Gas-liquid separator and air conditioning system

Abstract

The application relates to a gas-liquid separator and an air conditioning system. The gas-liquid separator comprises a shell, an inner shell and a gaseous refrigerant discharge pipe. The shell has a cavity. The inner shell is arranged in the cavity, and a gap is formed between the inner shell and the shell. The inner shell has a cavity, and a first through hole is arranged on the inner shell to communicate the cavity and the gap. When the liquid level of liquid refrigerant medium in the cavity rises to a preset liquid level, the liquid refrigerant medium can flow into the gap through the first through hole. The gas inlet end of the gaseous refrigerant discharge pipe is located in the cavity, and the gas inlet end is higher than the first through hole. The gas-liquid separator provided by the application adopts a double-shell structure of the inner shell and the shell. When the liquid level of the liquid refrigerant in the cavity rises to the preset liquid level, the liquid refrigerant can flow into the gap, so that the lifting of the refrigerant liquid level is slowed down or stopped, liquid is prevented from being carried by the gaseous refrigerant discharge pipe, and the phenomenon of liquid impact and damage of the compressor are avoided. Meanwhile, the gap and the fluid refrigerant in the gap can be used to reduce the sound radiation conduction efficiency and improve the noise experience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of refrigeration technology, and in particular to a gas-liquid separator and an air conditioning system. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of air conditioning technology and the increasing demand for better cooling performance, large-capacity air conditioners are gradually being used more widely.

[0003] In related technologies, the gas-liquid separator of the outdoor unit of a large-capacity air conditioner generally adopts a vertical barrel structure. However, in these technologies, the liquid level of the liquid refrigerant in the gas-liquid separator varies greatly under different operating conditions. This makes the outlet pipe of the gas-liquid separator prone to liquid contamination, leading to liquid slugging in the compressor. This not only damages the compressor, affecting product performance and lifespan, but also generates noise problems. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application provides a gas-liquid separator and an air conditioning system to solve the technical problem in the related art where liquid is carried in the outlet pipe of the gas-liquid separator, causing liquid slugging and noise in the compressor.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides a gas-liquid separator, comprising:

[0006] The outer casing has a cavity;

[0007] The inner shell is disposed in the cavity, and there is a gap between the outer side of the inner shell and the inner side of the outer shell. The inner shell has a cavity and a first through hole is provided on the inner shell. The first through hole connects the cavity and the gap. After the liquid level of the liquid cooling medium in the cavity is raised to a preset level, it can flow into the gap through the first through hole.

[0008] A gaseous refrigerant discharge pipe has an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end being located inside the cavity and higher than the first through hole.

[0009] Optionally, there may be multiple first through holes, which are arranged at intervals.

[0010] Optionally, the inner shell is further provided with a second through hole, which connects the cavity and the gap. The second through hole is higher than the first through hole and is used to balance the air pressure in the cavity and the gap.

[0011] Optionally, the inner shell includes a first cylindrical body and a top cover, the top cover being disposed at the top end of the first cylindrical body, the second through hole being disposed at the top cover, and the first through hole being disposed at the top end of the first cylindrical body.

[0012] Optionally, the top cover is an upwardly convex arc shape.

[0013] Optionally, the second through hole is located near the highest point of the top cover.

[0014] Optionally, the outer casing includes a second cylindrical body, an upper cover, and a lower cover. The upper cover is disposed at the top end of the second cylindrical body, and the lower cover is disposed at the bottom end of the second cylindrical body. The gap includes a first gap formed between the upper cover and the top cover, and a second gap formed between the second cylindrical body and the first cylindrical body.

[0015] Optionally, the volume of the first gap gradually decreases from bottom to top; and / or,

[0016] The second gap has a radial dimension of 5 mm to 15 mm in the first cylinder.

[0017] Optionally, the lower end of the first cylinder is open, and the bottom end of the first cylinder is connected to the lower cover.

[0018] Optionally, at least a portion of the upper cover is an upwardly convex arc shape; and / or,

[0019] At least a portion of the lower cover is a downwardly convex arc shape.

[0020] Optionally, the outlet is located on the outer side of the top of the housing, and the gas-liquid separator further includes a refrigerant inflow pipe, which is located at the top of the housing, and one end of the refrigerant inflow pipe extends through the housing into the cavity.

[0021] Optionally, it also includes:

[0022] A first sleeve, located at the top of the outer shell and penetrating both the top of the outer shell and the top of the inner shell, through which the refrigerant inlet pipe extends into the cavity; and / or,

[0023] The second sleeve is located at the top of the outer shell and extends through the top of both the outer shell and the inner shell. The gaseous refrigerant discharge pipe extends into the cavity through the second sleeve.

