An integrated evaporation cavity structure and a refrigeration device using the same

Abstract

The application relates to an integrated evaporation cavity structure and a refrigeration device applying the same. The integrated evaporation cavity structure comprises a double-layer shell and a mounting end cover, and forms a closed hollow cavity. The structure further comprises an air inlet pipe penetrating through the mounting end cover and extending into the hollow cavity, and an air outlet pipe penetrating through the mounting end cover and extending into the hollow cavity. The air outlet of the air outlet pipe is located in a gaseous refrigerant layer in the upper region of the hollow cavity. The double-layer shell and the mounting end cover form the closed hollow cavity, thereby avoiding the problem of pressure drop along the traditional winding pipeline, and making the refrigerant uniformly evaporate in the cavity, so that the temperature distribution of the whole refrigeration surface is uniform. The refrigeration device applies the integrated evaporation cavity structure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of refrigeration equipment technology, specifically to an integrated evaporator chamber structure and its application in the field of refrigeration equipment technology. Background Technology

[0002] In refrigeration equipment such as slush machines and flake ice makers, the material is typically frozen on the surface of a metal container or cylinder by cooling the wall, and then slush or flake ice is formed with the help of stirring or scraping mechanisms. Such equipment requires a high degree of temperature uniformity on the refrigerated surface. Uneven cooling can easily lead to uneven ice thickness, poor material discharge, or increased energy consumption.

[0003] Currently, mainstream products generally use a structure where metal refrigerant tubes are spirally wound around the outside of the evaporator, or plate evaporators are attached to the wall using thermally conductive adhesive. However, due to the pressure drop along the flow path of the refrigerant in long pipelines, the front end of the pipeline evaporates fully and has a high cooling intensity, while the rear end may experience overheating or liquid residue, resulting in uneven circumferential or axial temperature distribution on the evaporator surface.

[0004] At this point, in a slush machine, localized overcooling or overheating of the outer wall of the cylinder can lead to inconsistent ice formation rates, affecting the fineness of the slush texture and the stability of the output. In a snowflake ice maker, it may cause uneven ice formation on the inner wall of the cylinder, fluctuations in scraping load, and increased energy consumption and mechanical wear.

[0005] In addition, the winding evaporator relies on manual or special equipment for bending and welding, which is a complex process with low production efficiency. Furthermore, it is difficult to ensure consistency in winding density and bonding tightness, which can easily lead to performance differences between products and increase manufacturing costs.

[0006] Therefore, how to overcome the problems of uneven cooling and complex manufacturing caused by traditional wound evaporators, and provide a new type of evaporation structure that is simple in structure, uniform in cooling, and easy to produce, has become a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0007] This application proposes an integrated evaporator cavity structure and its application in refrigeration equipment. The closed cavity formed by the double-layer shell achieves uniform evaporation, effectively improving refrigeration consistency and equipment reliability.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the present application adopts the following technical solution: In the first aspect, this application proposes an integrated evaporation chamber structure, including a double-layer shell and a mounting end cap. The double-layer shell includes an outer wall and an inner wall that are sealed at at least one end, and the mounting end cap is provided at one end to form a closed hollow cavity. It also includes an air inlet pipe that penetrates the mounting end cap and extends into the hollow cavity, and an air outlet pipe that penetrates the mounting end cap and extends into the hollow cavity, wherein the air outlet of the air outlet pipe is located in the gaseous refrigerant layer in the upper region of the hollow cavity.

[0009] In this way, a closed hollow cavity is formed by the double-layer shell and the mounting end cap, avoiding the pressure drop problem along the pipe of traditional spiral pipes, so that the refrigerant evaporates evenly in the cavity, thereby achieving a uniform temperature distribution across the entire cooling surface; at the same time, the mounting end cap integrates the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe, which is compact in structure, easy to assemble and maintain, and improves the manufacturing efficiency and reliability of the whole machine.

[0010] In some possible implementations, the outlet of the air intake pipe is located in the liquid refrigerant layer within the hollow cavity.

[0011] In some possible implementations, the intake pipe is a capillary pipe capable of throttling and reducing the pressure of high-pressure liquid refrigerant.

[0012] In some possible implementations, the inner ring of the inner wall is a hollow structure that can accommodate materials or serve as a cooling surface.

[0013] In some possible implementations, the lower end of the outlet pipe extends to the bottom of the hollow cavity and communicates with the liquid-oil mixing layer, allowing the gaseous refrigerant to carry the lubricating oil back to the compressor.

[0014] In some possible implementations, the vent pipe includes a surrounding section and an extension section, the surrounding section being located inside the hollow cavity, and the extension section being disposed at the bottom of the surrounding section and extending to the outside of the hollow cavity in the direction of mounting the end cap.

[0015] In some possible implementations, the extension is provided with an oil suction hole.

