Air conditioner

Abstract

The utility model discloses an air conditioner, and belongs to the technical field of air treatment. The air conditioner comprises a refrigerant main path; the first auxiliary refrigerant path is connected with the part, between the indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor throttling device, of the main refrigerant path in parallel; the inflow end of the second refrigerant auxiliary path is connected to the refrigerant main path between the outdoor heat exchanger and the outdoor throttling device, and the outflow end of the second refrigerant auxiliary path is connected to the gas-liquid separator; the refrigerant heat dissipation plate is connected to the first refrigerant auxiliary road and the second refrigerant auxiliary road; the auxiliary path expansion valve is connected to the second refrigerant auxiliary path and located on the inflow side of the refrigerant heat dissipation plate; during heating operation, the first refrigerant auxiliary path is communicated; and during refrigeration operation, the second refrigerant auxiliary path is communicated. The air conditioner can meet the heat dissipation requirement of the driving power module, and meanwhile the condensation risk is avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of air handling technology, and more particularly to an air conditioner. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, an increasing number of air conditioners are using refrigerant cooling to dissipate heat from the drive power modules. Air conditioning units using refrigerant cooling utilize existing refrigerant circulation systems and offer advantages such as good heat dissipation performance, high power adaptability, and low noise. However, when the refrigerant temperature flowing through the refrigerant heat sink is low, the ambient temperature is high, and the power module's heat generation is low, condensation can easily occur at the power module, potentially leading to malfunctions in the electrical control system. Therefore, when designing refrigerant cooling systems, it is crucial to avoid the risk of condensation while ensuring adequate temperature rise. Utility Model Content

[0003] This application provides an air conditioner that can meet the heat dissipation requirements of the drive power module while avoiding the risk of condensation.

[0004] According to one aspect of this application, an air conditioner includes: a refrigerant main circuit with an outdoor heat exchanger, an outdoor throttling device, an indoor heat exchanger, and a gas-liquid separator thereon; a first refrigerant auxiliary circuit connected in parallel with the portion of the refrigerant main circuit located between the indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor throttling device; a second refrigerant auxiliary circuit with its inflow end connected to the refrigerant main circuit between the outdoor heat exchanger and the outdoor throttling device, and its outflow end connected to the gas-liquid separator; a refrigerant heat dissipation plate for dissipating heat from a power module, the refrigerant heat dissipation plate being connected to both the first and second refrigerant auxiliary circuits; and an auxiliary circuit expansion valve connected to the second refrigerant auxiliary circuit and located on the inflow side of the refrigerant heat dissipation plate for regulating the refrigerant flow rate into the refrigerant heat dissipation plate.

[0005] When the air conditioner is in heating mode, the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit is connected and the second refrigerant auxiliary circuit is disconnected, so that the refrigerant on the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit returns to the main refrigerant circuit after passing through the refrigerant heat sink.

[0006] When the air conditioner is in cooling mode, the second refrigerant auxiliary circuit is connected and the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit is disconnected, so that the refrigerant in the second refrigerant auxiliary circuit flows to the refrigerant heat sink after passing through the auxiliary circuit expansion valve, and then flows to the gas-liquid separator.

[0007] In this technical solution, the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit is connected in parallel with the part of the refrigerant main circuit where the outdoor throttling device is connected to the indoor side. During heating, part of the refrigerant on the refrigerant main circuit flows through the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit and passes through the refrigerant heat dissipation plate. Since the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant heat dissipation plate has not yet been throttled by the outdoor throttling device, the temperature of the refrigerant will not be too low. Moreover, since the refrigerant heat dissipation plate is located on the auxiliary circuit, the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the auxiliary circuit is relatively small. As a result, the temperature and flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant heat dissipation plate are both relatively small, which can avoid the risk of condensation.

[0008] During cooling, some of the refrigerant first passes through the auxiliary expansion valve and then flows to the refrigerant heat sink. The auxiliary expansion valve can reduce the temperature of the refrigerant and control the flow rate of the refrigerant on the second auxiliary refrigerant line, so that the temperature and flow rate of the refrigerant at the refrigerant heat sink meet the heat dissipation requirements of the drive module.

[0009] Therefore, in cooling conditions where the risk of temperature rise is high and the risk of condensation is low, the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant heat sink is kept low to increase the heat exchange temperature difference and significantly reduce the temperature of the power module to reduce the risk of temperature rise. In heating conditions where the risk of condensation is high and the risk of temperature rise is low, the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant heat sink is kept high and the flow rate is kept low to reduce the temperature drop of the power module and reduce the risk of condensation.

[0010] In some embodiments, it further includes: a first auxiliary circuit valve body connected to the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit for controlling the on / off state of the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit; and a second auxiliary circuit valve body connected to the second refrigerant auxiliary circuit for controlling the on / off state of the second refrigerant auxiliary circuit.

