Oil collection removal device

Abstract

Oil accumulation removal device comprising: a cooling plate, a housing thermally connected to a heat dissipation target, an inlet port connected to a high-pressure-side pipeline in an air conditioning system through which a refrigerant circulates and to which the refrigerant is supplied from the high-pressure-side pipeline, a flow passage formed within the housing through which the refrigerant flowing in from the inlet port passes, and an outlet port connected to a low-pressure-side pipeline of the air conditioning system, which discharges the refrigerant, having exchanged heat with the housing in the flow passage, to the low-pressure-side pipeline;and a return pipe that spatially connects the inlet and outlet ports of the cooling plate outside the cooling plate housing using a flow passage section that is smaller than the flow passage sections of the inlet and outlet ports.

Description

AREA

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an oil accumulation removal device. BACKGROUND

[0002] Traditionally, power conversion devices, such as onboard chargers or DC-DC converters mounted on electric vehicles or similar equipment, perform power conversion at high currents or high voltages. While such power conversion devices can be reduced in size as their control frequency increases, a problem has arisen regarding heat dissipation from a mounted heat-generating component.

[0003] For example, JP 6014602 B2 discloses a technique for connecting a battery module to a heat exchanger via a coolant circulation circuit, connecting the heat exchanger to a temperature control device via a refrigerant circulation circuit, cooling a refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation circuit using a cooling function of the temperature control device, and exchanging heat between the refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation circuit and the coolant in the coolant circulation circuit in the heat exchanger to cool the battery module using the coolant in the coolant circulation circuit.

[0004] For example, a heat-generating component, acting as a heat dissipation target, is mounted on a plate-like heat exchanger (a cooling plate) in which a flow passage has been formed, and cooling is performed in some cases. In such cases, from the perspective of achieving improvements in cooling capability using the cooling plate, it is preferable to use a refrigerant that can utilize latent heat in a phase change as the working fluid, rather than a liquid refrigerant such as water. However, when cooling using the refrigerant as the working fluid, compressor oil circulates along with the refrigerant, and this has caused a problem where oil is likely to accumulate in the cooling plate's flow passage, which exhibits a large pressure drop.

[0005] One purpose of the present disclosure is to prevent compressor oil circulating together with a refrigerant from stagnating in a cooling plate. SUMMARY

[0006] An oil collection and removal device according to the present disclosure comprises a cooling plate and a return pipe. The cooling plate includes a housing, an inlet port, a flow passage, and an outlet port. The housing is thermally connected to a heat dissipation destination. The inlet port is connected to a high-pressure pipeline in an air conditioning system through which a refrigerant circulates and to which the refrigerant is supplied from the high-pressure pipeline. The flow passage is formed within the housing, and the refrigerant that has flowed in from the inlet port flows through it. The outlet port is connected to a low-pressure pipeline of the air conditioning system and discharges the refrigerant, which has exchanged heat with the housing in the flow passage, to the low-pressure pipeline.Outside the housing of the cooling plate, the return pipe spatially connects the inlet port and the outlet port of the cooling plate using a flow passage section that is smaller than the flow passage sections of the inlet port and the outlet port.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent the compressor oil, which circulates together with the refrigerant, from stagnating in the cooling plate. It should be noted that the advantageous effect described herein is not necessarily limiting and any of the advantageous effects described herein can be demonstrated. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a diagram that shows an example of a design of a cooling system according to an embodiment; Fig. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a cooling plate design. Fig. 1 represents; Fig. 3 is a diagram that shows an example of an internal design of the cooling plate of Fig. 1 represents; Fig. 4 is a diagram that illustrates an example of an embodiment of an oil accumulation removal device, which is attached to the cooling plate of Fig. 1 was attached; Fig. 5 is a diagram that shows an example of a design of the oil collection and removal device of Fig. 4 represents; Fig. Figure 6 is a diagram that shows another example of the design of the oil collection and removal device of Fig. 4 represents; Fig. Figure 7 is a diagram that illustrates a further example of the design of the oil accumulation removal device, which is attached to the cooling plate of Fig. 1 was attached; Fig. Figure 8 is a diagram showing an example of a switching block design for the oil accumulation removal device of Fig. 7 represents; and Fig. Figure 9 is a diagram showing an example of the design of the switching block of the oil accumulation removal device of Fig. 7 represents. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0008] Embodiments of an oil collection and removal device, a cooling device, a power conversion device and a vehicle according to the present disclosure are described below with reference to the drawings.

[0009] It should be noted that in the description of this disclosure, a component having the same or approximately the same function as a component described with reference to a previously described drawing is designated by the same reference numeral, and the description is expediently omitted in some cases. Furthermore, even where the same or approximately the same section is specified, it is indicated that the section has dimensions or a ratio that may vary depending on the drawings.Furthermore, for example, from the perspective of ensuring the visibility of the drawings in the description of each of the drawings, only main components are designated with reference numerals, and even a component that has the same or approximately the same function as a function of a component that is described with reference to an already described drawing is in some cases not designated with a reference numeral.

[0010] It should be noted that in the description of the present revelation, an expression such as "orthogonal", "horizontal", "vertical", "parallel", "equal", "consistent" or "same position" is not strictly limited to the case of "orthogonal", "horizontal", "vertical", "parallel", "equal", "consistent" or "same position" and covers a case that can be considered as "orthogonal", "horizontal", "vertical", "parallel", "equal", "consistent" or "same position". First embodiment

[0011] Fig. Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a cooling system configuration 1 according to an embodiment. The cooling system 1 according to the embodiment is, for example, attached to a vehicle (a moving body) and is a system designed to cool a heat generator of the vehicle.