[0024] Optionally, there are multiple gaseous refrigerant discharge pipes, which are arranged at intervals.

[0025] Secondly, this application provides an air conditioning system, including the gas-liquid separator provided in the first aspect of this application.

[0026] The technical solutions provided in this application have the following advantages compared with the prior art:

[0027] The gas-liquid separator provided in this application adopts a double-shell structure with an inner shell and an outer shell. The cavity of the inner shell serves as a storage chamber for liquid refrigerant under normal operating conditions. The gap between the inner shell and the outer shell can serve as an expansion space. After the liquid refrigerant level in the cavity of the inner shell rises to a preset level, some liquid refrigerant can flow into the expansion space through the first through hole, thereby slowing down or stopping the rise of the refrigerant level and preventing liquid refrigerant from entering the gaseous refrigerant discharge pipe through the inlet end, thus avoiding liquid slugging and compressor damage. When the refrigerant level in the cavity of the inner shell decreases, the liquid refrigerant in the expansion space, located on the outer side, can evaporate first, thereby restoring the gap between the inner shell and the outer shell to a liquid-free state and filling it with gaseous refrigerant.

[0028] Meanwhile, the gap between the outer and inner shells is filled with gaseous and / or liquid refrigerant. As fluids, the gaseous and liquid refrigerants transmit sound only as longitudinal waves. Furthermore, regarding sound transmission efficiency, it is positively correlated with the density and stiffness of the medium, and the density and stiffness of the fluid refrigerant are much lower than those of the rigid materials of the inner and outer shells. Therefore, combined, the double-shell structure design of the outer and inner shells in this application can significantly reduce sound radiation transmission efficiency, reduce the whistling sound of the gas-liquid separator, and improve the noise experience. Attached Figure Description

[0029] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0030] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0031] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference numerals in the accompanying drawings. These illustrations do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are denoted as similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings are not to be limited by scale.

[0032] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the gas-liquid separator provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0033] Figure 2 This is a front view of the gas-liquid separator provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0034] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of the gas-liquid separator provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0035] Figure 4 This is an exploded schematic diagram of a gas-liquid separator provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0036] Figure 5 An exploded view of the gas-liquid separator provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0037] Figure 6 An exploded view of the gas-liquid separator provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0038] Figure 7 An explosion diagram of the gas-liquid separator after the inner shell has been hidden, as provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0039] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a gas-liquid separator after an explosion, provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0040] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the inner shell provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0041] Figure 10 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of the inner shell provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0042] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0043] 100. Gas-liquid separator;

[0044] 1. Outer shell; 11. Second cylinder; 12. Upper cover; 13. Lower cover; 14. Base bracket; 15. Hook; 16. Gap; 161. First gap; 162. Second gap; 17. Mounting hole;

[0045] 2. Inner shell; 21. First cylinder; 22. Top cover; 23. First through hole; 24. Second through hole; 25. Cavity;

[0046] 31. First sleeve; 32. Second sleeve;

[0047] 4. Gas refrigerant discharge pipe; 41. Inlet end; 42. Outlet end;

[0048] 5. Refrigerant inlet pipe. Detailed Implementation

[0049] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0050] The following disclosure provides numerous different embodiments or examples for implementing various structures of the invention. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described below. These are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in different examples. Such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or arrangements discussed.

[0051] For ease of description, spatial relative terms may be used in the text to describe the relative position or movement of one element or feature relative to another element or feature, as shown in the figure. These relative terms include, for example, "inside," "outside," "middle," "outer," "below," "below," "above," "front," "back," etc. Such spatial relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation, other than those depicted in the figure. For example, if the device in the figure undergoes a positional flip, orientation change, or change of motion, these directional indications will change accordingly. For instance, an element described as "below other elements or features" or "below other elements or features" will subsequently be oriented "above other elements or features" or "above other elements or features." Therefore, the example term "below" can include both upper and lower orientations. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or in other directions), and the spatial relative descriptors used in the text will be interpreted accordingly.

[0052] To address the technical problem of liquid carrying in the outlet pipe of existing gas-liquid separators, causing liquid slugging and noise in the compressor, this application provides a gas-liquid separator. Through a double-shell structure of an inner and outer shell, after the liquid refrigerant level in the inner shell cavity continuously rises to a preset level, some liquid refrigerant can flow into the expansion space through a first through-hole. This slows down or stops the rise in refrigerant level, preventing liquid refrigerant from entering the gaseous refrigerant discharge pipe and avoiding liquid slugging and compressor damage. Simultaneously, utilizing the characteristics of fluid refrigerant—that sound transmission is only longitudinal wave-based and that the density and stiffness of the fluid refrigerant are much lower than those of the rigid materials of the inner and outer shells—the sound radiation transmission efficiency is significantly reduced, decreasing the whistling sound of the gas-liquid separator and improving the noise experience.