[0011] When the air conditioner is in heating mode, the first auxiliary circuit valve body is in the connected state and the second auxiliary circuit valve body is in the disconnected state, so that the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit is connected and the second refrigerant auxiliary circuit is disconnected.

[0012] When the air conditioner is in cooling mode, the second auxiliary circuit valve body is in the connected state and the first auxiliary circuit valve body is in the disconnected state, so that the second refrigerant auxiliary circuit is connected and the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit is disconnected.

[0013] In this technical solution, a first auxiliary circuit valve body is installed on the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit, and a second auxiliary circuit valve body is installed on the second refrigerant auxiliary circuit. The first auxiliary circuit valve body can control the on / off state of the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit, and the second auxiliary circuit valve body can control the on / off state of the second refrigerant auxiliary circuit, so that the two auxiliary circuits will not affect each other when heating or cooling.

[0014] In some embodiments, the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit includes: a first auxiliary circuit segment, a first end of which is connected to the refrigerant main circuit, and a second end of which is connected to the first end of the refrigerant heat sink; and a second auxiliary circuit segment, a first end of which is connected to the second end of the refrigerant heat sink, and a second end of which is connected to the refrigerant main circuit.

[0015] The first auxiliary road valve body includes: a first valve body disposed on the first auxiliary road section; and a second valve body disposed on the second auxiliary road section.

[0016] The second refrigerant auxiliary circuit includes: a third auxiliary circuit segment, the first end of which is connected to the main refrigerant circuit, and the second end of which is connected to the first end of the refrigerant heat sink; and a fourth auxiliary circuit segment, the first end of which is connected to the second end of the refrigerant heat sink, and the second end of which is connected to the gas-liquid separator.

[0017] The auxiliary road expansion valve is installed on the third auxiliary road section, and the second auxiliary road valve body is installed on the fourth auxiliary road section.

[0018] In this technical solution, by installing valve bodies on each of the four auxiliary road sections, it can be ensured that the on / off state of each auxiliary road section can be freely controlled.

[0019] In some embodiments, on the refrigerant main line, the first end of the first auxiliary line segment is located between the indoor heat exchanger and the second end of the second auxiliary line segment; the first valve body is a solenoid valve and the second valve body is a check valve.

[0020] In this technical solution, a one-way valve is installed on the outflow side section of the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit, which can realize the on / off function and reduce costs.

[0021] In some embodiments, on the refrigerant main line, the first end of the first auxiliary line segment is located between the second end of the second auxiliary line segment and the outdoor throttling device; the second valve body is a solenoid valve.

[0022] In some embodiments, the second auxiliary valve body is a solenoid valve.

[0023] In some embodiments, the refrigerant main line is further provided with: an indoor throttling device connected in series between the indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor throttling device; and a first refrigerant auxiliary line connected in parallel between the indoor throttling device and the outdoor throttling device in the refrigerant main line.

[0024] In some embodiments, the outdoor throttling device is an expansion valve; during cooling, the outdoor throttling device is in a fully open state.

[0025] In some embodiments, during refrigeration operation, the refrigerant flow rate of the second refrigerant auxiliary circuit is less than the refrigerant flow rate of the main refrigerant circuit.

[0026] In another aspect of this application, an air conditioner includes: a refrigerant main line having an outdoor heat exchanger, an outdoor throttling device, a liquid-side shut-off valve, and a gas-liquid separator thereon; a first refrigerant auxiliary line connected in parallel with the portion of the refrigerant main line located between the liquid-side shut-off valve and the outdoor throttling device; a second refrigerant auxiliary line having its inflow end connected to the refrigerant main line between the outdoor heat exchanger and the liquid-side shut-off valve, and its outflow end connected to the gas-liquid separator; and a refrigerant heat sink connected to both the first and second refrigerant auxiliary lines.

[0027] When the air conditioner is in heating mode, the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit is connected and the second refrigerant auxiliary circuit is disconnected, so that the refrigerant on the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit returns to the main refrigerant circuit after passing through the refrigerant heat sink.

[0028] When the air conditioner is in cooling mode, the second refrigerant auxiliary circuit is connected and the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit is disconnected, so that the refrigerant on the second refrigerant auxiliary circuit flows to the refrigerant heat sink and then to the gas-liquid separator.

[0029] In this technical solution, two auxiliary paths are set up through the refrigerant heat sink, corresponding to cooling and heating respectively. In the cooling mode, where the risk of temperature rise is high and the risk of condensation is low, the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the heat sink is kept low, increasing the heat exchange temperature difference and significantly reducing the temperature of the power module to reduce the risk of temperature rise. In the heating mode, where the risk of condensation is high and the risk of temperature rise is low, the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the heat sink is kept high and the flow rate is kept low, resulting in a smaller drop in the temperature of the power module and thus reducing the risk of condensation. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the refrigerant circulation loop of an air conditioner according to some embodiments is shown;

[0031] Figure 2 A side view of the refrigerant heat sink and drive module of an air conditioner according to some embodiments is shown;

[0032] Figure 3 and Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a refrigerant heat sink in a refrigerant circulation loop is shown according to some embodiments;

[0033] Figure 5 A diagram showing the refrigerant flow path at the refrigerant heat sink during heating operation of an air conditioner according to some embodiments is provided.

