Oil separator and air conditioning unit

Abstract

The invention provides an oil separator and an air conditioning unit. The oil separator comprises a shell, an oil separation assembly arranged in the shell, an air inlet pipe, an air outlet pipe and an oil outlet pipe, wherein the air inlet pipe and the air outlet pipe communicate with the shell, and the oil outlet pipe is arranged at the bottom of the shell. And each part of the oil separation assembly is provided with a flow guide surface for accelerating refrigerant oil to flow to the oil storage area at the bottom of the shell. According to the oil separator, the flowing paths of the surfaces of the separating component and the oil collecting component in the oil separator are optimized, so that separated refrigerant oil can efficiently and quickly flow to the oil storage area at the bottom of the shell. The structural design of the flow guide face reduces attachment and retention of oil on the surface of the assembly, and a more thorough oil-gas separation effect is achieved in cooperation with the action of gravity or centrifugal force.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of air conditioning, in particular to an oil separator and an air conditioning unit. Background Art

[0002] Water-cooled screw compressors require refrigerant oil for cooling, lubrication, and sealing during operation. Due to compressor size constraints, the efficiency of the integrated oil separator is insufficient to ensure that all the refrigerant oil circulates within the compressor. Consequently, some oil can mix into the refrigerant vapor discharged from the compressor as droplets and recirculate through the system. If this oil is not promptly recycled back to the compressor, two major problems arise. First, over time, the compressor can gradually become depleted of oil, leading to shutdown or even burnout. Second, if this oil recirculates through the system, it can accumulate in the evaporator, significantly reducing heat exchanger performance. Research has shown that when the oil content in the evaporator reaches 1%, cooling capacity decreases by 18%. Furthermore, as compressors become increasingly smaller, integrated oil separators are being phased out. To ensure proper operation, an oil separator is typically installed between the compressor and condenser. This separation separates the refrigerant oil from the refrigerant vapor, preventing it from recirculating through the system. Furthermore, the separated oil is promptly delivered to the compressor to prevent damage caused by oil starvation.

[0003] However, existing oil separators generally have certain problems. Taking conventional external horizontal oil separators as an example, most of their oil separation components only focus on oil separation efficiency, but are unable to quickly introduce the separated refrigeration oil into the oil storage area, resulting in low oil return efficiency in the oil storage area. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In order to solve the technical problem of low oil return efficiency in the prior art in which refrigeration oil in the oil separator is separated and then returned to the oil storage area, the present invention provides an oil separator and an air conditioning unit.

[0005] The technical solution adopted in the present invention is:

[0006] The present invention proposes an oil separator, comprising: a shell, an oil separation assembly arranged in the shell, an air inlet pipe and an air outlet pipe connected to the shell, and an oil outlet pipe arranged at the bottom of the shell; it is characterized in that each component of the oil separation assembly is provided with a guide surface for accelerating the flow of refrigeration oil to the oil storage area at the bottom of the shell.

[0007] The oil separation assembly includes: a flow equalizing plate and a filter screen arranged above the flow equalizing plate. The end faces of the flow equalizing plate and the filter screen are both wedge-shaped or arc-shaped that arch upward, so that the flow equalizing plate and the filter screen form the guide surface that guides the flow toward the two sides of the inner wall of the connecting shell.

[0008] Furthermore, an oil collecting assembly is provided in the shell between the oil separation assembly and the oil storage area to separate the refrigerant movement path from the oil storage area.

[0009] Furthermore, the oil collecting assembly has a downwardly converging flow guiding structure that can accelerate the flow of the refrigeration oil.

[0010] The oil collection assembly includes:

[0011] The oil collecting plate has a V-shaped or arc-shaped end surface to form a guide surface on both sides, and the two sides are connected to the inner walls of the shell. The middle part of the oil collecting plate is provided with multiple oil leakage holes along the length direction;

[0012] The oil collecting seat has the oil collecting cavity formed therein, is arranged below the oil collecting plate and directly opposite to the oil leakage hole, and is communicated with the oil leakage hole. An oil filter assembly is installed in the oil collecting seat.

[0013] Furthermore, the oil collecting assembly further comprises:

[0014] The oil guide plate has an upwardly arched triangular or arc-shaped end face. The two ends of the oil collecting plate are connected to the two vertical partitions of the partition assembly, and the two sides are connected to the oil collecting plate. Multiple second oil-passing gaps are opened on the two side edges of the oil guide plate.

