Gas-liquid separator, outdoor unit and heating and ventilation equipment

Abstract

The utility model discloses a gas-liquid separator, an outdoor unit and heating and ventilation equipment. The gas-liquid separator comprises a tank body, a refrigerant pipe assembly and an electric heating assembly. An accommodating cavity is formed in the tank body; the refrigerant pipe assembly comprises a refrigerant inlet pipe and a refrigerant outlet pipe which are arranged on the tank body in a spaced mode, one part of the refrigerant inlet pipe is located outside the tank body and used for being connected with the heat exchanger, the other part of the refrigerant inlet pipe is located in the containing cavity and used for being communicated with the containing cavity, and one part of the refrigerant outlet pipe is located outside the tank body and used for being connected with the compressor. The other part is positioned in the accommodating cavity and is communicated with the accommodating cavity; the electric heating assembly is arranged in the containing cavity and fixed to the part, located in the containing cavity, of the refrigerant inlet pipe and / or fixed to the part, located in the containing cavity, of the refrigerant outlet pipe. According to the scheme, the temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the compressor can be increased, evaporation of the refrigerant is promoted, and therefore the risk that the liquid refrigerant flows into the compressor is reduced, and the liquid impact phenomenon is effectively reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of HVAC equipment, in particular to a gas-liquid separator, an outdoor unit applying the gas-liquid separator, and an HVAC equipment applying the outdoor unit. Background Art

[0002] In the existing HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system, the outdoor unit is an important part of the whole system. It is responsible for heat exchange with the outdoor environment to achieve the adjustment of indoor temperature. The outdoor unit usually includes key components such as a compressor, a heat exchanger, a gas-liquid separator, an expansion valve, etc., and the gas-liquid separator is one of the key components.

[0003] A gas-liquid separator is a device for separating gas and liquid. Its working principle is mainly to utilize the density difference between gas and liquid to separate the liquid and gaseous refrigerant, preventing the liquid refrigerant from entering the compressor, aiming to prevent the occurrence of liquid slugging phenomenon, that is, liquid slugging means that the refrigerant liquid is sucked into the compressor, causing a liquid slugging accident of the compressor. The liquid slugging phenomenon will not only reduce the system efficiency, but also may cause damage to the compressor, thus affecting the reliability and life of the whole HVAC system.

[0004] In some special operating environments, such as low-temperature operating conditions, the liquid part in the refrigerant in the gas-liquid separator may not be completely evaporated into gas, that is, there is a situation where there is too much liquid refrigerant in the gas-liquid separator, which will increase the risk of liquid refrigerant flowing into the compressor and generating the liquid slugging phenomenon. Summary of the Utility Model

[0005] The main purpose of the utility model is to provide a gas-liquid separator, an outdoor unit and an HVAC equipment, aiming to improve the separation efficiency of the gas-liquid separator and reduce the liquid slugging impact on the compressor caused by liquid carryover in the return gas.

[0006] In the first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a gas-liquid separator, including a tank body, a refrigerant pipe assembly and an electric heating assembly; a receiving cavity is formed in the tank body; the refrigerant pipe assembly includes a refrigerant inlet pipe and a refrigerant outlet pipe which are arranged at intervals on the tank body. A part of the refrigerant inlet pipe is located outside the tank body and is used for connecting a heat exchanger, and another part is located in the receiving cavity and is used for communicating with the receiving cavity. A part of the refrigerant outlet pipe is located outside the tank body and is used for connecting a compressor, and another part is located in the receiving cavity and is used for communicating with the receiving cavity; the electric heating assembly is arranged in the receiving cavity and is fixed to a part of the refrigerant inlet pipe located in the receiving cavity and / or fixed to a part of the refrigerant outlet pipe located in the receiving cavity.

[0007] In a possible implementation, the electric heating component is disposed around at least a part of the refrigerant outlet pipe located in the accommodation cavity.

[0008] In a possible implementation, the part of the refrigerant inlet pipe located in the accommodation cavity has an inlet pipe outlet, the inlet pipe outlet is located above the electric heating component and is disposed adjacent to the electric heating component.

[0009] In a possible implementation, the inlet pipe outlet is disposed towards the cavity side wall of the accommodation cavity, the cavity side wall includes a refrigerant flow area, the refrigerant flow area is formed by the refrigerant sprayed from the inlet pipe outlet and falling on the cavity side wall, and the electric heating component is disposed adjacent to the refrigerant flow area.

[0010] In a possible implementation, the refrigerant outlet pipe includes a connected first part and a second part, the first part is fixed to the top of the tank body and is used for connecting with a compressor, and the second part is located in the accommodation cavity and is connected to the first part;

[0011] The second part includes at least two vertically extending parts and a bent part connecting two adjacent vertically extending parts, and at least one of the vertically extending parts is provided with the electric heating component.

[0012] In a possible implementation, there are two vertically extending parts, the bent part is close to the bottom of the tank body, the upper end of one vertically extending part is close to the top of the tank body and communicates with the accommodation cavity, and the other vertically extending part is connected to the first part and is provided with the electric heating component.

[0013] In a possible implementation, at least one oil return hole is provided on the bent part.

[0014] In a possible implementation, the refrigerant outlet pipe includes a discharge pipe, a connecting pipe and an interface pipe spliced in sequence, the discharge pipe and the connecting pipe are disposed in the accommodation cavity, an outlet pipe inlet is formed at the upper end of the discharge pipe, the outlet pipe inlet is close to the top of the tank body and communicates with the accommodation cavity, and the interface pipe is fixed to the top of the tank body; and the discharge pipe and the connecting pipe form a "U" - shaped tube; the electric heating component is fixed on the connecting pipe.

[0015] In a possible implementation, the outlet pipe inlet is disposed higher than the inlet pipe outlet.

