Electronic expansion valve, indoor unit and heating and ventilation system

Abstract

The invention discloses an electronic expansion valve, an indoor unit and a heating and ventilation system.The electronic expansion valve comprises a valve body, a valve seat and a valve element, the valve seat is provided with a first hole channel, a second hole channel and an opening hole communicating with the first hole channel and the second hole channel, and the valve element is movably arranged in the valve seat; the valve element is used for adjusting the flow of fluid allowed by the opening hole to flow. The first pipeline is connected to the valve seat and communicates with the first hole channel; the second pipeline is connected to the valve seat and communicates with the second hole channel; an included angle is formed between the first hole channel and the second hole channel, and the radial size of the pipe section, close to the valve seat, of the first pipeline and the radial size of the pipe section, close to the valve seat, of the second pipeline are reduced in the direction towards the opening hole. Through the arrangement, the problem that an existing electronic expansion valve is large in noise is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of air conditioning technology, and more particularly to an electronic expansion valve, an indoor unit, and a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. Background Technology

[0002] Electronic expansion valves can adjust their opening degree within a certain range, and are therefore often used in air conditioning systems to regulate refrigerant flow and reduce pressure. However, current electronic expansion valves produce significant noise when the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant passes through them, resulting in a poor user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application provides an electronic expansion valve designed to solve the problem of excessive noise in current electronic expansion valves.

[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this application provides an electronic expansion valve, comprising: The valve body includes a valve seat and a valve core. The valve seat has a first channel and a second channel, and an opening orifice connecting the first channel and the second channel. The valve core is movably disposed within the valve seat and is used to adjust the flow rate of fluid allowed to flow through the opening orifice. A first conduit, connected to the valve seat and communicating with the first orifice; and The second pipe is connected to the valve seat and communicates with the second orifice; The first and second channels are arranged at an angle, and the radial dimensions of the pipe sections of the first and second pipes near the valve seat decrease continuously or in segments along the direction toward the opening orifice.

[0005] In some embodiments of this application, a first noise reduction pipe section is formed at one end of the first pipe near the valve seat, and the radial dimension of the first noise reduction pipe section decreases continuously or segmentally from the first pipe toward the first channel. A second noise-reducing pipe section is formed at one end of the second pipe near the valve seat. The radial dimension of the second noise-reducing pipe section decreases continuously or segmentally from the second pipe toward the second orifice.

[0006] In some embodiments of this application, one of the first noise reduction pipe segment and the second noise reduction pipe segment located downstream of the fluid path has a pressure drop zone formed in the region near the opening orifice and a pressure recovery zone formed in the region away from the opening orifice. The fluid configured in the pressure recovery zone of the first noise reduction pipe segment and the second noise reduction pipe segment located downstream of the fluid path can flow back to the pressure drop zone.

[0007] In some embodiments of this application, the valve seat is provided with a first mounting groove communicating with the first channel and a second mounting groove communicating with the second channel on its exterior. The end of the first noise reduction pipe section facing the valve seat is disposed in the first mounting groove, and the end of the second noise reduction pipe section facing the valve seat is disposed in the second mounting groove.

[0008] In some embodiments of this application, the first noise reduction tube segment is arranged in a conical or stepped shape, and the second noise reduction tube segment is arranged in a conical or stepped shape.

[0009] In some embodiments of this application, the length of the first noise reduction tube segment along the axial direction ranges from 5 to 20 mm.

[0010] In some embodiments of this application, when the first noise reduction tube segment is tapered, the cone angle of the first noise reduction tube segment is ≤30°.

[0011] In some embodiments of this application, the first pipe includes a first pipe segment and a second pipe segment, the first noise-reducing pipe segment is connected to the second pipe segment, and the diameter of the second pipe segment is larger than the diameter of the first pipe segment.

[0012] In some embodiments of this application, the first pipe further includes a first flared pipe section disposed between the first pipe section and the second pipe section, wherein the diameter of the first flared pipe section gradually increases from the first pipe section to the second pipe section.

[0013] In some embodiments of this application, the electronic expansion valve further includes a first filter element disposed within the first pipe. The first pipe includes a first pipe section and a second pipe section connected to the first pipe section. The first noise-reducing pipe section communicates with the second pipe section. The first filter element is disposed within the second pipe section and extends axially along the second pipe section.

[0014] In some embodiments of this application, the length of the first noise-reducing pipe segment along the axial direction ranges from 5 to 10 mm, and the lengths of the second pipe segment and the first noise-reducing pipe segment range from 30 to 60 mm.

[0015] In some embodiments of this application, the first filter element is configured as a porous structure, and the axis of the first filter element is coaxial with the axis of the first pipe.

[0016] In some embodiments of this application, the first filter element includes a mounting ring and a filter body connected to the mounting ring. The outer peripheral wall of the mounting ring abuts against the inner wall of the second pipe segment, and the filter body allows fluid to pass through and is used to filter impurities in the fluid.

[0017] In some embodiments of this application, the filter body is configured as a porous tubular structure; or, the filter body is configured as a porous damping structure; or, the filter body is configured as a porous sound-absorbing structure made of sound-absorbing material.

[0018] In some embodiments of this application, when the filter body is configured as a porous tubular structure, the filter body includes a tubular filter screen; or, the filter body includes a tubular filter screen, and the tubular filter screen is provided with a multi-layer mesh structure, wherein adjacent layers of mesh are spaced apart.

[0019] In some embodiments of this application, the filter body has a diversion section at one end away from the mounting ring. The diversion section is used to divert the fluid flowing toward the diversion section to the space between the outer peripheral wall of the filter body and the inner wall of the first pipe.

[0020] In some embodiments of this application, the axis of the diversion section is coaxial with the axis of the first pipe.

[0021] In some embodiments of this application, the length of the filter body along the axial direction ranges from 10 to 20 mm.

