speed is between the first speed and the second speed, the valve of the flow divider valve 200 is set to the second opening degree; at the second opening degree, the refrigerant entering the flow divider valve 200 flows into the gas-liquid separator 300 in the first proportion.

[0084] Step S130: When the compressor speed is greater than the second speed, the valve of the flow divider valve 200 is set to the third opening degree; at the third opening degree, the refrigerant entering the flow divider valve 200 flows into the gas-liquid separator 300 at the second ratio.

[0085] Among them, the first speed is less than the second speed, and the first ratio is greater than the second ratio.

[0086] In this embodiment, the valve opening is set to an initial value. Simultaneously, the compressor speed is divided into three levels, each corresponding to an initial opening value: When the compressor speed is less than the first speed, the valve opening (initial opening value) is set to 0. At this time, all refrigerant flows into the gas-liquid separator 300 via the diverter valve 200. When the compressor speed is between the first and second speeds, the valve opening (initial opening value) is set to x1. At this time, a first proportion of refrigerant flows into the gas-liquid separator 300. When the compressor speed is greater than the second speed, the valve opening (initial opening value) is set to x2. At this time, a second proportion of refrigerant flows into the gas-liquid separator 300. Based on the relationship between the valve opening and the flow rate at the second output terminal 220, it can be seen that when x1 is less than x2, the first proportion is greater than the second proportion. That is, at an opening of x1, compared to an opening of x2, more refrigerant enters the gas-liquid separator 300.

[0087] It's worth noting that the initial opening value can be considered as determined by the compressor speed during startup after the user turns on the air conditioner. During subsequent operation, this initial opening value can be gradually fine-tuned to match different operating conditions and heat exchange scenarios.

[0088] For example, the current heat exchange status of the air conditioner can be determined based on the temperature sensor installed in the heat exchanger 100. In some embodiments, a first temperature sensor 510 is installed between the outlet of the heat exchanger 100 and the compressor, and a second temperature sensor 520 is installed between the liquid output end 320 and the return port 120; then, after controlling the valve opening of the diverter valve 200 according to the compressor speed in step S100, referring to... Figure 4 The control method of this invention further includes:

[0089] Step S200: Obtain the first temperature value collected by the first temperature sensor 510 and the second temperature value collected by the second temperature sensor 520.

[0090] In step S300, the valve opening of the flow divider valve 200 is adjusted according to the compressor speed, the first temperature value, and the second temperature value.

[0091] The first temperature sensor 510 collects a first temperature value of T1, and the second temperature sensor 520 collects a second temperature value of T2. T1 represents the temperature of the compressor inlet 600, and T2 represents the temperature of the refrigerant returning in the heat exchanger 100. Based on T1 and T2 and the current compressor speed, a fine-tuning value can be determined, and the current valve opening can be adjusted according to the fine-tuning value.

[0092] There are various ways to calculate the fine-tuning value. An example is given here as an illustration in this embodiment of the invention.

[0093] Reference Figure 5As shown, step S300 above includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

[0094] Step S310: Determine the temperature difference between the first temperature value and the second temperature value;

[0095] Step S320: When the temperature difference is greater than the sum of the superheat threshold and the stability threshold, adjust the valve opening of the diversion valve 200 according to the compressor speed to increase the proportion of refrigerant entering the gas-liquid separator 300 through the diversion valve 200.

[0096] Step S330: When the temperature difference is less than the difference between the superheat threshold and the stability threshold, adjust the valve opening of the diversion valve 200 according to the compressor speed to reduce the proportion of refrigerant entering the gas-liquid separator 300 through the diversion valve 200.

[0097] The superheat threshold is used to characterize the superheat limit at the outlet of heat exchanger 100, and the stability threshold is used to characterize the temperature limit for stable operation of the gas-liquid separation system.

[0098] Let the superheat threshold Tsuperheat represent the superheat limit at the outlet of heat exchanger 100, and the stability threshold Tk represent the temperature limit for stable system operation. Then, at the stable operating time τ after the air conditioner starts, the difference between T1 and T2, as well as the current compressor speed and the current valve opening, are determined. When the difference between T1 and T2 is greater than the sum of Tsuperheat and Tk, the valve opening of the diversion valve 200 is reduced, thereby increasing the flow rate of refrigerant entering the gas-liquid separator 300 and decreasing the flow rate of refrigerant returning to the heat exchanger 100. When the difference between T1 and T2 is less than the difference between Tsuperheat and Tk, the valve opening of the diversion valve 200 is increased, thereby decreasing the flow rate of refrigerant entering the gas-liquid separator 300 and increasing the flow rate of refrigerant returning to the heat exchanger 100.