[0053] See Figures 1 to 10A gas-liquid separator 100 includes an outer shell 1, an inner shell 2, and a gaseous refrigerant discharge pipe 4. The outer shell 1 has a chamber. The inner shell 2 is disposed within the chamber, and a gap 16 is formed between the outer surface of the inner shell 2 and the inner surface of the outer shell 1. The inner shell 2 has a cavity 25, and a first through hole 23 is provided on the inner shell 2, which connects the cavity 25 and the gap 16. The refrigerant flowing into the gas-liquid separator 100 enters the cavity 25, and both liquid and gaseous refrigerant are mainly stored within the cavity 25 of the inner shell 2.

[0054] The gap 16 between the inner shell 2 and the outer shell 1 can serve as a volume expansion space. When the liquid refrigerant level in the cavity 25 of the inner shell 2 does not reach the preset liquid level, there is no liquid refrigerant in the gap 16. The height of the preset liquid level can be determined based on the height of the first through hole 23. It can be understood that the height of the first through hole 23 is also the height of the preset liquid level. Since the first through hole 23 connects the cavity 25 and the gap 16, the gap 16 is filled only with gaseous refrigerant at this time.

[0055] As operating conditions change, the liquid refrigerant level in cavity 25 of gas-liquid separator 100 will change, especially for high-capacity air conditioning systems, where the liquid refrigerant level difference in cavity 25 is large under different operating conditions. When the liquid refrigerant level in cavity 25 rises to the preset level (i.e., the height of the first through hole 23), the liquid refrigerant in cavity 25 can flow into gap 16 through the first through hole 23, slowing down the rate of increase of the refrigerant level or pausing the rise of the refrigerant level.

[0056] The gaseous refrigerant discharge pipe 4 has an inlet end 41 and an outlet end 42, with the inlet end 41 located within the cavity 25. The gaseous refrigerant within the cavity 25 can flow through the inlet end 41 into the gaseous refrigerant discharge pipe 4 and exit through the gas-liquid separator 100, flowing towards the compressor. In this application, the inlet end 41 of the gaseous refrigerant discharge pipe 4 is vertically higher than the first through hole 23. Figures 1 to 4 The vertical direction, or up and down direction, is where the gas-liquid separator 100 is located. It has a vertical structure and typically runs along... Figures 1 to 4 As shown, it is placed in the up-down direction. Therefore, this application adjusts the liquid level of the liquid refrigerant in the cavity 25 through the first through hole 23 to prevent the liquid refrigerant from entering the gaseous refrigerant discharge pipe 4 through the air inlet 41 of the gaseous refrigerant discharge pipe 4, thereby avoiding liquid slugging and compressor damage.

[0057] When the refrigerant level in the cavity 25 of the inner shell 2 drops below the preset level, the gap 16 is located on the outer side of the gas-liquid separator 100 relative to the cavity 25 of the inner shell 2. Therefore, the liquid refrigerant in the gap 16 can evaporate before the liquid refrigerant in the cavity 25, thereby quickly restoring the gap 16 between the inner shell 2 and the outer shell 1 to a liquid-free state. At this time, the gap 16 is filled with gaseous refrigerant.

[0058] Compared to the gas-liquid separator 100 in related technologies, the volume of the cavity 25 of the inner shell 2 in this embodiment can be approximately the same as that of the gas-liquid separator 100 in related technologies. The gap 16 between the inner shell 2 and the outer shell 1 serves as an expansion space, increasing the total volume of the gas-liquid separator 100. Under most operating conditions, the gap 16, as an expansion space, will not be used to store liquid refrigerant. Only when the liquid refrigerant level in the cavity 25 of the inner shell 2 rises to a preset level under certain operating conditions will the gap 16 be used to temporarily store a portion of the liquid refrigerant. Finally, when the operating conditions change and the liquid refrigerant level in the cavity 25 of the inner shell 2 decreases, the liquid refrigerant in the gap 16 will rapidly evaporate, allowing the refrigerant to re-enter the system circulation, without affecting the total amount of refrigerant in the system, thus ensuring stable system operation.

