Oil separator, method for manufacturing the same, refrigerant cycle, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system
By using copper pipes to overlap between the oil separator and other components, and welding the copper connecting pipes to the steel pipes in a high-temperature furnace, the problem of unstable welding in the oil separator was solved, achieving stable connection and cost reduction.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- GD MIDEA HEATING & VENTILATING EQUIP CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-01-13
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-14
AI Technical Summary
In the existing technology, when welding oil separators and compressors, the large size of the whole machine makes it difficult to perform furnace welding in a high-temperature furnace, and the welding of stainless steel pipes is difficult to achieve stable welding, resulting in unstable connections.
The oil separator is connected to other components using copper pipes, and the copper connecting pipes and steel pipes are welded in a high-temperature environment using a furnace welding process. Hydrogen is used to reduce the outer oxide film of the steel pipe to ensure welding stability. At the same time, stainless steel or carbon steel materials are used to reduce costs and improve connection stability.
Stable welding of the oil separator to other components was achieved, reducing costs and improving connection stability and vibration stress resistance, while ensuring the corrosion resistance and welding quality of the weld.
Smart Images
Figure CN122384341A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of air conditioning component technology, and in particular to an oil separator and its preparation method, a refrigerant circulation loop, and a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. Background Technology
[0002] In a heat exchange system, key refrigeration components include the compressor. An oil separator is usually installed between the compressor and the four-way valve. When the compressor discharges, it carries the heat exchange medium along with the lubricating oil in the compressor to the oil separator. The oil separator separates the heat exchange medium and the lubricating oil, and the lubricating oil returns to the gas-liquid separator or the compressor to ensure the normal operation of the compressor and prevent the lubricating oil in the compressor from entering the four-way valve and affecting the heat exchange efficiency.
[0003] When welding oil separators to compressors and other components to assemble the whole machine, the large size of the whole machine makes it difficult to place it in a high-temperature furnace for welding. In order to control raw material costs, the piping connecting oil separators to compressors and other components is mostly made of stainless steel. Due to the limitations of stainless steel pipes, it is difficult to achieve stable welding by hand when welding copper pipes to stainless steel pipes or stainless steel pipes to stainless steel pipes. Summary of the Invention
[0004] This application provides an oil separator and its preparation method, a refrigerant circulation loop, and a heating and ventilation system, which connects the oil separator to other devices via copper pipes, thereby achieving stable welding of the oil separator to other devices.
[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides an oil separator, characterized in that it comprises:
[0006] The cylinder has an oil separation chamber. The cylinder is made of steel and has a first through hole, a second through hole, and a third through hole.
[0007] An air intake pipe is provided, with its first end inserted into the first through hole and welded to the cylinder body, and its second end welded with a first copper connecting pipe, which communicates with the oil separation chamber through the air intake pipe.
[0008] An exhaust pipe is provided, with its first end inserted into the second through hole and welded to the cylinder body, and its second end welded with a second copper connecting pipe, which communicates with the oil separation chamber through the exhaust pipe.
[0009] The oil return pipe has its first end inserted into the third through hole and welded to the cylinder body, and its second end welded with a third copper connecting pipe, which is connected to the oil separation chamber through the oil return pipe.
[0010] In some embodiments, the cylinder, the inlet pipe, the outlet pipe, and the return oil pipe are made of stainless steel or carbon steel. This can effectively reduce the cost of the oil separator and improve performance such as connection stability and vibration stress resistance. Furthermore, stainless steel has good corrosion resistance and can effectively resist the erosion of heat exchange media in environments with frequent heat exchange.
[0011] In some embodiments, the air inlet pipe, the air outlet pipe, and the oil return pipe are all welded steel pipes. Compared to seamless steel pipes, welded steel pipes are less expensive and easier to process and form.
[0012] In some embodiments, the inner diameter of the cylinder is d, where 19 mm ≤ d ≤ 89 mm. This prevents the oil separation efficiency of the oil separator from being too low due to a small oil separation chamber inside the cylinder, while also preventing the overall size of the machine from being too large due to an excessively large cylinder diameter.
[0013] In some embodiments, the first through hole is located on the circumferential side of the cylinder, and the axial length of the first through hole is H, where 1.2 mm ≤ H ≤ 7 mm. This prevents the flange length from being too small, which could lead to loosening after welding the air intake pipe, and also prevents the flange length from being too large, which could increase the volume of the oil separator.
[0014] In some embodiments, an arc transition surface is provided at the connection between the outer surface of the first through hole and the cylinder body, and the radius of the arc transition surface is R, where 0.2 mm ≤ R ≤ 1.2 mm. This achieves a smooth transition connection between the flange and the cylinder body, preventing breakage at the connection between the flange and the cylinder body.
[0015] In some embodiments, the axis of the first through hole is perpendicular to and does not intersect the axis of the cylinder. This allows the mixture of lubricating oil and heat exchange medium to have a tangential velocity when it enters the oil separator through the first through hole, while also extending the oil-gas separation path and prolonging the rotation time of the mixture within the cylinder, thereby improving the oil-gas separation effect.
[0016] In some embodiments, the cylindrical body includes a main body section, a first transition section, and a second transition section. The first transition section is located between the top end of the main body section and a second through hole, and the second through hole is connected to the first transition section. The second transition section is located between the bottom end of the main body section and a third through hole, and the third through hole is connected to the second transition section. Both the outer surfaces of the first and second transition sections are trumpet-shaped slopes. The angle between the outer surface of the first transition section and its axis is α1, where 30 degrees ≤ α1 ≤ 67.5 degrees. The angle between the outer surface of the second transition section and its axis is α2, where 30 degrees ≤ α2 ≤ 67.5 degrees. This design prevents the slopes of the outer surfaces of the first and second transition sections from being too large or too small.