[0034] Figure 6 A diagram showing the refrigerant flow path at the refrigerant heat sink during cooling operation of an air conditioner according to some embodiments is provided.

[0035] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of a refrigerant heat sink in a refrigerant circulation loop is shown according to some other embodiments.

[0036] 100. Outdoor unit; 111. Compressor; 112. Four-way valve; 113. Outdoor heat exchanger; 114. Outdoor throttling device; 115. Gas-liquid separator; 117. Refrigerant heat sink; 118. Gas-side shut-off valve; 119. Liquid-side shut-off valve; 200. Indoor unit; 210. Indoor heat exchanger; 220. Indoor throttling device; 311. Drive module; 312. Heat conduction plate; 400. Refrigerant main circuit; 510. First refrigerant auxiliary circuit; 511. First valve body; 512. Second valve body; 513. First auxiliary circuit section; 514. Second auxiliary circuit section; 520. Second refrigerant auxiliary circuit; 521. Auxiliary circuit expansion valve; 522. Second auxiliary circuit valve body; 523. Third auxiliary circuit section; 524. Fourth auxiliary circuit section. Detailed Implementation

[0037] To make the objectives and implementation methods of this application clearer, the exemplary implementation methods of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the exemplary embodiments of this application. Obviously, the exemplary embodiments described are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments.

[0038] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0039] The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" means two or more.

[0040] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0041] In this application, the air conditioner performs a refrigeration cycle by using a compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporator. The refrigeration cycle includes a series of processes involving compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation, and supplies refrigerant to the conditioned and heat-exchanged air.

[0042] The compressor compresses the refrigerant gas at a low temperature and low pressure and discharges the compressed refrigerant gas. The discharged refrigerant gas flows into the condenser. The condenser condenses the compressed refrigerant into a liquid phase, and heat is released to the surrounding environment through the condensation process.

[0043] The expansion valve expands the high-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant condensed in the condenser into a low-pressure liquid refrigerant. The evaporator evaporates the expanded refrigerant in the expansion valve and returns the low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas to the compressor. The evaporator achieves its cooling effect by utilizing the latent heat of refrigerant evaporation to exchange heat with the material being cooled. Throughout the cycle, the air conditioner regulates the temperature of the indoor space.

[0044] The outdoor unit of an air conditioner refers to the part of the refrigeration cycle that includes the compressor and the outdoor heat exchanger. The indoor unit of an air conditioner includes the indoor heat exchanger, and an expansion valve can be provided in either the indoor or outdoor unit.

[0045] The indoor and outdoor heat exchangers function as either condensers or evaporators. When the indoor heat exchanger is used as a condenser, the air conditioner functions as a heater in heating mode; when the indoor heat exchanger is used as an evaporator, the air conditioner functions as a cooler in cooling mode.

[0046] The embodiments of this application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0047] Reference Figure 1 An air conditioner according to an embodiment of this application includes: an outdoor unit 100 located in an outdoor space for performing heat exchange between a refrigerant and outdoor air; and an indoor unit 200 located in an indoor space for performing heat exchange between a refrigerant and indoor air.

[0048] The outdoor unit 100 is equipped with a compressor 111 for compressing refrigerant; a four-way valve 112 for guiding the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 111 to the outdoor heat exchanger 113 or the indoor unit 200; the outdoor heat exchanger 113 is used to condense the refrigerant introduced into it during cooling and to evaporate the refrigerant flowing into it during heating; an outdoor throttling device 114 is used to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant; and a gas-liquid separator 115 is used to separate the gaseous refrigerant and the unevaporated liquid refrigerant and to deliver the gaseous refrigerant to the compressor 111.

[0049] The indoor unit 200 is equipped with an indoor heat exchanger 210, which is used to evaporate the refrigerant flowing into it during cooling and to condense the refrigerant introduced into it during heating; and an indoor throttling device 220 is used to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant introduced into the indoor heat exchanger 210.

[0050] The compressor 111, four-way valve 112, outdoor heat exchanger 113, outdoor throttling device 114, indoor throttling device 220 and indoor heat exchanger 210 are connected in sequence through refrigerant pipes to form a refrigerant circulation loop.

[0051] In the outdoor unit 100, an outdoor fan is disposed opposite to an outdoor heat exchanger 113. The outdoor fan includes an outdoor fan and a motor that drives the outdoor fan to rotate. The rotation of the outdoor fan causes outdoor air to circulate, and the outdoor air exchanges heat with the refrigerant inside the outdoor heat exchanger 113 as it passes through the outdoor heat exchanger 113.

[0052] In the indoor unit 200, an indoor fan is configured opposite to an indoor heat exchanger 210. The indoor fan includes an indoor fan and a motor that drives the indoor fan to rotate. The rotation of the indoor fan causes indoor air to circulate, and the indoor air exchanges heat with the refrigerant inside the indoor heat exchanger 210 as it passes through the indoor heat exchanger 210.