[0059] Regardless of the operating conditions, the gap 16 between the outer shell 1 and the inner shell 2 of this application will be filled with gaseous refrigerant, liquid refrigerant, or both gaseous and liquid refrigerant. As fluids, the gaseous and liquid refrigerants transmit sound only as longitudinal waves. Furthermore, regarding sound transmission efficiency, it is positively correlated with the density and stiffness of the medium, and the density and stiffness of the fluid refrigerant are much lower than those of the rigid materials of the inner shell 2 and the outer shell 1. Therefore, by combining these two characteristics of the fluid refrigerant, this application can significantly reduce the sound radiation transmission efficiency, reduce the whistling sound of the gas-liquid separator 100, and improve the noise experience.

[0060] The gas-liquid separator 100 of this application can not only improve the stability of system operation and reduce system operation risks and failure rates, but also reduce noise and improve user experience.

[0061] In some embodiments of this application, there are multiple first through holes 23, which are arranged at intervals. These multiple first through holes 23 can be arranged circumferentially at the same horizontal height of the inner shell 2. For example, there may be two first through holes 23, arranged at intervals along the circumference of the inner shell 2, located at the same horizontal height. When the liquid refrigerant level in the inner shell 2 rises to the height of the first through holes 23, the liquid refrigerant can simultaneously enter the gap 16 between the inner shell 2 and the outer shell 1 through the multiple first through holes 23. The size and number of the first through holes can be determined based on the flow rate of the liquid refrigerant into the gap 16. The arrangement of the multiple first through holes 23 on the inner shell 2 allows the liquid refrigerant to flow into the gap 16 from different directions, resulting in a more uniform distribution of the liquid refrigerant within the gap 16 and improving the flow effect of the liquid refrigerant within the gap 16.

[0062] Understandably, the multiple first through holes 23 can also be arranged at intervals within a certain height range on the inner shell 2. For example, some of the first through holes 23 are located at a first horizontal height on the inner shell 2, while others are located at a second horizontal height on the inner shell 2. The second horizontal height is higher than the first horizontal height, but all are lower than the air inlet 41 of the gaseous refrigerant discharge pipe 4. When the liquid refrigerant level in the inner shell 2 rises to the first horizontal height, the liquid refrigerant flows into the gap 16 between the inner shell 2 and the outer shell 1 through some of the first through holes 23. If the liquid refrigerant level in the inner shell 2 continues to rise at this time, when the level rises to the second horizontal height, the liquid refrigerant can simultaneously flow into the gap 16 between the inner shell 2 and the outer shell 1 through multiple first through holes 23. Thus, the liquid refrigerant level can be adjusted in stages. The liquid level of the liquid refrigerant in the cavity 25 of the inner shell 2 is positively correlated with the risk of liquid carryover in the gaseous refrigerant discharge pipe 4. Therefore, by arranging multiple first through holes 23 at different horizontal heights on the inner shell 2, the liquid level regulation effect of the liquid refrigerant can be improved, and the total amount of liquid refrigerant flowing into the gap 16 can be reasonably controlled.

[0063] In some embodiments of this application, the first through-hole 23 can be a strip-shaped hole, with its length extending along the height direction of the inner shell 2. When the liquid level of the cooling medium in the cavity 25 of the inner shell 2 reaches the lower edge of the first through-hole 23, the liquid cooling medium can flow into the gap 16 between the inner shell 2 and the outer shell 1. At this time, the lower half of the first through-hole 23 serves as a flow channel for the liquid cooling medium, while the upper half of the first through-hole 23 serves as a connecting channel between the cavity 25 and the gap 16, used to equalize the air pressure in the cavity 25 and the gap 16, making the flow of the liquid cooling medium smoother. If the liquid level of the cooling medium in the inner shell 2 continues to rise, a larger section of the first through-hole 23 serves as a flow channel for the liquid cooling medium, which can increase the speed at which the liquid cooling medium flows into the gap 16, thereby better slowing down or stopping the rate of increase of the liquid level in the cavity 25 of the inner shell 2.

[0064] In some embodiments of this application, see Figure 4 and Figure 9 The inner shell 2 is also provided with a second through hole 24, which connects the cavity 25 and the gap 16. The second through hole 24 is higher than the first through hole 23 and is used to balance the air pressure in the cavity 25 and the gap 16. The second through hole 24 can connect the cavity 25 and the gap 16, so that the air pressure in the two chambers is balanced. Even if the liquid level in the cavity 25 of the inner shell 2 exceeds the first through hole 23, the liquid cooling medium can still flow smoothly into the gap 16, thereby avoiding the air pressure imbalance between the cavity 25 and the gap 16 caused by the first through hole 23 being completely immersed below the liquid level of the liquid cooling medium.

