Plate evaporator with gas-liquid separation

Abstract

The utility model relates to technical fields, concretely relates to a kind of plate evaporator with gas-liquid separation, including the mutual fixation plate heat exchanger main part and gas-liquid separator cavity, gas-liquid separator cavity is equipped with the heat exchange fluid inflow pipe, heat exchange fluid outflow pipe, refrigerant inflow pipe, refrigerant outflow pipe and gas-liquid separation pipe, the heat exchange fluid inflow pipe, heat exchange fluid outflow pipe and refrigerant inflow pipe are all used to connect between external compressor and plate heat exchanger main part, refrigerant outflow pipe connection is used to connect between external compressor and gas-liquid separator cavity, gas-liquid separation pipe is connected between the upper portion of plate heat exchanger main part and gas-liquid separator cavity.The utility model is based on the traditional plate heat exchanger main part, integrates gas-liquid separation cavity, realizes efficient separation to refrigerant gas-liquid two-phase while completing evaporation heat exchange, saves independent gas-liquid separator, solves the problem of large space occupation of gas-liquid separator.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of heat exchange equipment for refrigeration systems, and in particular to a plate evaporator with gas-liquid separation. Background Technology

[0002] In refrigeration systems, the gas-liquid separator is a key component that prevents liquid refrigerant from entering the compressor and avoids liquid slugging. Existing technical solutions mainly include the following forms: Independent gas-liquid separators are typically installed on the compressor's return gas line, achieving gas-liquid separation through gravity settling or centrifugal force. They employ shell-and-tube or cylindrical structures, with internal baffles, filters, or cyclone devices to improve separation efficiency. Independent gas-liquid separators require additional space and increase piping connection points.

[0003] Integrated gas-liquid separation heat exchangers: Some technologies attempt to integrate gas-liquid separation functions inside the heat exchanger, such as: shell-and-tube heat exchangers with built-in separation structures: flow is optimized through the positioning and coordination of the support plate and the separator, but there are still problems with assembly deviations affecting heat exchange efficiency.

[0004] Plate heat exchangers combined with separation functions: such as the plate condenser described in patent CN201510970125.1, by separating gaseous refrigerant and liquid refrigerant channels, but the compactness problem is still not completely solved, and the positions of action are different. In the refrigeration system, the gas-liquid separator is mainly to allow the gas to flow back to the compressor.

[0005] Gas-liquid separators with heat exchange functions, such as those used for CO2 refrigerant, employ a high-pressure / low-pressure countercurrent heat exchange design, but still suffer from problems such as high flow resistance and limited liquid storage volume.

[0006] However, all of the above gas-liquid separators have the following problems: Large space occupation and complex installation: Independent gas-liquid separators require additional piping and welding points, making them difficult to apply in compact refrigeration systems (such as energy storage temperature control and vehicle air conditioning). Shell-and-tube heat exchangers with built-in separation structures still rely on support plates for positioning, which can easily lead to poor refrigerant flow and reduced heat exchange efficiency due to assembly errors.

[0007] It is difficult to balance separation efficiency and heat exchange performance: Traditional separators rely on gravity settling, which has limited effectiveness in separating high-flow-rate refrigerants (such as R407C), and can easily lead to liquid refrigerant entering the compressor. Although some integrated designs (such as plate condensers) can improve subcooling, they are not optimized for evaporation conditions and cannot directly replace independent gas separators.

[0008] Insufficient system reliability: The welding points of the independent gas-liquid separator increase the risk of leakage, especially in vibration environments (such as vehicle air conditioning), making it more prone to failure. Existing technology has poor adaptability to the temperature glide (4~7℃) of mixed refrigerants (such as R407C), which may lead to component separation and affect system stability.

[0009] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new type of evaporator that occupies less space, can balance separation efficiency and heat exchange performance, and has sufficient system reliability to solve the above-mentioned technical problems. Utility Model Content

[0010] The main purpose of this invention is to provide a plate evaporator with gas-liquid separation, which aims to solve the technical problem of large space occupation of existing gas-liquid separators.

[0011] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model proposes a plate evaporator with gas-liquid separation, comprising a plate heat exchanger body and a gas-liquid separator cavity fixed to each other. The gas-liquid separator cavity is provided with a heat exchange fluid inlet pipe, a heat exchange fluid outlet pipe, a refrigerant inlet pipe, a refrigerant outlet pipe, and a gas-liquid separation pipe. The heat exchange fluid inlet pipe, the heat exchange fluid outlet pipe, and the refrigerant inlet pipe are all used to connect between an external compressor and the plate heat exchanger body. The refrigerant outlet pipe is used to connect between the external compressor and the gas-liquid separator cavity. The gas-liquid separation pipe is connected between the upper part of the plate heat exchanger body and the gas-liquid separator cavity.