[0016] In a possible implementation, the electric heating assembly includes a heat conductor, a heating core, and an electricity connection structure; the heat conductor is fixed on the refrigerant outlet pipe; the heating core is fixed on the heat conductor; the electricity connection structure includes a wire and an electricity connection base, two ends of the wire are respectively connected to the heating core and the electricity connection base, and the electricity connection base is fixed on the outer wall of the tank body.

[0017] In a possible implementation, the heating core is received in the heat conductor.

[0018] In a possible implementation, a plurality of heating cores are provided, and the plurality of heating cores are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction of the refrigerant outlet pipe.

[0019] In a possible implementation, a protective cover is further included, the protective cover is detachably connected to the tank body and covers the outside of the electricity connection base.

[0020] In a possible implementation, the tank body includes a cylindrical part, a top cover and a bottom cover respectively covering the upper end and the lower end of the cylindrical part, the cylindrical part, the top cover and the bottom cover enclose to form the accommodation cavity, and both the refrigerant inlet pipe and the refrigerant outlet pipe are fixed on the top cover.

[0021] In a possible implementation, a support assembly for supporting the tank body is further included.

[0022] The gas-liquid separator in the embodiment of the present application is provided with an electric heating assembly, which can effectively increase the temperature of the inflowing refrigerant, promote its evaporation, thereby reducing the risk of liquid refrigerant flowing into the compressor, effectively reducing the occurrence of liquid hammer phenomenon, and also increasing the temperature of the refrigerant entering the compressor through the electric heating assembly. In this way, when the outdoor unit is in the defrosting working mode and some extreme working condition modes, because the refrigerant is preheated, the working efficiency of the compressor can be improved. Further, the electric heating assembly of the present embodiment is arranged in the accommodation cavity of the tank body. On the one hand, it can reduce the occupation of external space and make the design of the whole gas-liquid separator more compact; on the other hand, compared with the related art in which the electric heating assembly is arranged on the outer wall of the tank body, the electric heating assembly of the present embodiment is arranged in the accommodation cavity, which can directly heat the refrigerant flowing into the tank body, avoiding the need for the electric heating assembly in the related art to transfer heat through the tank body, reducing the loss of heat during the transfer process, and improving the gasification efficiency. Still further, the electric heating assembly of the present embodiment is specifically fixed on the part of the refrigerant inlet pipe and / or the refrigerant outlet pipe located in the accommodation cavity, which can more directly heat the refrigerant flowing into the refrigerant inlet pipe and / or the refrigerant outlet pipe, improve the gasification effect, and further ensure that the refrigerant exists in a gaseous state before entering the compressor, reducing the proportion of liquid refrigerant.

[0023] Second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an outdoor unit, including a housing, a compressor, and the gas-liquid separator described in any one of the above. The gas-liquid separator is disposed within the housing. The refrigerant inlet pipe is used to connect to the heat exchanger of the indoor unit, and the refrigerant outlet pipe is connected to the compressor.

[0024] Third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) device, including an indoor unit and the outdoor unit described above. The outdoor unit includes a heat exchanger. The outdoor unit and the indoor unit form a refrigerant circulation flow path, wherein the refrigerant inlet pipe is connected to the heat exchanger. Description of the Drawings

[0025] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can also be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings.

[0026] Figure 1 Structural schematic diagram of the gas-liquid separator provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0027] Figure 2 Assembly schematic diagram of the gas-liquid separator provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0028] Figure 3 Assembly schematic diagram of the gas-liquid separator provided by another embodiment of the present application;

[0029] Figure 4 Assembly schematic diagram of the electric heating component provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0030] Figure 5 For Figure 4 Cross-sectional view in the A-Aˋ direction in

[0031] Explanation of the reference numerals in the drawings:

[0032] 1. Gas-liquid separator; 10. Tank body; 10a. Accommodation cavity; 11. Cylindrical part; 12. Top cover; 13. Bottom cover; 20. Refrigerant pipe assembly; 21. Refrigerant inlet pipe; 21a. Inlet of the inlet pipe; 21b. Outlet of the inlet pipe; 211. First pipe section; 212. Second pipe section; 22. Refrigerant outlet pipe; 22a. Inlet of the outlet pipe; 22b. Outlet of the outlet pipe; 221a. First part; 222a. Second part; 2221a. First vertically extending part; 2222a. Bent part; 22221. Oil return hole; 2223a. Second vertically extending part; 22231. Balance hole; 221b. Discharge pipe; 222b. Connecting pipe; 223b. Interface pipe; 30. Electric heating assembly; 31. Heat conductor; 32. Heating core; 33. Power connection structure; 331. Conducting wire; 332. Power connection seat; 40. Protective cover; 50. Support assembly;

[0033] 2. Controller.

[0034] The realization, functional features and advantages of the purpose of the present utility model will be further described with reference to the embodiments and the accompanying drawings. Specific embodiments

[0035] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present utility model, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without making creative efforts belong to the scope of protection of the present utility model.

[0036] It should be noted that all the directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back...) in the embodiments of the present utility model are only used to explain the relative position relationship and movement conditions between components in a specific posture (as shown in the accompanying drawings). If the specific posture changes, the directional indications will also change accordingly.

[0037] In addition, the descriptions such as "first" and "second" in the present utility model are only for descriptive purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, the features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature. In the description of the present utility model, "a plurality" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0038] In the present utility model, unless otherwise clearly defined and limited, terms such as "connection" and "fixation" shall be understood in a broad sense. For example, "fixation" may be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or integrated; it may be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it may be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and it may be the communication inside two components or the interaction relationship between two components, unless otherwise clearly defined. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present utility model can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0039] In addition, the technical solutions between various embodiments of the present utility model can be combined with each other, but it must be based on the ability of those of ordinary skill in the art to implement. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the protection scope required by the present utility model.