[0065] Optionally, in this embodiment, both the first through hole 23 and the second through hole 24 can be generally circular holes, which facilitates the opening of holes and the processing and manufacturing of the inner shell 2.

[0066] In some embodiments of this application, see Figure 9 and Figure 10 The inner shell 2 includes a first cylindrical body 21 and a top cover 22. The top cover 22 is located at the top of the first cylindrical body 21. The first cylindrical body 21 and the top cover 22 can be manufactured separately and welded together. Preferably, the first cylindrical body 21 and the top cover 22 can be integrally formed to improve structural stability and reduce subsequent processing workload. A second through hole 24 is located at the top cover 22, and a first through hole 23 is located at the top of the first cylindrical body 21. The height of the second through hole 24 is higher than that of the first through hole 23. The inlet end 41 of the gaseous refrigerant discharge pipe 4 is higher than that of the first through hole 23 and can be located between the first through hole 23 and the second through hole 24.

[0067] In this embodiment, the first through-hole 23 is located at the top of the first cylinder 21, which can control the liquid level of the liquid refrigerant in the inner shell 2 below the top of the first cylinder 21, making full use of the volume of the first cylinder 21 and improving space utilization. By placing the second through-hole 24 on the top cover 22, the liquid refrigerant can be prevented from touching the second through-hole 24, keeping the cavity 25 and the gap 16 connected and ensuring good pressure balance. When the liquid refrigerant in the gap 16 evaporates, the liquid refrigerant can flow smoothly through the second through-hole 24 into the cavity 25 of the inner shell 2, and then flow out through the gaseous refrigerant discharge pipe 4, realizing a stable fluid circulation between the cavity 25 and the gap 16.

[0068] Furthermore, the top cover 22 is an upwardly convex arc shape. The arc-shaped top cover 22 and the first cylindrical body 21 are easily manufactured as a single piece, and the smooth transition between them avoids stress concentration and other problems, improving product quality and resulting in a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. In addition, the height of the second through hole 24 can be adjusted within a certain range, offering greater flexibility.

[0069] The second through hole 24 is located near the highest point of the top cover 22. This embodiment makes full use of the arc-shaped upward convex structure of the top cover 22, which increases the spacing between the first through hole 23 and the second through hole 24 in the height direction of the inner shell 2, so that the cavity 25 and the gap 16 can remain connected, and the air pressure balance between the two is good.

[0070] In some embodiments of this application, see Figures 1 to 8 The outer shell 1 includes a second cylinder 11, an upper cover 12, and a lower cover 13. The upper cover 12 is located at the top of the second cylinder 11, and the lower cover 13 is located at the bottom of the second cylinder 11. The gap 16 includes a first gap 161 formed between the upper cover 12 and the top cover 22, and a second gap 162 formed between the second cylinder 11 and the first cylinder 21. In this embodiment, the first gap 161 is filled with gaseous refrigerant. When liquid refrigerant flows into the gap 16, it converges into the second gap 162. Based on the position and height of the first gap 161 and the second gap 162 and their respective roles in the fluid refrigerant circulation process, the first gap 161 and the second gap 162 can be constructed with reasonable volume sizes according to the structural features of the inner shell 2 and the outer shell 1, thereby ensuring the stable distribution of liquid and gaseous fluids within the gap 16 and improving the flow characteristics of different fluids.

[0071] The second cylinder 11, the upper cover 12, and the lower cover 13 can be manufactured separately and welded together. The first cylinder 21 and the second cylinder 11 can be coaxially arranged. Both the first cylinder 21 and the second cylinder 11 can be roughly cylindrical.

[0072] Further, see Figure 3The volume of the first gap 161 gradually decreases from bottom to top. The gap 16 between the inner shell 2 and the outer shell 1 can be designed with a gradual change based on the structure of the top cover 22 and the upper cover 13, improving the flow of the refrigerant within the gap 16. The volume of the first gap 161 gradually changes in height, better achieving spatial division at the intersection of the first gap 161 and the second gap 162. When liquid refrigerant flows into the gap 16, the relatively large volume at the lower end of the first gap 161 effectively prevents the liquid refrigerant from accumulating at the first gap 161 due to adsorption between the liquid refrigerant and the sidewalls of the first gap 161. This promotes the flow of liquid refrigerant into the second gap 162, ensuring smooth airflow within the first gap 161 and improving the connection between the gap 16 and the cavity 25.