[0012] The cooling system 1 according to the embodiment is attached to an air conditioning system 2, which is mounted, for example, on a vehicle. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the air conditioning system 2 comprises a compressor 21, a condenser 22, an expansion valve 23, an evaporator 24 and a pipeline 29.

[0013] Compressor 21 is a device (a compressor) that adiabatically compresses a refrigerant circulating through the pipeline, producing and delivering a refrigerant (gas) at a high temperature and high pressure. Compressor 21 can be of a water-cooled or air-cooled type. It should be noted that, for example, compressor 21 is an oil-injected compressor, and the delivered refrigerant (gas) contains oil mist. In other words, in the cooling system 1 according to the embodiment, a refrigerant circulates together with compressor oil through the pipeline 29.

[0014] The condenser 22 is located downstream of the compressor 21 and is a heat exchanger (a condenser) that dissipates heat from the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant (gas) from the compressor 21 and condenses the refrigerant to liquefy it. It should be noted that the condenser 22 can be of an air-cooled type, a water-cooled type, or an evaporative type.

[0015] The expansion valve 23 is provided downstream of the condenser 22 and is a device (a throttle valve) that adiabatically compresses (decompresses and expands) a high-pressure refrigerant (liquid) from the condenser 22, and in other words, adiabatically cools the refrigerant to produce a refrigerant (gas / liquid) at a low temperature and low pressure. It should be noted that a cooling cycle implementing the air conditioning system 2 can be designed as a cycle capable of energy recovery by using a positive displacement or turbine-type expander as the expansion valve 23.

[0016] The evaporator 24 is located downstream of the expansion valve 23 and is a heat exchanger (an evaporator) that evaporates the refrigerant (gas / liquid) from the expansion valve 23 at a low temperature and low pressure. It should be noted that the evaporator 24 can be of an air-cooled type, a water-cooled type, or an evaporative type. Furthermore, the evaporator 24 can be a dry-type evaporator, at whose outlet the refrigerant has completely converted to a gas, or it can be a flooded evaporator, which means that a liquid refrigerant is always present in the evaporator 24.

[0017] The pipe 29 is a flow passage that connects the compressor 21, the condenser 22, the expansion valve 23 and the evaporator 24, and through which a refrigerant circulates.

[0018] In the present embodiment, the air conditioning system 2, which has at least one cooling function, is described by way of example, but this is not limiting. The air conditioning system 2 can have a heating function in addition to the cooling function. For example, the air conditioning system 2 achieves a cooling function for cooling air in a vehicle cabin by using heat absorption in the evaporator 24, and the air conditioning system 2 can achieve a heating function for warming air in the vehicle cabin by using heat dissipation in the condenser 22, or in other words, by causing the condenser 22 to operate as a heat pump.

[0019] It should be noted that in the air conditioning system 2, an oil separator, which separates oil from a refrigerant gas discharged by the compressor 21, may be provided in a downstream stage of the compressor 21. Furthermore, a receiver (a liquid receiver), which absorbs variations in the quantity of refrigerant in the pipe 29, may be provided within or in a downstream stage of the condenser 22.

[0020] It should be noted that the air conditioning system 2 according to the embodiment may include a plurality of compressors 21 or expansion valves 23 according to, for example, a required cooling capacity.

[0021] In the air conditioning system 2 according to the embodiment, a refrigerant used is, for example, fluorocarbon (HFC), such as R410A or R32, but also hydrofluoroolefin (HFO), such as HFO-1234yf, CO2 or the like.

[0022] It should be noted that, according to the embodiment, the cooling system 1 can be designed as a system that is independent of the air conditioning system 2, which is mounted on a vehicle or the like. Alternatively, according to the embodiment, the cooling system 1 can be designed as a system that shares the compressor 21, the condenser 22, the expansion valve 23, the evaporator 24 and / or the piping 29.

[0023] Furthermore, as in Fig. Figure 1 shows a cooling plate 4. The cooling plate 4 is located, for example, between the evaporator 24 and the compressor 21 and is connected to each of the evaporator 24 and the compressor 21 via the pipe 29. In other words, in the cooling system 1, which is attached to the air conditioning system 2, a refrigerant circulates through the pipe 29 in the following sequence: compressor 21 -> condenser 22 -> expansion valve 23 -> evaporator 24 -> cooling plate 4 -> compressor 21.

[0024] Fig. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a design of the cooling plate 4. Fig. 1 represents. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an internal design of the cooling plate 4. Fig. 1 represents.

[0025] The cooling plate 4 is a cooling element formed in a plate shape using a metal material, such as a die-cast product. The cooling plate 4 has a cooling structure that uses a refrigerant as a working fluid, which circulates through the air conditioning system 2. In particular, the cooling plate 4 has a cooling structure that cools a cooling target (a heat dissipation target) that is thermally connected to a housing 401 of the cooling plate 4. As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the cooling plate 4 includes an inlet port 41, a flow passage 43 and an outlet port 45.

[0026] The inlet port 41 is connected to the outlet of the evaporator 24 via the pipe 29. The inlet port 41 connects the pipe 29 to the flow passage 43 of the cooling plate 4. A refrigerant is supplied to the inlet port 41 from the evaporator 24.