[0016] In some possible implementations, the circumferential section is arranged close to the outer surface of the inner wall, and the oil suction hole is located at the lower part of the extension section.

[0017] Secondly, this application also proposes a refrigeration device that uses an integrated evaporator chamber structure as described above.

[0018] In some possible implementations, the refrigeration equipment is a smoothie maker that uses the outer peripheral surface of the double-layered shell for cooling and / or a snowflake ice maker that uses the inner peripheral surface of the double-layered shell for cooling. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the integrated evaporation chamber structure of this application; Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the integrated evaporator chamber structure of this application; Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Enlarged view of a portion of point A in the middle; Figure 4 This is a partial three-dimensional schematic diagram of the vent pipe in this application. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The following examples further illustrate the features of this application and other related features in detail, so as to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art: It should be noted that the terms “front,” “back,” “left,” “right,” “up,” and “down” used in the following description refer to the directions in the attached diagrams, while the terms “bottom surface,” “top surface,” “inner,” and “outer” refer to the directions toward or away from the geometric center of a specific component, respectively.

[0021] Furthermore, 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 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 case based on the specific circumstances.

[0022] Combination Figures 1 to 4 As shown, this application provides an integrated evaporator chamber structure to solve the technical problems of uneven temperature distribution on the cooling surface, complex manufacturing process, and low assembly efficiency caused by the use of wound evaporators or plate evaporators in existing refrigeration equipment such as smoothie machines and snowflake ice makers. This structure, through integrated design, achieves uniform evaporation of refrigerant within a closed space, improving the overall refrigeration consistency and operational reliability.

[0023] Specifically, the integrated evaporation chamber structure in this application includes a double-layer shell 1 and a mounting end cap 13. The double-layer shell 1 consists of an outer wall 11 and an inner wall 12 that are sealed together at at least one end. The mounting end cap 13 is disposed at one end of the double-layer shell 1 and together with the outer wall 11 and the inner wall 12, forms a closed hollow cavity. That is, the outer wall 11 and the inner wall 12 are sealed together at one end, and the other end can be fitted with the mounting end cap 13 to form a central control cavity.

[0024] Furthermore, this hollow cavity serves as the refrigerant evaporation space, forming a stable gas-liquid two-phase distribution during operation: the upper region contains a gaseous refrigerant layer 100, the middle to lower region contains a liquid refrigerant layer 200, and the bottom region forms a liquid-oil mixture layer 300 due to lubricant deposition. Because this cavity is an integral sealed structure without traditional long-flow pipes, it avoids pressure drop along the refrigerant flow path, resulting in more uniform pressure across the cavity. This ensures uniform evaporation temperature, effectively preventing localized overcooling or relative overheating, and ensuring a highly consistent temperature distribution on the refrigerated surface.

[0025] The intake pipe 2 penetrates the mounting end cap 13 and extends into the hollow cavity, with its outlet located in the liquid refrigerant layer 200. When the high-pressure liquid refrigerant enters the evaporation chamber through the intake pipe 2, it directly contacts the liquid refrigerant, which facilitates the rapid establishment of a stable gas-liquid balance and improves evaporation stability. The intake pipe 2 adopts a capillary tube form; in some embodiments, its inner diameter is controlled between 0.8 and 2.0 mm, and its length is between 300 and 2000 mm. It has a throttling and pressure-reducing function, which can reduce the pressure of the high-pressure liquid refrigerant from the condensation system to low-temperature, low-pressure wet vapor, allowing it to rapidly absorb heat and evaporate after entering the evaporation chamber. This design integrates the throttling function into the intake pipe 2 itself, eliminating the need for an additional independent throttling device, simplifying the system piping structure, reducing welding points and leakage risks, and improving assembly efficiency and system sealing.

[0026] Of course, in some possible implementations, the intake pipe 2 can also directly enter the refrigerant that has been depressurized to low temperature and low pressure wet vapor after passing through the throttling device. The throttling device here can be a traditional expansion valve or capillary tube.

[0027] The outlet pipe 3 also penetrates the mounting end cap 13 and extends into the hollow cavity. Its outlet 31 is located in the upper region of the hollow cavity, within the gaseous refrigerant layer 100, and is used to draw out the evaporated gaseous refrigerant and return it to the compressor. Furthermore, to achieve effective lubricating oil return, the lower end of the outlet pipe 3 extends downward to the bottom of the hollow cavity and connects with the liquid-oil mixing layer 300. This connection can be achieved by connecting the liquid-oil mixing layer 300 and the outlet pipe 3 through a small-diameter oil drain hole. When the gaseous refrigerant is discharged, an "airflow dragging effect" is created, carrying away the lubricating oil deposited at the lower end of the liquid-oil mixing layer 300. By precisely controlling the ratio of the oil drain hole diameter to the outlet pipe diameter, a self-cleaning effect of simultaneous oil and gas discharge and no lubricating oil deposition can be achieved. This avoids the lubricating oil from remaining at the bottom of the evaporator chamber for a long time, which could lead to decreased heat exchange efficiency or compressor operation due to insufficient oil.