[0017] In some embodiments, the air inlet pipe is inserted into the first through hole, the air outlet pipe is inserted into the second through hole, and the oil return pipe is inserted into the third through hole; wherein the insertion length of the air inlet pipe into the first through hole, the insertion length of the air outlet pipe into the second through hole, and the insertion length of the oil return pipe into the third through hole are L1, where 7 mm ≤ L1 ≤ 30 mm. This ensures that the air inlet pipe into the first through hole, the air outlet pipe into the second through hole, and the oil return pipe into the third through hole all have sufficient insertion length to guarantee weld penetration depth, thereby ensuring connection stability.
[0018] In some embodiments, the connection surfaces of the air inlet pipe and the first through hole, the air outlet pipe and the second through hole, and the oil return pipe and the third through hole are all provided with textured structures. This can effectively improve the corrosion resistance of the weld.
[0019] In some embodiments, the vent pipe includes a first branch pipe and a second branch pipe. The first branch pipe is a steel pipe located within the oil separation chamber. The second branch pipe is a copper pipe, with its first end inserted into the oil separation chamber and welded to both the first branch pipe and the cylinder body. The second end of the second branch pipe extends out of the oil separation chamber through the first through hole. A second copper connecting pipe is welded to the second end of the second branch pipe. Extending the length of the vent pipe extending into the oil separation chamber allows for better discharge of the heat exchange medium from the oil separator along the vent pipe, while also reducing the cost of the vent pipe.
[0020] In some embodiments, a filter assembly made of stainless steel is disposed within the third through hole and welded to the inner wall of the cylinder. The filter assembly can filter impurities in the lubricating oil, preventing the lubricating oil from carrying excessive impurities back into the compressor and affecting its normal operation.
[0021] Secondly, this application also provides a method for preparing an oil separator, characterized in that it includes:
[0022] The two ends of the steel cylinder are spun and compressed to form a second and a third through hole;
[0023] The side of the cylinder is stamped to form the first through hole;
[0024] The first end of the air inlet pipe is inserted into the first through hole and welded to the cylinder body; the first end of the air outlet pipe is inserted into the second through hole and welded to the cylinder body; and the first end of the oil return pipe is inserted into the third through hole and welded to the cylinder body.
[0025] The first copper connecting pipe is welded to the second end of the air inlet pipe, the second copper connecting pipe is welded to the second end of the air outlet pipe, and the third copper connecting pipe is welded to the second end of the oil return pipe using a furnace welding process.
[0026] In some embodiments, the cylinder is made of stainless steel, and the steps of inserting the first end of the air inlet pipe into the first through hole and welding it to the cylinder, inserting the first end of the air outlet pipe into the second through hole and welding it to the cylinder, and inserting the first end of the oil return pipe into the third through hole and welding it to the cylinder include:
[0027] Insert the first end of the air inlet pipe into the first through hole, insert the first end of the air outlet pipe into the second through hole, and insert the first end of the oil return pipe into the third through hole.
[0028] The air inlet pipe, the air outlet pipe, and the oil return pipe are welded to the cylinder in a furnace using copper solder.
[0029] In some embodiments, the cylinder is characterized in that the cylinder body is made of carbon steel, and the steps of inserting the first end of the air inlet pipe into the first through hole and welding it to the cylinder body, inserting the first end of the air outlet pipe into the second through hole and welding it to the cylinder body, and inserting the first end of the oil return pipe into the third through hole and welding it to the cylinder body include:
[0030] Insert the first end of the air inlet pipe into the first through hole, insert the first end of the air outlet pipe into the second through hole, and insert the first end of the oil return pipe into the third through hole.
[0031] The air inlet pipe, the air outlet pipe, and the oil return pipe are welded to the cylinder in a furnace using copper solder.
[0032] An anti-corrosion layer is formed on the surface of the cylinder, at the weld between the air inlet pipe and the cylinder, at the weld between the air outlet pipe and the cylinder, and at the weld between the oil return pipe and the cylinder.
[0033] In some embodiments, the steps of welding the first copper connecting pipe to the second end of the intake pipe, welding the second copper connecting pipe to the second end of the exhaust pipe, and welding the third copper connecting pipe to the second end of the return oil pipe include:
[0034] The first copper connecting pipe is first welded to the air inlet pipe, the second copper connecting pipe is first welded to the air outlet pipe, and the third copper connecting pipe is first welded to the oil return pipe using tin bronze solder.
[0035] The first copper connecting pipe is welded to the inlet pipe, the second copper connecting pipe to the outlet pipe, and the third copper connecting pipe to the return oil pipe using copper solder in a furnace for a second welding.
[0036] Thirdly, this application also provides a refrigerant circulation loop, including a compressor, a four-way valve, a piping assembly, and an oil separator as described in any of the above embodiments. The first copper connecting pipe is connected to the exhaust port of the compressor through the piping assembly, the second copper connecting pipe is connected to the inlet of the four-way valve through the piping assembly, and the third copper connecting pipe is connected to the inlet of the compressor through the piping assembly.
[0037] Fourthly, this application also provides a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, including an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, wherein the outdoor unit includes a refrigerant circulation loop as described in any of the above embodiments, and the outdoor unit is connected to the indoor unit through the piping assembly.