[0027] The flow passage 43 is a refrigerant flow passage formed within the housing 401. The flow passage 43 extends in one direction along a cooling surface (an XY plane) of the cooling plate 4. In other words, the flow passage 43, which runs in a plane along the cooling surface, was formed within the housing 401 of the cooling plate 4. A flow passage shape on a plane that is orthogonal to the flow of the flow passage 43 differs, for example, from a shape of the pipe 29, the inlet port 41, or the outlet port 45.

[0028] It should be noted that the flow passage 43 can branch in at least two directions in one plane along the cooling surface. On the other hand, the flow passage does not branch in a direction (a Z-direction) that is orthogonal to the cooling surface. In other words, if at least two flow passages other than the flow passage 43 are provided and there is a crossing section where the flow passages of the two directions intersect, each of the flow passages extends from the crossing section in a direction parallel to the cooling surface but not in a direction orthogonal to the cooling surface. As described above, in the cooling plate 4 according to the present disclosure, the flow passage 43, which runs only in one plane within the housing 401, forms a mechanism that cools the entire system.

[0029] It should be noted that in the cooling system 1 according to the present disclosure, one direction (an X-direction and a Y-direction) along the cooling surface is, for example, a horizontal direction. Furthermore, the direction (the Z-direction) that is orthogonal to the cooling surface is, for example, a gravity direction. It is understood that these respective directions are examples and that the Z-direction may have an inclination relative to the gravity direction. Alternatively, either the X-direction or the Y-direction may be the gravity direction.

[0030] The outlet port 45 is connected to an inlet of the compressor 21 via the pipe 29. The outlet port 45 connects the pipe 29 to the flow passage 43 of the cooling plate 4. Refrigerant that has passed through the flow passage 43 of the cooling plate 4 is expelled from the outlet port 45 and supplied to the compressor 21.

[0031] As an example, in the cooling system 1, which was attached to a vehicle, the housing 401 of the cooling plate 4 is thermally connected to a heat generator of the vehicle and transfers heat from the heat generator of the vehicle via the refrigerant to an outside of the cooling plate 4.

[0032] Fig. Figure 2 illustrates a case in which an on-board charger 6, which serves as the vehicle's heat generator, is arranged in the housing 401. In the example of Fig. Figure 2 comprises a substrate 61 of the onboard charger 6 and a transformer 63 and an electrolytic capacitor 65, which are arranged on the substrate 61 and thermally connected to the housing 401. It should be noted that the transformer 63 and the electrolytic capacitor 65 can be thermally connected to the cooling plate 4 with the substrate 61 positioned between them, or they can be thermally and directly connected to the cooling plate 4 without the substrate 61 being positioned between them.

[0033] It should be noted that the vehicle's heat generator is a power conversion device, such as an onboard charger or a DC-DC converter, but it could also be a battery, electrical equipment, or the like. Furthermore, the power conversion device is not necessarily mounted on a vehicle (a moving body), such as an electric vehicle, and could be mounted on a device separate from the moving body, such as a charging device at a charging station, a gaming device, or an uninterruptible power supply. For example, the onboard charger could be a power conversion device that converts AC power supplied from a single-phase or three-phase AC power supply outside the vehicle into DC power and, after conversion, supplies the DC power to a load mounted on the vehicle.This load could be, for example, a battery, an inverter, a motor, or various parts of electrical equipment.

[0034] It should be noted that conceivable examples of the moving body to which the cooling system 1 is attached according to the present disclosure include passenger cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, electric scooters, construction machinery, agricultural machinery, aircraft and the like.

[0035] Furthermore, conceivable examples of electrical equipment for the moving body include navigation devices, audio equipment, air conditioning systems, electric window lifters, windscreen heaters, electronic control units (ECUs), global positioning system (GPS) modules, cameras, and the like.

[0036] Furthermore, it is sufficient if the battery of the moving body can store power to drive a motor for movement (a drive motor), electrical equipment or the like, which is mounted on the moving body, and any battery, such as a lithium-ion battery, a nickel-hydrogen battery or a solid-state battery, can be used appropriately.

[0037] For example, the onboard charger can be equipped with a noise filter that prevents noise from an external AC power supply from entering the onboard charger and prevents noise from the onboard charger from flowing back to the AC power supply (noise removal). Furthermore, a power conversion circuit is provided, for example, in a subsequent stage of the noise filter. This circuit converts AC power supplied by an external single-phase or three-phase AC power supply through the noise filter into DC power and outputs the DC power to a battery after conversion. This power conversion circuit is, for example, equipped with a power factor correction (PFC) circuit that rectifies and smooths an AC voltage from the external AC power supply after the noise filter has removed noise, thus generating a DC voltage.Furthermore, for example, in a subsequent stage of the PFC circuit in the power conversion circuit, a DC-DC conversion circuit (the DCDC converter) is provided, which converts the DC voltage generated by the PFC circuit back into the AC voltage and then rectifies and smooths the AC voltage to generate a DC voltage with an arbitrarily set voltage.

[0038] Individual units of the onboard charger, such as the noise filter, the PFC circuit, or the DC-DC converter circuit, include a magnetic component, such as a transformer, an integrated transformer board, various inductors, such as a choke, an inductor, or an assembly containing these. A coil assembly mounted with the magnetic component, such as the onboard charger, the noise filter, the PFC circuit, or the DC-DC converter circuit (the DC-DC converter), generates significant heat when power conversion is performed at a high current or voltage. Such a coil assembly, or the magnetic component of the coil assembly, is an example of a cooling target (a heat dissipation target) of the cooling system 1 according to the present disclosure and is an example of the vehicle's heat generator.