[0073] See Figure 3 The radial dimension L of the second gap 162 on the first cylinder 21 is 5mm to 15mm. The radial dimension L of the second gap 162 on the first cylinder 21 can be 5mm, 6.5mm, 7mm, 9mm, 10mm, 13mm, or 15mm. Assuming the volume of the cavity 25 of the inner shell 2 is approximately the same as the volume of the gas-liquid separator 100 in related technologies, if the second gap 162 is too large, it can easily lead to an excessively large outer shell 1, increasing manufacturing costs and overall volume, and hindering the rapid evaporation of the liquid refrigerant within the gap 16. If the second gap 162 is too small, it can easily lead to an insufficient distance between the outer wall surface of the first cylinder 21 and the inner wall surface of the second cylinder 11. Because the liquid refrigerant has an adsorption force with the wall surface, this can easily affect the flow of the liquid refrigerant and easily cause air blockage.

[0074] This application embodiment, by reasonably designing the dimensions of the second gap 162, can increase the refrigerant storage volume without changing the effective volume of the gas-liquid separator 100 in the related art, reduce the probability of liquid carrying in the gaseous refrigerant discharge pipe 4, and at the same time control the external dimensions of the gas-liquid separator 100 within a reasonable range, reduce the impact on installation space, and improve the user experience.

[0075] In some embodiments of this application, see Figure 3 , Figure 9 and Figure 10 The lower end of the first cylindrical body 21 is open, and the bottom end of the first cylindrical body 21 is connected to the lower cover 13. The lower end of the first cylindrical body 21 can be welded and fixed to the lower cover 13, thereby defining a cavity 25 between the top cover 22, the first cylindrical body 21 and the lower cover 13. At this time, the inner shell 2 can be fixed to the outer shell 1 by connecting with the lower cover 13, ensuring the structural stability of the inner shell 2 after installation.

[0076] In this embodiment, the lower cover 13 is used to seal the lower ends of the first cylinder 21 and the second cylinder 11 simultaneously, which reduces the number of parts in the product, reduces the difficulty of assembly, improves the coaxiality of the first cylinder 21 and the second cylinder 11, and improves the assembly efficiency and structural stability.

[0077] In some embodiments of this application, see Figures 1 to 8 At least a portion of the upper cover 12 is an upwardly convex arc shape, and at least a portion of the lower cover 13 is a downwardly convex arc shape. The upwardly convex arc shape in the upper cover 12 matches the arc shape structure of the top cover 22 of the inner shell 2, which can better define the gradually changing volume space of the first gap 161, making the upper cover 12 and the top cover 22 of the inner shell 2 fit more tightly and the space utilization rate is higher. The top of the top cover 22 can abut against the top of the upper cover 12, thereby limiting and constraining the top of the inner shell 2, preventing the upper part of the inner shell 2 from shaking, and improving the stability of the structure. Since the curvature of the top cover 22 and the upper cover 12 is different, a gradually changing first gap 161 is defined between the top cover 22 and the upper cover 12. At this time, the second through hole 24 can be set near the highest end of the top cover 22, but will not be blocked by the upper cover 12, ensuring that the second through hole 24 is connected to the first gap 161.

[0078] The gaseous refrigerant discharge pipe 4 has a U-shaped structure, and an oil return hole is arranged at the lower end of the gaseous refrigerant discharge pipe 4. The downward convex arc of the lower cover 13 matches the U-shaped structure of the gaseous refrigerant discharge pipe 4, resulting in a compact overall structure and good oil return effect. When the length of the gaseous refrigerant discharge pipe 4 is too long, a reinforcing plate can be installed between two parallel sections of the gaseous refrigerant discharge pipe 4 to improve the structural stability of the gaseous refrigerant discharge pipe 4.

[0079] Guide sleeves of a certain height can be arranged at the lower end of the upper cover 12 and the upper end of the lower cover 13. The guide sleeves are sleeved with the second cylinder 11 to position and guide the second cylinder 11, and then welded and fixed to improve the structural stability of the outer shell 1.

[0080] Furthermore, a base bracket 14 can be provided on the outside of the lower cover 13 or the outside of the second cylinder 11 to support the outer shell 1. A hook 15 can be provided on the top of the upper cover 12 to lift the gas-liquid separator 100, facilitating the hoisting and movement of the gas-liquid separator 100.

[0081] In some embodiments of this application, see Figure 3 and Figure 7The outlet end 42 is located on the outer side of the top of the outer shell 1. The gas-liquid separator 100 also includes a refrigerant inlet pipe 5, which is located at the top of the outer shell 1, with one end extending through the outer shell 1 into the cavity 25. The refrigerant outside the gas-liquid separator 100 flows into the cavity 25 of the inner shell 2 through the refrigerant inlet pipe 5. The liquid refrigerant accumulates in the cavity 25, while the gaseous refrigerant in the gap 16 can enter the cavity 25 through the second through hole 24. The gaseous refrigerant in the cavity 25 is then transported to the compressor for circulation through the gaseous refrigerant outlet pipe 4, forming a gas-liquid separator with stable refrigerant circulation.