[0038] The beneficial effects of this application are as follows: By welding the first copper connecting pipe, the second copper connecting pipe, and the third copper connecting pipe to the second end of the inlet pipe, the second end of the outlet pipe, and the second end of the oil return pipe respectively, before connecting the oil separator to the compressor and other components through piping, a transition copper pipe can be welded to the connection end of the corresponding piping first, and then the first copper connecting pipe, the second copper connecting pipe, and the third copper connecting pipe can be welded to the corresponding transition copper pipe respectively. Welding between copper pipes is more convenient, and stable welding can be achieved through manual brazing or manual fusion welding. For brazing, flame welding or high-frequency welding technology can be selected, and for fusion welding, argon arc welding technology can be selected. Furthermore, when the inlet pipe, outlet pipe, and oil return pipe are made of stainless steel or carbon steel... During manufacturing, due to the relatively small size of the oil separator, the entire oil separator can be placed in a high-temperature furnace. The first, second, and third copper connecting pipes are then welded to the inlet pipe, outlet pipe, and return oil pipe respectively using a furnace welding process. When the steel and copper pipes are welded using the furnace welding process, the furnace contains hydrogen or hydrogen from the decomposition of ammonia in a high-temperature environment. Hydrogen is a reducing gas, which can reduce the oxide film on the outside of the steel pipe, allowing the steel and copper pipes to be brazed in the furnace. This ensures the welding stability of the first, second, and third copper connecting pipes with the inlet pipe, outlet pipe, and return oil pipe. Similarly, furnace welding can also be used when welding the transition copper pipes at the connection ends of the corresponding piping. Attached Figure Description
[0039] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments or related technologies of this application, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or related technologies 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.
[0040] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an oil separator in one embodiment of this application;
[0041] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the cylinder from a first-view perspective in one embodiment of this application;
[0042] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the cylinder from a second perspective in one embodiment of this application;
[0043] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the cylinder, air outlet pipe, oil return pipe and filter assembly in one embodiment of this application;
[0044] Figure 5 for Figure 4 Enlarged view of point A in the middle;
[0045] Figure 6 for Figure 4 Enlarged view of point B in the middle;
[0046] Figure 7 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of an oil separator in one embodiment of this application;
[0047] Figure 8 for Figure 7 Enlarged view of point C in the middle;
[0048] Figure 9 for Figure 7 Enlarged view of point D;
[0049] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the preparation process of the refrigerant circulation loop in one embodiment of this application;
[0050] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant circulation loop in one embodiment of this application;
[0051] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system in one embodiment of this application.
[0052] Figure label:
[0053] 10. Oil separator; 11. Cylinder; 111. Oil separation chamber; 112. First through hole; 113. Second through hole; 114. Third through hole; 115. Main body section; 116. First transition section; 117. Second transition section; 12. Inlet pipe; 13. Outlet pipe; 131. First branch pipe; 132. Second branch pipe; 14. Oil return pipe; 15. First copper connecting pipe; 16. Second copper connecting pipe; 17. Third copper connecting pipe; 18. Filter assembly; 20. Outdoor unit; 21. Compressor; 22. Four-way valve; 23. Piping assembly; 24. Gas-liquid separator; 25. Heat exchanger; 30. Indoor unit. Detailed Implementation
[0054] 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.
[0055] This application provides an oil separator and its preparation method, a refrigerant circulation loop, and a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system to solve the problems in related technologies where, when welding oil separators to compressors and other components to assemble the whole machine, the large size of the whole machine makes it difficult to place it in a high-temperature furnace for welding. In order to control raw material costs, the piping connecting the oil separator to compressors and other components is mostly made of stainless steel. Due to the limitations of stainless steel pipes, it is difficult to achieve stable welding by hand when welding copper pipes to stainless steel pipes or stainless steel pipes to stainless steel pipes.
[0056] In a first aspect, this application provides an oil separator 10, which is used to separate heat exchange medium and lubricating oil; such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the oil separator 10 includes a cylinder 11, an air inlet pipe 12, an air outlet pipe 13, and an oil return pipe 14.
[0057] Specifically, the cylinder 11 has an oil separation chamber 111 (e.g., Figure 4 The cylinder 11 is made of steel and has a first through hole 112, a second through hole 113 and a third through hole 114. The first end of the air inlet pipe 12 is inserted into the first through hole 112 and welded to the cylinder 11, the first end of the air outlet pipe 13 is inserted into the second through hole 113 and welded to the cylinder 11, and the first end of the oil return pipe 14 is inserted into the third through hole 114 and welded to the cylinder 11.
[0058] The second end of the intake pipe 12 is welded with a first copper connecting pipe 15, which connects to the oil separation chamber 111 via the intake pipe 12. The second end of the outlet pipe 13 is welded with a second copper connecting pipe 16, which connects to the oil separation chamber 111 via the outlet pipe 13. The second end of the return oil pipe 14 is welded with a third copper connecting pipe 17, which connects to the oil separation chamber 111 via the return oil pipe 14. It should be noted that when the oil separator 10 is applied in the refrigerant circulation loop, the oil separator 10 is installed on the compressor 21 (e.g.,...). Figure 11 ) and four-way valve 22 (such as Figure 11When the compressor 21 discharges, the lubricating oil in the compressor 21, along with the heat exchange medium, is discharged into the oil separation chamber 111 through the first copper connecting pipe 15 and the inlet pipe 12. The oil separator 10 separates the heat exchange medium and the lubricating oil. The heat exchange medium flows to the four-way valve 22 through the outlet pipe 13 and the second copper connecting pipe 16, while the lubricating oil returns to the gas-liquid separator 24 or the compressor 21 through the return oil pipe 14 and the third copper connecting pipe 17. The first copper connecting pipe 15, the second copper connecting pipe 16, and the third copper connecting pipe 17 can be made of deoxidized phosphor bronze, copper, or other copper alloys.