[0015] Furthermore, a partition assembly is provided in the shell, the partition assembly, the oil collecting assembly and the inner wall of the shell form a second oil-gas separation space, and the oil separation assembly is provided in the second oil-gas separation space.

[0016] Furthermore, the partition assembly, the head at the end of the shell and the inner wall of the shell form a first oil-gas separation space, and the first oil-gas separation space connects the air intake pipe and the second oil-gas separation space, and the pipe opening of the air intake pipe located in the shell is opposite to the head at the end of the shell.

[0017] The bulkhead assembly includes:

[0018] a first sealing plate, disposed vertically near one end of the shell, with edges connected to the upper portion and both sides of the shell;

[0019] a second sealing plate, disposed vertically near the other end of the housing, with its edges connected to the upper portion and both sides of the housing, and both ends of each component of the oil separation assembly being connected to the first sealing plate and the second sealing plate respectively;

[0020] An air baffle is vertically arranged between the second sealing plate and the other end of the shell, and its edges are connected to the lower part and both sides of the shell, and an upper notch is formed between the upper edge and the shell; and a third oil-passing notch is provided on the lower edge of the air baffle, and both ends of the oil collecting assembly are connected between the first sealing plate and the air baffle;

[0021] The area between the air baffle plate and the sealing head at the other end of the shell is the first oil-gas separation space, and the area between the air baffle plate and the first sealing plate is the second oil-gas separation space.

[0022] Furthermore, the outlet pipe opening is located at the upper part of the oil separation component, and a liquid baffle is provided in the shell at a position corresponding to the outlet pipe opening.

[0023] The present invention also provides an air-conditioning unit, comprising the above-mentioned oil separator.

[0024] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages:

[0025] 1. By optimizing the flow paths between the separation and oil collection components within the oil separator, the separated refrigerant oil can flow efficiently and quickly to the oil storage area at the bottom of the shell. The structural design of the guide surface reduces the adhesion and retention of oil on the component surface, and in conjunction with gravity or centrifugal force, achieves a more thorough oil and gas separation effect.

[0026] 2. The gas separation, oil droplet diversion and filtration functions are implemented in different areas, and the oil storage area is isolated from the refrigerant vapor movement path, which prevents high-speed airflow from directly impacting the lower oil storage area, causing drastic fluctuations in the oil level and affecting the oil return effect. At the same time, it also prevents the airflow from carrying the refrigerant oil in the lower oil storage area upward, causing the oil content of the refrigerant vapor to increase and thus leading to a decrease in separation efficiency.

[0027] 3. By integrating the oil filter assembly directly into the oil passages within the oil separator, the external oil return line and filter required in traditional designs are eliminated, significantly shortening the oil return path and reducing the flow resistance (i.e., return oil pressure loss) caused by long pipelines. Furthermore, structural integration simplifies the complexity of the unit's piping layout, reduces the risk of leakage caused by pipeline connections, and ensures return oil cleanliness through real-time filtration, improving system operational stability. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0029] Figure 1 It is a structural diagram of a horizontal oil separator in the prior art;

[0030] Figure 2 It is a structural diagram of the pipe connection of the air-conditioning unit in the prior art;

[0031] Figure 3 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an oil separator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a half-section view of a housing in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a half-section structure of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 6 is a schematic structural diagram of an end face in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the structure of the oil collecting assembly and the oil separation assembly in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the structure of the oil collecting assembly and the oil filtering assembly in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the pipe connection of the air-conditioning unit in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] 11. Head; 12. Oil collecting assembly; 121. Oil collecting plate; 122. Oil collecting seat; 123. Fixing rod; 13. Oil guide plate; 14. Flow equalizing plate; 151. First sealing plate; 152. Second sealing plate; 16. Air outlet pipe; 17. Liquid baffle; 18. Housing; 19. Filter screen; 20. Air inlet pipe; 21. Air baffle; 22. Oil collecting pipe assembly; 23. Oil filter assembly; 24. Oil outlet pipe;