[0053] During refrigeration operation, compressor 111 discharges high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant, which flows into outdoor heat exchanger 113 via four-way valve 112. At outdoor heat exchanger 113, the gaseous refrigerant exchanges heat with the outdoor air and is cooled. As the refrigerant flows through outdoor heat exchanger 113, it slowly changes from a gaseous state to a liquid state.

[0054] The liquid refrigerant discharged from the outdoor heat exchanger 113 is guided to the indoor unit 200 through the outdoor throttling device 114.

[0055] In the indoor unit 200, the refrigerant is depressurized by the indoor throttling device 220 and becomes a gas-liquid two-phase state.

[0056] The refrigerant flowing out from the indoor throttling device 220 continues to be guided to the indoor heat exchanger 210, where it evaporates by exchanging heat with the indoor air driven by the indoor fan. The temperature of the indoor air decreases and it is blown into the room. In the indoor heat exchanger 210, the refrigerant changes from a two-phase gaseous state to a gaseous state.

[0057] The gaseous refrigerant from the indoor heat exchanger 210 returns to the compressor 111, thus forming a refrigeration cycle.

[0058] During heating operation, the four-way valve 112 reverses. The compressor 111 discharges high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant, which flows into the indoor heat exchanger 210 via the four-way valve 112. At the indoor heat exchanger 210, the gaseous refrigerant exchanges heat with the indoor air and is heated, causing the indoor air to be heated and blown into the room. As the refrigerant flows through the indoor heat exchanger 210, it gradually changes from a gaseous state to a liquid state.

[0059] The liquid refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger 210 flows to the outdoor unit 100 through the indoor throttling device 220.

[0060] In the outdoor unit 100, the refrigerant is depressurized by the outdoor throttling device 114 and becomes a gas-liquid two-phase state.

[0061] The refrigerant flowing out from the outdoor throttling device 114 continues to be guided to the outdoor heat exchanger 113, where it exchanges heat with the outdoor air driven by the outdoor fan 116 and evaporates. In the outdoor heat exchanger 113, the refrigerant changes from a gas-liquid two-phase state to a gaseous state.

[0062] The gaseous refrigerant from the outdoor heat exchanger 113 returns to the compressor 111, thus forming a heating cycle.

[0063] In some embodiments, the indoor unit 200 does not have an indoor throttling device 220. The outdoor throttling device 114 functions as a throttling device during both cooling and heating.

[0064] In some embodiments, the air conditioner may include electronic components for implementing the air conditioner's electrical control functions.

[0065] Existing research data shows that for every degree Celsius increase in the temperature of electronic components, reliability decreases by 5%, and the maximum temperature directly affects the lifespan of electronic components; over 50% of circuit board failures are caused by overheating of electronic components. With the increasing integration and miniaturization of outdoor unit electronic control modules, heat dissipation faces increasingly severe challenges. For air conditioner outdoor units, the low-temperature refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation loop can be used to dissipate heat from the electronic components.

[0066] In some embodiments, combined with Figure 2 The air conditioner includes a refrigerant heat sink 117. The refrigerant heat sink 117 is used to dissipate heat for the air conditioner's drive module 311. The drive module 311 mainly drives the compressor 111 and the outdoor fan.

[0067] A heat-conducting plate 312 is provided between the refrigerant heat sink 117 and the drive module 311. The heat generated by the drive module 311 is transferred to the refrigerant heat sink 117 through the heat-conducting plate 312, and finally the heat is carried away by the refrigerant flowing inside the refrigerant heat sink 117.

[0068] The refrigerant heat sink 117 is provided with a refrigerant channel 1171. The refrigerant heat sink 117 is connected to the refrigerant circulation loop, and the refrigerant flows in the refrigerant channel 1171.

[0069] In some embodiments, in the refrigerant circulation loop, the refrigerant heat sink 117 is connected between the outdoor throttling device 114 and the liquid-side shut-off valve 119.

[0070] During cooling, the outdoor ambient temperature Ta is relatively high, and the temperature of the drive module 311 of the compressor 111 is relatively high when it is under high frequency and high load. At this time, the refrigerant in the refrigerant heat sink 117 can reduce the temperature of the drive module 311, so that the system can operate stably and efficiently.

[0071] During heating, the outdoor ambient temperature Ta is relatively low, and the compressor 111 operates at low frequency and low load, resulting in a lower heat generation and temperature in the drive module 311. However, if the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant heat sink 117 is also low, and the temperature of the refrigerant is significantly lower than the ambient temperature Ta, the amount of cold energy transferred from the refrigerant to the drive module 311 through the refrigerant heat sink 117 and the heat conduction plate 312 may be excessive. This could lead to condensation in the drive module 311, which could cause electronic components to malfunction.