[0039] For example, in a case where a heat-generating component, serving as a heat dissipation target, is located on the cooling plate 4 in which the flow passage 43 has been formed, and cooling is carried out, from the point of view of achieving improvements in cooling capability using the cooling plate 4, it is preferable to use a refrigerant that can utilize latent heat in a phase change as the working fluid. However, when cooling using the refrigerant as a working fluid, compressor oil circulates along with the refrigerant, and this has caused a problem in which oil is likely to accumulate in the flow passage 43 of the cooling plate 4, along with a decrease in pressure or a decrease in flow velocity due to a pressure drop or the guiding of the flow passage 43.

[0040] Furthermore, the flow passage 43, which is provided for cooling, was enlarged, for example, along the cooling surface (the XY plane), to increase the heating area of ​​the flow passage 43. Alternatively, to increase its length in the cooling plate 4, the flow passage 43 was guided within the cooling plate 4, for example, with a reduced flow passage section. As described above, the shape of the flow passage 43 differs, for example, from the shape of the pipe 29, the inlet port 41, or the outlet port 45 on a plane orthogonal to the flow. Therefore, a problem arose in which oil was likely to accumulate in the flow passage 43 of the cooling plate 4, along with a decrease in pressure or a decrease in flow velocity due to a pressure drop or the guiding of the flow passage 43.

[0041] Furthermore, the amount of compressor oil (a circulation quantity) that circulates with the refrigerant was set such that a specific amount of oil remains in the compressor 21. If oil stagnates in the cooling plate 4, the circulation quantity decreases, and there is a possibility of it seizing in the compressor 21. Conversely, if the circulation quantity is set too high, the energy required for circulation increases, and there is a possibility of increased power consumption or a decrease in cooling efficiency.

[0042] In light of the above, the cooling system 1 according to the present disclosure is provided with an oil collection and removal device 5, which prevents the compressor oil, which circulates together with the refrigerant, from stagnating in the cooling plate 4. In particular, in the cooling system 1 according to the present disclosure, the oil collection and removal device 5 is attached to the cooling plate 4.

[0043] Fig. Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an embodiment of the oil accumulation removal device 5, which is attached to the cooling plate 4 of Fig. 1 was attached. Fig. Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of an embodiment of the oil collection and removal device 5. Fig. 4 represents.

[0044] As in Fig. 4 and Fig. As shown in Figure 5, the oil collection and removal device 5 according to the present embodiment comprises a return pipe 51. The return pipe 51 connects the inlet port 41 and the outlet port 45.

[0045] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the length H1 by which the inlet port 41 projects from the housing 401 in the Z-direction of the projection is greater than the length H2 by which the outlet port 45 projects from the housing 401 in the Z-direction. In other words, the inlet port 41 is positioned above the outlet port 45, for example, in the direction of gravity (the Z-direction).

[0046] The inlet port 41 and the outlet port 45 have a pipe diameter of, for example, approximately 13 to 16 mm. Each of the inlet port 41, on one side closer to the outlet port 45 and on the other side closer to the outlet port 41, is provided with a hole having a diameter of, for example, approximately 1 to 3 mm.

[0047] The return pipe 51 is connected to the openings of the inlet port 41 and the outlet port 45 by means of, for example, soldering. The return pipe 51 is a pipe that has a flow passage section with a diameter of, for example, approximately 1 to 3 mm. Therefore, the return pipe 51 connects the inlet port 41 to the outlet port 45 using a cross-sectional area that is smaller than the cross-sectional areas of the respective pipes.

[0048] It should be noted that the return pipe 51, for example, has a circular cross-sectional shape, but may have a different cross-sectional shape such as an ellipse or a rectangle.

[0049] This forces oil from the inlet port 41 of a high-pressure side to the outlet port 45 of a low-pressure side. The oil that has been forced out to the outlet port 45 is expelled to the outside of the cooling plate 4 together with the refrigerant flowing out of the flow passage 43.

[0050] As described above, by using the cooling plate 4, to which the oil collection and removal device 5 has been attached, oil is forced from the inlet port 41 to the outlet port 45, and this can reduce the amount of compressor oil flowing into the flow passage 43. In other words, the cooling system 1 according to the embodiment can prevent compressor oil, which circulates together with the refrigerant, from stagnating in the cooling plate 4.

[0051] Another embodiment of the cooling system 1 according to the present disclosure is described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the main difference from the embodiment described above is described, and any redundant description is omitted where appropriate. Second embodiment

[0052] It should be noted that the design of the oil collection and removal device 5 is not based on the example of Fig. 5 is limited and can be modified appropriately. Fig. Figure 6 is a diagram that shows another example of the design of the oil collection and removal device 5. Fig. 4 represents.

[0053] As in Fig. Figure 6 shows an oil collection and removal device 5 according to the present embodiment comprising a return pipe 53. The return pipe 53 connects the inlet port 41 and the outlet port 45.

[0054] Each of the inlet ports 41, located on a lower side in the direction of gravity (the -Z side), and the outlet ports 45, located on a side closer to the inlet port 41, is provided with a hole having a diameter of, for example, approximately 1 to 3 mm. The return pipe 53 is connected to the holes of the inlet port 41 and the outlet port 45 by means of, for example, soldering. The return pipe 53 is a conduit having a flow passage section with a diameter of, for example, approximately 1 to 3 mm. Therefore, the return pipe 53 spatially connects the inlet port 41 to the outlet port 45 using a cross-sectional area that is smaller than the cross-sectional areas of the respective conduits, similar to the return pipe 51.