[0039] 111. First oil-gas separation space; 112. Second oil-gas separation space; 113. Oil storage area. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] In order to make the technical problems, technical solutions and beneficial effects to be solved by the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0041] The principle and structure of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0042] However, the design of the oil separation components of existing oil separators, such as conventional external horizontal oil separators, mainly focuses on improving the oil separation efficiency, but lacks an effective oil return diversion mechanism, resulting in the inability to effectively and timely introduce the separated refrigeration oil into the oil storage area. This significantly affects the oil return efficiency of the oil storage area, thereby affecting the stability and efficiency of the entire system. Figure 1As shown, it is a structural diagram of an existing horizontal oil separator, in which the refrigerant carrying the refrigeration oil enters from the air inlet pipe 20, and then flows out from the air outlet pipe 16 after passing through the flow equalizing plate 14 and the filter 19. The refrigeration oil is collected in the oil storage area at the bottom of the oil separator. However, the flow equalizing plate 14 and the filter 19 both adopt a flat structure, and there is no targeted design of the diversion structure, which results in low efficiency of the refrigeration oil returning to the oil storage area at the bottom of the oil separator.

[0043] In this regard, Figure 3 、 4 As shown in FIG. 5 , the present invention proposes an oil separator, comprising a housing 18, an oil separation assembly, an air inlet pipe 20, an air outlet pipe 16, and an oil outlet pipe 24.

[0044] The shell 18 is an integrally closed structure, and a refrigerant flow chamber is formed inside the shell to accommodate the oil separation component and realize the separation process of the refrigerant and the refrigeration oil.

[0045] The oil separation assembly is located within the housing, and each component is equipped with a guide surface. The structure of the guide surface allows the separated refrigerant oil to flow rapidly along the component surface and ultimately converge into the oil storage area at the bottom of the housing. The specific form of the guide surface can be matched to the component shape, such as an inclined surface, curved surface, or groove structure. This ensures that the refrigerant oil flows to the bottom of the housing under the action of gravity or centrifugal force, reducing oil residue on the component surface.

[0046] The air inlet pipe connects to the upper area of the housing and is used to introduce refrigerant containing refrigeration oil. Once inside, the refrigerant is separated by the oil separation assembly. The air outlet pipe, located on the top or side of the housing, discharges the refrigerant after the refrigeration oil has been separated. The oil outlet pipe, located at the bottom of the housing, directly connects to the oil storage area, facilitating the centralized discharge of the separated refrigeration oil.

[0047] The structure of the oil separation component can be selected based on actual operating conditions, using, for example, a filter or porous media. However, all components must be equipped with a guide surface to enhance the collection and diversion of oil droplets. This design significantly improves the separation efficiency of the refrigerant oil by optimizing the flow path on the component surface, reducing the possibility of oil carryover by the gas, and allowing the separated refrigerant oil to flow efficiently and quickly to the oil storage area at the bottom of the shell. The structural design of the guide surface reduces the adhesion and retention of oil on the component surface, and in conjunction with gravity or centrifugal force, achieves a more thorough oil and gas separation effect.

[0048] In a specific embodiment, a partition assembly and an oil collecting assembly are further provided in the shell 18. The partitions of the partition assembly are arranged vertically and spaced laterally. The oil collecting assembly 12 is arranged laterally. The partition assembly divides the internal space of the shell 18 into two areas arranged laterally side by side, and cooperates with the oil collecting assembly 12 and the inner wall of the shell to form a second oil-gas separation space 112. The partition assembly cooperates with the inner wall of the shell and the end head to form a first oil-gas separation space 111. An oil separation assembly is provided in the upper part of the second oil-gas separation space for separating the refrigerant. The top of the second oil-gas separation space is directly connected to the outlet pipe 16, and the separated refrigerant gas is discharged therefrom. A notch is provided in the upper part of the partition separating the first oil-gas separation space and the second oil-gas separation space in the partition assembly, so that the first oil-gas separation space and the second oil-gas separation space are connected through the upper notch of the partition, and the first oil-gas separation space is connected to the outside through the air inlet pipe 20.

[0049] After the refrigerant enters the first oil-gas separation chamber through the intake pipe 20 and undergoes initial oil-gas separation, it flows laterally to the second oil-gas separation chamber. Within the second oil-gas separation chamber, the oil separation assembly further captures the refrigerant oil carried by the refrigerant vapor. The separated oil droplets collect along the inner wall of the chamber at the bottom, flowing through the oil channel to the oil outlet pipe 24.