[0082] The refrigerant inlet pipe 5 can be roughly L-shaped. The refrigerant inlet pipe 5 has an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end is located outside the outer shell 1, and the outlet end is located inside the inner shell 2. The outlet end of the refrigerant inlet pipe 5 is arranged at a certain distance from the inlet end 41 of the gaseous refrigerant outlet pipe 4. The outlet end of the refrigerant inlet pipe 5 can be lower than the inlet end 41 of the gaseous refrigerant outlet pipe 4 to prevent some of the liquid refrigerant in the refrigerant inlet pipe 5 from entering the gaseous refrigerant outlet pipe 4.

[0083] See Figure 5 Multiple sets of mounting holes 17 can be provided on the upper cover 12 of the outer shell 1 and the top cover 22 of the inner shell 2. The refrigerant inlet pipe 5 and the gaseous refrigerant outlet pipe 4 pass through the corresponding mounting holes 17 on the outer shell 1 and the inner shell 2. The outer wall of the refrigerant inlet pipe 5 and the gaseous refrigerant outlet pipe 4 can be sealed with the corresponding mounting holes 17 by sealing rings or other sealing components to prevent the gaseous refrigerant from flowing out.

[0084] In some embodiments of this application, see Figure 5 and Figure 7 The gas-liquid separator 100 also includes a first sleeve 31 and a second sleeve 32. The first sleeve 31 is located at the top of the outer shell 1 and penetrates the top of the outer shell 1 and the inner shell 2. The refrigerant inlet pipe 5 extends into the cavity 25 through the first sleeve 31. The second sleeve 32 is located at the top of the outer shell 1 and penetrates the top of the outer shell 1 and the inner shell 2. The gaseous refrigerant outlet pipe 4 extends into the cavity 25 through the second sleeve 32.

[0085] In this embodiment, the first sleeve 31 and the second sleeve 32 can structurally reinforce the connection points between the mounting holes 17 on the outer shell 1 and the inner shell 2 and the refrigerant inflow pipe 5 and the gaseous refrigerant outlet pipe 4, preventing direct contact between the refrigerant inflow pipe 5 and the gaseous refrigerant outlet pipe 4 and the inner shell 2 and the outer shell 1, facilitating assembly and structural sealing. At the same time, the first sleeve 31 and the second sleeve 32 can serve as guide pillars between the inner shell 2 and the outer shell 1, guiding the top of the inner shell 2 and the outer shell 1, preventing the top of the inner shell 2 from swinging relative to the outer shell 1, and preventing problems such as cracking and stress concentration at the connection point between the first cylinder 21 in the inner shell 2 and the lower cover 13 in the outer shell 1, thereby improving the structural stability between the inner shell 2 and the outer shell 1.

[0086] The first sleeve 31 and the second sleeve 32 can be welded and fixed to the upper cover 12 of the outer shell 1. Sealing rings or other sealing elements can be installed between the refrigerant inlet pipe 5 and the first sleeve 31, and between the gaseous refrigerant outlet pipe 4 and the second sleeve 32, to achieve structural sealing. The first sleeve 31 and the second sleeve 32 can be directly sleeved and connected to the inner shell 2, or sealing rings or other sealing elements can be installed between the first sleeve 31 and the inner shell 2, and between the second sleeve 32 and the inner shell 2.

[0087] In some embodiments of this application, there are multiple gaseous refrigerant discharge pipes 4, which are arranged at intervals. For large-capacity air conditioning systems, multiple gaseous refrigerant discharge pipes 4 can be arranged in the gas-liquid separator 100. For example, there can be two gaseous refrigerant discharge pipes 4, with two compressors sharing one gas-liquid separator 100. This allows gaseous refrigerant to be delivered to different compressors, meeting the needs of large-capacity air conditioning systems.

[0088] Secondly, this application provides an air conditioning system, including the gas-liquid separator 100 provided in the first aspect of this application. Through the double-shell structure design of the inner shell 2 and outer shell 1 of the gas-liquid separator 100, the liquid refrigerant can automatically flow into the gap 16 between the inner shell 2 and the outer shell 1 after the liquid level in the cavity 25 of the inner shell 2 reaches a preset level. This reduces the risk of liquid carrying in the gaseous refrigerant discharge pipe 4, avoids liquid slugging in the compressor, and reduces whistling noise by utilizing the low sound conduction efficiency of the fluid refrigerant and the characteristic that the fluid refrigerant only conducts longitudinal wave sound, thus improving the user experience.