[0022] In some embodiments of this application, the opening diameter of the first noise reduction pipe section near the opening hole is 3-4 mm, the diameter of the second pipe section is 9-11 mm, and the diameter of the first pipe section is 4-5 mm.

[0023] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this application provides an indoor unit, comprising: Heat exchanger; Fans; and, The aforementioned electronic expansion valve is connected to the heat exchanger piping.

[0024] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this application provides a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, comprising: Outdoor unit; and The outdoor unit is connected to the indoor unit via a pipe.

[0025] The beneficial effects of this application are as follows: The electronic expansion valve disclosed in this application has its radial dimensions of the pipe sections near the opening orifice of the first and second pipes decreasing in the direction towards the opening orifice. Thus, in cooling / heating mode, the pipes gradually narrow before entering the valve body and gradually widen after exiting the valve body along the refrigerant flow path. This design reduces the fluid pressure before the refrigerant enters the valve body by mitigating the friction and local resistance of the gradually narrowing pipes, allowing for uniform mixing of the gas-liquid two-phase flow, reducing or eliminating air bubbles, and weakening the flow at the fluid end, thereby reducing valve noise. Furthermore, when the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows out of the valve body and into the second pipe, the gradually widening pipe section near the opening orifice causes backflow in this section. This backflow suppresses air bubble formation, effectively preventing noise caused by bubble bursts, thus reducing the conversion efficiency of fluid kinetic energy to acoustic energy. This reduces the noise of the electronic expansion valve during operation, thereby improving the user experience. Attached Figure Description

[0026] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic expansion valve provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 A cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of an electronic expansion valve provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of a valve body provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a first pipe and a first filter element provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a first pipe provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a first filter element provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system provided in one embodiment of this application.

[0028] Figure label: 1. Indoor unit; 101. Heat exchanger; 2. Outdoor unit; 20. Electronic expansion valve; 21. Valve body; 211. Valve seat; 2111. First channel; 2112. Second channel; 2113. Opening orifice; 2114. First mounting groove; 2115. Second mounting groove; 212. Valve core; 22. First pipe; 221. First pipe section; 222. Second pipe section; 223. First flared pipe section; 224. First noise reduction pipe section; 23. Second pipe; 231. Third pipe section; 232. Fourth pipe section; 233. Second flared pipe section; 234. Second noise reduction pipe section; 24. First filter element; 241. Mounting ring; 242. Filter body; 243. Flow divider; 25. Second filter element. Detailed Implementation

[0029] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0030] This application proposes a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, which includes an outdoor unit and an indoor unit connected by pipes. The HVAC system may also include, but is not limited to, multi-split systems, heat pumps, and other systems used for heating or cooling. It should be noted that outdoor units, multi-split systems, and heat pumps are all relatively mature existing technologies in the field, and this application does not make significant improvements to outdoor units, multi-split systems, or heat pumps. Therefore, this application will not provide a detailed description of the structure of outdoor units, multi-split systems, or heat pumps.

[0031] This application also proposes an indoor unit, as shown in the embodiments below. Figure 1 , Figure 2 as well as Figure 7 The indoor unit 1 includes a heat exchanger 101, a fan (not shown in the figure), and an electronic expansion valve 20, which is connected to the heat exchanger 101 via piping. The heat exchanger 101 is used to achieve cooling or heating functions through heat transfer. The fan is used to draw indoor air into the indoor unit, process it through the heat exchanger 101, and then blow the processed air to various corners of the room. It should be noted that the indoor unit 1 may also include, but is not limited to, a control module and an external panel. The external panel is equipped with an air guide plate and a display component for displaying temperature and mode, etc. The air guide plate and the display component are electrically connected to the control module. The heat exchanger 101, the fan, and the electronic expansion valve 20 are all electrically connected to the control module, which is used to control the operation of various components of the indoor unit 1.

[0032] In this system, the outdoor unit 2 and indoor unit 1 are connected by an electronic expansion valve 20 to regulate the refrigerant flow, thereby throttling and reducing pressure. This achieves high efficiency, energy saving, safe and stable operation of the refrigeration / heating system and enhances the equipment's ability to adapt to complex operating conditions. However, current indoor units 1 typically have filter devices connected before and after the electronic expansion valve 20 to filter fluid impurities. Given the already complex piping layout in air conditioning systems, this undoubtedly occupies a significant amount of space. Furthermore, the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant generates considerable noise when passing through the electronic expansion valve 20, resulting in a poor user experience. Therefore, this application provides an electronic expansion valve 20 to address the issues of excessive space occupation due to filter devices before and after the electronic expansion valve 20, and the high noise level of the electronic expansion valve 20.

[0033] This application provides an electronic expansion valve 20, please refer to... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The electronic expansion valve 20 includes a valve body 21, a first conduit 22, and a second conduit 23. The valve body 21 includes a valve seat 211 and a valve core 212. The valve seat 211 has a first channel 2111 and a second channel 2112, and an opening orifice 2113 connecting the first channel 2111 and the second channel 2112. The valve core 212 is movably disposed within the valve seat 211 and is used to adjust the flow rate of fluid allowed to flow through the opening orifice 2113. The first conduit 22 is connected to the valve seat 211 and communicates with the first channel 2111. The second conduit 23 is connected to the valve seat 211 and communicates with the second channel 2112. The first channel 2111 and the second channel 2112 are arranged at an angle, and the radial dimensions of the pipe sections of the first pipe 22 and the second pipe 23 near the valve seat 211 are reduced in the direction toward the opening hole 2113.