[0050] The oil separation assembly includes a flow plate 14 and a filter screen 19. Figure 6 、 7 As shown, both ends of the flow equalizing plate 14 and the filter screen 19 are in an upwardly convex triangular profile, forming a roof-like curvature, or an arc-shaped profile. The separated oil droplets are guided to slide along the arc surface to the edges on both sides. A plurality of first oil-passing notches are provided at the outer edges of both sides of the flow equalizing plate 14. These notches are arranged at intervals along the length of the plate body. The notches pass through the edge of the flow equalizing plate 14 to form an oil flow channel, so that the oil droplets attached to the surface of the flow equalizing plate 14 can flow directly through the notches to the oil collecting assembly 12 below, thereby preventing the oil path from being blocked by the flow equalizing plate 14.

[0051] This structure not only maintains the rectifying function of the flow equalizing plate 14 on the airflow, but also solves the oil droplet retention problem that may occur in the traditional flat plate structure, ensures smooth flow of oil, and improves the oil return efficiency of the oil separation component.

[0052] The flow balancing plate 14 is a plate-like structure with multiple flow balancing holes evenly distributed throughout. The ends of the plate are secured between the two vertical baffles of the baffle assembly by welding or snap-fitting. Its edges are tightly connected to the inner walls of the housing 18, forming a stable support frame. The flow balancing holes are spaced at specific intervals to ensure uniform velocity distribution during airflow and reduce localized turbulence.

[0053] Filter 19 is preferably a mesh structure made of porous metal or synthetic material. It is installed directly above the equalizer plate 14. Its ends are also fixed to the vertical baffles of the baffle assembly. Its two sides are connected to the inner wall of the shell 18, forming a fixed plane parallel to the equalizer plate 14. The filter 19 further captures residual oil droplets in the airflow by screening the mesh size.

[0054] After entering the second oil-gas separation chamber, the refrigerant vapor first passes through the equalizing holes of the equalizing plate 14 to achieve uniform airflow velocity, and then passes upward through the filter 19 for secondary interception. The stacked layout of the equalizing plate 14 and the filter 19 forms a hierarchical filtration mechanism: the equalizing plate 14 prioritizes eliminating airflow velocity variations, while the filter 19 efficiently captures fine oil mist in a uniform airflow environment, preventing localized penetration caused by uneven airflow. This composite structure maintains the continuity of the airflow channel while enhancing the thoroughness of oil droplet separation through multi-stage interception.

[0055] In this specific embodiment, the oil separation assembly is installed in the upper region of the second oil-gas separation space, primarily for secondary separation of refrigerant vapor carrying refrigeration oil. The oil collection assembly 12, located below the second oil-gas separation space, features a downwardly converging flow diversion structure, directing separated oil droplets toward the bottom and separating the second oil-gas separation space from the oil storage area at the bottom of the housing. The oil filter assembly 23 is mounted directly within the oil collection chamber at the bottom of the oil collection assembly 12, ensuring that the oil is filtered and purified before reaching the oil storage area at the bottom of the housing 18.

[0056] When the refrigerant vapor carries the refrigeration oil into the second oil-gas separation space, it first enters the right area of the second oil-gas separation space horizontally through the gap on the upper part of the partition assembly. This area connects the area between the bottom of the oil separation assembly and the top of the oil collecting assembly 12.

[0057] This layered design separates gas separation, oil droplet diversion, and filtration into separate zones, isolating the oil storage area from the refrigerant vapor path. This prevents high-speed airflow from directly impacting the lower oil storage area, which could cause dramatic oil level fluctuations and impact oil return. It also prevents airflow from carrying refrigerant oil upward from the lower oil storage area, increasing the oil content of the refrigerant vapor and reducing separation efficiency. This hierarchical layout reduces the impact of airflow disturbances on separation efficiency while enhancing the synergy of various components through spatial partitioning, further reducing pressure drop and enhancing overall separation reliability.

[0058] The oil collection assembly 12 features a wide-at-top, narrow-at-bottom flow-guiding structure. Its guide walls extend downward from the edge of the second oil-gas separation space, sloping downward toward the center, ultimately converging at the bottom opening of the oil collection chamber. This convergent design allows separated oil droplets to rapidly converge toward the center, guided by gravity and the walls. The oil collection chamber is directly connected to the bottom of the flow-guiding structure. The oil filter assembly 23 is installed within the oil collection chamber. The oil filter assembly 23 is removable, facilitating regular cleaning and filter element replacement.