[0072] In order to meet the heat dissipation requirements while avoiding condensation, in some embodiments, the refrigerant heat sink 117 is connected to the refrigerant auxiliary circuit, and the refrigerant flow and temperature in the auxiliary circuit are controlled to avoid condensation.

[0073] In this application, the refrigerant circulation loop constituting the cooling / heating function is referred to as the refrigerant main circuit 400.

[0074] Reference Figure 3 The air conditioner includes a first refrigerant auxiliary circuit 510 (shown as a dashed line in the figure). The first refrigerant auxiliary circuit 510 is connected in parallel with the portion of the refrigerant main circuit 400 located between the indoor heat exchanger 210 and the outdoor throttling device 114. That is, both ends of the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit 510 are connected to the refrigerant main circuit 400 between the indoor heat exchanger 210 and the outdoor throttling device 114, respectively.

[0075] The refrigerant heat dissipation plate 117 is installed on the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit 510.

[0076] When the indoor unit has an indoor throttling device 220, the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit 510 is connected in parallel with the portion of the refrigerant main circuit 400 located between the indoor throttling device 220 and the outdoor throttling device 114.

[0077] In some embodiments, combined with Figure 1 The air conditioner may include a liquid-side shut-off valve 119 and a gas-side shut-off valve 118. The liquid-side shut-off valve 119 is connected between the indoor unit 200 and the outdoor throttling device 114.

[0078] The four-way valve 112 is connected to the indoor side port, which is connected in series with the gas side shut-off valve 118 and then connected to the indoor unit 200.

[0079] The first refrigerant auxiliary circuit 510 is connected in parallel with the portion of the refrigerant main circuit 400 located between the liquid-side shut-off valve 119 and the outdoor throttling device 114.

[0080] When heating, when the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit 510 is connected, a portion of the refrigerant from the main refrigerant circuit 400 flows to the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit 510. The refrigerant on the auxiliary circuit passes through the refrigerant heat dissipation plate 117 and then returns to the main refrigerant circuit 400, flowing to the outdoor throttling device 114.

[0081] Since the ambient temperature Ta is low during heating, the heat generated by the drive module 311 is small, and the required heat dissipation is small. Therefore, a small amount of refrigerant flow through the refrigerant heat sink 117 is sufficient to meet the heat dissipation requirements.

[0082] Compared to the risk of condensation caused by the large refrigerant flow when the refrigerant heat sink 117 is installed on the main refrigerant circuit 400, this application reduces the flow rate through the refrigerant heat sink 117 and lowers the risk of condensation by installing the refrigerant heat sink 117 on the first auxiliary refrigerant circuit 510.

[0083] In some embodiments, the air conditioner includes a second refrigerant auxiliary line 520. A first end (inflow end) of the second refrigerant auxiliary line 520 is connected to the refrigerant main line 400 between the outdoor heat exchanger 113 and the outdoor throttling device 114. A second end (outflow end) of the second refrigerant auxiliary line 520 is connected to the gas-liquid separator 115.

[0084] The refrigerant heat sink 117 is connected to the second refrigerant auxiliary circuit 520.

[0085] The second refrigerant auxiliary circuit 520 is equipped with an auxiliary circuit expansion valve 521. The auxiliary circuit expansion valve 521 is connected in series on the upstream side of the refrigerant heat sink 117. That is, the refrigerant in the second refrigerant auxiliary circuit 520 first passes through the auxiliary circuit expansion valve 521 and then through the refrigerant heat sink 117, and then flows to the gas-liquid separator 115.

[0086] Because the outdoor ambient temperature Ta is relatively high during refrigeration operation, the drive module 311 is at greater risk of temperature rise, thus requiring a large amount of heat dissipation. An auxiliary expansion valve 521 is installed upstream of the refrigerant heat sink 117. This valve regulates the refrigerant flow through the heat sink 117, ensuring that the refrigerant flow and temperature meet the heat dissipation requirements of the drive module 311. The low-pressure refrigerant, after being depressurized by the auxiliary expansion valve 521, flows to the low-pressure side gas-liquid separator 115.

[0087] In some embodiments, the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit 510 is provided with a first auxiliary circuit valve body connected in series with the refrigerant heat sink 117. The first auxiliary circuit valve body is used to control the on / off state of the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit 510.

[0088] When the first auxiliary circuit valve body is in the conducting state, the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit 510 is connected; when the first auxiliary circuit valve body is in the disconnected state, the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit 510 is disconnected.

[0089] When the air conditioner is in heating mode, the first auxiliary circuit valve body is open, and the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit 510 is open. When the air conditioner is in cooling mode, the first auxiliary circuit valve body is closed, and the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit 510 is closed.

[0090] In some embodiments, the first auxiliary valve body includes a first valve body 511. A first end of the first valve body 511 is connected to the refrigerant main line 400 between the liquid-side shut-off valve 119 and the outdoor throttling device 114. A second end of the first valve body 511 is connected to the first end of the refrigerant heat sink 117.