[0034] Based on the above scheme, by setting the radial dimensions of the pipe sections of the first pipe 22 and the second pipe 23 near the opening orifice 2113 to decrease in the direction toward the opening orifice 2113, in cooling / heating mode, the pipe changes gradually before entering the valve body 21 along the refrigerant flow path, and gradually expands after exiting the valve body 21. With this setting, when the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant enters the opening orifice 2113, the friction resistance and local resistance of the gradually narrowing pipe can reduce the fluid pressure of the refrigerant before entering the valve body 21, and thus enable the gas-liquid two-phase flow... The refrigerant is mixed evenly, and bubbles are crushed or reduced, weakening the flow at the fluid end, thereby reducing the noise of the valve body 21. Moreover, when the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows out of the valve body 21 and into the second pipe 23, the section of the second pipe 23 near the opening hole 2113 is gradually widened. In this section, the fluid will backflow. The fluid backflow can suppress the generation of bubbles, so as to effectively avoid the noise generated by the bursting of bubbles. This reduces the conversion efficiency of fluid kinetic energy to sound energy, thereby reducing the noise of the electronic expansion valve 20 during operation and improving the user experience.

[0035] It should be noted that the valve seat 211 provides an installation interface and a refrigerant flow channel. The installation interface can be an opening or groove formed on the outside of the valve seat 211 for the installation of the first pipe 22 and the second pipe 23. The first channel 2111, the second channel 2112, and the opening orifice 2113 define the refrigerant flow channel, wherein the refrigerant can be a mixture of gas and liquid two-phase flow. The valve seat 211 has a cavity for the valve core 212 to move. By moving it up and down, the opening degree of the opening orifice 2113 is changed to regulate the refrigerant flow rate, thereby achieving the throttling and pressure reduction function of the electronic expansion valve 20.

[0036] It is understandable that the valve core 212 can be moved by a stepper motor and screw or by electromagnetic force, as long as it can be driven to move the valve core 212 to open or close the opening orifice 2113. No further restrictions are imposed here.

[0037] Please continue to refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments of this application, a first noise reduction section 224 is formed at one end of the first pipe 22 near the valve seat 211, and the radial dimension of the first noise reduction section 224 decreases continuously or segmentally from the first pipe 22 toward the first channel 2111; a second noise reduction section 234 is formed at one end of the second pipe 23 near the valve seat 211, and the radial dimension of the second noise reduction section 234 decreases continuously or segmentally from the second pipe 23 toward the second channel 2112.

[0038] In this embodiment, the first pipe 22 defines a tapered structure, and the second pipe 23 defines a expanding structure. This design facilitates manufacturing and eliminates the need for a built-in tapered or expanding structure, ensuring the structural stability of the first pipe 22 and the second pipe 23. This facilitates stable refrigerant flow or stable mixing of the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant, which helps reduce fluid pressure and pressure pulsation caused by vortex formation, shedding, and breakage. This reduces radiated sound waves (i.e., turbulent noise) and thus reduces valve body 21 noise.

[0039] In some embodiments, in order to form a tapered structure in the region of the first pipe 22 near the opening 2113, a tapered sleeve can be provided in the first pipe 22, with the small end of the tapered sleeve in the first pipe 22 facing the opening 2113 and the large end facing away from the opening 2113; in order to form a tapered structure in the region of the second pipe 23 near the opening 2113, a tapered sleeve is also placed in the second pipe 23, with the small end of the tapered sleeve in the second pipe 23 facing the opening 2113 and the large end facing away from the opening 2113.

[0040] Furthermore, in some embodiments of this application, the first noise reduction tube segment 224 is arranged in a conical or stepped shape, and the second noise reduction tube segment 234 is arranged in a conical or stepped shape.

[0041] For example, the first noise-reducing pipe segment 224 can be tapered, meaning both its external shape and internal space are tapered. In this case, the radial dimension of the first noise-reducing pipe segment 224 continuously decreases from the first pipe 22 towards the first channel 2111. Alternatively, the internal space of the first noise-reducing pipe segment 224 can be stepped, in which case its radial dimension decreases segmentally from the first pipe 22 towards the first channel 2111. Furthermore, a tapered shape facilitates processing and installation on the valve seat 211; a stepped shape, meaning both its external shape and internal space are stepped, also results in a segmented decrease in radial dimension from the first pipe 22 towards the first channel 2111. Of course, the internal space of the first noise reduction pipe section 224 can also be set in a stepped cone shape. In this case, the radial dimension of the first noise reduction pipe section 224 continuously decreases from the first pipe 22 to the first channel 2111, as long as the internal space of the pipe meets the requirement of being set in a gradually narrowing shape. In addition, the stepped shape is convenient for processing during the manufacturing process and also convenient for installation on the valve seat 211.

[0042] The second noise-reducing pipe section 234 can be tapered, meaning its external shape and internal space are both tapered. In this case, the radial dimension of the second noise-reducing pipe section 234 continuously decreases from the second pipe 23 towards the second aperture 2112. Alternatively, the internal space of the second noise-reducing pipe section 234 can be stepped, in which case its radial dimension decreases segmentally from the second pipe 23 towards the second aperture 2112, as long as the requirement of a gradually decreasing internal space along the direction near the aperture 2113 is met. Furthermore, the tapered shape facilitates machining during processing and also makes installation on the valve seat 211 convenient. The second noise-reducing pipe section 234 can be stepped, meaning both its external shape and internal space are stepped. In this case, the radial dimension of the second noise-reducing pipe section 234 decreases segmentally from the second pipe 23 towards the second orifice 2112. Of course, the internal space of the second noise-reducing pipe section 234 can also be tapered, as long as it meets the requirement that the internal space of the pipe gradually decreases along the direction close to the opening orifice 2113. Additionally, the stepped shape facilitates machining during processing and also makes installation on the valve seat 211 convenient.

[0043] In some embodiments of this application, the downstream of the first noise reduction pipe section 224 and the second noise reduction pipe section 234 has a pressure drop zone in the region near the opening orifice 2113 and a pressure recovery zone in the region far away from the opening orifice 2113. The fluid in the pressure recovery zone of the downstream of the first noise reduction pipe section 224 and the second noise reduction pipe section 234 can flow back to the pressure drop zone.