[0059] The combination of oil collection assembly 12 and the oil collection chamber seamlessly transitions oil from dispersed collection to centralized purification. The oil collection chamber, through spatial isolation, prevents secondary cavitation and provides an installation area for the oil filter assembly 23. This step-by-step design ensures sufficient oil recovery, improving return oil cleanliness and system reliability.

[0060] like Figure 7 、 8 As shown, the oil collection assembly 12 comprises an oil collecting plate 121 and an oil collecting seat 122. The oil collecting plate 121 is a horizontally extending flat plate structure, its ends secured between the two vertical baffles of the baffle assembly by slots or welding. Its edges fit tightly against the inner wall of the housing 18, forming a transverse support frame. The plate's end faces are V-shaped or curved, creating downward-sloping diversion surfaces between the plate's ends and the baffle assembly, directing oil droplets toward the center. Multiple oil leakage holes are evenly spaced along the length of the central portion of the oil collecting plate 121.

[0061] The oil collecting seat 122 is a square tube or long square box structure, fixed directly below the oil collecting plate 121. Its top opening corresponds to the oil leakage hole position, forming a vertically connected diversion channel. The internal space of the oil collecting seat 122 constitutes an oil collecting chamber.

[0062] After the oil droplets slide down the inner wall of the second oil-gas separation space to the oil collecting plate 121, they are concentrated along its V-shaped or arc-shaped end face to the middle oil leakage hole area, and fall vertically into the oil collecting cavity of the oil collecting seat 122 below through the hole. After the oil is purified by the oil filter assembly 23 in the oil collecting cavity, it is discharged along the oil outlet pipe 24. This layered plate seat structure realizes the oil droplet collection, diversion and filtration functions in a layered manner: the oil collecting plate 121 optimizes the lateral diversion path through the end face shape to accelerate the flow and convergence of the refrigerant oil, and the oil leakage hole accurately controls the falling position of the oil; the oil collecting seat 122 ensures that the oil directly enters the filtration area through vertical alignment, reducing invalid flow paths, and improving diversion efficiency and filtration reliability. Complete isolation of the oil circuit and the airflow is achieved.

[0063] In the preferred embodiment, oil collecting receptacle 122 is a rectangular tubular structure with an opening at the top corresponding to the oil leakage hole in oil collecting plate 121, allowing oil to be vertically introduced into the interior space. A mounting opening is provided on one side of the receptacle, with a width that matches the filter element, facilitating sideways insertion of the filter element into oil collecting receptacle 122.

[0064] The oil filter assembly 23 is a cylindrical filter element, covered with multiple layers of filter screen or paper on its outer circumference and containing a hollow interior. One end of the filter element is completely sealed, while the other end remains open for the oil outlet. During installation, the operator positions the filter element with the closed end facing the inside of the oil collection receptacle 122 and pushes it horizontally through the installation opening, with the open end facing the outside of the installation opening.

[0065] After the refrigerant oil falls into the oil collecting seat 122 through the oil leakage hole of the oil collecting plate 121, it flows along the inner wall of the square tube to the outer peripheral surface of the filter element. The oil penetrates through the outer filter medium of the filter element, gradually gathers in the inner hollow channel, and finally flows out from the oil outlet at the open end.

[0066] The modular design allows for quick removal and replacement of filters without completely disassembling the oil collecting plate 122. The combination of the square tubular oil collecting plate 122 and the transverse filter element achieves high-flow filtration within a limited space while maintaining a compact structure. This design precisely controls the oil flow direction and filtration path, ensuring both filtration efficiency and ease of maintenance. It forms a vertical connection with the flow-guiding structure of the upper oil collecting plate 121, creating a complete closed-loop system from oil droplet collection to purification.

[0067] Furthermore, a plurality of fixing rods (specifically, threaded rods) are provided on the outer side of one end of the oil collecting seat. The end of the filter element of the oil filter assembly is provided with a fixing plate that fits against the outer side of one end of the oil collecting seat. The fixing plate has fixing holes reserved for the fixing rods. This allows the oil filter assembly to be stably installed in the oil collecting seat by means of a locking nut, and the fixing is convenient and reliable.