[0012] The further improvement of the plate evaporator with gas-liquid separation of this utility model is that the gas-liquid separation tube is inverted L-shaped, and the end of the gas-liquid separation tube away from the main body of the plate heat exchanger is located in the middle of the gas-liquid separator cavity.

[0013] The plate evaporator with gas-liquid separation of this utility model is further improved in that the refrigerant outlet pipe is L-shaped, the first end of the refrigerant outlet pipe is used to connect to the compressor, and the second end of the refrigerant outlet pipe is located in the middle of the gas-liquid separator cavity.

[0014] The plate evaporator with gas-liquid separation of this utility model is further improved in that the inlet pipe of the heat exchange fluid is located at the upper part of the gas-liquid separator cavity, and the outlet pipe of the heat exchange fluid is located at the lower part of the gas-liquid separator cavity.

[0015] The further improvement of the plate evaporator with gas-liquid separation of this utility model is that a metal plate is used to isolate the main body of the plate heat exchanger and the gas-liquid separator cavity.

[0016] The further improvement of the plate evaporator with gas-liquid separation of this utility model is that the material of the metal plate is stainless steel, copper or aluminum.

[0017] The plate evaporator with gas-liquid separation of this invention is further improved in that the material of the heat exchange fluid outlet pipe is copper.

[0018] The plate evaporator with gas-liquid separation of this utility model is further improved in that the bottom of the refrigerant outlet pipe is provided with an opening for lubricating oil return.

[0019] This utility model also provides a heat exchange method using a plate evaporator with gas-liquid separation as described above. Liquid refrigerant enters the plate heat exchanger body from the refrigerant inlet pipe. After the liquid refrigerant exchanges heat with the heat exchange fluid entering from the heat exchange fluid inlet pipe in the plate heat exchanger body, the liquid and gaseous refrigerants enter the gas-liquid separation chamber through the gas-liquid separation pipe. Under the action of gravity, the liquid refrigerant settles and the gaseous refrigerant rises. Then, the refrigerant gas flows back to the compressor through the refrigerant outlet pipe. The liquid refrigerant continues to exchange heat through the heat exchange fluid outlet pipe and the metal plates of the plate heat exchanger body and the gas-liquid separator chamber. After evaporating into a gaseous state, it flows back to the compressor from the refrigerant outlet pipe. The heat exchange fluid flows back to the water pump from the heat exchange fluid pipe.

[0020] The technical solution of this utility model has the following beneficial effects: This invention relates to a plate evaporator with integrated gas-liquid separation. It utilizes an integrated evaporation-gas-liquid separation plate evaporator, reducing installation space. The plate heat exchanger body and gas-liquid separator cavity are welded together during heat exchanger production, minimizing welding work during on-site assembly. Furthermore, by integrating the gas-liquid separation cavity into the traditional plate heat exchanger body, it achieves efficient separation of the refrigerant gas and liquid phases simultaneously with evaporation heat exchange, eliminating the need for a separate gas-liquid separator and solving the problem of large space occupation associated with existing gas-liquid separators. The gas-liquid separator cavity of this invention has sufficient space to effectively reduce refrigerant flow rate. The metal plate separating the plate heat exchanger body and the gas-liquid separator cavity further enhances heat exchange for the refrigerant within the gas-liquid separation cavity. This invention features a simple structure, eliminating the need for a separate gas-liquid separator, thus reducing piping and welding points, lowering manufacturing costs, and providing ease of use. The optimized internal flow channel design allows evaporation and gas-liquid separation to be completed within a single device. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the plate evaporator with gas-liquid separation according to this utility model.

[0023] Explanation of icon numbers: 1. Plate heat exchanger body; 2. Gas-liquid separator chamber; 3. Inlet pipe of the heat exchanged fluid; 4. Outlet pipe of the heat exchanged fluid; 5. Inlet pipe of refrigerant; 6. Outlet pipe of refrigerant; 7. Gas-liquid separator pipe. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0025] It should be noted that all directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in this utility model embodiment are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indicator will also change accordingly.

[0026] Furthermore, in this utility model, the use of terms such as "first," "second," etc., is for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this utility model, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0027] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connection," "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "fixing" can mean a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can mean a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can mean a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can mean the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0028] Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments of this utility model can be combined with each other, but only if they are based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this utility model.