[0044] With this configuration, the fluid reflux from the pressure recovery zone to the pressure drop zone is achieved through structural design in the outlet area along the fluid path. This suppresses the generation of bubbles, thereby avoiding noise caused by sound waves radiated from bubble bursts. This reduces the noise of the valve body 21, and can even enable the valve body 21 to operate silently, thus providing users with a more comfortable user experience.

[0045] It should be noted that the pressure drop zone is roughly the area of ​​the port connection opening 2113 of the first noise reduction pipe section 224 and the second noise reduction pipe section 234 located downstream of the fluid path, as well as the area near the second channel 2112. In the pressure drop zone, the flow velocity increases and the pressure drops sharply when the fluid passes through the narrow opening (similar to the Venturi effect or throttling phenomenon). The pressure recovery zone is roughly the area away from the port of the first noise reduction pipe section 224 and the second noise reduction pipe section 234 located downstream of the fluid path, for example, away from 1.5mm, 1.75mm, 2mm, etc. In the pressure recovery zone, the flow velocity decreases after the fluid diffuses, and the pressure partially recovers.

[0046] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3 In some embodiments of this application, the valve seat 211 is provided with a first mounting groove 2114 communicating with the first channel 2111 and a second mounting groove 2115 communicating with the second channel 2112. The end of the first noise-reducing pipe section 224 facing the valve seat 211 is located in the first mounting groove 2114, and the end of the second noise-reducing pipe section 234 facing the valve seat 211 is located in the second mounting groove 2115. This arrangement provides mounting space for the end of the first pipe 22 through the first mounting groove 2114 and for the end of the second pipe 23 through the second mounting groove 2115, facilitating the assembly of the electronic expansion valve 20 and its subsequent maintenance.

[0047] It should be noted that the opening shape of the first mounting groove 2114 is adapted to the end shape of the first noise-reducing pipe section 224 to facilitate stable installation of the first noise-reducing pipe section 224, and the opening shape of the second mounting groove 2115 is adapted to the end shape of the second noise-reducing pipe section 234 to facilitate stable installation of the second noise-reducing pipe section 234. Specifically, the opening shape of the first mounting groove 2114 can be tapered to accommodate the tapered first noise-reducing pipe section 224; the opening shape of the second mounting groove 2115 can be tapered to accommodate the tapered second noise-reducing pipe section 234.

[0048] In some embodiments of this application, the axial length of the first noise-reducing pipe section 224 ranges from 5 to 20 mm. If the length of the first noise-reducing pipe section 224 is less than 5 mm, the friction resistance of the first noise-reducing pipe section 224 will be insufficient, resulting in uneven mixing of the gas-liquid two-phase flow in the pipe, insufficient fluid pressure drop, and more noticeable noise. If the length of the first noise-reducing pipe section 224 is greater than 20 mm, it will be too long, increasing the probability of the gas-liquid two-phase flow re-aggregating to form bubbles after mixing, which is not conducive to noise reduction. Therefore, the axial length of the first noise-reducing pipe section 224 can be set to 5 mm, 10 mm, 20 mm, or other values, so that the refrigerant can be uniformly and fully mixed when flowing through the first noise-reducing pipe section 224, and the pressure of the refrigerant can be effectively reduced, thereby achieving noise reduction of the valve body 21.

[0049] Understandably, the axial length of the second noise-reducing pipe section 234 can also range from 5 to 20 mm. If the length of the second noise-reducing pipe section 234 is less than 5 mm, the friction resistance of the second noise-reducing pipe section 234 will be insufficient, resulting in uneven mixing of the gas-liquid two-phase flow in the pipe, insufficient fluid pressure drop, and more noticeable noise. Moreover, when the second noise-reducing pipe section 234 is downstream of the refrigerant flow path, the fluid backflow phenomenon will be insufficient, increasing the probability of bubble formation. If the length of the first noise-reducing pipe section 224 is greater than 20 mm, it will be too long, increasing the probability of bubble formation and hindering noise reduction. Therefore, the axial length of the second noise-reducing pipe section 234 can be set to 5 mm, 10 mm, 20 mm, or other values, so that the refrigerant can be uniformly and fully mixed when flowing through the second noise-reducing pipe section 234, effectively reducing the refrigerant pressure, thereby achieving noise reduction of the valve body 21.

[0050] In some embodiments of this application, when the first noise-reducing pipe section 224 is tapered, the cone angle of the first noise-reducing pipe section 224 is ≤30°. As shown in the figure, the cone angle is represented by θ, that is, the total cone angle of the first noise-reducing pipe section 224 is ≤60°. By limiting the cone angle of the first noise-reducing pipe section 224, the risk of flow separation is effectively reduced when the refrigerant flows through the first noise-reducing pipe section 224, balancing the conversion of kinetic energy into pressure energy, reducing turbulence loss, and effectively reducing noise during the operation of the indoor unit 1, so as to provide users with a comfortable user experience.

[0051] Understandably, the cone angle should not be too small, otherwise it will increase the structural length and cost. If the cone angle is too large, it will increase the pressure drop along the friction path and may also lead to boundary layer separation. Therefore, the cone angle is designed to be 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, 25°, 30°, or other angle values ​​within the range of less than 30°.

[0052] Please refer to Figures 2 to 6 In some embodiments of this application, the first pipe 22 includes a first pipe segment 221 and a second pipe segment 222, a first noise reduction pipe segment 224 is connected to the second pipe segment 222, and the diameter of the second pipe segment 222 is larger than the diameter of the first pipe segment 221.

[0053] When the fluid flows from the first pipe section 221 to the second pipe section 222, the sudden change in pipe diameter helps to reduce the fluid velocity and local pressure to a certain extent, thereby reducing the noise caused by fluid impact. At the same time, the filter element weakens the fluid flow characteristics and balances the pressure pulsation in the pipe, such as dispersing large bubbles that may form in the pipe, weakening end flow and cavitation, and reducing the formation of eddies. This reduces the efficiency of fluid kinetic energy conversion to acoustic energy, thereby reducing the noise of the electronic expansion valve 20 during operation and improving the user experience.