[0040] The embodiments of the present application provide a gas-liquid separator, an outdoor unit, and a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) device. The HVAC device refers to various devices used to achieve heating, ventilation, and air conditioning in a building. Specifically, HVAC includes three main directions: heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. Taking an HVAC device with a refrigerant as the heating medium and water as the heating object as an example, the HVAC device includes an outdoor unit and an indoor unit that forms a refrigerant circulation flow path with the outdoor unit. The indoor unit includes a heat exchanger, and the heat exchanger is connected to the gas-liquid separator. The HVAC device also includes an electronic control system for controlling the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. The electronic control system can receive user instructions and adjust the operating speed, working mode, etc. of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. The working modes of the indoor unit may include a cooling mode and a heating mode, and the working modes of the outdoor unit may include a defrosting mode.

[0041] Specifically, the outdoor unit may include a housing, as well as a compressor and a gas-liquid separator disposed inside the housing. The heat exchanger, the gas-liquid separator, and the compressor are sequentially connected through a refrigerant pipe assembly. The compressor is the core component of the outdoor unit and is responsible for compressing the refrigerant and delivering it to the outdoor unit.

[0042] In addition, the outdoor unit further includes a four-way valve, which is disposed in the housing and connected to the compressor. The four-way valve is used to control the flow direction of the refrigerant to achieve the switching between the cooling state and the heating state of the HVAC device.

[0043] In the cooling mode of the indoor unit, that is, in the defrosting mode of the outdoor unit, the function of the heat exchanger is to absorb the heat in the room by using the phase change of the refrigerant (from liquid to gas), so as to achieve the purpose of reducing the indoor temperature. The high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas flows into the heat exchanger and exchanges heat with the indoor air, causing part of the refrigerant gas to condense into liquid and evaporate, while absorbing the heat in the room. The main function of the compressor is to compress the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant gas (usually ammonia or other volatile liquids) into a high-temperature and high-pressure state. This process involves the conversion of mechanical energy into refrigerant gas, thereby increasing its temperature and pressure. The main function of the compressor is to compress the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant gas into a high-temperature and high-pressure state. This process involves the conversion of mechanical energy into refrigerant gas, thereby increasing its temperature and pressure. The gas-liquid separator is located between the heat exchanger and the compressor, and its main function is to separate the liquid and gaseous refrigerants before the refrigerant enters the compressor. Since the compressor can only effectively compress the gaseous refrigerant, if there is liquid present, it may damage the compressor. Therefore, the main purpose of the gas-liquid separator is to ensure that the refrigerant is in a pure gaseous state, and the gaseous refrigerant can enter the compressor, while the liquid refrigerant is stored until it is converted back into a gaseous state when the system needs it.

[0044] That is, the main function of the gas-liquid separator in the air-conditioning refrigeration system is to protect the compressor from damage by liquid refrigerant. In the refrigeration cycle, the refrigerant first absorbs heat in the heat exchanger and changes from liquid to gas. The refrigerant transmitted by the heat exchanger (usually a gas containing a small amount of liquid) enters the gas-liquid separator. Due to the greater gravity of the liquid, it deposits downward and adheres to the wall of the gas-liquid separator, while the gas continues to flow and is then sucked into the compressor and compressed. During the operation of the compressor, some lubricating oil may be carried by the refrigerant and finally reach the heat exchanger through the circulation of the refrigeration system. In the heat exchanger, due to the lower temperature, the refrigerant evaporates and absorbs heat, and at the same time, the oil droplets also coagulate. Subsequently, these oil droplets will be transported to the gas-liquid separator together with the refrigerant that has not been completely evaporated.

[0045] In the related art, the gas-liquid separator is not provided with a heating component. This means that in a low-temperature environment, or during the startup and operation of the system, the liquid part of the refrigerant may not be completely evaporated into gas, thus increasing the risk of liquid refrigerant flowing into the compressor. If a large amount of liquid refrigerant enters the compressor, it will affect the normal operation of the compressor and even cause a working failure.

[0046] To solve the above problems, please refer to Figure 1, this application proposes a gas-liquid separator 1, which includes a tank body 10, a refrigerant pipe assembly 20, and an electric heating assembly 30. The refrigerant pipe assembly 20 is arranged on the tank body 10, with one end connected to the heat exchanger and the other end connected to the compressor. The refrigerant is transmitted to the inside of the tank body 10 through the heat exchanger and then to the compressor. The electric heating assembly 30 is used to heat the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant flowing into the tank body 10, so that it can be changed from liquid to gas more quickly, accelerating the heat exchange process, thereby reducing the risk of liquid refrigerant flowing into the compressor and effectively reducing the occurrence of liquid hammer phenomenon.

[0047] In addition, the gas-liquid separator 1 further includes a support assembly 50, which is used to fix the tank body 10 on the casing of the outdoor unit. The support assembly 50 can prevent the tank body 10 from accidentally falling off or moving during the operation of the entire air conditioner, thereby improving the safety of using the gas-liquid separator 1.

[0048] In another related technology, specifically, an electric heating element is arranged outside the tank body 10 to heat the refrigerant inside the tank body 10, thereby increasing the refrigerant circulation volume and improving the air pressure value of the air conditioner compressor. When heating outside the tank body 10, the heat is conducted to the refrigerant inside through the tank body 10. In this way, the heating efficiency is low, and the refrigerant near the inner wall of the tank body 10 is heated quickly, while the refrigerant near the center of the tank body 10 is heated slowly, resulting in uneven heating and inability to control the temperature stability of the vaporized refrigerant transmitted to the compressor.