[0029] This utility model proposes a plate evaporator with gas-liquid separation, including a plate heat exchanger body 1 and a gas-liquid separator cavity 2 fixed to each other. The gas-liquid separator cavity 2 is provided with a heat exchange fluid inlet pipe 3, a heat exchange fluid outlet pipe 4, a refrigerant inlet pipe 5, a refrigerant outlet pipe 6, and a gas-liquid separator pipe 7. The heat exchange fluid inlet pipe 3, the heat exchange fluid outlet pipe 4, and the refrigerant inlet pipe 5 are all used to connect between an external compressor and the plate heat exchanger body 1. The refrigerant outlet pipe 6 is used to connect between the external compressor and the gas-liquid separator cavity 2. The gas-liquid separator pipe 7 is connected between the upper part of the plate heat exchanger body 1 and the gas-liquid separator cavity 2.

[0030] Specifically, the plate evaporator with gas-liquid separation of this invention can be connected to the inlet and outlet of the heat exchange fluid (inlet pipe 3 and outlet pipe 4) according to actual needs. The heat exchange fluid can be placed on the outer periphery of the heat dissipation device using existing technology to absorb heat from the heat dissipation device (such as a battery). The specific structure will not be described in detail. Furthermore, a water pump can be installed at the inlet and outlet of the heat exchange fluid to provide driving power for the flow of the heat exchange fluid. In this embodiment, the water pump is installed at the outlet of the heat exchange fluid and connected to the heat exchange fluid pipe 4.

[0031] The reaction principle of this invention is as follows: Liquid refrigerant enters the plate heat exchanger body 1 from the refrigerant inlet pipe 5. After the liquid refrigerant and the heat exchange fluid entering from the heat exchange fluid inlet pipe 3 exchange heat in the plate heat exchanger body 1, the liquid and gaseous refrigerants enter the gas-liquid separation chamber through the gas-liquid separation pipe 7. Under the action of gravity, the liquid refrigerant settles and the gaseous refrigerant rises. Then, the refrigerant gas flows back to the compressor through the refrigerant outlet pipe 6. The liquid refrigerant continues to exchange heat through the heat exchange fluid outlet pipe 4 and the metal plates of the plate heat exchanger body 1 and the gas-liquid separator chamber 2. After evaporating into a gaseous state, it flows back to the compressor from the refrigerant outlet pipe 6. The heat exchange fluid flows back to the water pump from the heat exchange fluid pipe 4.

[0032] In this embodiment, a horizontal compressor can be used to accommodate low-humidity intake gas and reduce the risk of liquid slugging. Additionally, this invention includes an expansion valve at the front end of the refrigerant inlet pipe 3 to control superheat and prevent excessive refrigerant supply.

[0033] This invention, through optimized structural design, integrates gas-liquid separation functionality into a traditional plate heat exchanger. The gas-liquid separator chamber 2 can also be integrated into a horizontal compressor, or part of the chamber can be centrifugal, enabling efficient separation of the refrigerant gas and liquid phases while performing evaporative heat exchange, thus eliminating the need for a separate gas-liquid separator. In this embodiment, the plate heat exchanger body 1 is a traditional plate heat exchanger, utilizing the inertial force and gravity effect of the refrigerant flow to naturally separate the gaseous and liquid refrigerants in the low-flow-rate gas-liquid separator chamber 2. This invention features a space-saving structure, eliminating the need for a separate gas-liquid separator and complex piping, making it suitable for compact systems; it reduces welding points and material usage, simplifies assembly processes, and lowers costs; it avoids the leakage risk of external gas separators while ensuring dry compression of the compressor, improving reliability; and its integrated design reduces flow resistance, improves heat exchange efficiency, and optimizes energy efficiency.

[0034] Preferably, the gas-liquid separator 7 is inverted L-shaped, with one end of the gas-liquid separator 7 furthest from the plate heat exchanger body 1 located in the middle of the gas-liquid separator cavity 2. Specifically, the bend in the gas-liquid separator 7 is arc-shaped, thus facilitating the smooth flow of both liquid and gaseous refrigerant from the gas-liquid separator 7.

[0035] Preferably, the refrigerant outlet pipe 6 is L-shaped. The first end of the refrigerant outlet pipe 6 is connected to the compressor, and the second end is located in the middle of the gas-liquid separator cavity 2. Specifically, the refrigerant inlet pipe 5 is located in the lower middle part of the gas-liquid separator cavity 2 and connects to the plate heat exchanger body 1, allowing the refrigerant to enter the plate heat exchanger body 1 and exchange heat with the fluid being heat-exchanged. The refrigerant then enters the gas-liquid separation cavity through the gas-liquid separation pipe 7, which is connected to the upper part of the plate heat exchanger body 1. This bottom-in, top-out flow of refrigerant into the plate heat exchanger body 1, combined with gravity, ensures that the liquid refrigerant remains at the bottom of the plate heat exchanger body 1, while the gaseous refrigerant enters the gas-liquid separation cavity from the top through the gas-liquid separation pipe 7, and finally enters the compressor through the refrigerant outlet pipe 6.