[0099] The fine-tuning value can be determined based on the current compressor speed; the fine-tuning value varies at different compressor speeds. For example, refer to... Figure 6 In steps S320 and S330 above, adjusting the valve opening of the flow divider valve 200 according to the compressor speed includes the following steps:

[0100] Step S301: Determine the opening adjustment value based on the compressor speed;

[0101] Step S302: Adjust the valve opening of the diverter valve 200 using the opening adjustment value.

[0102] When determining the fine-tuning value, different fine-tuning values ​​are used when the compressor is at different speeds. For example, the speed and the fine-tuning value are directly proportional; as the speed increases, the fine-tuning value increases accordingly. Alternatively, the compressor can be divided into three speed ranges, based on the first and second speeds mentioned above, with each range corresponding to a fine-tuning value, and so on. These are just a few examples. It is understandable that the fine-tuning value is often small, allowing for multiple adjustments to the valve opening based on that value.

[0103] Understandably, each time the valve opening is fine-tuned, it should be confirmed whether the operating condition of the air conditioner or heat exchanger 100 meets the requirements after the fine-tuning. After fine-tuning, the unit can be run for a period of time at the adjusted valve opening, and then T1 and T2 can be re-checked. The difference between T1 and T2 can then be used to determine whether the valve opening needs to be fine-tuned again. For example, after adjusting the valve opening of the diverter valve 200, the first temperature value T1 and the second temperature value T2 can be re-acquired after a preset time interval to adjust the valve opening of the diverter valve 200 according to the compressor speed, the first temperature value, and the second temperature value. It is worth noting that if the valve opening is increased or decreased repeatedly until it reaches its maximum or minimum, the unit should maintain the maximum or minimum valve opening and continue operating while continuously monitoring the first temperature value T1 and the second temperature value T2.

[0104] The above control only applies to the condition where the refrigerant in heat exchanger 100 is evaporating and absorbing heat. (Refer to...) Figure 7 When the refrigerant in heat exchanger 100 is in a condensation and heat release condition, the following steps can be used for control:

[0105] In step S400, when the refrigerant is in the condensation and heat release condition, the valve opening of the diversion valve 200 is set so that all the refrigerant entering the diversion valve 200 flows into the gas-liquid separator 300.

[0106] That is, the valve opening of the diversion valve 200 is maintained at x=0, and the refrigerant flows into the gas-liquid separator 300 through the diversion valve 200.

[0107] Through the above steps, the refrigerant flow from the heat exchanger 100 to the gas-liquid separator 300 can be adjusted by controlling the valve opening of the diversion valve 200. This allows for the return of refrigerant with different dryness levels to the heat exchanger 100 under different operating conditions of the air conditioner, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 100 and enhancing the performance of the air conditioner.

[0108] The control method of the present invention will be described in detail below through an example.

[0109] Control methods are applied to, for example Figure 1 The gas-liquid separation device 300, the control method is as follows: Figure 8 This includes the following steps:

[0110] 1. During the initial startup and operation of the air conditioner, set the valve opening of the diversion valve 200 to x = 0;

[0111] 2. Obtain the operating condition of the air conditioner. When the heat exchanger 100 (refrigerant) of the air conditioner is in the evaporation condition, trigger the following steps to adjust the valve opening of the diversion valve 200. When the heat exchanger 100 (refrigerant) of the air conditioner is in the condensation condition, maintain the valve opening x of the diversion valve 200 at 0.

[0112] 3. Obtain the compressor speed, and set the valve opening of the flow divider valve 200 to the following initial opening values ​​based on the compressor speed. Refer to Table 1 below for specific values:

[0113] Table 1. Correspondence between compressor speed and initial valve opening value

[0114] Compressor speed / rps Initial opening value x Recommended initial opening value range ＞60 75 50-100 30-60 65 40-90 ＜30 0 0

[0115] The above recommended initial opening range is a range of values ​​used by air conditioner designers based on the actual situation of the air conditioner. This range is irrelevant to the actual operation of the air conditioner and is used for factory setting or reference during maintenance.