[0068] In a further embodiment, the oil collection assembly further comprises an oil guide plate having an upwardly arched triangular or arc-shaped end surface, the ends of the oil guide plate being connected to the two vertical baffles of the baffle assembly, the two sides of the oil guide plate being connected to the oil collection plate, and the edges of the oil guide plate being provided with a plurality of second oil-passing notches. The oil guide plate is positioned in the middle of the oil collection plate, and the combination of the wedge-shaped components (oil guide plate and oil collection plate) can quickly direct the separated refrigerant oil into the oil storage area (oil collection chamber or oil storage area), further improving the oil return effect.

[0069] In addition, the centerline positions of the oil guide plate, oil collecting plate, flow equalizing plate and filter screen (all forming guide surfaces upward or downward with the transverse centerline as the center) are consistent.

[0070] In a specific embodiment, the baffle assembly cooperates with the oil collection assembly 12 and the inner wall of the shell 18 to separate the interior of the shell 18 into two independent, side-by-side compartments: the first oil-gas separation compartment is located near the entrance of the intake pipe 20, which extends into the shell 18 and aligns with the end cap 11 at the end of the shell 18. When the refrigerant vapor enters the shell 18 at high speed, the refrigerant oil it carries collides with the inner wall of the end cap 11 due to inertia. During this process, large oil droplets are separated from the airflow due to the sudden drop in kinetic energy, adhere to the inner wall of the end cap 11, and slide along the wall to the oil storage area 113 below the shell 18.

[0071] This impact-type primary separation achieves primary filtration through the principle of kinetic energy attenuation, intercepting high-density oil droplets before they enter the subsequent separation components. The separated airflow enters the secondary oil-gas separation space through the opening of the baffle assembly. At this point, the oil mist concentration has been significantly reduced, creating fine separation conditions for the flow equalizer 14 and filter 19.

[0072] This spatial separation and directional impact design form a multi-stage separation system: the first space rapidly removes large oil droplets through physical impact, while the second space processes fine oil mist through a composite filter assembly. The synergistic effect of these two elements not only avoids overloading a single structure but also ensures overall separation efficiency. Furthermore, the directional design of the intake pipe 20 completely encloses the primary separation process within the first space, preventing untreated oil droplets from directly entering the core filtration area, thereby improving the stability and durability of the system.

[0073] In a specific embodiment, the partition assembly includes: a first sealing plate 151, a second sealing plate 152 and an air baffle 21, wherein:

[0074] The first sealing plate 151 is a vertical plate fixed between the top and both side edges of the front end of the housing 18 to form a transverse partition structure of the front end space. Its bottom is open to the housing 18.

[0075] The second sealing plate 152 is installed in the same way between the top and both sides of the rear end of the shell 18, and the bottom is higher than the bottom of the first sealing plate, and the oil separation assembly is installed between the first sealing plate 151 and the second sealing plate 152 (the bottom is connected to the end of the oil separation assembly); it should be noted that the first sealing plate 151 and the second sealing plate 152 have a height difference, the bottom of the first sealing plate 151 is connected to the end of the oil collecting assembly, and the bottom of the second sealing plate 152 is connected to the end of the oil separation assembly, so that the refrigerant can reach the area between the oil separation assembly and the oil collecting assembly for separation, while avoiding the refrigerant directly impacting the bottom oil storage area.

[0076] Air baffle 21 is located between the second sealing plate 152 and the rear end cover 11 of the shell 18. Its bottom is tightly connected to the lower portion and both sides of the shell 18, while its top is spaced apart from the upper edge of the shell 18, forming an upwardly open upper notch. This notch allows refrigerant that has undergone primary separation to flow laterally into the secondary oil-gas separation space. A third oil-passing notch, defined below air baffle 21, provides a lateral flow channel for adhering oil droplets, ensuring connectivity to the oil storage area 113 at the bottom of the shell 18.

[0077] The first oil-gas separation space enclosed by the air baffle 21 and the rear end head 11 of the shell 18 receives the high-speed airflow ejected from the intake pipe 20, causing the oil droplets to collide with the inner wall of the head 11 and then adhere and slide down, achieving primary separation.

[0078] The second oil-gas separation space is located between the air baffle 21 and the first sealing plate 151. The upper notch of the air baffle 21 and the third oil-passing notch form a gas-liquid diversion channel: the refrigerant passes through the upper notch, and the oil droplets pass through the notch downward and gather into the oil storage area or the oil outlet pipe 24.