[0059] It is understandable that in this application, by welding the first copper connecting pipe 15, the second copper connecting pipe 16, and the third copper connecting pipe 17 to the second end of the intake pipe 12, the second end of the exhaust pipe 13, and the second end of the oil return pipe 14 respectively, before connecting the oil separator 10 to the compressor 21 and other components via piping, a transition copper pipe can be welded to the connection end of the corresponding piping first, and then the first copper connecting pipe 15, the second copper connecting pipe 16, and the third copper connecting pipe 17 are welded to the corresponding transition copper pipes respectively. Welding between copper pipes is more convenient, and stable welding can be achieved through manual brazing or manual fusion welding. For brazing, flame welding or high-frequency welding technology can be selected; for fusion welding, argon arc welding technology can be selected. Furthermore, when the intake pipe 12, the exhaust pipe 13, and the oil return pipe 14 are made of stainless steel or carbon steel, since the oil separator 10 is relatively small, the oil separator 10 can be placed as a whole. In a high-temperature furnace, the first copper connecting pipe 15, the second copper connecting pipe 16, and the third copper connecting pipe 17 are welded to the inlet pipe 12, the outlet pipe 13, and the return oil pipe 14 respectively using a furnace welding process. When the steel pipe and copper pipe are welded using the furnace welding process, in a high-temperature environment, there is hydrogen or hydrogen from the decomposition of ammonia inside the furnace. Hydrogen is a reducing gas, which can reduce the oxide film on the outside of the steel pipe, so that the steel pipe and copper pipe can be brazed in the furnace. This ensures the welding stability of the first copper connecting pipe 15, the second copper connecting pipe 16, and the third copper connecting pipe 17 with the inlet pipe 12, the outlet pipe 13, and the return oil pipe 14. Similarly, when welding the transition copper pipe at the connection end of the corresponding piping, a furnace welding process can also be used. The welding temperature parameters for furnace welding are 800 degrees to 1082 degrees (this temperature is the actual surface temperature of the product to be welded in the furnace). Of course, the welding temperature parameters for furnace welding can also be selected according to actual needs.
[0060] In some embodiments, the cylinder 11, inlet pipe 12, outlet pipe 13, and oil return pipe 14 are made of stainless steel or carbon steel. It is understood that stainless steel and carbon steel are less expensive than copper, effectively reducing the cost of the oil separator 10. Furthermore, stainless steel and carbon steel have good structural strength and are less prone to deformation, improving connection stability and resistance to vibration stress. Stainless steel also has good corrosion resistance, effectively resisting the erosion of the heat exchange medium in environments with frequent heat exchange. When the cylinder 11, inlet pipe 12, outlet pipe 13, and oil return pipe 14 are made of stainless steel, the stainless steel can be formed from Fe, Cr, and Ni elements. The addition of Cr and Ni elements gives the stainless steel a lower pitting corrosion potential, lower pitting corrosion weight loss, and a lower martensitic transformation temperature, making it more difficult for the stainless steel to undergo martensitic phase transformation during processing. This results in stronger resistance to pitting corrosion and stress corrosion, allowing for direct flame welding without annealing.
[0061] In some embodiments, the air inlet pipe 12, the air outlet pipe 13, and the oil return pipe 14 are all welded steel pipes. Compared with seamless steel pipes, welded steel pipes are cheaper and easier to process and form.
[0062] In some embodiments, the inner diameter of the cylinder 11 is d, where 19 mm ≤ d ≤ 89 mm. It is understood that when d is less than 19 mm, the diameter of the cylinder 11 is too small, resulting in a smaller oil separation chamber 111 within the cylinder 11 and thus lower oil separation efficiency of the oil separator 10. When d is greater than 89 mm, the diameter of the cylinder 11 is too large, occupying a significant amount of space and potentially leading to an excessively large overall size. Furthermore, it can cause structural instability in the cylinder 11, making it prone to deformation due to impact. Here, d can be 19 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm, 40 mm, 45 mm, 70 mm, 89 mm, or other values.
[0063] like Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, the first through hole 112 is located on the circumference of the cylinder 11, and the length of the first through hole 112 along its axial direction is H, where 1.2 mm ≤ H ≤ 7 mm. It can be understood that the first through hole 112 can be a flanged hole formed by stamping the side of the cylinder 11. H is the flanged length along its axial direction. When H is less than 1.2 mm, the flanged length is too small, the welding length between the air inlet pipe 12 and the flange is too short, and the air inlet pipe 12 is prone to loosening after welding. When H is greater than 7 mm, the flanged length is too large, which will increase the volume of the oil separator 10, making it difficult to transport and place the oil separator 10. H can be 1.2 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, 7 mm, or other values.
[0064] In some embodiments, an arc transition surface is provided at the connection between the outer surface of the first through hole 112 and the cylinder 11. The arc transition surface can achieve a smooth transition connection between the flange and the cylinder 11, preventing breakage at the connection between the flange and the cylinder 11. The radius of the arc transition surface is R, where 0.2 mm ≤ R ≤ 1.2 mm. When R is less than 0.2 mm, the radius of the arc transition surface is too small, making it difficult to achieve a smooth transition connection between the flange and the cylinder 11. When R is greater than 1.2 mm, the radius of the arc transition surface is too large, which will affect the thickness of the flange, resulting in a reduction in the thickness of the flange, and thus affecting the structural strength of the flange. R can be 0.2 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.8 mm, 1 mm, 1.2 mm, or other values.
[0065] In some embodiments, the axis O2 of the first through hole 112 is perpendicular to and does not intersect with the axis O1 of the cylinder 11, such that the axis O2 of the first through hole 112 is eccentrically set relative to the axis O1 of the cylinder 11. This allows the mixture formed by the lubricating oil and heat exchange medium of the compressor 21 to have a tangential velocity when it enters the oil separator 10 along the first through hole 112, enabling the mixture to rotate inside the cylinder 11. This allows the mixture to achieve oil-gas separation through centrifugal force, preventing direct collision between the mixture and the cylinder 11, reducing kinetic energy loss, and accelerating the oil-gas separation speed. Furthermore, the existence of a certain distance between the mixture and the axis O1 of the cylinder 11 extends the oil-gas separation path and prolongs the rotation time of the mixture inside the cylinder 11, thereby improving the oil-gas separation effect.