[0049] Therefore, an accommodation cavity 10a is formed inside the tank body 10 of the embodiment of this application, and the electric heating assembly 30 is arranged in the accommodation cavity 10a. The electric heating assembly 30 arranged in the accommodation cavity 10a of the tank body 10 can be in closer contact with the refrigerant, reducing the distance of heat transfer, reducing heat loss, evaporating the liquid refrigerant inside the tank body 10, reducing the liquid refrigerant in the tank body 10, avoiding liquid hammer of the compressor, enhancing the system reliability, and thus improving the heating efficiency; it can heat the refrigerant more evenly, avoiding the problem of uneven heating that may occur during external heating. And the electric heating assembly 30 arranged in the accommodation cavity 10a helps to improve the structural compactness of the gas-liquid separator 1, and no additional space is required to install an external heater.

[0050] Further, as Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, the refrigerant pipe assembly 20 includes a refrigerant inlet pipe 21 and a refrigerant outlet pipe 22 that are spaced apart on the tank body 10. The refrigerant inlet pipe 21 has an inlet 21a and an outlet 21b. A part of the refrigerant inlet pipe 21 is located outside the tank body 10 and is connected to the heat exchanger through the inlet 21a, and another part is located in the accommodation cavity 10a and communicates with the accommodation cavity 10a through the outlet 21b. The refrigerant inlet pipe 21 introduces the refrigerant in the heat exchanger into the accommodation cavity 10a of the gas-liquid separator 1, which helps to separate the liquid and gaseous refrigerants.

[0051] The refrigerant outlet pipe 22 has an outlet pipe inlet 22a and an outlet pipe outlet 22b. A part of the refrigerant outlet pipe 22 is located outside the tank body 10 and is connected to the compressor through the outlet pipe outlet 22b. Another part is located inside the accommodation cavity 10a and is communicated with the accommodation cavity 10a through the outlet pipe inlet 22a. The gaseous refrigerant in the accommodation cavity 10a is transmitted to the compressor through the outlet pipe inlet 22a. At least one oil return hole 22221 is provided on the part of the refrigerant outlet pipe 22 located inside the accommodation cavity 10a near the bottom of the tank body 10. In the gas-liquid separator 1, oil will dissolve in the separated and accumulated liquid refrigerant. If the oil return hole 22221 is not provided, the lubricating oil in the compressor will become less and less, and the lubricating oil deposited in the gas-liquid separator 1 will become more and more. Therefore, it is necessary to return the oil to the compressor to ensure the oil quantity in the compressor and the oil supply to the scroll part. Setting at least one oil return hole 22221 can enable the liquid refrigerant with dissolved oil to return to the compressor through other paths.

[0052] Specifically, the outlet pipe inlet 22a is set higher than the inlet pipe outlet 21b, so that the relatively high outlet pipe inlet 22a of the refrigerant transmitted from the inlet pipe outlet 21b into the accommodation cavity 10a helps to reduce the mixing between the gaseous refrigerant and the refrigerant flowing out of the inlet pipe outlet 21b, thereby maintaining the effective separation of the gaseous and liquid refrigerants.

[0053] Furthermore, the inlet pipe outlet 21b of the refrigerant inlet pipe 21 is arranged towards the cavity side wall of the accommodation cavity 10a, and the liquid refrigerant can flow under the guidance of the cavity side wall. It can be understood that during the process of the refrigerant flowing downward along the cavity side wall, the refrigerant forms a relatively wide flowing liquid surface. In the case of being heated in cooperation with the electric heating component 30, the heating effect can be effectively improved, and further the gas-liquid separation is sufficient, reducing the liquid refrigerant in the refrigerant entering the refrigerant outlet pipe 22. The outlet pipe inlet 22a of the refrigerant outlet pipe 22 is arranged towards the cavity top wall of the accommodation cavity 10a, that is, the inlet pipe outlet 21b and the outlet pipe inlet 22a are arranged with different orientations. In this way, it can also prevent the liquid refrigerant flowing out of the inlet pipe outlet 21b of the refrigerant inlet pipe 21 from flowing into the outlet pipe inlet 22a of the refrigerant outlet pipe 22 without being vaporized. The refrigerant entering from the inlet pipe outlet 21b needs to flow in the accommodation cavity 10a and go through the process of gas-liquid separation. At the same time, the refrigerant will not directly impact the refrigerant outlet pipe 22, reducing the impact on the refrigerant outlet pipe 22 and the vibration of the refrigerant outlet pipe 22. And the outlet pipe inlet 22a is arranged towards the cavity top wall of the accommodation cavity 10a, which can also better converge and discharge the gaseous refrigerant rising to the top of the accommodation cavity 10a, and can further improve the gas-liquid separation effect.

[0054] The cavity sidewall of the accommodation cavity 10a includes a refrigerant flow area. Since the inlet pipe outlet 21b of the refrigerant inlet pipe 21 is arranged towards the sidewall of the accommodation cavity 10a, the refrigerant ejected from the inlet pipe outlet 21b onto the cavity sidewall drops to form a refrigerant flow area. The liquid refrigerant adhering to the cavity sidewall can effectively slow down its dropping speed. This is because the contact between the liquid and the solid surface can increase the frictional resistance, thereby slowing down the dropping speed. In this way, the time for heat exchange generated during the dropping process of the liquid refrigerant is extended, thereby achieving the purpose of improving the heating effect.

[0055] The electric heating component 30 can be fixedly arranged alone on the part of the refrigerant inlet pipe 21 located in the accommodation cavity 10a, or the electric heating component 30 can be fixedly arranged alone on the part of the refrigerant outlet pipe 22 located in the accommodation cavity 10a, or the electric heating component 30 can also be fixedly arranged simultaneously on the part of the refrigerant inlet pipe 21 located in the accommodation cavity 10a and the part of the refrigerant outlet pipe 22 located in the accommodation cavity 10a. In this way, the refrigerant in the refrigerant inlet pipe 21 and the refrigerant outlet pipe 22 arranged in the accommodation cavity 10a can be heated more directly. The direct heating effect of the electric heating component 30 can reduce the time required for the refrigerant to reach an appropriate vaporization state, improve the vaporization effect, and further ensure that the refrigerant exists in a gaseous state before entering the compressor, thereby improving the response speed of the system.