[0055] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 6, the return pipe 53 comprises an oil trap 531 and a pipeline 533.

[0056] The oil trap 531 is located below the inlet port 41 in the direction of gravity (the -Z side). The oil trap 531 is formed, for example, by a pipe extending downwards in the direction of gravity from the opening provided in the lower section (the -Z side) within the inlet port 41. The pipe 533 connects a lower section (the -Z side) in the direction of gravity within the oil trap 531 to the opening of the outlet port 45. The pipe 533 is designed to have a flow path that decreases in diameter from the oil trap 531 towards the outlet port 45.

[0057] It should be noted that both the oil trap 531 and the pipeline 533, for example, have a circular cross-sectional shape, but may have a different cross-sectional shape such as an ellipse or a rectangle.

[0058] It should be noted that the oil trap 531 can be designed to have a flow passage section that decreases downwards from the hole of the inlet port 41 in the direction of gravity (towards the -Z side).

[0059] It should be noted that the flow rate of the pipeline 533 decreases uniformly in a section closer to the outlet port 45 of the oil trap 531, for example, but this is not a limiting factor. A section or the entirety of the pipeline 533 may have a fixed flow rate, similar to the return pipe 51.

[0060] In this configuration, oil can be similarly forced out from the inlet port 41 of the high-pressure side to the outlet port 45 of the low-pressure side, and the amount of compressor oil flowing into the flow passage 43 can be reduced.

[0061] Furthermore, according to the design in which the oil trap 531 is provided below the inlet port 41, oil can be efficiently discharged from the inlet port 41 of the high-pressure side in the direction of gravity.

[0062] Furthermore, according to the design in which the inlet port 41 and the outlet port 45 are spatially connected by the pipeline 533 with a gradually decreasing flow passage section, oil is easily forced out to the outlet port 45, and this allows a further reduction in the amount of compressor oil flowing into the flow passage 43.

[0063] It should be noted that the oil collection and removal device 5 according to the present embodiment can be applied to the cooling system 1 according to the first embodiment. For example, in the cooling plate 4 according to the first embodiment, the return pipe 51 can be designed such that, similar to the pipe 533 of the oil collection and removal device 5 according to the second embodiment, it has a flow passage section that decreases from the inlet port 41 to the outlet port 45. Third embodiment

[0064] It should be noted that the design of the oil collection and removal device 5 does not refer to the examples of Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 is limited and can be modified appropriately. Fig. Figure 7 is a diagram that shows a further example of the design of the oil accumulation removal device 5, which is attached to the cooling plate 4 of Fig. 1 was attached. Fig. Figure 8 is a diagram showing an example of an embodiment of a switching block 55 of the oil accumulation removal device 5 of Fig. 7 represents. Fig. Figure 9 is a diagram showing an example of the design of the switching block 55 of the oil accumulation removal device 5 of Fig. 7 represents.

[0065] As in Fig. Figure 7 shows an oil accumulation removal device 5 according to the present embodiment, comprising a switching block 55. The switching block 55 has, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped shape. A structure similar, for example, to a structure of the return pipe 53 has been formed in the switching block 55.

[0066] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 7, the switching block 55 is connected to the cooling plate 4. In particular, the switching block 55 includes an inlet-side connection unit 551, which is connected to the inlet port 41 of the cooling plate 4, and an outlet-side connection unit 552, which is connected to the outlet port 45 of the cooling plate 4.

[0067] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 8, the inlet-side connection unit 551 and the outlet-side connection unit 552 are provided, for example, on a surface (a YZ plane on an X-side) of the switching block 55. The inlet-side connection unit 551 and the outlet-side connection unit 552 differ from each other in a position in the direction of gravity (the Z-direction) within the switching block 55. In particular, the inlet-side connection unit 551 and the outlet-side connection unit 552 differ from each other in their position in the direction of gravity (the Z-direction) by a length L1, a difference between the lengths H1 and H2 by which the inlet port 41 and the outlet port 45 of the cooling plate 4 project from the housing 401 in the Z-direction according to lengths H1 and H2.

[0068] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 9, a switching block-side inlet port 553 is provided on a surface (a YZ plane) on the opposite side (a +X side) of the inlet-side connection unit 551 of the switching block 55. The switching block-side inlet port 553 is connected to the outlet of the evaporator 24 via the pipe 29. Refrigerant is supplied to the switching block-side inlet port 553 from the evaporator 24. Within the switching block 55, the inlet-side connection unit 551 and the switching block-side inlet port 553 are spatially connected by an inlet-side flow passage 555. In other words, the switching block 55, together with the inlet port 41 of the cooling plate 4, connects the pipe 29 to the flow passage 43 of the cooling plate 4.

[0069] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 9, the inlet-side flow passage 555 comprises a first flow passage 555a, a second flow passage 555b, and a third flow passage 555c. The first flow passage 555a extends from the switch-block-side inlet port 553 to the second flow passage 555b in an -X direction within the switch-block 55. The second flow passage 555b extends in the direction of gravity (the Z direction) within the switch-block 55. The second flow passage 555b is spatially connected to an end located on a -X side within the first flow passage 555a inside the switch-block 55. The third flow passage 555c is a flow passage that extends from the inlet-side connection unit 551 to the second flow passage 555b in a +X direction within the switching block 55.The third flow passage 555c is spatially connected to an end located on a top side in the direction of gravity (the Z-direction) within the second flow passage 55b inside the switching block 55. In other words, the second flow passage 555b is spatially connected to an end located on the +X side within the third flow passage 555c inside the switching block 55. Put another way, the second flow passage 555b spatially connects the first flow passage 555a and the third flow passage 555c within the switching block 55.