[0066] In some embodiments, the cylinder 11 includes a main body section 115, a first transition section 116, and a second transition section 117. The first transition section 116 is located between the top end of the main body section 115 and the second through hole 113, and the second through hole 113 is connected to the first transition section 116. The second transition section 117 is located between the bottom end of the main body section 115 and the third through hole 114, and the third through hole 114 is connected to the second transition section 117. It should be noted that the second through hole 113 and the third through hole 114 can be formed by spin compression of the cylinder 11. Compared with the main body section 115, the aperture of the second through hole 113 and the third through hole 114 is smaller, which can accelerate the flow rate of fluid (such as lubricating oil, heat exchange medium, etc.) through the second through hole 113 and the third through hole 114, thereby improving the oil-gas separation efficiency of the oil separator 10. In addition, it also facilitates the welding of the thinner-diameter outlet pipe 13 and return oil pipe 14 to the cylinder 11.
[0067] The outer surfaces of the first transition segment 116 and the second transition segment 117 are both trumpet-shaped inclined surfaces. The angle between the outer surface of the first transition segment 116 and the axis of the first transition segment 116 is α1, where 30 degrees ≤ α1 ≤ 67.5 degrees. The angle between the outer surface of the second transition segment 117 and the axis of the second transition segment 117 is α2, where 30 degrees ≤ α2 ≤ 67.5 degrees. Understandably, the first transition section 116 is used to achieve the transition connection between the main body section 115 and the second through hole 113, and the second transition section 117 is used to achieve the transition connection between the main body section 115 and the third through hole 114. Taking α1 as an example, when α1 is less than 30 degrees, the slope of the outer surface of the first transition section 116 is too large, and stress concentration and cracks are likely to occur at the connection between the first transition section 116, the main body section 115, and the second through hole 113. When α1 is greater than 67.5 degrees, the slope of the outer surface of the first transition section 116 is too small. With the length of the first transition section 116 being a fixed value, this will result in the diameter of the second through hole 113 being too large, failing to meet the design requirements. Here, α1 can be 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 67.5 degrees, or other degrees, and α2 can be 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 67.5 degrees, or other degrees.
[0068] like Figures 4 to 6 As shown, the air inlet pipe 12 is inserted into the first through hole 112, the air outlet pipe 13 is inserted into the second through hole 113, and the oil return pipe 14 is inserted into the third through hole 114; this facilitates welding of the air inlet pipe 12, the air outlet pipe 13, and the oil return pipe 14 to the cylinder 11. Specifically, the air inlet pipe 12 can be inserted into the first through hole 112, or the first through hole 112 can be inserted into the air inlet pipe 12; the air outlet pipe 13 can be inserted into the second through hole 113, or the second through hole 113 can be inserted into the air inlet pipe 13; and the oil return pipe 14 can be inserted into the third through hole 114, or the third through hole 114 can be inserted into the oil return pipe 14.
[0069] The insertion lengths of the intake pipe 12 and the first through hole 112, the exhaust pipe 13 and the second through hole 113, and the return oil pipe 14 and the third through hole 114 are all L1, with a value of 7 mm ≤ L1 ≤ 30 mm. This ensures that the intake pipe 12 and the first through hole 112, the exhaust pipe 13 and the second through hole 113, and the return oil pipe 14 and the third through hole 114 all have sufficient insertion lengths to guarantee weld penetration depth and thus ensure connection stability. L1 can be 7 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm, or other values.
[0070] It should also be noted that, according to experiments, when steel pipes are welded together using tin bronze solder, corrosion and leakage are likely to occur at the weld when the insertion length is less than 7 mm. In a neutral salt spray test, corrosion and leakage usually occur within 100 to 500 hours. However, when the insertion length is greater than 7 mm, the corrosion resistance of the weld can be effectively improved, and corrosion and leakage can occur after more than 1000 hours in a neutral salt spray test. When steel pipes are welded together using copper solder, even if the insertion length is less than 7 mm, corrosion and leakage can occur after more than 1000 hours in a neutral salt spray test. Therefore, when L1 is greater than or equal to 7 mm, tin bronze or copper solder can be used to weld the air inlet pipe 12 to the first through hole 112, the air outlet pipe 13 to the second through hole 113, and the oil return pipe 14 to the third through hole 114.
[0071] In some embodiments, the connecting surfaces of the intake pipe 12 and the first through hole 112, the connecting surfaces of the exhaust pipe 13 and the second through hole 113, and the connecting surfaces of the return pipe 14 and the third through hole 114 are all provided with textured structures. It is understood that, taking the welding of the intake pipe 12 and the first through hole 112 as an example, the textured structure can be provided on the outer peripheral surface of the portion of the intake pipe 12 inserted into the first through hole 112, or on the inner wall surface of the portion of the first through hole 112 welded to the intake pipe 12. When the solder melts between the inner wall of the intake pipe 12 and the first through hole 112, the textured structure can increase the roughness of the connecting surfaces of the intake pipe 12 and the first through hole 112, thereby providing capillary action for the solder, allowing the solder to flow along the textured structure, thus increasing the solder spreading length and improving the welding effect. The textured structure can be a brushed structure or a knurled structure, or other structures that can increase the surface roughness of the connecting surfaces of the intake pipe 12 and the first through hole 112.