[0056] It should be noted here that among the various ways of installing and fixing the electric heating component 30 listed above, the electric heating component 30 is fixed on the outer wall of the part of the refrigerant pipe assembly 20 located in the accommodation cavity 10a. In this way, while effectively heating the refrigerant, it is also convenient for assembly.

[0057] The types of the electric heating component 30 include but are not limited to heating wires, heating tapes, heating films, heating tubes or heating rods. It should be noted that the electric heating component 30 can also adopt other configuration designs disclosed in the prior art, and this application does not limit this.

[0058] When the electric heating component 30 is fixedly arranged alone on the part of the refrigerant inlet pipe 21 located in the accommodation cavity 10a, it can heat the refrigerant transmitted from the heat exchanger into the accommodation cavity 10a, control the inflowing liquid refrigerant to be vaporized into gaseous refrigerant before settling to the bottom of the tank, reduce the decrease in the refrigeration efficiency of the air conditioning equipment caused by accumulation, and when the system is started, the electric heating component 30 can quickly vaporize the liquid refrigerant, thereby reducing the preheating time of the system.

[0059] When the electric heating component 30 is fixedly arranged alone on the part of the refrigerant outlet pipe 22 located in the accommodation cavity 10a, it can further heat the refrigerant about to be transmitted to the compressor, further improve the vaporization rate of the refrigerant, improve the effect that the refrigerant entering the compressor is in a gaseous state, ensure that the refrigerant enters the compressor in the best state, can improve the overall energy efficiency of the air conditioning equipment, and reduce unnecessary energy consumption.

[0060] When the electric heating component 30 is simultaneously fixed to the portion of the refrigerant inlet pipe 21 located in the accommodation cavity 10a and the portion of the refrigerant outlet pipe 22 located in the accommodation cavity 10a, double heating can heat the refrigerant more comprehensively. It not only heats the refrigerant just entering the accommodation cavity 10a but also reheats the refrigerant about to leave the accommodation cavity 10a, improving the vaporization rate. Double heating helps quickly reach the required refrigerant vaporization state when the air-conditioning equipment starts or the load changes, enhancing the response speed of the air-conditioning equipment.

[0061] Specifically, the tank body 10 includes a cylindrical body portion 11, a top cover 12 covering the upper end of the cylindrical body portion 11, and a bottom cover 13 covering the lower end of the cylindrical body portion 11. The split design facilitates the control of the manufacturing process and makes it easier to disassemble and reinstall when maintenance or component replacement is required. The cylindrical body portion 11, the top cover 12, and the bottom cover 13 enclose to form an accommodation cavity 10a, which can provide a stable storage and vaporization space for the refrigerant, reducing the risk of liquid refrigerant leakage from the bottom wall. Among them, the refrigerant inlet pipe 21 and the refrigerant outlet pipe 22 are fixedly spaced on the top cover 12, which can optimize the flow path of the refrigerant in the accommodation cavity 10a, reduce the flow resistance, and improve the vaporization efficiency.

[0062] Furthermore, the support assembly 50 can be welded to the bottom cover 13 or the cylindrical body portion 11. The support assembly 50 is located near the bottom of the tank body 10, which can lower the center of gravity of the entire tank body 10 and enhance its stability when fixed to the housing of the outdoor unit.

[0063] Exemplarily, the support assembly 50 includes four mounting feet, and the four mounting feet are circumferentially welded to the cylindrical body portion 11, enhancing the structural stability of the cylindrical body portion 11, more evenly distributing the weight and possible vibration load of the tank body 10, and reducing the pressure on the housing of the outdoor unit.

[0064] To further improve the heating efficiency of the electric heating component 30, the electric heating component 30 is annularly arranged around at least a part of the pipe section of the refrigerant outlet pipe 22 located in the accommodation cavity 10a. The annular arrangement can achieve a more uniform temperature distribution, increase the heat exchange area, and allow the electric heating component 30 to be adjusted according to different application requirements, such as adapting to specific pipe wall sizes or heating requirements by changing the size or position of the annular arrangement.

[0065] Further, the inlet outlet 21b of the refrigerant inlet pipe 21 is located in the accommodation chamber 10a near the top cover 12, so that the flowing path of the liquid refrigerant flowing into the accommodation chamber 10a is longer, increasing the heat exchange time before the liquid refrigerant accumulates on the bottom wall in the accommodation chamber 10a, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency. The inlet outlet 21b of the refrigerant inlet pipe 21 is located above the electric heating component 30. Understandably, when the electric heating component 30 operates, it directly converts electrical energy into heat energy and conducts it to the surrounding environment, so that the temperature in the space closer to the electric heating component 30 is higher. By arranging the inlet outlet 21b of the refrigerant inlet pipe 21 above the electric heating component 30, when a part of the liquid refrigerant mixed in the refrigerant flows down along the direction towards the bottom wall, it can increase the possibility of the high-temperature range closer to the electric heating component 30 and achieve a faster gasification effect. More preferably, the inlet outlet 21b of the refrigerant inlet pipe 21 is arranged adjacent to the electric heating component 30, reducing the distance for the refrigerant to flow to the electric heating component 30 and maximizing the heat exchange efficiency. Once the liquid refrigerant enters the accommodation chamber 10a, it contacts the electric heating component 30, realizing instant heating and improving the gasification efficiency.

[0066] Still further, the electric heating component 30 is arranged adjacent to the refrigerant flow area on the side wall of the chamber, that is, the distance from the refrigerant flow area is relatively small, which can provide more direct heat exchange for the liquid refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant flow area, more effectively evaporate the liquid refrigerant, reduce the risk of the liquid refrigerant flowing into the compressor, thereby reducing the possibility of liquid hammer. Accelerate the defrosting mode and realize the rapid start of the compressor in some extremely low-temperature environments.