[0036] Preferably, the inlet pipe 3 of the heat exchanged fluid is located at the upper part of the gas-liquid separator cavity 2, and the outlet pipe 4 of the heat exchanged fluid is located at the lower part of the gas-liquid separator cavity 2, thereby realizing the heat exchange and flow of the heat exchanged fluid.

[0037] Furthermore, a metal plate is used to separate the plate heat exchanger body 1 from the gas-liquid separator chamber 2. Preferably, the metal plate is made of stainless steel, copper, or aluminum. Due to the good thermal conductivity of the metal plate, the liquid refrigerant settles to the bottom by gravity and then exchanges heat with the plate heat exchanger body 1 through the metal plate before evaporating into gas.

[0038] Preferably, the material of the heat exchange fluid outlet pipe 4 is copper. Because copper has good thermal conductivity, the liquid refrigerant can continue to exchange heat with the heat exchange fluid outlet pipe 4 and evaporate into a gaseous state.

[0039] Preferably, the bottom of the refrigerant outlet pipe 6 is provided with an opening for lubricating oil return, so that the lubricating oil accumulated at the bottom can return to the compressor.

[0040] This invention relates to a plate evaporator with integrated gas-liquid separation. It utilizes an integrated evaporation-gas-liquid separation plate evaporator, reducing installation space. The plate heat exchanger body 1 and the gas-liquid separator chamber 2 are welded together during heat exchanger production, reducing welding work during on-site assembly. Furthermore, by integrating the gas-liquid separation chamber into the traditional plate heat exchanger body 1, it achieves efficient separation of the refrigerant gas and liquid phases while performing evaporation heat exchange, thus eliminating the need for a separate gas-liquid separator and solving the technical problem of large space occupation by existing gas-liquid separators. The gas-liquid separator chamber 2 of this invention has sufficient accommodating space, effectively reducing the refrigerant flow rate. The metal plate separating the plate heat exchanger body 1 and the gas-liquid separator chamber 2 further facilitates heat exchange with the refrigerant in the gas-liquid separation chamber. This invention features a simple structure, eliminating the need for a separate gas-liquid separator, thereby reducing piping and welding points, lowering manufacturing costs, and providing ease of use. The optimized internal flow channel design allows evaporation and gas-liquid separation to be completed within a single device.

[0041] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and does not limit the patent scope of the present utility model. All equivalent structural transformations made under the inventive concept of the present utility model using the contents of the present utility model specification and drawings, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A plate evaporator with gas-liquid separation, characterized in that, The device includes a plate heat exchanger body (1) and a gas-liquid separator cavity (2) that are fixed to each other. The gas-liquid separator cavity (2) is provided with a heat exchange fluid inlet pipe (3), a heat exchange fluid outlet pipe (4), a refrigerant inlet pipe (5), a refrigerant outlet pipe (6), and a gas-liquid separator pipe (7). The heat exchange fluid inlet pipe (3), the heat exchange fluid outlet pipe (4), and the refrigerant inlet pipe (5) are all used to connect between an external compressor and the plate heat exchanger body (1). The refrigerant outlet pipe (6) is used to connect between an external compressor and the gas-liquid separator cavity (2). The gas-liquid separator pipe (7) is connected between the upper part of the plate heat exchanger body (1) and the gas-liquid separator cavity (2).

2. The plate evaporator with gas-liquid separation as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The gas-liquid separation pipe (7) is inverted L-shaped, and the end of the gas-liquid separation pipe (7) away from the plate heat exchanger body (1) is located in the middle of the gas-liquid separator cavity (2).

3. The plate evaporator with gas-liquid separation as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The refrigerant outlet pipe (6) is L-shaped. The first end of the refrigerant outlet pipe (6) is used to connect to the compressor, and the second end of the refrigerant outlet pipe (6) is located in the middle of the gas-liquid separator cavity (2).

4. The plate evaporator with gas-liquid separation as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The heat exchange fluid inlet pipe (3) is located at the upper part of the gas-liquid separator cavity (2), and the heat exchange fluid outlet pipe (4) is located at the lower part of the gas-liquid separator cavity (2).

5. The plate evaporator with gas-liquid separation as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The plate heat exchanger body (1) and the gas-liquid separator cavity (2) are separated by a metal plate.

6. The plate evaporator with gas-liquid separation as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The metal plate is made of stainless steel, copper, or aluminum.

7. The plate evaporator with gas-liquid separation as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The material of the heat exchange fluid outlet pipe (4) is copper.

8. The plate evaporator with gas-liquid separation as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The bottom of the refrigerant outlet pipe (6) is provided with an opening for lubricating oil return.

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