[0079] The separation structure rationally arranges the impact separation, diversion filtration and oil recovery functions in three-dimensional space, which not only ensures the independence of each separation link, but also realizes the continuous processing flow of refrigerant airflow through spatial connectivity.

[0080] The outlet pipe 16 is located at the top of the shell 18, with its open end located in the upper space of the oil separation assembly. The liquid baffle 17 is a flat plate or baffle structure, fixed horizontally or tilted to the inner wall of the shell 18 in the area directly below the outlet pipe 16. Its outer edge is tightly connected to the inner wall of the shell 18. After being processed by the oil separation assembly, the refrigerant flows upward and must pass through the area below the liquid baffle 17. At this time, the remaining trace oil mist or droplets are forced to change direction by the liquid baffle 17. After hitting the plate surface, they condense into larger oil droplets and fall back, eventually entering the oil collection seat 122 or diversion path below.

[0081] This top liquid retaining structure and high-positioned air outlet provide dual protection: the liquid retaining plate 17 acts as the final physical barrier, while the position of the air outlet pipe 16 ensures that the airflow must pass through all separation stages before entering the exhaust stage. These two elements work together to effectively prevent oil carryover, especially against fine oil mist or trace oil droplets escaping from the separation components, ultimately further improving the cleanliness of the exhaust gas.

[0082] The end surface of the shell 18 is circular, and the shell 18 is in the shape of a horizontally placed circular tube as a whole, so that the bottom of the shell 18 forms an oil storage area 113 with a horizontal depression in the middle, which serves as a temporary storage space for the separated refrigeration oil.

[0083] The oil outlet adopts a multi-channel structure. The main oil route is through the oil collecting pipe assembly 22 located at the bottom center of the shell 18, ensuring that oil is discharged preferentially through the main channel. The auxiliary oil route consists of two independent oil outlet pipes 24 located on either side of the main oil route. This multi-outlet bottom design is suitable for the horizontal layout of the horizontal oil separator. The main oil route is responsible for collecting concentrated oil in the center of the oil storage area, while the auxiliary oil route ensures that oil droplets at the edges of the shell 18 and around the partition assembly are also discharged smoothly through the channels on both sides, preventing oil from accumulating in the corners of the shell 18.

[0084] The present invention also provides an air-conditioning unit, comprising the above-mentioned oil separator and refrigeration components (specifically including conventional components such as a compressor, an evaporator, and a condenser).

[0085] like Figure 9 As shown, the oil separator is installed as an independent module in the main refrigerant pipeline between the compressor and condenser. Its air inlet is directly connected to the compressor exhaust port, and its air outlet is connected to the condenser inlet. The mixture of refrigerant oil and refrigerant vapor first enters the oil separator. It then passes through the impact-type primary separation, multi-stage oil and gas separation components, and liquid retaining structure to ensure that oil droplets are intercepted and returned to the compressor at each stage. The flow path on the surface of the internal components significantly improves the separation efficiency of the refrigerant oil, reduces the possibility of oil being carried by the gas, and allows the separated refrigerant oil to flow efficiently and quickly to the oil storage area at the bottom of the shell.

[0086] Compared to Figure 2 The prior art oil separator arrangement shown eliminates the need for an additional external oil return line and filter device required in conventional designs, significantly shortens the oil return path, and reduces the flow resistance (i.e., oil return pressure loss) caused by a long line.

[0087] It should be noted that the terms used above are only for describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to the present invention. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular form is intended to include the plural form. In addition, it should be understood that when the terms "comprise" and / or "include" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components and / or combinations thereof.

[0088] Unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement of the parts and steps, the numerical expressions and the numerical values set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention. At the same time, it should be understood that, for ease of description, the sizes of the various parts shown in the drawings are not drawn according to the actual proportional relationship. The techniques, methods and equipment known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, the techniques, methods and equipment should be considered as part of the authorization specification. In all examples shown and discussed here, any specific values should be interpreted as being merely exemplary and not as limiting. Therefore, other examples of the exemplary embodiments may have different values. It should be noted that similar numbers and letters represent similar items in the following figures, and therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further discussed in subsequent figures.

[0089] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the directions or positional relationships indicated by directional words such as "front, back, up, down, left, right", "horizontal, vertical, perpendicular, horizontal" and "top, bottom" are usually based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description. Unless otherwise specified, these directional words do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction or be constructed and operated in a specific direction. Therefore, they cannot be understood as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention; the directional words "inside and outside" refer to the inside and outside relative to the outline of each component itself.