[0072] like Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, in some embodiments, the vent pipe 13 includes a first branch pipe 131 and a second branch pipe 132. The first branch pipe 131 is a steel pipe and is located inside the oil separation chamber 111. The second branch pipe 132 is a copper pipe. The first end of the second branch pipe 132 is inserted into the oil separation chamber 111 and welded to the first branch pipe 131 and the cylinder 11. The second end of the second branch pipe 132 extends out of the oil separation chamber 111 from the first through hole 112. The second copper connecting pipe 16 is welded to the second end of the second branch pipe 132. It is understandable that the first branch pipe 131 is inserted into the oil separation chamber 111, and the first branch pipe 131 is a steel pipe. The first branch pipe 131 can be welded to the cylinder 11 by furnace welding to extend the length of the gas outlet pipe 13 into the oil separation chamber 111, so that the heat exchange medium can be better discharged from the oil separator 10 along the gas outlet pipe 13, and the cost of the gas outlet pipe 13 can be reduced. The second branch pipe 132 is a copper pipe, and the second branch pipe 132 can also be welded to the first branch pipe 131 by furnace welding. The second branch pipe 132 and the second copper connecting pipe 16 are both copper pipes, which makes the welding of the second branch pipe 132 and the second copper connecting pipe 16 more convenient. The first branch pipe 131 and the cylinder 11, the second branch pipe 132 and the first branch pipe 131, and the second copper connecting pipe 16 and the second branch pipe 132 can also be welded simultaneously in the same furnace welding process.
[0073] like Figure 6 As shown, in some embodiments, a filter assembly 18 is provided inside the third through hole 114. The filter assembly 18 is made of stainless steel and is welded to the inner wall of the cylinder 11. The filter assembly 18 can filter impurities in the lubricating oil, preventing the lubricating oil from carrying too many impurities back to the compressor 21 and affecting the normal operation of the compressor 21. Furthermore, the stainless steel construction of the filter assembly 18 can reduce its cost and improve its corrosion resistance. Alternatively, the filter assembly 18 can be welded to the cylinder 11 using furnace welding.
[0074] like Figures 7 to 9 As shown, in some embodiments of this application, the first copper connecting pipe 15 is connected to the air intake pipe 12, the second copper connecting pipe 16 is connected to the air intake pipe 12, and the third copper connecting pipe 17 is connected to the oil return pipe 14 by a plug-in connection, so as to facilitate welding of the first copper connecting pipe 15 to the air intake pipe 12, the second copper connecting pipe 16 to the air intake pipe 12, and the third copper connecting pipe 17 to the oil return pipe 14. Specifically, the first copper connecting pipe 15 can be inserted into the air intake pipe 12, or the air intake pipe 12 can be inserted into the first copper connecting pipe 15; the second copper connecting pipe 16 can be inserted into the air outlet pipe 13, or the air outlet pipe 13 can be inserted into the second copper connecting pipe 16; the third copper connecting pipe 17 can be inserted into the oil return pipe 14, or the oil return pipe 14 can be inserted into the third copper connecting pipe 17.
[0075] In one embodiment, the insertion lengths of the first copper connecting pipe 15 to the air inlet pipe 12, the second copper connecting pipe 16 to the air inlet pipe 12, and the third copper connecting pipe 17 to the oil return pipe 14 are L2, where 7 mm ≤ L2 ≤ 30 mm. This ensures that the first copper connecting pipe 15 to the air inlet pipe 12, the second copper connecting pipe 16 to the air inlet pipe 12, and the third copper connecting pipe 17 to the oil return pipe 14 all have sufficient insertion lengths to guarantee weld penetration depth, thereby ensuring connection stability. L2 can be 7 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm, or other values.
[0076] Secondly, based on the aforementioned oil separator 10, this application also provides a method for preparing the oil separator 10, used to prepare the oil separator 10 in the above embodiments, such as... Figure 10 As shown, the preparation method includes:
[0077] S10. The two ends of the steel cylinder 11 are spun into openings to form the second through hole 113 and the third through hole 114. Spun into openings are a cold working process, which is simple and reliable and can reduce the manufacturing difficulty of the oil separator 10.
[0078] S20. The side of the cylinder 11 is stamped to form the first through hole 112. Stamping is also a cold working process. The processing method is simple and reliable, which can reduce the processing and manufacturing difficulty of the oil separator 10.
[0079] S30. Insert the first end of the air inlet pipe 12 into the first through hole 112 and weld it to the cylinder body 11. Insert the first end of the air outlet pipe 13 into the second through hole 113 and weld it to the cylinder body 11. Insert the first end of the oil return pipe 14 into the third through hole 114 and weld it to the cylinder body 11.
[0080] S40, the first copper connecting pipe 15 is connected to the second end of the air inlet pipe 12, the second copper connecting pipe 16 is connected to the second end of the air outlet pipe 13, and the third copper connecting pipe 17 is connected to the second end of the oil return pipe 14 by furnace welding.
[0081] Before step S10, the cylinder 11 can be inspected and cleaned to ensure that the cylinder 11 is in good condition and to remove dirt from the cylinder 11, so as to facilitate the subsequent processing of the cylinder 11.
[0082] In some embodiments, step S10 includes
[0083] S11. Perform spin compression machining on one end of the cylinder 11 to form one of the second through hole 113 and the third through hole 114;
[0084] S12. Clean the cylinder 11;
[0085] S11. Perform a spin compression process on the other end of the cylinder 11 to form another of the second through hole 113 and the third through hole 114, so as to form the second through hole 113 and the third through hole 114 respectively through two spin compression processes.
[0086] In some embodiments, the cylinder 11 is made of stainless steel, and step S30 includes:
[0087] S31. Insert the first end of the intake pipe 12 into the first through hole 112, insert the first end of the exhaust pipe 13 into the second through hole 113, and insert the first end of the return oil pipe 14 into the third through hole 114.
[0088] S32. The inlet pipe 12, outlet pipe 13 and oil return pipe 14 are welded to the cylinder 11 in the furnace using copper solder. Copper solder can ensure the welding stability of the inlet pipe 12, outlet pipe 13 and oil return pipe 14 to the cylinder 11, and can effectively improve the corrosion resistance of the weld. In addition, stainless steel itself has good corrosion resistance, so there is no need to set a protective layer at the weld of the inlet pipe 12, outlet pipe 13 and oil return pipe 14 to the cylinder 11, which can reduce the preparation process of the oil separator 10.