[0070] Similarly, a switching block-side outlet port 554 is provided on the surface (the YZ plane) located on the opposite side (the +X side) of the outlet-side connection unit 552 of the switching block 55. The switching block-side outlet port 554 is connected to the compressor inlet 21 via the pipe 29. Within the switching block 55, the outlet-side connection unit 552 and the switching block-side outlet port 554 are spatially connected by an outlet-side flow passage 556. The outlet-side flow passage 556 is a flow passage that extends from the outlet-side connection unit 552 to the switching block-side outlet port 554 in the +X direction within the switching block 55.In other words, the switching block 55, together with the outlet port 45 of the cooling plate 4, connects the pipe 29 to the flow passage 43 of the cooling plate 4. A refrigerant that has passed through the flow passage 43 of the cooling plate 4 is expelled via the switching block 55 and supplied to the compressor 21.

[0071] The inlet-side connection unit 551, the outlet-side connection unit 552, the switch block-side inlet connection 553, and the switch block-side outlet connection 554, for example, have a pipe diameter equal to the pipe diameter of the inlet connection 41 and the outlet connection 45. Furthermore, a hole having a diameter of, for example, approximately 1 to 3 mm is provided on each side of the outlet-side flow passage 556, on the side closer to the outlet-side flow passage 556, under a section connected to the first flow passage 555a in the second flow passage 555b (the inlet-side flow passage 555), and on the side closer to the second flow passage 555b (the inlet-side flow passage 555) in the outlet-side flow passage 556.

[0072] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 9, a return pipe 557 is formed within the switching block 55. The return pipe 557 is connected to the openings of the inlet-side flow passage 555 and the outlet-side flow passage 556. The return pipe 557 is a pipe having a flow passage section with a diameter of, for example, approximately 1 to 3 mm. Therefore, the return pipe 557 connects the inlet-side flow passage 555 with the outlet-side flow passage 556 using a cross-sectional area that is smaller than the cross-sectional areas of the respective pipes.

[0073] It should be noted that the return pipe 557, for example, has a circular cross-sectional shape, but can have a different cross-sectional shape, such as an ellipse or a rectangle. It should also be noted that the return pipe 557 has a configuration that is similar, for example, to a configuration of the return pipe 51 according to the first embodiment, but can have a configuration similar to a configuration of the return pipe 53 according to the second embodiment.

[0074] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 9, an oil trap 558 has been formed on a lower side in the direction of gravity (the Z-direction) in the second flow passage 555b. For example, the oil trap 558 is a section of a pipeline that forms a section in the direction of gravity (the Z-direction) of the second flow passage 555b. In other words, a section in the lower part of the second flow passage 555b in the direction of gravity (the Z-direction), for example, a section below the section connected to the first flow passage 555a, serves as the oil trap 558.

[0075] Here, a method for manufacturing the switching block 55 according to the embodiment is described with reference to Fig. 9 described.

[0076] As an example, the inlet-side connection unit 551 and the third flow passage 555c (the inlet-side flow passage 555) are formed by cutting a non-through hole in the +X direction from a surface (a YZ plane on the -X side) of the switching block 55. It should be noted that the third flow passage 555c (the inlet-side flow passage 555) can also be formed by cutting a hole penetrating from a surface (any of the YZ planes) of the switching block 55 to the other side in the X direction and inserting a sealing element, such as a screw, on the +X side.

[0077] As an example, the inlet port 553 on the switching block side and the first flow passage 555a (the inlet-side flow passage 555) are formed by cutting a non-through hole in the -X direction from a surface (a YZ plane on the +X side) of the switching block 55. It should be noted that the first flow passage 555a (the inlet-side flow passage 555) can also be formed by cutting a hole penetrating from a surface (any of the YZ planes) of the switching block 55 to the other side in the X direction and inserting a sealing element, such as a screw, on the -X side.

[0078] As an example, the second flow passage 555b (the inflow-side flow passage 555) is formed by cutting a non-through hole in the +Z direction from a lower side (an XY plane on the -Z side) in the gravity direction of the switching block 55 and inserting a sealing element, such as a screw, on the lower side (the -Z side). It should be noted that the second flow passage 555b (the inflow-side flow passage 555) can also be formed by cutting a non-through hole in the -Z direction from an upper side (an XY plane on the +Z side) of the switching block 55 and inserting a sealing element, such as a screw, on the upper side (the +Z side).Furthermore, the second flow passage 555b (the inflow-side flow passage 555) can be formed by cutting out a hole penetrating from one surface (any of the XY planes) of the switching block 55 to the other side in the Z direction, and inserting a sealing element, such as a screw, on both sides in the direction of gravity (the Z direction).

[0079] As an example, the outlet-side connection unit 552, the switching block-side outlet connection 554 and the outlet-side flow passage 556 are formed by cutting out a hole that penetrates from any surface (a YZ plane) of the switching block 55 to the other side in the X direction.