[0067] It should be noted that the electric heating component 30 is arranged adjacent to the refrigerant flow area on the side wall of the chamber, but does not contact the side wall of the chamber, that is, there is a gap between the electric heating component 30 and the refrigerant flow area, so that the heat generated by the electric heating component 30 is concentrated in the accommodation chamber 10a, reducing the possibility of heat being conducted to the external environment through the wall of the tank body 10, thereby reducing heat loss, and making more of the heat generated by the electric heating component 30 be used to heat the refrigerant rather than being lost to the external environment.

[0068] In a feasible solution, the refrigerant outlet pipe 22 is an integral structure and is an aluminum refrigerant outlet pipe. The aluminum refrigerant outlet pipe has very good thermal conductivity, which means it can quickly transfer the heat generated by the electric heating component 30 and the heat in the surrounding environment to the flowing refrigerant, thereby improving the heating efficiency.

[0069] The refrigerant inlet pipe 21 of this embodiment includes a connected first pipe section 211 and a second pipe section 212. The first pipe section 211 is fixed to the top of the tank body 10 and is used to connect with the heat exchanger. The end of the first pipe section 211 away from the second part 222a forms the above-mentioned inlet pipe inlet 21a. The second pipe section 212 is located in the accommodation cavity 10a. The end of the second pipe section 212 away from the first pipe section 211 forms an inlet pipe outlet 21b. The first pipe section 211 and the second pipe section 212 can be assembled and connected, providing more flexibility. If the pipe section needs to be replaced or maintained, the assembled connection is easier to disassemble and reassemble, without replacing the entire refrigerant inlet pipe 21.

[0070] Specifically, the first pipe section 211 is arranged vertically and fixed on the top cover 12. The second pipe section 212 is arranged to bend along the direction towards the cavity side wall of the accommodation cavity 10a. The bending part is in an arc structure. The arc structure can make the flow direction change of the refrigerant smoother and reduce the impact on the refrigerant outlet pipe 22.

[0071] In another embodiment, the first pipe section 211 and the second pipe section 212 are integrally formed, reducing the pipe section connection points and improving the overall performance and durability of the refrigerant inlet pipe 21.

[0072] Divided from the shape of the refrigerant outlet pipe 22, the refrigerant outlet pipe 22 includes a connected first part 221a and a second part 222a. The first part 221a is fixed to the top of the tank body 10 and is used to connect with the compressor. The second part 222a is located in the accommodation cavity 10a and is connected to the first part 221a. The second part 222a is in a U shape, that is, the second part 222a is a bent pipe. Therefore, it is more difficult for the liquid refrigerant in the accommodation cavity 10a to flow into the second part 222a to the compressor, which can enhance the anti-liquid-return effect of the gas-liquid separator 1. The oil return hole 22221 is opened at a position on the second part 222a close to the bottom of the tank body 10.

[0073] Furthermore, the second part 222a includes at least two vertically extending parts and a bending part 2222a connecting two adjacent vertically extending parts. Setting at least two vertically extending parts can increase the flow path of the refrigerant entering the pipe, thereby providing more heat exchange time and a larger heat exchange area. An electric heating component 30 is arranged on at least one vertically extending part. On the one hand, the electric heating component 30 arranged on the vertically extending part can be closer to the inlet pipe outlet 21b to preheat the refrigerant input from the inlet pipe outlet 21b. On the other hand, the liquid refrigerant will accumulate at the bottom of the tank body 10, and at least part of the bending part 2222a may be immersed in the liquid refrigerant. Arranging the electric heating component 30 on the vertically extending part can reduce the corrosion or damage caused by being immersed in the liquid refrigerant for a long time compared with arranging it on the bending part 2222a, thereby prolonging the service life of the electric heating component 30.

[0074] In a feasible scheme, two vertical extension parts are provided: a first vertical extension part 2221a and a second vertical extension part 2223a, and the bending part 2222a is arranged near the bottom of the tank body 10, wherein the upper end of the first vertical extension part 2221a is near the top of the tank body 10, that is, the outlet pipe inlet 22a is located near the top cover 12 and is connected to the accommodating chamber 10a. On the one hand, it can reduce the risk of liquid refrigerant directly flowing into the compressor and reduce the possibility of liquid hammer. On the other hand, the gaseous refrigerant will rise in the accommodating chamber 10a and gather at the top of the accommodating chamber 10a. Setting the outlet pipe inlet 22a near the top cover 12 is helpful to collect and guide the gaseous refrigerant into the refrigerant outlet pipe 22. The second vertical extension part 2223a is connected to the first part 221a and is provided with an electric heating component 30 to reduce the possibility of reliquefaction of the refrigerant when passing through the bending section.

[0075] A balancing hole 22231 is provided on the second vertical extension portion 2223a to prevent the liquid refrigerant at the bottom of the tank body 10 from entering the compressor due to siphoning when the machine is restarted after shutdown.

[0076] From the assembly of the refrigerant outlet pipe 22, as Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the refrigerant outlet pipe 22 includes a discharge pipe 221b, a connecting pipe 222b and an interface pipe 223b which are spliced ​​in sequence. The modular design facilitates the manufacture, assembly and maintenance of the refrigerant outlet pipe. When the refrigerant outlet pipe 22 is installed, the interface pipe 223b is fixed to the top of the tank body 10, that is, fixed to the top cover 12. After the top cover 12 is covered with the barrel 11, the bottom cover 13 remains open, the connecting pipe 222b is inserted into the accommodating cavity 10a and spliced ​​with the interface pipe 223b, and then the discharge pipe 221b is inserted into the accommodating cavity 10a and spliced ​​with the end of the connecting pipe 222b away from the interface pipe 223b, and finally the bottom cover 13 is covered with the barrel 11 to complete the assembly. This makes the assembly process of the refrigerant outlet pipe 22 simpler and more intuitive, and can be carried out step by step, reducing assembly errors.