[0089] In other embodiments, the cylinder 11 is made of carbon steel, and step S30 includes:
[0090] S33. Insert the first end of the intake pipe 12 into the first through hole 112, insert the first end of the exhaust pipe 13 into the second through hole 113, and insert the first end of the return oil pipe 14 into the third through hole 114.
[0091] S34. Use copper solder to weld the air inlet pipe 12, air outlet pipe 13 and oil return pipe 14 to the cylinder 11 in the furnace.
[0092] S35. An anti-corrosion layer is formed on the surface of the cylinder 11, at the weld between the inlet pipe 12 and the cylinder 11, at the weld between the outlet pipe 13 and the cylinder 11, and at the weld between the return oil pipe 14 and the cylinder 11. It is understood that carbon steel has stronger structural strength and hardness than stainless steel, and is easier to process, which simplifies the manufacturing process of the oil separator 10. Simultaneously, the anti-corrosion layer enhances the corrosion resistance of the welds between the inlet pipe 12, the outlet pipe 13, and the return oil pipe 14 and the cylinder 11, thereby ensuring the corrosion resistance of these welds.
[0093] The anti-corrosion layer can be formed by spraying or by surface treatment processes, such as chromium diffusion, carbon-chromium co-diffusion, molybdenum diffusion, carbon-molybdenum co-diffusion, nitriding, or nitrogen-carbon co-diffusion.
[0094] In some embodiments, after step S20 and before step S30, the filter assembly 18 can be installed at the third through hole 114 and the filter assembly 18 can be welded to the cylinder 11.
[0095] In some embodiments, step S40 includes:
[0096] S41. The first copper connecting pipe 15 is welded to the air inlet pipe 12, the second copper connecting pipe 16 is welded to the air outlet pipe 13, and the third copper connecting pipe 17 is welded to the oil return pipe 14 using tin bronze solder.
[0097] S42. The first copper connecting pipe 15 is welded to the inlet pipe 12, the second copper connecting pipe 16 to the outlet pipe 13, and the third copper connecting pipe 17 to the return oil pipe 14 using copper solder for a second welding in the furnace. It is understood that compared with copper solder, tin bronze solder has a lower melting point and cost. Manual welding can be used to perform the first welding of the first copper connecting pipe 15 to the inlet pipe 12, the second copper connecting pipe 16 to the outlet pipe 13, and the third copper connecting pipe 17 to achieve pre-fixation and prevent the first copper connecting pipe 15, the second copper connecting pipe 16, and the third copper connecting pipe 17 from falling off during the process of transporting the welded cylinder 11 to the furnace. At the same time, copper solder has better corrosion resistance, which can improve the connection stability.
[0098] It should also be noted that after step S40, the formed oil separator 10 can also be cleaned, its airtightness checked, coated with a protective layer, and packaged.
[0099] Thirdly, based on the aforementioned oil separator 10, this application also provides a refrigerant circulation loop, such as... Figure 11 As shown, the refrigerant circulation loop includes a compressor 21, a four-way valve 22, a piping assembly 23, and an oil separator 10 as described in any of the above embodiments. A first copper connecting pipe 15 is connected to the exhaust port of the compressor 21 through the piping assembly 23, a second copper connecting pipe 16 is connected to the inlet port of the four-way valve 22 through the piping assembly 23, and a third copper connecting pipe 17 is connected to the inlet port of the compressor 21 through the piping assembly 23.
[0100] When the compressor 21 discharges, the lubricating oil in the compressor 21 is mixed with the heat exchange medium and discharged from the discharge port of the compressor 21. Then, it is discharged into the oil separation chamber 111 through the piping assembly 23, the first copper connecting pipe 15 and the inlet pipe 12. The oil separator 10 separates the heat exchange medium and the lubricating oil. The heat exchange medium flows to the inlet of the four-way valve 22 through the outlet pipe 13 and the second copper connecting pipe 16, and can flow to the heat exchanger 25 and other devices connected to the outlet of the four-way valve 22. The lubricating oil returns to the gas-liquid separator 24 or the compressor 21 through the return oil pipe 14 and the third copper connecting pipe 17.
[0101] Fourthly, based on the aforementioned refrigerant circulation loop, this application also provides a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, such as... Figure 12 As shown, the HVAC system includes an outdoor unit 20 and an indoor unit 30. The outdoor unit 20 includes a refrigerant circulation loop as in any of the above embodiments, and the outdoor unit 20 is connected to the indoor unit 30 through a piping assembly 23.
[0102] 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 oil separator, characterized in that, include: The cylinder has an oil separation chamber. The cylinder is made of steel and has a first through hole, a second through hole, and a third through hole. An air intake pipe is provided, with its first end inserted into the first through hole and welded to the cylinder body, and its second end welded with a first copper connecting pipe, which communicates with the oil separation chamber through the air intake pipe. An exhaust pipe is provided, with its first end inserted into the second through hole and welded to the cylinder body, and its second end welded with a second copper connecting pipe, which communicates with the oil separation chamber through the exhaust pipe. The oil return pipe has its first end inserted into the third through hole and welded to the cylinder body, and its second end welded with a third copper connecting pipe, which is connected to the oil separation chamber through the oil return pipe.
2. The oil separator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cylinder, the air inlet pipe, and the oil return pipe are made of stainless steel or carbon steel.
3. The oil separator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air inlet pipe, the air outlet pipe, and the oil return pipe are all welded steel pipes.
4. The oil separator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner diameter of the cylinder is d, where 19 mm ≤ d ≤ 89 mm.