[0054] Furthermore, in some embodiments of this application, the first pipe 22 also has a first flared pipe section 223 disposed between the first pipe section 221 and the second pipe section 222, the diameter of the first flared pipe section 223 gradually increasing from the first pipe section 221 to the second pipe section 222. When the refrigerant flows from the small-diameter pipe to the large-diameter pipe, the first flared pipe section 223 allows the refrigerant to gradually transition into the large-diameter pipe. For example, the fluid in the first pipe section 221 can gradually transition to the second pipe section 222 through the first flared pipe section 223. The first flared pipe section 223 can reduce flow separation and energy dissipation, thereby reducing eddies and pressure pulsations, and helping to reduce noise.

[0055] In this embodiment, the structure of the second pipe 23 can be the same as that of the first pipe 22. Similarly, the second pipe 23 has a second flared pipe section 233 located between the third pipe section 231 and the fourth pipe section 232. The first pipe 22 and the second pipe 23 cooperate to adapt to the refrigerant flow path in cooling / heating mode. When the refrigerant flows from a small-diameter pipe to a large-diameter pipe, the second flared pipe section 233 allows the refrigerant to gradually transition into the large-diameter pipe. For example, the fluid in the fourth pipe section 232 can gradually transition to the third pipe section 231 through the second flared pipe section 233. The second flared pipe section 233 reduces flow separation and energy dissipation, thereby reducing eddies and pressure pulsations, and helping to reduce noise.

[0056] In some embodiments of this application, the axial length of the first noise-reducing pipe segment 224 ranges from 5 to 10 mm, and the lengths of the second pipe segment 222 and the first noise-reducing pipe segment 224 range from 30 to 60 mm. By limiting the axial length of the first noise-reducing pipe segment 224 and the total length of the second pipe segment 222 and the first noise-reducing pipe segment 224, the piping can be arranged reasonably within the internal space of the indoor unit 1, avoiding excessive space occupation and saving materials to reduce costs.

[0057] For example, such as Figure 4 As shown, the axial length of the first noise reduction tube segment 224 is represented by d1, and the total length of the second tube segment 222 and the first noise reduction tube segment 224 is represented by d2. When d1 is 5mm, d2 can be set to 25mm, or greater than 25mm to 55mm, with specific length values ​​such as 30mm, 40mm, and 55mm. When d1 is 10mm, d2 can be set to 20mm, or greater than 20mm to 50mm, with specific length values ​​such as 30mm, 40mm, and 50mm. Of course, the axial length of the first noise reduction tube segment 224 can also be any other length value between 5 and 10mm.

[0058] Please continue to refer to Figures 2 to 6In some embodiments of this application, the electronic expansion valve 20 further includes a first filter element 24 disposed in a first pipe 22. The first pipe 22 includes a first pipe section 221 and a second pipe section 222 connected to the first pipe section 221. The first noise reduction pipe section 224 is connected to the second pipe section 222. The first filter element 24 is disposed in the second pipe section 222 and extends axially along the second pipe section 222.

[0059] In this embodiment, the electronic expansion valve 20 may further include a second filter element 25 disposed within the second pipe 23. The structure of the second filter element 25 may be the same as that of the first filter element 24. Compared to the conventional method of setting filter devices before and after the electronic expansion valve 20, in this embodiment, both the first filter element 24 and the second filter element 25 are disposed within the pipe, an integrated design that not only avoids occupying the internal space of the indoor unit 1, but also optimizes the internal piping and reduces installation steps in the production process, thus helping to improve the overall assembly efficiency.

[0060] The electronic expansion valve 20 can be connected to the compressor pipeline through the first pipeline 22 and to the evaporator pipeline through the second pipeline 23. Whether in cooling mode or heating mode, because the inlet and outlet of the refrigerant flow channel are equipped with filter structures, when the refrigerant fluid enters the electronic expansion valve 20, the structural characteristics of the filter element can be used to break up large bubbles in the gas-liquid two-phase flow and weaken fluid phenomena such as end flow and eddies, so that the gas-liquid mixture is more uniform, thereby reducing the noise of the electronic expansion valve 20 and thus reducing the noise impact of the indoor unit 1, so as to provide users with a better user experience.

[0061] The first noise-reducing pipe section 224 and the first noise-reducing pipe section 225 are both located close to the opening orifice 2113. The purpose of this proximity is to better enhance the noise reduction effect. This ensures that the refrigerant entering the electronic expansion valve 20 is a uniformly mixed gas-liquid two-phase flow, thereby achieving noise reduction in the electronic expansion valve 20. Furthermore, the first filter element 24 and the second filter element 25 intercept impurities and particles in the refrigerant, preventing these impurities and particles from entering the electronic expansion valve 20, thus protecting its normal operation and extending its service life.

[0062] Since the opening orifice 2113 is located inside the electronic expansion valve 20, in order to place the first noise-reducing pipe section 224 and the first noise-reducing pipe section 224 close to the opening orifice 2113, and considering the structural design of the electronic expansion valve 20 and the conditions that allow for structural fit, the ends of the first noise-reducing pipe section 224 facing the opening orifice 2113 can extend into the electronic expansion valve 20. This arrangement ensures, on the one hand, that the first noise-reducing pipe section 224 and the first noise-reducing pipe section 224 are sufficiently close to the opening orifice 2113, allowing the uniformly mixed refrigerant passing through the first noise-reducing pipe section 224 to directly enter the valve seat 211; on the other hand, it conforms to the structural fit, allowing the first noise-reducing pipe section 224 and the valve seat 211 to be reasonably assembled and fitted, increasing the connection stability between the structures.

[0063] It should be noted that the depth to which the first noise reduction tube section 224 extends into the valve seat 211 can be determined according to the thickness of the valve body 21 itself. For example, if the valve body 21 is thick enough, the depth of insertion can be slightly greater; if the valve body 21 is thin, it should not be inserted too much, so as not to affect the connection and fit between the structures and prevent normal operation.