[0077] It can be understood that the discharge pipe 221b and the connecting pipe 222b form a "U"-shaped tube. The "U"-shaped tube structure can make the internal refrigerant flow more smoothly, reduce flow resistance, and improve gasification efficiency.

[0078] The electric heating component 30 is fixed on the connecting pipe 222b. The modular design enables the electric heating component 30 and the connecting pipe 222b to be independently manufactured and fixed. When it is necessary to increase the power of the electric heating component 30 or change its contact area with the connecting pipe 222b, the connecting pipe 222b can be easily disassembled and modified, and after completion, it can be reassembled between the discharge pipe 221b and the interface pipe 223b, providing greater flexibility, being able to adapt to changes in requirements or technological upgrades, and also reducing subsequent maintenance costs without the need to replace the entire refrigerant outlet pipe 22.

[0079] It can be understood that a part of the second part 222a forms the discharge pipe 221b, another part of the second part 222a forms the connecting pipe 222b, at least part of the discharge pipe 221b forms the bent part 2222a. Both the discharge pipe 221b and the connecting pipe 222b are arranged in the accommodating cavity 10a. The discharge pipe 221b is arranged as a bent pipe, and the connecting pipe 222b is arranged as a straight pipe. The outlet inlet 22a is formed on the discharge pipe 221b. The electric heating component 30 is fixed on the connecting pipe 222b, and can heat the refrigerant about to be input into the compressor again, improving the defrosting efficiency and enabling the compressor to start quickly in a low-temperature environment, enhancing reliability.

[0080] Specifically, the connecting pipe 222b is an aluminum connecting pipe 222b. The electric heating component 30 is arranged on the aluminum connecting pipe 222b. Aluminum has high thermal conductivity and can quickly transfer the heat generated by the electric heating component 30 to the refrigerant flowing through the connecting pipe 222b, improving the heating efficiency. Moreover, the density of the aluminum material is low, and using the aluminum connecting pipe 222b can reduce the weight of the entire refrigerant outlet pipe 22, facilitating installation and maintenance. The designer can select the heat-conducting material of the connecting pipe 222b according to specific requirements and application conditions, which will not be elaborated here.

[0081] As Figure 4 and Figure 5 shown, the electric heating component 30 includes a heat-conducting body 31, a heating core 32 and an electricity connection structure 33. The heat-conducting body 31 is fixed on the refrigerant outlet pipe 22, and the heating core 32 is fixed on the heat-conducting body 31. Integrating the heating core 32 and the heat-conducting body 31 on the refrigerant outlet pipe 22 helps to keep the structure in the accommodating cavity 10a compact and saves space.

[0082] Specifically, the outdoor unit further includes a controller 2. The electricity connection structure 33 includes a wire 331 and an electricity connection socket 332. Both ends of the wire 331 are respectively connected to the heating core 32 and the electricity connection socket 332. The electricity connection socket 332 is arranged on the top cover 12 and connected to the controller 2. Connecting the heating core 32 and the electricity connection socket 332 through the wire 331 can ensure the stability and safety of the current during use. Setting the electricity connection socket 332 can realize the on-off of the power supply of the wire 331 connecting the heating core 32, so as to turn off the power supply to save energy when it is not needed.

[0083] Optionally, the power connection socket 332 can also be arranged on the cylindrical body portion 11 and can be adjusted according to the actual installation position and environment.

[0084] Furthermore, in order to protect the power connection socket 332 from external physical collisions and also avoid electric shock accidents when the wire 331 is arranged or replaced, a protective cover 40 is also covered outside the power connection socket 332. The protective cover 40 can be detachably connected to the tank body 10 according to the specific position where the power connection socket 332 is arranged. The protective cover 40 can also effectively block dust and moisture, and extend the service life of the power connection socket 332.

[0085] Specifically, fixing holes are formed in the protective cover 40, screw rods are arranged on the tank body 10, the screw rods are inserted into the fixing holes, and adjusting nuts are movably connected to the screw rods. The protective cover 40 is fixed on the tank body 10 by tightening the adjusting nuts.

[0086] Optionally, the heating core 32 can be received and fixed inside the heat conductor 31, that is, the heat conductor 31 is directly in contact with the refrigerant outlet pipe 22. The heat conductor 31 can quickly transfer the heat generated by the heating core 32 to the refrigerant outlet pipe 22, and the heat conducting pipe can evenly disperse the heat to the surface of the refrigerant outlet pipe 22 to achieve large-range and uniform heating; the heating core 32 can also be directly in contact with the refrigerant outlet pipe 22 and be wrapped and fixed on the refrigerant outlet pipe 22 through the heat conductor 31, which can reduce the loss of heat during the transfer process and further reduce the occurrence of liquid slugging phenomenon of the refrigerant introduced into the compressor.

[0087] In order to effectively improve the heating efficiency of the electric heating component 30, the heat conductor 31 discussed above can be specifically arranged with reference to the following content. The heat conductor 31 is an aluminum heat conductor 31. The aluminum heat conductor 31 is formed integrally with the refrigerant outlet pipe 22 by die casting. The aluminum heat conductor 31 has high thermal conductivity, can efficiently transfer heat, and can evenly spread the heat to the surroundings to avoid local overheating and heat accumulation. The density of the aluminum heat conductor 31 is lighter and the weight is smaller, which is convenient for installation and maintenance. Therefore, the overall weight of the gas-liquid separator 1 can be reduced, and it can be firmly fixed to the casing of the indoor unit.