[0116] 4. The superheat threshold Tsuperheat represents the superheat limit at the outlet of heat exchanger 100, and the stability threshold Tk represents the temperature limit for stable system operation. The recommended range for Tsuperheat is 1-10℃, and the recommended range for Tk is 0-3℃. In this example, Tsuperheat = 3℃ and Tk = 1℃ are selected. At time τ, if T1-T2 < Tsuperheat and Tsuperheat-(T1-T2) > Tk, then increase the valve opening Δx, i.e., x = x + Δx; if T1-T2 > Tsuperheat and (T1-T2)-Tsuperheat > Tk, then decrease the valve opening Δx, i.e., x = x - Δx. The specific values ​​of Δx are shown in Table 2 below.

[0117] Table 2. Correspondence between compressor speed and valve opening fine-tuning values

[0118] Compressor speed / rps Fine-tuning value △x Recommended fine-tuning value range ＞60 10 0-20 30-60 25 0-50 ＜30 0 0

[0119] 5. Wait for the air conditioner to stabilize for a time Δτ. At time τ+Δτ, monitor T1 and T2 again and adjust the opening of the diversion valve 200 according to step 4 above until |(T1-T2)-Tsuperheat| < Tk.

[0120] Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention also provide a controller, including a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein the processor executes the computer program to implement the control method as described above.

[0121] Reference Figure 9 For example, the control processor 1001 and memory 1002 in controller 1000 can be connected via a bus. Memory 1002, as a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, can be used to store non-transitory software programs and non-transitory computer-executable programs. Furthermore, memory 1002 may include high-speed random access memory, and may also include non-transitory memory, such as at least one disk storage device, flash memory device, or other non-transitory solid-state storage device. In some embodiments, memory 1002 may optionally include memory remotely located relative to control processor 1001, and these remote memories can be connected to controller 1000 via a network. Examples of such networks include, but are not limited to, the Internet, corporate intranets, local area networks, mobile communication networks, and combinations thereof.

[0122] Those skilled in the art will understand that Figure 9 The device structure shown does not constitute a limitation on the controller 1000 and may include more or fewer components than shown, or combine certain components, or have different component arrangements.

[0123] The present invention also provides an air conditioner, including the aforementioned gas-liquid separation system, or including the aforementioned controller.

[0124] Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention also provide a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions for performing the aforementioned control method, for example, being... Figure 9 One of the processors 1001 executes, causing the one or more processors to perform the gas-liquid separation system in the above method embodiments, for example, to perform the above-described... Figure 2 Method steps S100, Figure 3 Method steps S110 to S130, Figure 4 Method steps S200 to S300, Figure 5 Method steps S310 to S330, Figure 6 Method steps S301 to S302 and Figure 7 Method step S400.

[0125] The device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network nodes. Some or all of the modules can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0126] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or some of the steps and systems in the methods disclosed above can be implemented as software, firmware, hardware, and suitable combinations thereof. Some or all of the physical components can be implemented as software executed by a processor, such as a central processing unit, digital signal processor, or microprocessor, or as hardware, or as an integrated circuit, such as an application-specific integrated circuit. Such software can be distributed on a computer-readable medium, which can include computer-readable storage media (or non-transitory media) and communication media (or transient media). As is known to those skilled in the art, the term computer-readable storage media includes volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storing information (such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data). Computer-readable storage media include, but are not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technologies, CD-ROM, digital versatile disc (DVD) or other optical disc storage, magnetic cartridges, magnetic tape, disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store desired information and is accessible to a computer. Furthermore, as is known to those skilled in the art, communication media typically contain computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in modulated data signals such as carrier waves or other transmission mechanisms, and may include any information delivery medium.

[0127] The above is a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of this application. However, this application is not limited to the above embodiments. Those skilled in the art can make various equivalent modifications or substitutions without departing from the spirit of this application. All such equivalent modifications or substitutions are included within the scope defined by the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A gas-liquid separation system, characterized in that, include: Heat exchangers, including bypass ports and return ports located at different positions; A flow divider valve is used to adjust the flow division ratio according to its own valve opening. The flow divider valve includes a valve input end, a first output end and a second output end. The bypass port is connected to the valve input end through a pipe, and the second output end is connected to the return port through a pipe. A gas-liquid separation device includes a gas-liquid input end, a gas output end, and a liquid output end. The first output end is connected to the gas-liquid input end, the gas output end is connected to a compressor, and the liquid output end is connected to the return port through a pipeline. The controller is used to set the valve opening of the diverter valve according to the compressor speed when the refrigerant in the heat exchanger is in the condition of evaporation and heat absorption.

2. The gas-liquid separation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second output end and the liquid output end are connected to the return port through a pipeline, and the outlet of the heat exchanger and the gaseous output end are connected to the compressor through a pipeline.