[0080] As an example, the return tube 557 is formed by cutting out a non-through hole in the Y-direction from one surface (any of the ZX planes) of the switching block 55 and inserting a sealing element, such as a screw, on the cut-out side. It should be noted that the return tube 557 can also be formed by cutting out a hole penetrating from one surface (any of the ZX planes) of the switching block 55 to the other side in the Y-direction and inserting a sealing element, such as a screw, on both sides in one direction of the cut-out (the Y-direction).

[0081] It should be noted that the case where switching block 55 is formed by cutting has been described as an example, but this is not limiting. Switching block 55 can be formed using casting or a 3D printer.

[0082] As described above, the switching block 55 can return oil from an inlet side of the cooling plate 4 to an outlet side of the cooling plate 4 using the return pipe 557, which bypasses the inlet and outlet sides within the switching block 55. In other words, by using the cooling system 1, to which the oil collection and removal device 5 is attached according to the present embodiment, oil is forced out from the inlet side of the cooling plate 4 to the outlet side of the cooling plate 4 within the switching block 55, and this can reduce the amount of compressor oil flowing into the flow passage 43 via the inlet port 41 of the cooling plate 4. In other words, the cooling system 1 according to the embodiment can prevent compressor oil circulating with the refrigerant from stagnating in the cooling plate 4.

[0083] Furthermore, by using the cooling system 1 according to the present embodiment, when attaching the oil collection removal device 5, it is sufficient to prepare a switching block 55 that corresponds to the shapes of the inlet and outlet connections of the cooling plate 4, and machining of the cooling plate 4 can be omitted. This allows the oil collection removal device 5 to be easily attached to an existing cooling plate 4.

[0084] According to at least one embodiment described above, it is possible to prevent compressor oil, which circulates together with the refrigerant, from stagnating in the cooling plate 4.

[0085] Although certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments are presented only as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. In fact, the novel methods and systems described herein can be implemented in a multitude of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and modifications to the form of the methods and systems described herein can be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The appended claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications that fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions. Additional remarks

[0086] The above description of the embodiments discloses the technology described below. (1) Oil collection and disposal device comprising: a cooling plate that includes a housing that is thermally connected to a heat dissipation target, an inlet connection that is connected to a high-pressure-side pipeline in an air conditioning system through which a refrigerant circulates, and to which the refrigerant is supplied from the high-pressure-side pipeline, a flow passage formed within the housing through which the refrigerant flowing in from the inlet port passes, and an outlet port connected to a low-pressure side piping of the air conditioning system, which discharges the refrigerant, which has exchanged heat with the casing in the flow passage, to the low-pressure side piping; and a return pipe that spatially connects the inlet and outlet ports of the cooling plate outside the cooling plate housing using a flow passage section that is smaller than the flow passage sections of the inlet and outlet ports. (2) Oil collection disposal device according to (1) described above, wherein at least one section of the return pipe has a flow passage section that decreases from the inlet port to the outlet port. (3) Oil collection disposal device according to (1) described above, wherein The flow passage section of the flow passage has a shape that differs from the inlet port and the outlet port. (4) Oil collection disposal device according to any of (1) to (3) described above, wherein a length by which the inlet port protrudes from the housing is greater than a length by which the outlet port protrudes from the housing, and the return pipe spatially connects a hole provided in a section projecting from the housing at the inlet port with the hole provided in a section projecting from the housing at the outlet port. (5) Oil collection disposal device according to (4) described above, comprising the return pipe: an oil trap provided below the hole provided in a lower section in a direction of gravity in the section projecting from the housing into the inlet port, wherein the oil trap is spatially connected to the hole of the inlet port; and a pipeline that spatially connects the oil trap with the hole provided in the section that protrudes from the housing into the outlet port. (6) Oil collection disposal device according to (5) described above, wherein The oil trap is formed by a pipeline extending downwards in the direction of gravity from the hole provided in the lower section to the inlet port. (7) Oil collection and disposal device according to (5) described above, wherein the pipeline spatially connects a lower section in the direction of gravity in the oil trap with the hole of the discharge port. (8) Oil collection disposal device according to (5) described above, wherein The pipeline has a flow passage section that decreases from the oil trap to the outlet connection. (9) Oil collection disposal device according to any of (1) to (3) described above, further comprising a switching block in which an inflow-side flow passage that spatially connects the high-pressure-side pipeline with the inflow connection; an outflow-side flow passage that spatially connects the outflow connection with the low-pressure-side pipeline; and the return pipe, which spatially connects a hole provided in the inflow-side flow passage with a hole provided in the outflow-side flow passage, are trained. (10) Oil accumulation removal device according to (9) described above, comprising the inflow-side flow passage: a first flow passage extending from a section connected to the high-pressure side pipeline to the inlet connection; a second flow passage that is spatially connected to the first flow passage and extends upwards and downwards in a gravitational direction from a section connected to the first flow passage; and a third flow passage which is spatially connected to an upper section in the direction of gravity in the second flow passage and extends from a section connected to the second flow passage to a section connected to the inlet port, and the return pipe spatially connects the hole provided below the section connected to the first flow passage in the direction of gravity in the second flow passage to the hole of the outflow-side flow passage. (11) Oil collection disposal device according to (10) described above, wherein In the second flow passage of the inflow-side flow passage, a section below the section that is connected to the first flow passage in the direction of gravity forms an oil trap. (12) Oil collection disposal device according to (10) described above, wherein a length by which the inlet port protrudes from the housing is greater than a length by which the outlet port protrudes from the housing, the third flow passage of the inflow-side flow passage is formed above the first flow passage of the inflow-side flow passage in the direction of gravity, and The first flow passage of the inflow-side flow passage is formed above the outflow-side flow passage in the direction of gravity. (13) Oil collection disposal device comprising: a switching block in which A return pipe spatially connecting an inlet and outlet port of the cooling plate outside a housing, using a flow passage section smaller than the flow passage sections of the inlet and outlet ports, wherein the cooling plate comprises: the housing thermally connected to a heat dissipation destination; the inlet port connected to a high-pressure piping system in an air conditioning system through which a refrigerant circulates, and to which the refrigerant is supplied from the high-pressure piping; a flow passage formed within the housing through which the refrigerant flowing in from the inlet port passes;and the outlet port, which is connected to a low-pressure side pipeline of the air conditioning system and expels the refrigerant, which has exchanged heat with the casing in the flow passage, to the low-pressure side pipeline; an inflow-side flow passage that spatially connects the high-pressure-side pipeline with the inflow connection, and an outflow-side flow passage that spatially connects the outflow connection with the low-pressure-side pipeline, are trained, whereby The return pipe spatially connects a hole provided in the inflow-side flow passage with a hole provided in the outflow-side flow passage. (14) Coil device (a power conversion device or an on-board charger), comprising: the oil collection disposal device (a cooling device) according to one of the above described (1) to (12); and a power converter comprising a variety of electronic components including a magnetic component, converts alternating current power supplied by an external single-phase or three-phase AC power supply into direct current power and outputs the direct current power after conversion. (15) Coil device (a power conversion device or a DC-DC converter), comprising: the oil collection disposal device (a cooling device) according to one of the above described (1) to (12); and a power converter comprising a variety of electronic components including a magnetic component, converts the input DC power into DC power with a predetermined voltage value, and outputs the DC power after conversion. (16) Vehicle, comprising: the coil device according to (14) or (15) described above; and a battery that is charged using direct current power after conversion by the coil device. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] JP 6014602 B2