[0090] For ease of description, spatially relative terms such as "above", "above", "on the upper surface of", "above", etc. may be used herein to describe the spatial positional relationship of a device or feature to other devices or features as shown in the figures. It should be understood that spatially relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation described in the figures. For example, if the device in the drawings is inverted, the device described as "above other devices or structures" or "above other devices or structures" will be positioned as "below other devices or structures" or "below other devices or structures". Thus, the exemplary term "above" can include both "above" and "below". The device can also be positioned in other different ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptions used here are interpreted accordingly.

Claims

1. An oil separator, comprising: A shell, an oil separation assembly arranged in the shell, connecting the air inlet pipe, the air outlet pipe and the oil outlet pipe arranged at the bottom of the shell; it is characterized in that each component of the oil separation assembly has a guide surface for accelerating the flow of refrigeration oil to the oil storage area at the bottom of the shell.

2. The oil separator according to claim 1, characterized in that The oil separation assembly includes: a flow equalizing plate and a filter screen arranged above the flow equalizing plate, and the end faces of the flow equalizing plate and the filter screen are both wedge-shaped or arc-shaped that arch upward, so that the flow equalizing plate and the filter screen form the guide surface that guides the flow toward the two sides of the inner wall of the connecting shell.

3. The oil separator according to claim 1, characterized in that An oil collecting assembly is further provided in the shell at a position between the oil separation assembly and the oil storage area, so as to separate the refrigerant movement path from the oil storage area.

4. The oil separator according to claim 3, characterized in that The oil collecting assembly is a flow guiding structure that converges downward and can accelerate the flow of the refrigeration oil.

5. The oil separator according to claim 4, characterized in that The oil collecting assembly comprises: The oil collecting plate has a V-shaped or arc-shaped end surface to form a guide surface on both sides, and the two sides are connected to the inner walls of the shell. The middle part of the oil collecting plate is provided with multiple oil leakage holes along the length direction; The oil collecting seat has an oil collecting cavity formed therein, is arranged below the oil collecting plate and directly opposite to the oil leakage hole, and is communicated with the oil leakage hole. An oil filter assembly is installed inside the oil collecting seat.

6. The oil separator according to claim 5, characterized in that The oil collecting assembly further comprises: The oil guide plate has an upwardly arched triangular or arc-shaped end face. The two ends of the oil collecting plate are connected to the two vertical partitions of the partition assembly, and the two sides are connected to the oil collecting plate. Multiple second oil-passing gaps are opened on the two side edges of the oil guide plate.

7. The oil separator according to claim 3, characterized in that A partition assembly is arranged in the shell. The partition assembly, the oil collecting assembly and the inner wall of the shell form a second oil-gas separation space. The oil separation assembly is arranged in the second oil-gas separation space.

8. The oil separator according to claim 7, characterized in that The partition assembly, the head at the end of the shell and the inner wall of the shell form a first oil-gas separation space, and the first oil-gas separation space is connected to the air intake pipe and the second oil-gas separation space. The pipe opening of the air intake pipe located in the shell is opposite to the head at the end of the shell.

9. The oil separator according to claim 8, characterized in that The partition assembly comprises: a first sealing plate, disposed vertically near one end of the shell, with edges connected to the upper portion and both sides of the shell; a second sealing plate, disposed vertically near the other end of the housing, with its edges connected to the upper portion and both sides of the housing, and both ends of each component of the oil separation assembly being connected to the first sealing plate and the second sealing plate respectively; An air baffle is vertically arranged between the second sealing plate and the other end of the shell, and its edges are connected to the lower part and both sides of the shell, and an upper notch is formed between the upper edge and the shell; and a third oil-passing notch is provided on the lower edge of the air baffle, and both ends of the oil collecting assembly are connected between the first sealing plate and the air baffle; The area between the air baffle plate and the sealing head at the other end of the shell is the first oil-gas separation space, and the area between the air baffle plate and the first sealing plate is the second oil-gas separation space.

10. The oil separator according to claim 1, wherein The outlet pipe opening is located at the upper part of the oil separation component, and a liquid baffle is provided in the shell at a position corresponding to the outlet pipe opening.

11. An air conditioning unit, characterized in that: Comprising the oil separator according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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