3. The gas-liquid separation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a one-way valve, which is disposed between the compressor and the gaseous output terminal. The input end of the one-way valve is connected to the gaseous output terminal, and the output end of the one-way valve is connected to the compressor.

4. The gas-liquid separation system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, A first temperature sensor is provided at the air inlet of the compressor, and a second temperature sensor is provided at the return outlet. The controller is also used to acquire a first temperature value collected by the first temperature sensor and a second temperature value collected by the second temperature sensor, and adjust the valve opening of the flow divider valve according to the compressor speed, the first temperature value and the second temperature value.

5. A control method for a gas-liquid separation system, characterized in that, The gas-liquid separation system includes: Heat exchangers, including bypass ports and return ports located at different positions; A flow divider valve is used to adjust the flow division ratio according to its own valve opening. The flow divider valve includes a valve input end, a first output end and a second output end. The bypass port is connected to the valve input end through a pipe, and the second output end is connected to the return port through a pipe. A gas-liquid separation device includes a gas-liquid input end, a gas output end, and a liquid output end. The first output end is connected to the gas-liquid input end, the gas output end is connected to a compressor, and the liquid output end is connected to the return port through a pipeline. The control method includes: When the refrigerant in the heat exchanger is in the condition of evaporation and heat absorption, the valve opening of the flow divider valve is set according to the speed of the compressor.

6. The control method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The step of setting the valve opening of the flow divider valve according to the compressor speed includes: When the compressor speed is less than the first speed, the valve of the diversion valve is set to the first opening degree; at the first opening degree, all the refrigerant entering the diversion valve flows into the gas-liquid separator. When the compressor speed is between the first speed and the second speed, the valve of the flow divider is set to a second opening degree; at the second opening degree, the refrigerant entering the flow divider flows into the gas-liquid separator in a first proportion. When the compressor speed is greater than the second speed, the valve of the diversion valve is set to a third opening degree; under the third opening degree, the refrigerant entering the diversion valve flows into the gas-liquid separator at a second ratio. Wherein, the first rotational speed is less than the second rotational speed, and the first ratio is greater than the second ratio.

7. The control method according to claim 5, characterized in that, A first temperature sensor is installed between the outlet of the heat exchanger and the compressor, and a second temperature sensor is installed between the liquid output end and the return port; after controlling the valve opening of the flow divider valve according to the compressor speed, the control method further includes: Acquire the first temperature value collected by the first temperature sensor and the second temperature value collected by the second temperature sensor; The valve opening of the flow divider valve is adjusted according to the compressor speed, the first temperature value, and the second temperature value.

8. The control method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The step of adjusting the valve opening of the flow divider valve according to the compressor speed, the first temperature value, and the second temperature value includes: Determine the temperature difference between the first temperature value and the second temperature value; When the temperature difference is greater than the sum of the superheat threshold and the stability threshold, the valve opening of the diversion valve is adjusted according to the speed of the compressor to increase the proportion of refrigerant entering the gas-liquid separation device through the diversion valve. When the temperature difference is less than the difference between the superheat threshold and the stability threshold, the valve opening of the diversion valve is adjusted according to the compressor speed to reduce the proportion of refrigerant entering the gas-liquid separation device through the diversion valve. The superheat threshold is used to characterize the superheat limit at the outlet of the heat exchanger, and the stability threshold is used to characterize the temperature limit for stable operation of the gas-liquid separation system.

9. The control method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The step of adjusting the valve opening of the flow divider valve according to the compressor speed includes: The opening adjustment value is determined based on the compressor's rotational speed; The valve opening of the diverter valve is adjusted using the opening adjustment value.

10. The control method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that, After adjusting the valve opening of the flow divider valve, the first temperature value and the second temperature value are reacquired after a preset time interval, so as to adjust the valve opening of the flow divider valve according to the compressor speed, the first temperature value and the second temperature value.

11. The control method according to claim 5, characterized in that, Also includes: When the refrigerant is in a state of condensation and heat release, the valve opening of the diversion valve is set so that all the refrigerant entering the diversion valve flows into the gas-liquid separation device.

12. A controller, characterized in that, It includes a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein the processor, when executing the computer program, implements the control method as described in any one of claims 5 to 11.

13. An air conditioner, characterized in that, It includes the gas-liquid separation system as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, or the controller as described in claim 12.

14. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The device stores computer-executable instructions for performing the control method as described in any one of claims 5 to 11.

Images