5. The oil separator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first through hole is located on the periphery of the cylinder, and the length of the first through hole along its axial direction is H, 1.2 mm ≤ H ≤ 7 mm.
6. The oil separator according to claim 5, characterized in that, An arc transition surface is provided at the connection between the outer side of the first through hole and the cylinder body. The radius of the arc transition surface is R, where 0.2 mm ≤ R ≤ 1.2 mm.
7. The oil separator according to claim 6, characterized in that, The centerline of the first through hole is perpendicular to and does not intersect the centerline of the cylinder.
8. The oil separator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cylindrical body includes a main body section, a first transition section, and a second transition section. The first transition section is located between the top end of the main body section and the second through hole, and the second through hole is connected to the first transition section. The second transition section is located between the bottom end of the main body section and the third through hole, and the third through hole is connected to the second transition section. The outer surfaces of the first transition section and the second transition section are both trumpet-shaped inclined surfaces. The angle between the outer surface of the first transition section and the axis of the first transition section is α1, where 30 degrees ≤ α1 ≤ 67.5 degrees. The angle between the outer surface of the second transition section and the axis of the second transition section is α2, where 30 degrees ≤ α2 ≤ 67.5 degrees.
9. The oil separator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air intake pipe is inserted into the first through hole, the air outlet pipe is inserted into the second through hole, and the oil return pipe is inserted into the third through hole; The insertion length of the air intake pipe to the first through hole, the insertion length of the air outlet pipe to the second through hole, and the insertion length of the oil return pipe to the third through hole are L1, where 7 mm ≤ L1 ≤ 30 mm.
10. The oil separator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connection surfaces of the air intake pipe and the first through hole, the air outlet pipe and the second through hole, and the oil return pipe and the third through hole are all provided with textured structures.
11. The oil separator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vent pipe includes a first branch pipe and a second branch pipe. The first branch pipe is a steel pipe and is located inside the oil separation chamber. The second branch pipe is a copper pipe. The first end of the second branch pipe is inserted into the oil separation chamber and welded to the first branch pipe and the cylinder. The second end of the second branch pipe extends out of the oil separation chamber from the first through hole. The second copper connecting pipe is welded to the second end of the second branch pipe.
12. The oil separator according to claim 1, characterized in that, A filter assembly is provided inside the third through hole. The filter assembly is made of stainless steel and is welded to the inner wall of the cylinder.
13. A method for preparing an oil separator, characterized in that, include: The two ends of the steel cylinder are spun and compressed to form a second and a third through hole; The side of the cylinder is stamped to form the first through hole; The first end of the air inlet pipe is inserted into the first through hole and welded to the cylinder body; the first end of the air outlet pipe is inserted into the second through hole and welded to the cylinder body; and the first end of the oil return pipe is inserted into the third through hole and welded to the cylinder body. The first copper connecting pipe is welded to the second end of the air inlet pipe, the second copper connecting pipe is welded to the second end of the air outlet pipe, and the third copper connecting pipe is welded to the second end of the oil return pipe using a furnace welding process.
14. The method for preparing the oil separator according to claim 13, characterized in that, The cylinder body is made of stainless steel. The steps of inserting the first end of the air inlet pipe into the first through hole and welding it to the cylinder body, inserting the first end of the air outlet pipe into the second through hole and welding it to the cylinder body, and inserting the first end of the oil return pipe into the third through hole and welding it to the cylinder body include: Insert the first end of the air inlet pipe into the first through hole, insert the first end of the air outlet pipe into the second through hole, and insert the first end of the oil return pipe into the third through hole. The air inlet pipe, the air outlet pipe, and the oil return pipe are welded to the cylinder in a furnace using copper solder.
15. The method for preparing the oil separator according to claim 13, characterized in that, The cylinder body is made of carbon steel. The steps of inserting the first end of the air inlet pipe into the first through hole and welding it to the cylinder body, inserting the first end of the air outlet pipe into the second through hole and welding it to the cylinder body, and inserting the first end of the oil return pipe into the third through hole and welding it to the cylinder body include: Insert the first end of the air inlet pipe into the first through hole, insert the first end of the air outlet pipe into the second through hole, and insert the first end of the oil return pipe into the third through hole. The air inlet pipe, the air outlet pipe, and the oil return pipe are welded to the cylinder in a furnace using copper solder. An anti-corrosion layer is formed on the surface of the cylinder, at the weld between the air inlet pipe and the cylinder, at the weld between the air outlet pipe and the cylinder, and at the weld between the oil return pipe and the cylinder.
16. The method for preparing the oil separator according to claim 13, characterized in that, The steps of welding the first copper connecting pipe to the second end of the intake pipe, welding the second copper connecting pipe to the second end of the exhaust pipe, and welding the third copper connecting pipe to the second end of the return oil pipe include: The first copper connecting pipe is first welded to the air inlet pipe, the second copper connecting pipe is first welded to the air outlet pipe, and the third copper connecting pipe is first welded to the oil return pipe using tin bronze solder. The first copper connecting pipe is welded to the inlet pipe, the second copper connecting pipe to the outlet pipe, and the third copper connecting pipe to the return oil pipe using copper solder in a furnace for a second welding.
17. A refrigerant circulation loop, characterized in that, The device includes a compressor, a four-way valve, a piping assembly, and an oil separator as described in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the first copper connecting pipe is connected to the exhaust port of the compressor through the piping assembly, the second copper connecting pipe is connected to the inlet port of the four-way valve through the piping assembly, and the third copper connecting pipe is connected to the inlet port of the compressor through the piping assembly.
18. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, characterized in that, It includes an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, wherein the outdoor unit includes the refrigerant circulation loop as described in claim 17, and the outdoor unit is connected to the indoor unit through the piping assembly.