[0003]

Claims

[1] Oil collection disposal device comprising: a cooling plate that includes a housing that is thermally connected to a heat dissipation target, an inlet connection that is connected to a high-pressure-side pipeline in an air conditioning system through which a refrigerant circulates, and to which the refrigerant is supplied from the high-pressure-side pipeline, a flow passage formed within the housing through which the refrigerant flowing in from the inlet port passes, and an outlet port connected to a low-pressure side piping of the air conditioning system, which discharges the refrigerant, which has exchanged heat with the casing in the flow passage, to the low-pressure side piping; and a return pipe that spatially connects the inlet and outlet ports of the cooling plate outside the cooling plate housing using a flow passage section that is smaller than the flow passage sections of the inlet and outlet ports. [2] Oil collection removal device according to claim 1, wherein at least one section of the return pipe has a flow passage section which decreases from the inlet port to the outlet port. [3] Oil accumulation removal device according to claim 1, wherein the flow passage section of the flow passage has a shape that differs from the inlet port and the outlet port. [4] Oil accumulation removal device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a length by which the inlet port protrudes from the housing is greater than a length by which the outlet port protrudes from the housing, and the return pipe spatially connects a hole provided in a section projecting from the housing at the inlet port with the hole provided in a section projecting from the housing at the outlet port. [5] Oil collection removal device according to claim 4, wherein the return pipe comprises: an oil trap provided below the hole provided in a lower section in a gravity direction in the section projecting from the housing into the inlet port, wherein the oil trap is spatially connected to the hole of the inlet port; and a pipeline that spatially connects the oil trap with the hole provided in the section that protrudes from the housing into the outlet port. [6] Oil collection and disposal device according to claim 5, wherein the oil trap is formed by a pipe extending downwards in the direction of gravity from the hole provided in the lower section to the inlet port. [7] Oil collection and disposal device according to claim 5, wherein the pipeline spatially connects a lower section in the direction of gravity in the oil trap with the hole of the outlet connection. [8] Oil collection and removal device according to claim 5, wherein the pipeline has a flow passage section that decreases from the oil trap to the outlet port. [9] Oil accumulation removal device according to one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a switching block in which an inflow-side flow passage that spatially connects the high-pressure-side pipeline with the inflow connection; an outflow-side flow passage that spatially connects the outflow connection with the low-pressure-side pipeline; and the return pipe is designed to spatially connect a hole provided in the inflow-side flow passage with a hole provided in the outflow-side flow passage. [10] Oil accumulation removal device according to claim 9, wherein the inflow-side flow passage comprises: a first flow passage extending from a section connected to the high-pressure side pipeline to the inlet connection; a second flow passage that is spatially connected to the first flow passage and extends upwards and downwards in a gravitational direction from a section connected to the first flow passage; and a third flow passage which is spatially connected to an upper section in the direction of gravity in the second flow passage and extends from a section connected to the second flow passage to a section connected to the inlet port, and the return pipe spatially connects the hole provided below the section connected to the first flow passage in the direction of gravity in the second flow passage to the hole of the outflow-side flow passage. [11] Oil collection and removal device according to claim 10, wherein in the second flow passage of the inflow-side flow passage a section below the section which is connected to the first flow passage in the direction of gravity forms an oil trap. [12] Oil accumulation removal device according to claim 10, wherein a length by which the inlet port protrudes from the housing is greater than a length by which the outlet port protrudes from the housing, the third flow passage of the inflow-side flow passage is formed above the first flow passage of the inflow-side flow passage in the direction of gravity, and The first flow passage of the inflow-side flow passage is formed above the outflow-side flow passage in the direction of gravity.

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