[0064] In this embodiment, the first channel 2111 and the second channel 2112 can be arranged vertically. The opening orifice 2113 is located between the first channel 2111 and the second channel 2112. The opening orifice 2113 is a precision-machined micro-diameter orifice. The valve core 212 cooperates with the opening orifice 2113 to limit the flow rate of the refrigerant. The depth of the first noise-reducing tube section 224 extending into the valve seat 211 relative to the outer surface of the valve seat 211 is 1-3 mm. That is, the end face of the first noise-reducing tube section 224 facing the opening orifice 2113 is 1-3 mm away from the opening orifice 2113. This arrangement is to bring the first noise-reducing tube section 224 as close as possible to the opening orifice 2113, thereby shortening the travel distance of the uniformly mixed refrigerant after passing through the first noise-reducing tube section 224 into the opening orifice 2113, thus effectively reducing the probability of large bubble generation and improving the noise reduction effect.

[0065] Understandably, if the first noise-reducing tube section 224 extends too deeply into the valve seat 211, it may damage the structural characteristics of the valve body 21 itself, which is detrimental to the normal use of the electronic expansion valve 20; if it is too shallow, the first filter element 24 will not be close enough to the opening orifice 2113, affecting the noise reduction effect. Therefore, the depth to which the end of the first noise-reducing tube section 224 facing the opening orifice 2113 extends into the valve seat 211 can be 1mm, 1.25mm, 1.5mm, 1.75mm, 2mm, 2.25mm, 2.5mm, 2.75mm, 3mm, etc.

[0066] In some embodiments of this application, the depth to which the second noise-reducing tube segment 234 extends into the valve seat 211 relative to its outer surface ranges from 2 to 4 mm. The second noise-reducing tube segment 234 communicates with the second channel 2112, which extends along the movement direction of the valve core 212 and is in the same direction as the axial direction of the valve seat 211. In terms of the manufacturing of the valve body 21, the axial length of the valve body 21 can be relatively long; therefore, the depth to which the second noise-reducing tube segment 234 extends into the valve seat 211 can be slightly greater. That is, the end face of the second noise-reducing tube segment 234 facing the opening hole 2113 is 2-4 mm away from the opening hole 2113. This arrangement aims to bring the second noise-reducing tube segment 234 as close as possible to the opening hole 2113, thereby shortening the travel distance of the uniformly mixed refrigerant after passing through the second noise-reducing tube segment 234 into the opening hole 2113, effectively reducing the probability of large bubbles being generated, and thus improving the noise reduction effect.

[0067] Understandably, if the second noise-reducing tube section 234 extends too deeply into the valve seat 211, it may damage the structural characteristics of the valve body 21 itself, which is detrimental to the normal use of the electronic expansion valve 20; if it is too shallow, the second noise-reducing tube section 234 will not be close enough to the opening orifice 2113, affecting the noise reduction effect. Therefore, the depth of the second noise-reducing tube section 234 extending into the valve seat 211 can be 2mm, 2.25mm, 2.5mm, 2.75mm, 3mm, 3.25mm, 3.5mm, 3.75mm, 4mm, etc.

[0068] In some embodiments of this application, the depth of the first mounting groove 2114 can be 1-3mm, such as 1mm, 2mm, 3mm, etc.; the depth of the second mounting groove 2115 can be 2-4mm, such as 2mm, 3mm, 4mm, etc.

[0069] Please continue to refer to Figures 2 to 6 The first filter element 24 is fixedly disposed in the first pipe 22, and the second filter element 25 is fixedly disposed in the second pipe 23. The structure of the first filter element 24 and the second filter element 25 will be described below with the first filter element 24 as an example.

[0070] In some embodiments of this application, the first filter element 24 is configured as a porous structure, with its axis coaxial with that of the first pipe 22. This configuration allows the first filter element 24 to effectively filter impurities in the refrigerant, ensuring reliable impurity filtration and maintaining the cleanliness of the refrigerant. In cooling / heating mode, the coaxiality of the first filter element 24 with the first pipe 22 also allows for more uniform mixing of the refrigerant after passing through the filter body 242, thereby enhancing the reduction of phenomena such as end flow and eddies, as well as the ability to break up air bubbles. This significantly reduces the noise of the valve body 21 and improves the noise reduction effect of the electronic expansion valve 20.

[0071] Furthermore, in some embodiments of this application, the first filter element 24 includes a mounting ring 241 and a filter body 242 connected to the mounting ring 241. The outer peripheral wall of the mounting ring 241 abuts against the inner wall of the second pipe section 222, and the filter body 242 allows fluid to pass through and is used to filter impurities in the fluid.

[0072] The filter body 242 is installed by mounting ring 241. For example, mounting ring 241 can be interference-fitted with second pipe section 222 to fix it in the second pipe section 222, thereby fixing the filter body 242 in the second pipe section 222. The outer peripheral wall of mounting ring 241 abuts against the inner wall of second pipe section 222 to seal the gap between second pipe section 222 and mounting ring 241.

[0073] The mounting ring 241 and the filter body 242 can be integrally formed or detachable; no specific limitation is made here. The diameter of the mounting ring 241 is larger than the diameter of the filter body 242, resulting in a gap between the outer peripheral wall of the filter body 242 and the inner wall of the second pipe section 222. This gap provides storage space to trap impurities in the refrigerant. The filter body 242 of the first filter element 24 and the second filter element 25, located upstream in the refrigerant flow path, effectively prevents impurities in the refrigerant from entering the valve body 21, thus avoiding damage to the valve body 21. The filter body 242 of the first filter element 24 and the second filter element 25, located downstream in the refrigerant flow path, intercepts some wear debris flowing out from inside the valve body 21. Together, they ensure the cleanliness of the refrigerant flow, extend system life, and improve energy efficiency.