[0091] The first auxiliary valve body includes a second valve body 512. The first end of the second valve body 512 is connected to the second end of the refrigerant heat sink 117, and the second end of the second valve body 512 is connected to the refrigerant main line 400 between the liquid-side shut-off valve 119 and the outdoor throttling device 114, and is offset from the first end of the first valve body 511.

[0092] In some embodiments, the second refrigerant auxiliary circuit 520 is provided with a second auxiliary circuit valve body 522, which is used to disconnect or connect the second refrigerant auxiliary circuit 520.

[0093] The second auxiliary valve body 522 is connected in series on the downstream side of the refrigerant heat sink 117.

[0094] During cooling operation, the second auxiliary circuit valve body 522 and the auxiliary circuit expansion valve 521 are open, connecting the second refrigerant auxiliary circuit 520. During heating operation, the second auxiliary circuit valve body 522 and the auxiliary circuit expansion valve 521 are closed, disconnecting the second refrigerant auxiliary circuit 520.

[0095] In some embodiments, the second auxiliary valve body 522 is a solenoid valve.

[0096] In some embodiments, the first end of the auxiliary expansion valve 521 is connected to the refrigerant main line 400 between the outdoor heat exchanger 113 and the outdoor throttling device 114, and the second end of the auxiliary expansion valve 521 is connected to the first end of the refrigerant heat sink 117.

[0097] The first end of the second auxiliary valve body 522 is connected to the second end of the refrigerant heat sink 117, and the second end of the second auxiliary valve body 522 is connected to the gas-liquid separator 115.

[0098] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 4 The first refrigerant auxiliary circuit 510 includes a first auxiliary circuit segment 513. The first end of the first auxiliary circuit segment 513 is connected to the refrigerant main circuit 400. The second end of the first auxiliary circuit segment 513 is connected to the first end of the refrigerant heat sink 117.

[0099] The first valve body 511 is installed on the first auxiliary road section 513.

[0100] The first refrigerant auxiliary circuit 510 includes a second auxiliary circuit segment 514. The first end of the second auxiliary circuit segment 514 is connected to the second end of the refrigerant heat sink 117, and the second end of the second auxiliary circuit segment 514 is connected to the refrigerant main circuit 400.

[0101] The second valve body 512 is installed on the second auxiliary road section 514.

[0102] In some embodiments, the second refrigerant auxiliary path 520 includes a third auxiliary path segment 523. A first end of the third auxiliary path segment 523 is connected to the refrigerant main path 400. A second end of the third auxiliary path segment 523 is connected to a first end of the refrigerant heat sink 117.

[0103] The auxiliary road expansion valve 521 is installed on the third auxiliary road section 523.

[0104] The second refrigerant auxiliary circuit 520 includes a fourth auxiliary circuit section 524. The first end of the fourth auxiliary circuit section 524 is connected to the second end of the refrigerant heat sink 117, and the second end of the fourth auxiliary circuit section 524 is connected to the gas-liquid separator 115.

[0105] The second auxiliary road valve body 522 is installed on the fourth auxiliary road section 524.

[0106] In some embodiments, the refrigerant flow direction at the refrigerant heat dissipation plate 117 during cooling is the same as the refrigerant flow direction at the refrigerant heat dissipation plate 117 during heating, both flowing from the first end of the refrigerant heat dissipation plate 117 to the second end of the refrigerant heat dissipation plate 117.

[0107] The connection point between the first end of the first valve body 511 and the refrigerant main line 400 is point a, and the connection point between the second end of the second valve body 512 and the refrigerant main line 400 is point b. On the refrigerant main line 400, point a is located between the liquid-side shut-off valve 119 and point b. Point b is located between point a and the outdoor throttling device 114.

[0108] On the refrigerant main line 400, the first end of the first auxiliary line section 513 is located between the liquid-side shut-off valve 119 and the second end of the second auxiliary line section 514. The second end of the second auxiliary line section 514 is located between the first end of the first auxiliary line section 513 and the outdoor throttling device 114.

[0109] In some embodiments, the first valve body 511 is a solenoid valve. The second valve body 512 is a check valve. Check valves can reduce costs compared to solenoid valves.

[0110] Reference Figure 5 During heating, the dashed arrows in the diagram indicate the refrigerant flow direction. The auxiliary expansion valve 521 is closed, the second auxiliary valve body 522 is closed, the first valve body 511 is open, and the check valve (second valve body 512) is in the conducting state. A portion of the refrigerant from the liquid-side shut-off valve 119 continues to flow along the main refrigerant line 400, while another portion of the refrigerant flows through the first valve body 511 to the refrigerant heat dissipation plate 117, and then returns to the main refrigerant line 400 through the check valve.

[0111] By rationally designing and selecting the one-way valve, the proportion of refrigerant flow through the refrigerant heat dissipation plate 117 to the total refrigerant flow is a fixed value. This value can meet the heat dissipation requirements of the drive module 311 without condensation.