[0088] Furthermore, a plurality of heating cores 32 are arranged, and the plurality of heating cores 32 are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction of the refrigerant outlet pipe 22, so that the heat can be distributed more evenly, thereby improving the overall heating efficiency.

[0089] Exemplarily, in an implementation manner of the embodiment of the present application, four heating cores 32 are provided. The heating cores 32 are arranged in the shape of rectangular blocks and are circumferentially arranged at intervals around the annular refrigerant outlet pipe 22. In another implementation manner, two heating cores 32 are provided, and the two heating cores 32 are arranged in a semi-circular shape and are buckled on the outer peripheral wall of the refrigerant outlet pipe 22. The designer can flexibly adjust the number and shape of the heating cores 32 according to specific requirements and application conditions, which will not be elaborated herein.

[0090] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and do not limit the patent scope of the present invention accordingly. Any equivalent structural transformation made under the concept of the present invention by using the content of the specification and drawings of the present invention, or any direct / indirect application in other related technical fields is included in the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A gas-liquid separator, characterized in that: include: A tank body having a receiving cavity formed therein; a refrigerant pipe assembly, comprising a refrigerant inlet pipe and a refrigerant outlet pipe arranged at intervals on the tank body, wherein a portion of the refrigerant inlet pipe is located outside the tank body and is used to connect to the heat exchanger, and another portion is located inside the accommodating cavity and is used to communicate with the accommodating cavity, and a portion of the refrigerant outlet pipe is located outside the tank body and is used to connect to the compressor, and another portion is located inside the accommodating cavity and is used to communicate with the accommodating cavity; and The electric heating component is arranged in the accommodating cavity and is fixed to the portion of the refrigerant inlet pipe located in the accommodating cavity and / or fixed to the portion of the refrigerant outlet pipe located in the accommodating cavity.

2. The gas-liquid separator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The electric heating component is arranged around at least a portion of the refrigerant outlet pipe located in the accommodating cavity.

3. The gas-liquid separator according to claim 2, characterized in that: The portion of the refrigerant inlet pipe located in the accommodating cavity has an inlet pipe outlet, and the inlet pipe outlet is located above the electric heating component and is arranged adjacent to the electric heating component.

4. The gas-liquid separator according to claim 3, characterized in that: The inlet pipe outlet is arranged toward the side wall of the accommodating cavity, and the cavity side wall includes a refrigerant flow area, which is formed by the fall of refrigerant sprayed from the inlet pipe outlet to the cavity side wall, wherein the electric heating component is arranged adjacent to the refrigerant flow area.

5. The gas-liquid separator according to claim 2, characterized in that: The refrigerant outlet pipe includes a first part and a second part connected to each other, the first part is fixed to the top of the tank body and is used to connect to the compressor, and the second part is located in the accommodating cavity and connected to the first part; The second portion includes at least two vertically extending portions and a bent portion connected to two adjacent vertically extending portions, wherein the electric heating component is disposed on at least one of the vertically extending portions.

6. The gas-liquid separator according to claim 5, characterized in that: There are two vertical extension parts, and the bent part is close to the bottom of the tank body, wherein the upper end of one vertical extension part is close to the top of the tank body and communicates with the accommodating cavity, and the other vertical extension part is connected to the first part and is provided with the electric heating component.

7. The gas-liquid separator according to claim 6, characterized in that: At least one oil return hole is arranged on the bent portion.

8. The gas-liquid separator according to claim 3, characterized in that: The refrigerant outlet pipe includes a discharge pipe, a connecting pipe and an interface pipe which are spliced ​​in sequence, the discharge pipe and the connecting pipe are arranged in the accommodating cavity, the upper end of the discharge pipe is formed with an outlet pipe inlet, the outlet pipe inlet is close to the top of the tank body and communicates with the accommodating cavity, the interface pipe is fixed on the top of the tank body, and the discharge pipe and the connecting pipe form a "U"-shaped tube; The electric heating component is fixed on the connecting pipe.

9. The gas-liquid separator according to claim 8, characterized in that: The outlet pipe inlet is arranged higher than the inlet pipe outlet.

10. The gas-liquid separator according to any one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that: The electric heating assembly comprises: A heat conductor, fixed on the refrigerant outlet pipe; A heating core fixed on the heat conductor; and The power connection structure comprises a wire and a power connection seat, wherein two ends of the wire are respectively connected to the heating core and the power connection seat, and the power connection seat is fixed on the outer wall of the tank body.

11. The gas-liquid separator according to claim 10, characterized in that: The heating core is accommodated in the heat conductor.

12. The gas-liquid separator according to claim 10, characterized in that: A plurality of the heating cores are provided, and the plurality of the heating cores are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction of the refrigerant outlet pipe.

13. The gas-liquid separator according to claim 10, characterized in that: It also includes a protective cover, which is detachably connected to the tank body and covers the outside of the power socket.

14. The gas-liquid separator according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The tank body includes a cylindrical portion and a top cover and a bottom cover respectively covering the upper end and the lower end of the cylindrical portion. The cylindrical portion, the top cover and the bottom cover enclose the accommodating cavity, and the refrigerant inlet pipe and the refrigerant outlet pipe are both fixed on the top cover.

15. The gas-liquid separator according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also included is a support assembly for supporting the tank body.

16. An outdoor unit, characterized in that: include: chassis; A compressor is disposed in the casing; as well as The gas-liquid separator as described in any one of claims 1 to 15 is arranged in the casing, the refrigerant inlet pipe is used to be connected to the heat exchanger of the indoor unit, and the refrigerant outlet pipe is connected to the compressor.

17. A HVAC equipment, characterized in that: include: indoor unit, including heat exchanger; and The outdoor unit according to claim 16, forming a refrigerant circulation flow path with the indoor unit; Wherein, the refrigerant inlet pipe is connected to the heat exchanger.

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