[0074] Specifically, the mounting ring 241 can be made of silicone or stainless steel, and the filter body 242 can be made of stainless steel or copper alloy. The filter body 242 has good corrosion resistance and high pressure resistance. In this way, the filter body 242 can withstand high temperature and high pressure refrigerant, ensuring that the filter body 242 is not easily deformed, so as to stably filter impurities in the refrigerant and break up air bubbles, and ensure the stability of reducing the noise of the valve body 21.

[0075] In some embodiments of this application, the filter body 242 is configured as a porous tubular structure; or, the filter body 242 is configured as a porous damping structure; or, the filter body 242 is configured as a porous sound-absorbing structure made of sound-absorbing material.

[0076] Specifically, when the filter body 242 is configured as a porous tubular structure, the filter body 242 can be a cylindrical filter screen. One end of the cylindrical filter screen is connected to the mounting ring 241, and the other end is closed. The cylindrical filter screen can efficiently intercept impurities in the refrigerant, reduce pressure drop, optimize flow rate, and make the refrigerant mixed more evenly after passing through the filter body 242, thereby reducing the noise of the valve body 21. When the filter body 242 is set as a porous damping structure, the porous damping structure can be a porous structure made of damping material, such as ceramic damping material, metal-rubber composite material, ceramic-polymer composite material, etc. Through the porous damping structure, the vibration energy in the fluid flow can be absorbed to reduce noise, the pulse flow can be smoothed through the damping effect to prevent instantaneous high pressure from impacting the valve or evaporator, and flexible support can also be achieved, that is, to disperse the stress concentration caused by refrigerant pressure fluctuations and reduce the risk of pipeline cracking. The filter body 242 is configured with a porous sound-absorbing structure made of sound-absorbing materials, such as metal foam or alumina ceramic. The porous sound-absorbing structure suppresses turbulent noise (such as water flow noise or airflow whistling) and reduces high-frequency noise generated by high-speed refrigerant flow, thereby achieving noise reduction of the valve body 21. Moreover, the porous sound-absorbing structure has no mechanical wear, long service life, and wide adaptability.

[0077] In some embodiments of this application, when the filter body 242 is configured as a porous tubular structure, the filter body 242 includes a tubular filter screen; or, the filter body 242 includes a tubular filter screen, and the tubular filter screen is provided with a multi-layer mesh structure, wherein adjacent mesh layers in the multi-layer mesh structure are spaced apart.

[0078] Specifically, when the filter body 242 is disposed within the first pipe 22, and when the filter body 242 includes a tubular filter screen, one end of the tubular filter screen is fixedly connected to the mounting ring 241, and the other end is disposed towards the first pipe segment 221 and is closed at the end, so that refrigerant can be diverted through the end. The outer peripheral wall of the tubular filter screen is provided with a large number of mesh holes, and the shape of the mesh holes can be circular, elliptical, polygonal or other irregular shapes, which are not specifically limited here.

[0079] Furthermore, the tubular filter screen is also equipped with a multi-layer mesh structure, with adjacent mesh layers spaced apart. The multi-layer mesh structure improves the mixing effect of the refrigerant, which can more fully break up the air bubbles in the gas-liquid two-phase flow, reduce the end flow noise of the fluid, and thus greatly reduce the noise of the valve body 21.

[0080] The multi-layer mesh structure can be composed of multiple mesh sleeves with different pipe diameters, and the mesh sleeves can be connected by connectors such as wires or connecting rods. The multi-layer mesh structure can also be a filled structure, such as filled with metal foam or porous ceramics, as long as it can filter the refrigerant or break up air bubbles in the refrigerant, without too many restrictions.

[0081] In some embodiments of this application, a flow divider 243 is provided at the end of the filter body 242 away from the mounting ring 241. The flow divider 243 is used to divert the fluid flowing toward the flow divider 243, so as to divert the fluid between the outer peripheral wall of the filter body 242 and the inner wall of the first pipe 22. The flow divider 243 can effectively buffer the fluid impact of refrigerant, help balance the pressure in the pipe, reduce the risk of pipe damage, and also weaken the fluid flow at the end or break bubbles, thereby playing a role in noise reduction.

[0082] Furthermore, in some embodiments of this application, the axis of the diversion section 243 is coaxially arranged with the axis of the first pipe 22. This arrangement allows for more uniform refrigerant distribution through the diversion section 243 during cooling / heating modes, resulting in a more uniform mixing of the refrigerant after passing through the filter body 242. This enhances the reduction of phenomena such as end flow and eddies, as well as the ability to break up air bubbles, thereby significantly reducing the noise of the valve body 21 and improving the noise reduction effect of the electronic expansion valve 20.

[0083] In some embodiments of this application, the axial length of the filter body 242 ranges from 10 to 20 mm. If the axial length of the filter body 242 is less than 10 mm, the filtration effect and the effect of breaking up air bubbles in the refrigerant will be weakened; if the axial length of the filter body 242 is greater than 20 mm, it will be inconvenient to install the filter element, causing installation difficulties. Therefore, the axial length of the filter body 242 is 10 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm, etc., and the axial length of the filter body 242 can also be other values ​​between 10 and 20 mm, which are not specifically limited here.

[0084] When the filter body 242 is installed inside the first pipe 22, the filter body 242 extends along the axial direction of the first pipe 22 to extend the length of the filter body 242, thereby increasing the friction resistance and the contact area with the refrigerant. This ensures that the refrigerant is mixed evenly by passing through the filter body 242 before entering the valve body 21, thus ensuring the stability of the noise reduction of the valve body 21.

[0085] Since the first pipe 22 is equipped with a first filter element 24 and the second pipe 23 is equipped with a second filter element 25, the first filter element 24 and the second filter element 25 work together to effectively ensure the cleanliness of the refrigerant flow and the noise reduction effect of the valve body 21.