[0112] Reference Figure 6 During cooling, the solid arrows in the diagram indicate the refrigerant flow direction. The opening degree of the auxiliary expansion valve 521 can be adjusted according to the temperature of the drive module 311 to regulate the refrigerant flow. The second auxiliary valve body 522 is open, and the first valve body 511 is closed. Due to the non-conductivity of the check valve (second valve body 512), the refrigerant on the main refrigerant line 400 cannot flow to the second auxiliary refrigerant line 520 through the check valve. A portion of the refrigerant from the outdoor heat exchanger 114 continues to flow along the main refrigerant line 400, while another portion flows to the refrigerant heat sink 117 after being throttled by the auxiliary expansion valve 521, and then continues to flow to the gas-liquid separator 115 through the second auxiliary valve body 522.

[0113] By designing and selecting the auxiliary expansion valve 521, the refrigerant flow rate and temperature flowing through the refrigerant heat dissipation plate 117 are made to meet the heat dissipation requirements of the drive module 311, and the opening degree of the auxiliary expansion valve 521 can be adjusted according to the temperature of the drive module 311.

[0114] The design concept for selecting the auxiliary expansion valve 521, check valve, and solenoid valve is as follows: First, the heat dissipation of the drive module 311 is evaluated based on the temperature rise and condensation risk conditions of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner. Then, the refrigerant flow rate under the corresponding risk conditions is calculated based on the evaluated heat dissipation. Finally, the auxiliary expansion valve 521, check valve, and solenoid valve are selected and designed according to the required refrigerant flow rate to meet the refrigerant flow rate under risk conditions and reduce the temperature rise and condensation risk of the drive module.

[0115] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 7 During cooling, the refrigerant flow direction at the refrigerant heat dissipation plate 117 is opposite to that during heating. During heating, the refrigerant flows from the second end of the refrigerant heat dissipation plate 117 to the first end. During cooling, the refrigerant flows from the first end of the refrigerant heat dissipation plate 117 to the second end.

[0116] On the refrigerant main line 400, b is located between the liquid-side shut-off valve 119 and a. a is located between b and the outdoor throttling device 114.

[0117] On the refrigerant main line 400, the second end of the second auxiliary line section 514 is located between the liquid-side shut-off valve 119 and the first end of the first auxiliary line section 514. The first end of the first auxiliary line section 513 is located between the second end of the second auxiliary line section 514 and the outdoor throttling device 114.

[0118] Both the first valve body 511 and the second valve body 512 are solenoid valves. Alternatively, the first valve body 511 is a check valve, and the second valve body 512 is a solenoid valve.

[0119] In some embodiments, during cooling, the outdoor throttling device 114 is fully open, and the indoor throttling device 220 performs the throttling function.

[0120] In some embodiments, the first end of the auxiliary expansion valve 521 may be located between the liquid-side shut-off valve 119 and the outdoor throttling device 114 at the connection position of the refrigerant main line 400.

[0121] The first end of the third auxiliary road section 523 can be connected between the liquid-side shut-off valve 119 and the outdoor throttling device 114.

[0122] In some embodiments, during cooling operation, the refrigerant flow rate of the second refrigerant auxiliary circuit 520 is less than the refrigerant flow rate of the main refrigerant circuit 400, which can prevent the auxiliary circuit from diverting too much refrigerant and affecting the refrigerant flow rate to the indoor unit 200.

[0123] As can be seen from the above, in this application, by setting a first refrigerant auxiliary circuit 510 connected in parallel with the refrigerant main circuit 400, and setting the refrigerant heat sink 117 on the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit 510, when heating, the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit 510 is connected, so that some refrigerant can pass through the refrigerant heat sink 117. In this way, the refrigerant flow at the refrigerant heat sink 117 can be reduced, and condensation at the drive module 311 can be avoided due to excessive cold energy transferred from the refrigerant heat sink 117 to the drive module 311.

[0124] In addition, by setting up a second refrigerant auxiliary circuit 520, and installing a refrigerant heat sink 117 and an auxiliary circuit expansion valve 521 on the second refrigerant auxiliary circuit 520, the second refrigerant auxiliary circuit 520 is connected during cooling, so that some refrigerant flows to the refrigerant heat sink 117 after passing through the auxiliary circuit expansion valve 521. This can reduce the temperature of the refrigerant at the refrigerant heat sink 117, thereby meeting the large heat dissipation requirements of the drive module 311.

[0125] In addition, by setting a first auxiliary circuit valve body and a second auxiliary circuit valve body on the first refrigerant auxiliary circuit 510 and the second refrigerant auxiliary circuit 520, the on / off state of the auxiliary circuits can be controlled to ensure that the two auxiliary circuits do not affect each other when cooling or heating.

[0126] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

[0127] For ease of explanation, the above description has been provided in conjunction with specific embodiments. However, the above exemplary discussion is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the specific forms disclosed above. Various modifications and variations can be obtained based on the above teachings. The selection and description of the above embodiments are for the purpose of better explaining the principles and practical applications, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to better utilize the described embodiments and various different variations of embodiments suitable for specific use considerations.