[0089] It should be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular exemplary embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “described” as used herein may also include the plural forms. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” and “having” are inclusive and therefore indicate the presence of the stated features, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or combinations thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not construed as requiring them to be performed in a particular order described or illustrated unless the order of performance is explicitly indicated. It should also be understood that additional or alternative steps may be used.

[0090] Although terms such as first, second, third, etc., may be used in this document to describe multiple elements, components, regions, layers, and / or segments, these elements, components, regions, layers, and / or segments should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be used only to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or segment from another. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, terms such as "first," "second," and other numerical terms used herein do not imply order or sequence. Therefore, the first element, component, region, layer, or segment discussed below may be referred to as the second element, component, region, layer, or segment without departing from the teachings of the exemplary embodiments.

[0091] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features claimed herein.

Claims

1. A gas-liquid separator (100), characterized in that, include: The outer casing (1) has a cavity; The inner shell (2) is disposed in the cavity, and there is a gap (16) between the outer side of the inner shell (2) and the inner side of the outer shell (1). The inner shell (2) has a cavity (25), and the inner shell (2) is provided with a first through hole (23). The first through hole (23) connects the cavity (25) and the gap (16). After the liquid level of the liquid cold medium in the cavity (25) is raised to a preset level, it can flow into the gap (16) through the first through hole (23). A gaseous refrigerant discharge pipe (4) has an inlet end (41) and an outlet end (42). The inlet end (41) is located in the cavity (25) and is higher than the first through hole (23).

2. The gas-liquid separator (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, There are multiple first through holes (23), and the multiple first through holes (23) are arranged at intervals.

3. The gas-liquid separator (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner shell (2) is also provided with a second through hole (24), which connects the cavity (25) and the gap (16). The second through hole (24) is higher than the first through hole (23) and is used to balance the air pressure in the cavity (25) and the gap (16).

4. The gas-liquid separator (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The inner shell (2) includes a first cylindrical body (21) and a top cover (22). The top cover (22) is located at the top of the first cylindrical body (21), the second through hole (24) is located at the top of the top cover (22), and the first through hole (23) is located at the top of the first cylindrical body (21).

5. The gas-liquid separator (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The top cover (22) is an upwardly convex arc shape.

6. The gas-liquid separator (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The second through hole (24) is located near the highest position of the top cover (22).

7. The gas-liquid separator (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The outer shell (1) includes a second cylindrical body (11), an upper cover (12) and a lower cover (13). The upper cover (12) is located at the top of the second cylindrical body (11), and the lower cover (13) is located at the bottom of the second cylindrical body (11). The gap (16) includes a first gap (161) formed between the upper cover (12) and the top cover (22) and a second gap (162) formed between the second cylindrical body (11) and the first cylindrical body (21).

8. The gas-liquid separator (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that, The volume of the first gap (161) gradually decreases from bottom to top; and / or, The second gap (162) has a radial dimension of 5 mm to 15 mm in the first cylinder (21).

9. The gas-liquid separator (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that, The lower end of the first cylinder (21) is open, and the bottom end of the first cylinder (21) is connected to the lower cover (13).

10. The gas-liquid separator (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that, At least a portion of the upper cover (12) is an upwardly convex arc shape; and / or, At least a portion of the lower cover (13) is a downwardly convex arc shape.

11. The gas-liquid separator (100) according to any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that, The outlet end (42) is located on the outside of the top of the outer shell (1). The gas-liquid separator (100) also includes a refrigerant inflow pipe (5), which is located at the top of the outer shell (1), and one end of the refrigerant inflow pipe (5) passes through the outer shell (1) and extends into the cavity (25).

12. The gas-liquid separator (100) according to claim 11, characterized in that, Also includes: A first sleeve (31) is provided at the top of the outer shell (1) and extends through the top of both the outer shell (1) and the inner shell (2). The refrigerant inlet pipe (5) extends into the cavity (25) through the first sleeve (31); and / or, The second sleeve (32) is located at the top of the outer shell (1) and extends through the top of the outer shell (1) and the inner shell (2). The gaseous refrigerant discharge pipe (4) extends into the cavity (25) through the second sleeve (32).

13. The gas-liquid separator (100) according to claim 11, characterized in that, There are multiple gaseous refrigerant discharge pipes (4), and the multiple gaseous refrigerant discharge pipes (4) are arranged at intervals.

14. An air conditioning system, characterized in that, Includes the gas-liquid separator (100) as described in any one of claims 1 to 13.

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