[0086] In some embodiments of this application, the opening diameter of the first noise-reducing pipe section 224 near the opening orifice 2113 is 3-4 mm, the diameter of the second pipe section 222 is 9-11 mm, and the diameter of the first pipe section 221 is 4-5 mm. By reasonably limiting the opening diameter of the first noise-reducing pipe section 224 near the opening orifice 2113, the diameter of the second pipe section 222, and the diameter of the first pipe section 221, the piping is optimized, facilitating refrigerant flow and reducing some of the noise generated by the refrigerant flow to a certain extent.

[0087] Preferably, the opening diameter of the first noise reduction pipe section 224 near the opening hole 2113 is 3.4 mm, the diameter of the second pipe section 222 is 10 mm, and the diameter of the first pipe section 221 is 4.8 mm.

[0088] In the accompanying drawings of this embodiment, the same or similar reference numerals correspond to the same or similar components. In the description of this application, it should be understood that if terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, they are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, the terms used to describe positional relationships in the accompanying drawings are only for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting this patent. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0089] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. An electronic expansion valve, characterized in that, include: The valve body includes a valve seat and a valve core. The valve seat has a first channel and a second channel, and an opening orifice connecting the first channel and the second channel. The valve core is movably disposed within the valve seat and is used to adjust the flow rate of fluid allowed to flow through the opening orifice. A first conduit, connected to the valve seat and communicating with the first orifice; and The second pipe is connected to the valve seat and communicates with the second orifice; The first and second channels are arranged at an angle, and the radial dimensions of the pipe sections of the first and second pipes near the valve seat are reduced in the direction toward the opening orifice.

2. The electronic expansion valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that, A first noise reduction pipe section is formed at one end of the first pipe near the valve seat. The radial dimension of the first noise reduction pipe section decreases continuously or segmentally from the first pipe toward the first channel. A second noise-reducing pipe section is formed at one end of the second pipe near the valve seat. The radial dimension of the second noise-reducing pipe section decreases continuously or segmentally from the second pipe toward the second orifice.

3. The electronic expansion valve as described in claim 2, characterized in that, In the first noise reduction pipe section and the second noise reduction pipe section, the downstream one of the two sections has a pressure drop zone near the opening orifice and a pressure recovery zone away from the opening orifice. The fluid in the pressure recovery zone of the downstream one of the two noise reduction pipe sections can flow back to the pressure drop zone.

4. The electronic expansion valve as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The valve seat is provided with a first mounting groove communicating with the first channel and a second mounting groove communicating with the second channel. The end of the first noise reduction pipe section facing the valve seat is located in the first mounting groove, and the end of the second noise reduction pipe section facing the valve seat is located in the second mounting groove.

5. The electronic expansion valve as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The first noise reduction tube section is arranged in a conical or stepped shape, and the second noise reduction tube section is arranged in a conical or stepped shape.

6. The electronic expansion valve as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The length of the first noise reduction pipe section along the axial direction ranges from 5 to 20 mm.

7. The electronic expansion valve as described in claim 2, characterized in that, When the first noise reduction pipe section is tapered, the cone angle of the first noise reduction pipe section is ≤30°.

8. The electronic expansion valve according to any one of claims 2-7, characterized in that, The first pipeline includes a first pipe section and a second pipe section, the first noise reduction pipe section is connected to the second pipe section, and the diameter of the second pipe section is larger than the diameter of the first pipe section.

9. The electronic expansion valve as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The first pipeline also has a first flared pipe section disposed between the first pipe section and the second pipe section, the diameter of the first flared pipe section gradually increasing from the first pipe section to the second pipe section.

10. The electronic expansion valve according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The electronic expansion valve further includes a first filter element disposed within the first pipe. The first pipe includes a first pipe section and a second pipe section connected to the first pipe section. The first noise reduction pipe section is connected to the second pipe section. The first filter element is disposed within the second pipe section and extends axially along the second pipe section.

11. The electronic expansion valve as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The first noise-reducing pipe section has an axial length of 5-10 mm, and the second pipe section and the first noise-reducing pipe section have lengths of 30-60 mm.

12. The electronic expansion valve as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The first filter element is configured as a porous structure, and the axis of the first filter element is coaxial with the axis of the first pipe.

13. The electronic expansion valve as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The first filter element includes a mounting ring and a filter body connected to the mounting ring. The outer peripheral wall of the mounting ring abuts against the inner wall of the second pipe section. The filter body allows fluid to pass through and is used to filter impurities in the fluid.

14. The electronic expansion valve as described in claim 13, characterized in that, The filter body is configured as a porous tubular structure; or, the filter body is configured as a porous damping structure; or, the filter body is configured as a porous sound-absorbing structure made of sound-absorbing material.

15. The electronic expansion valve as described in claim 14, characterized in that, When the filter body is configured as a porous tubular structure, the filter body includes a tubular filter screen; or, the filter body includes a tubular filter screen, and the tubular filter screen is provided with a multi-layer mesh structure, wherein adjacent layers of mesh are spaced apart.

16. The electronic expansion valve as described in claim 13, characterized in that, The filter body has a flow divider at one end away from the mounting ring. The flow divider is used to divide the fluid flowing toward the flow divider so as to divide the fluid between the outer peripheral wall of the filter body and the inner wall of the first pipe.

17. The electronic expansion valve as described in claim 16, characterized in that, The axis of the diversion section is coaxial with the axis of the first pipe.

18. The electronic expansion valve as described in claim 13, characterized in that, The length of the filter body along the axial direction ranges from 10 to 20 mm.

19. The electronic expansion valve as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that, The diameter of the opening of the first noise reduction pipe section near the opening hole is 3-4 mm, the diameter of the second pipe section is 9-11 mm, and the diameter of the first pipe section is 4-5 mm.

20. An indoor unit, characterized in that, include: Heat exchanger; Fan; as well as, The electronic expansion valve as described in any one of claims 1-19, wherein the electronic expansion valve is connected to the heat exchanger piping.

21. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, characterized in that, include: Outdoor unit; and The indoor unit as described in claim 20, wherein the outdoor unit is connected to the indoor unit via a pipeline.

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