Claims

1. An air conditioner characterized by comprising: The air conditioner comprises: a refrigerant main path, on which an outdoor heat exchanger, an outdoor throttling device, an indoor heat exchanger and a gas-liquid separator are arranged; a first refrigerant auxiliary path, which is connected in parallel with a portion of the refrigerant main path between the indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor throttling device; a second refrigerant auxiliary path, the inflow end of which is connected to the refrigerant main path between the outdoor heat exchanger and the outdoor throttling device, and the outflow end of which is connected to the gas-liquid separator; a refrigerant heat dissipation plate for dissipating heat of a driving module of the air conditioner, which is connected to the first refrigerant auxiliary path and the second refrigerant auxiliary path; an auxiliary path expansion valve, which is connected to the second refrigerant auxiliary path and located on the inflow side of the refrigerant heat dissipation plate, and is used for adjusting the refrigerant flow rate flowing into the refrigerant heat dissipation plate; when the air conditioner is in a heating operation mode, the first refrigerant auxiliary path is in a connected state, and the second refrigerant auxiliary path is in a disconnected state; when the air conditioner is in a refrigeration operation mode, the second refrigerant auxiliary path is in a connected state, and the first refrigerant auxiliary path is in a disconnected state.

2. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein Further comprising: a first auxiliary path valve body, which is connected to the first refrigerant auxiliary path and is used for controlling the connection and disconnection of the first refrigerant auxiliary path; a second auxiliary path valve body, which is connected to the second refrigerant auxiliary path and is used for controlling the connection and disconnection of the second refrigerant auxiliary path.

3. The air conditioner of claim 2, wherein The first refrigerant auxiliary path comprises: a first auxiliary path segment, a first end of the first auxiliary path segment being connected to the refrigerant main path, and a second end of the first auxiliary path segment being connected to a first end of the refrigerant heat dissipation plate; a second auxiliary path segment, a first end of the second auxiliary path segment being connected to a second end of the refrigerant heat dissipation plate, and a second end of the second auxiliary path segment being connected to the refrigerant main path; The first auxiliary path valve body comprises: a first valve body, which is arranged on the first auxiliary path segment; a second valve body, which is arranged on the second auxiliary path segment; The second refrigerant auxiliary path comprises: a third auxiliary path segment, a first end of the third auxiliary path segment being connected to the refrigerant main path, and a second end of the third auxiliary path segment being connected to the first end of the refrigerant heat dissipation plate; a fourth auxiliary path segment, a first end of the fourth auxiliary path segment being connected to the second end of the refrigerant heat dissipation plate, and a second end of the fourth auxiliary path segment being connected to the gas-liquid separator; The auxiliary path expansion valve is arranged on the third auxiliary path segment, and the second auxiliary path valve body is arranged on the fourth auxiliary path segment.

4. The air conditioner of claim 3, wherein On the refrigerant main path, the first end of the first auxiliary path segment is located between the indoor heat exchanger and the second end of the second auxiliary path segment; The first valve body is an electromagnetic valve, and the second valve body is a one-way valve.

5. The air conditioner of claim 3, wherein On the refrigerant main path, the first end of the first auxiliary path segment is located between the second end of the second auxiliary path segment and the outdoor throttling device; The second valve body is an electromagnetic valve.

6. The air conditioner of claim 3, wherein The second auxiliary path valve body is an electromagnetic valve.

7. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein The refrigerant main path further comprises: an indoor throttling device, which is connected in series between the indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor throttling device; The first refrigerant auxiliary path is connected in parallel with a portion of the refrigerant main path between the indoor throttling device and the outdoor throttling device.

8. The air conditioner of claim 7, wherein The outdoor throttling device is an expansion valve; when refrigerating, the outdoor throttling device is in a fully open state.

9. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein During the cooling operation, the refrigerant flow rate of the second refrigerant auxiliary path is less than the refrigerant flow rate of the refrigerant main path.

10. An air conditioner characterized by comprising: Comprise: A refrigerant main path, which is provided with an outdoor heat exchanger, an outdoor throttling device, a liquid-side stop valve and a gas-liquid separator; A first refrigerant auxiliary path, which is connected in parallel with the part of the refrigerant main path between the liquid-side stop valve and the outdoor throttling device; A second refrigerant auxiliary path, which is connected to the refrigerant main path between the outdoor heat exchanger and the liquid-side stop valve, and the outflow end of the second refrigerant auxiliary path is connected to the gas-liquid separator; A refrigerant heat dissipation plate, which is connected to the first refrigerant auxiliary path and connected to the second refrigerant auxiliary path; During the heating operation of the air conditioner, the first refrigerant auxiliary path is in a connected state, and the second refrigerant auxiliary path is in a disconnected state; During the cooling operation of the air conditioner, the second refrigerant auxiliary path is in a connected state, and the first refrigerant auxiliary path is in a disconnected state.

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