[0028] Preferably, the vent pipe 3 includes a surrounding section 32 and an extension section 33. The surrounding section 32 is located inside the hollow cavity and extends circumferentially along the cavity, which helps to guide the airflow to a uniform distribution and enhances the stability of gas extraction. The extension section 33 is at the bottom of the surrounding section 32 and extends towards the mounting end cap 13 to the outside of the central control cavity, further ensuring that the vent path penetrates deep into the liquid-oil mixing area. The extension section 33 is provided with an oil suction hole 331, which is located at the lower part of the extension section 33. This allows the oil suction hole 331 to be close to the bottom of the hollow cavity. In this case, the oil suction hole 331 acts as an oil discharge hole, which can effectively draw in lubricating oil even under low liquid level conditions, improving the reliability of oil return. In some embodiments, the extension section 33 is arranged close to the outer surface of the inner wall 12, making full use of the cavity space and achieving a stable layout.

[0029] The inner ring of the inner wall 12 has a hollow structure, which can be used to hold materials or as a direct cooling surface. In a snow ice maker, this structure can be used as an ice-forming cylinder, where water gradually freezes on the surface of the inner wall 12 and is scraped into fine ice crystals. This integrated design not only improves heat exchange efficiency but also simplifies the structure and reduces manufacturing and maintenance costs.

[0030] This application also provides a refrigeration device that utilizes the aforementioned integrated evaporation chamber structure. This refrigeration device employs the inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the double-layered shell 1 for cooling, making it suitable for applications requiring high temperature uniformity. In a smoothie machine, the outer circumferential surface ensures a consistent ice formation rate, improving the smoothness and output stability of the smoothie. In a snowflake ice maker, the inner circumferential surface provides a stable evaporation temperature, preventing fluctuations in scraping load and reducing energy consumption and mechanical wear. The overall structure is compact, the manufacturing process is simplified, and it is suitable for mass production.

[0031] In summary, this integrated evaporator chamber structure achieves efficient, uniform, and reliable cooling effects through its closed double-layer shell design, integrated piping layout, and self-returning oil mechanism.

[0032] As stated above, this case protects a refrigeration device with an integrated evaporator cavity structure and its application. All technical solutions that are the same as or similar to this case should be considered to fall within the protection scope of this case.

Claims

1. An integrated evaporation chamber structure, characterized in that, It includes a double-layer shell (1) and a mounting end cap (13). The double-layer shell (1) includes an outer wall (11) and an inner wall (12) that are sealed at at least one end, and the mounting end cap (13) is provided at one end to form a closed hollow cavity. It also includes an air inlet pipe (2) that penetrates the mounting end cap (13) and extends into the hollow cavity, and an air outlet pipe (3) that penetrates the mounting end cap (13) and extends into the hollow cavity, wherein the air outlet (31) of the air outlet pipe (3) is located in the gaseous refrigerant layer (100) in the upper region of the hollow cavity.

2. The integrated evaporation chamber structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The outlet of the air inlet pipe (2) is located in the liquid refrigerant layer (200) inside the hollow cavity.

3. The integrated evaporation chamber structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The intake pipe (2) is a capillary pipe that can throttle and reduce the pressure of high-pressure liquid refrigerant.

4. The integrated evaporation chamber structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The inner ring of the inner wall (12) is a hollow structure that can accommodate materials or serve as a cooling surface.

5. The integrated evaporation chamber structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The lower end of the outlet pipe (3) extends to the bottom of the hollow cavity and communicates with the liquid-oil mixing layer (300), so that the gaseous refrigerant carries the lubricating oil back to the compressor.

6. The integrated evaporation chamber structure as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The air outlet pipe (3) includes a surrounding section (32) and an extension section (33). The surrounding section (32) is located inside the hollow cavity, and the extension section (33) is located at the bottom of the surrounding section (32) and extends to the outside of the hollow cavity in the direction of mounting end cap (13).

7. The integrated evaporation chamber structure as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The extension section (33) is provided with an oil suction hole (331).

8. The integrated evaporation chamber structure as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The surrounding section (32) is arranged close to the outer surface of the inner wall (12), and the oil suction hole (331) is located at the lower part of the extension section (33).

9. A refrigeration device, characterized in that, The application uses an integrated evaporation chamber structure as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A refrigeration device as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The refrigeration equipment is a smoothie machine that uses the outer peripheral surface of the double-layer shell (1) for refrigeration and / or a snowflake ice maker that uses the inner peripheral surface of the double-layer shell (1) for refrigeration.

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